BBC SPORT | Other Sports | Cycling

"Millar is coming on in leaps and bounds," Yates told BBC Sport Online.

"He was ill earlier in the season but he's got over that and been very serious about his work this year.

"But I suspect he's aiming more for the Tour of Spain this time around.

"To pretend to be a Tour de France contender this year is a bit early.

"He'll probably have a few digs in this race but he has got to take his time.

"He can time-trial well, he can climb well and if he matures a bit - when Armstrong and Ullrich begin to wane - it is almost there for the taking."

But Yates admitted three-time winner Armstrong would romp to his easiest victory yet this year and conceded that he is likely to be around for a few more years yet.

Sean Yates leads team-mate Lance Armstrong in 1994
Yates (right) can not see Armstrong (left) being beaten

And he believes the US Postal rider has probably set his sights on breaking the record of five Tour wins, held jointly by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

"It's a daunting prospect for anyone to think they could possibly de-throne him at the moment," said Yates, who won the prologue in 1988 and also wore yellow for a day in 1994.

Armstrong eyes fourth title

"On paper there's no-one who can get near him - this will be the easiest of his victories.

"Indurain's achievement is well within his reach."

He added: " Armstrong's strength is his single-mindedness. Obviously his physical capacity and mental strength are huge but it's his dedication to the job in hand which is the key.

"It's not like he needs the money but he is so entirely focused on winning the Tour.

Riis fires Armstrong warning

"He concentrates solely on being in peak condition for that three-week period."

This year's race could be even more clear-cut than ever with Armstrong's chief rivals Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani missing.

In years past the Texan felt the need to inflict a crushing psychological blow on his closest opposition - usually early on in the mountains - to stamp his authority on the race.

Lance Armstrong
Armstrong will win easily: Yates

But this time, his game-plan could be different.

Yates said: "This year he's head and shoulders above the rest and can afford to ride a bit more cagily.

"He doesn't have to pull any big stunts or put in a killer blow."

Yates believes the man most likely to be on Armstrong's shoulder is team-mate Roberto Heras, winner of this year's Tour of Catalunya.

Heras wins in Catalunya

He said: "Obviously Heras won't compete against him but he stands a good chance of making the top three."

Other contenders in Yates' eyes are twice Tour third-place man Joseba Beloki, of Spain, and France's Christophe Moreau, a former Tour leader and runner-up in the Dauphine Libere behind Armstrong this year.

The young pretenders

Yates said: "Beloki's done well in the last two editions. He's been quiet this year but he knows he has to come up with the goods on Tour."


	Links to more Cycling stories