List of main favourites for the 93rd Tour de France which begins here Saturday:
Ivan Basso (ITA) CSCBasso, who won the Giro in June with the biggest margin in 42 years (over nine minutes), finished runner-up behind Arsmtrong last year, was third the year before and has already won the white jersey for the race’s best rider aged under 25 years old. Basso is not a pure climber, nor a pure time trialler - events which are crucial to success in the race - but excels in both. His powerful CSC team could prove decisive when it comes to setting the pace in the crucial mountains stages, and could give him the edge over Jan Ullrich.
Jan Ullrich (GER) T-MobileGermany’s 1997 winner has been chasing an elusive second victory since he decided not to compete in 1999, the year in which Lance Armstrong scored the first of his seven straight wins. Ullrich came close in 2003’s dramatic edition and, by the time Armstrong retired last year, the 32-year-old German had come runner-up an impressive five times, three times behind the American. A knee injury delayed Ullrich’s start to the season but he recently built on the form gained on the Tour of Italy by winning the Tour of Switzerland. And Ullrich will be the man to beat in the race’s two long time trials over 50km.
Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak A former rider with Lance Armstrong’s US Postal team, Landis has emerged as a team leader in his own right since joining the Swiss outfit. He believes he can win the Tour de France and, despite limiting his racing days to focus exactly on that goal, at the start of the season his time trialling was on fire. Also good in the mountains, Landis perhaps lacks the team backing to be able to threaten the anticipated dominance of CSC - and a top five finish, after last year’s ninth place, would not be brushed aside.
Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Spain’s next ’big thing’, Valverde must be getting tired of being compared to the legendary Miguel Indurain - however there’s no denying a talent that makes him his country’s main contender. Valverde beat Armstrong in the 10th stage to Courchevel in the French Alps last year, the first mountain stage of the race, to claim a memorable victory on a race debut which ended early when he injured his knee. He has already shown his one-day form this season by winning the Fleche Wallonne and the more prestigious Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic. On his second Tour, the tactically astute and tough 26-year-old will be hoping for key stage wins that could boost his chances in the general classification.
Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana-Wurth’Vino’, as the talented Kazakhstani is affectionately known, is a real contender for the yellow jersey having come third place in 2003 when riding for T-Mobile alongside Jan Ullrich. However it remains to be seen if the polemic surrounding his newly-named team (formerly Liberty), which has been plagued by claims of blood doping in recent weeks, will upset his plans to take advantage of Armstrong’s absence. Vinokourov has, like some of the main contenders, had a quiet season so far. But he is an all-rounder who, while still lacking in the time trial, can climb well. He can also stage daring victory raids miles from the finish line.
Aku rasa: Ivan Basso dapat la. Team CSC power jugak.
Baca lagi!
