Sky, BMC and AG2R pre-race press conferences - Tour de France podcast

Chris Froome (Team Sky) meets with the press ahead of the Grand Depart at the 2018 Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images)

With the Tour de France just days away and the Cyclingnews team on the ground and on location, it's time for our first podcast from this year's race. On Wednesday evening, Team Sky held their pre-race press conference, with BMC Racing and AG2R La Mondiale following suit on Thursday morning.

Bardet to approach the Tour de France with 'humility'

Chris Froome speaks to the press ahead of the Tour de France - Gallery

Brailsford looks to weather storm as Tour de France looms

Boswell ready to turn dreams into reality with Tour de France debut

Mark Cavendish: Merckx Tour de France stage record is one of my few remaining targets

Kittel: I'm not one of the top favourites for the Tour de France sprints

Uran hoping for another successful but stress-free Tour de France campaign

Wednesday was a chance to put questions to Dave Brailsford and Chris Froome in relation to the latter's now-closed salbutamol case, while BMC Racing head into the race with Richie Porte looking to podium but the team's future still uncertain. We hear from Porte on the race, and the BMC management on the recent departure of several key members of staff and the continued search for sponsorship.

We also dip into AG2R's press conference to hear from home-favourite Romain Bardet. The Frenchman has finished third and second in the Tour de France but is hoping to make the top step of the podium this time around. As ever, there's the usual discussions over form, tactics and Tour gossip from the Vendee.