The Experts' Predictions for the Tour de France
1) Alberto Contador (SPA) Team Astana: Only a fool would bet against Alberto winning again, but it is not a foregone conclusion. He will not have the guidance of Johan Bruyneel this time around and more, Bruyneel knows how he thinks and this could work against him. It is difficult to imagine anyone out-climbing the Spaniard, but he had better pay attention in the opening week of flat and dangerous roads.
2) Frank Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank: Frank's victory in the Tour de Suisse after riding the best time trial of his life has projected him in to the favourites' department. His victory last Sunday in the Luxembourg road race championship, shows he is ready to outride his brother Andy and step on to the podium this time.
3) Lance Armstrong (USA) Team RadioShack:I confess this is more in hope than belief, but Lance has fought the odds all season to be ready and his rides in the Tours of Luxembourg and Suisse have shown that he is. Having announced this will be his 13th and last Tour de France, he will want to let us all know he has been a part of it.
Bob Roll
1) Lance Armstrong (USA) Team RadioShack: It is never a good idea to bet against Lance Armstrong and especially this year, Lance is climbing great right now and in this year's tour the long time trial doesn't come until the last Saturday.
2) Cadel Evans (AUS) Team BMC: The rainbow curse has been lifted somehow and the reigning world champ is riding high
3) Alberto Contador (SPA) Team Astana: This will not be contador's year, in fact if alexander vinokurov has his way it might not even be Contador's team Astana that he is riding for!
Heh-heh. In addition to the Lance vs Contador sideshow, the strange bedfellows of Vino & Contador should provide some good drama too.