Chris Froome is scheduled for an early-season duel with his three main rivals for the 2015 Tour de France title - Alberto Contador , Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali - at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race later this month . Tinkoff-Saxo boss Oleg Tinkov had hoped the quartet would line-up in all three Grand Tours - of France , Italy and Spain . That idea did not take off , but now Tinkov has his wish of seeing the four race each other before the Tour after organisers RCS Sport announced their participation in the Italy-based Tirreno-Adriatico race , which takes place from March 11 to 17 . Chris Froome celebrates on the podium after winning the 61st Tour of Andalusia on February 21 , 2015 . Froome will face his main rivals for the Tour de France in Italy ; one of which is Vincenzo Nibali ( pictured ) The prospect of 2014 Tour de France winner Nibali competing is by no means certain , though , after the UCI , cycling 's world governing body , asked its licence commission to withdraw the licence of his Astana team . If Nibali does take part it will be the first time the dominant four Grand Tour winners have all raced in the same WorldTour event , RCS Sport said . Contador ( Tinkoff-Saxo ) is the defending champion of the 'Race of the Two Seas ' and has won all three Grand Tours , as has Nibali , who won the 2012 and 2013 Tirreno-Adriatico . Froome , the 2013 Tour de France winner , will lead a Team Sky squad which is also slated to include Elia Viviani . The Italian will contest the sprints against Mark Cavendish ( Etixx-QuickStep ) and Marcel Kittel ( Team Giant-Alpecin ) , who has taken the Briton 's mantle as the world 's top sprinter in recent seasons . Alberto Contador ( left ) is another rider Froome is expected to face at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race . Nairo Quintana makes up the four main contenders for the 2015 Tour de France title .
Chris Froome is scheduled to compete in the Tirreno - Adriatico stage race . Froome will face Alberto Contador , Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo costa . All three riders are eligible for the 2015 tour de France title later in the year . Tinkoff - Saxo boss Oleg ##rino had predicted the quartet would line - up in all three Grand Tours - in 2014 , France and Spain .