The 2020 Tour de France is still some way off, with the start rescheduled for August 29, but two-time winner Alberto Contador has named current champion Egan Bernal as a strong candidate to defend the yellow jersey.

In an interview broadcast on Colombian radio station Caracol, Contador said that both Bernal's maturity and the strength of Team Ineos have contributed to his success.

"If I had to name a winner right now, I would definitely go for Egan Bernal," Contador said. 'He has a strong team behind him. Plus, Bernal is already very mature, both in and out of the race."

Contador's former rival Chris Froome has recently been in talks with several teams about a possible move.

The 35-year-old Contador claims to have recovered from the career-threatening crash he suffered at the 2019 Criterium du Dauphiné, but little is known about his current fitness due to his limited participation in races since his recovery.

Contador, however, insists that the fact that Froome has won this race in the past means that he is capable of winning again.

"Froome still has the potential to win the Tour. He knows what it means to win a race, just like Bernal," he said, adding that the leaders of Jumbo Visma do not have the same experience.

"That's why I put Primosz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin down a notch.

Contador was also positive about Nairo Quintana's chances.

Colombian Nairo Quintana is a Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España champion and has been on the podium three times in the Tour.

In 2020, Quintana moved to France's Arkea Samsic, where he won the Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var and the Tour de la Provence, and finished sixth overall in the final Paris-Nice stage, despite losing time in a crosswind early in the race. He finished the race in sixth place overall.

The COVID-19 epidemic and the resulting race cancellations meant that there was no chance to see Quintana in July.

"Not many people dare to bet on Quintana yet, but what he has shown this season is impressive," Contador said. Quintana is dominating the climbs. He can still win the Tour de France.

The 2020 Tour de France will run from August 29 to September 20.