Garden Kitty
06-28-2010, 02:17 AM
OK, so I'm a week early and with the WC and Wimbledon there is plenty of other sports action to attract your attention. But the articles and pictures will start this week and I thought it would be helpful to have a place to collect them. I also thought it might be helpful to do a bit of a preview to highlight the key riders, stages and useful links.
So sit back, enjoy the scenery while we start our three week Tour:
Yellow Jersey Contenders:
1. Alberto Contador (http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Alberto_Contador.jpg) – four time Grand Tour winner and 2 time TdF winner has to be the favorite for this year, even with claims that he’s had a bad flu shortly before the race. He’s been in good form at the start of the season, winning his second Paris-Nice. There were a lot of transfer rumors about Bert last season, but he remains with Astana even as the team changed around him. Former Astana DS Johan Bruyneel left with Lance and a lot of the Astana riders and staff for newly formed Team Radio Shack. But the Astana team is still strong and all the more entertaining with the return of Alexander Vinokourov (http://www.as.com/recorte/20090804dasdascic_4/XLCO/Ies/Alexander_Vinokourov.jpg). All the news reports indicate that Bert is the uncontested leader, but can Vino resist an urge to attack! Team support also includes prior TdF winner Oscar Pereiro.
2. Andy Schleck (http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tour+de+France+2009+Stage+Sixteen+ZF_NQyz-_-Ql.jpg) – If I'd written this preview yesterday, I'd have talked about how one of Andy's biggest assets is being part of a motivated, united team and having Tour de Suisse winner (and big brother Frank) as only one part of the team support that also includes Fabian "Spartacus" Cancellara and Jens! Voigt. But today the news broke that one of the team's Director Sportifs was released from his contract because he's starting a new "Luxembourg based" team in 2011, and that Andy and Frank will be leading the team. This certainly hurts any chance Saxo Bank's owner has of getting a new sponsor and continuing the team, so look for all the other teams to start chatting up the Saxo Bank riders, and possibly some weird alliances on the road as Sky courts Fabian.
3. Brad Wiggins (http://blogs.liverpoolecho.co.uk/acyclistslife/BradleyWiggins.jpg) – Brad started last year’s TdF slimmed down and as support for Garmin teammate VandeVelde. But he defied expectations and finished just off the podium. During the off season, he joined newly formed Team Sky amidst claims of bully tactics by Sky to force Garmin to let him out of his contract. Even as a new team, Sky has a bit of a reputation as one of the “big money” teams and there are a lot of expectations for Wiggins this year. Garmin DS Vaughters continues to publicly say only nice things about Wiggins, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are hard feelings. David Millar hasn’t been as similarly restrained in his comments about Wiggins.
4. Lance Armstrong (http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jj1//2008/12/lance-health/lance-armstrong-mens-health-cover-01.jpg) – Lance finished third last year riding with his winning teammate, Contador. But there is clearly no love lost between these two and the dynamics should be interesting. However, at 38 and battling new drug allegations made by former teammate Floyd Landis, Lance doesn’t seem to have his prior form, although he finished a surprising second at the TdF warmup Tour of Switzerland. Radio Shack also has a strong, although somewhat aging team. Teammate Jani Brajkovic has worn the leader’s jersey at the Vuelta and recently won the Criterium du Dauphine, so he could be a big help, or surprise winner, on some big stages.
5. Cadel Evans (http://www.cyclingfans.net/images/2009_uci_road_world_championships_cadel_evans_aust ralia_world_champion_gold2.jpg) – finished a dismal 30th at the TdF last year with little support from his team, Davitamon-Lotto. A third place finish at the Vuelta redeemed his season a bit, but the strain with his team was palpable even though he consistently complimented them for their help. Just when the season seemed to be a total loss, Cadel got the “really big win” he’d been missing by winning the World Championships. The rainbow jersey seems to have given him renewed confidence and he’s seemed much more aggressive in his riding style this year. He finished 5th at the Giro d’Italia but his stage win on one of the hardest, muddiest stages and his general “never say die” attitude won him a lot of fans (plus the points jersey). He’s riding with Team BMC this year, another team that seems unable to give him much support (although he’ll have Hincapie and Ballan riding support and they were both missing at the Giro). He also seems much happier at Team BMC where the management seems more supportive of him (and thankful because they know he’s their ticket to the TdF.)
6. Ivan Basso (http://www.bikenews.it/2006/GIRO/TAPPE/21/Ivan%20Basso%20bacia%20la%20coppa%20del%20giro%202 006.jpg)– Basso was last seen at the TdF leaving in disgrace after being kicked out for his role in Operation Puerto. He’s served his two year suspension and avoided the TdF last year, although he had solid “near podium” finishes at a number of big races in 2009. His 2010 campaign got off to a great start with a triumphant win at the Giro d’Italia. He leads Liquigas at the TdF, but how much did that silly-hard Giro take out of him? Liquigas gives him solid support with Kreuziger and this year’s revelation, Peter Sagan (he’s riding the Tour, isn’t he?)
7. Carlos Sastre (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/c/Carlos%20Sastre%2010.jpg) – Sastre won the Tour with Team CSC (now Saxo Bank) in 2008 and promptly left for the then newly formed Cervelo Test Team. Last year he finished a dismal 16th at the Tour and never was in the mix. He had a relatively weak 8th place finish at the Giro d’Italia this season, and there was some question if he’d start the Tour. But he’s leading Cervelo once again, although his form is a big question mark.
So sit back, enjoy the scenery while we start our three week Tour:
Yellow Jersey Contenders:
1. Alberto Contador (http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/Alberto_Contador.jpg) – four time Grand Tour winner and 2 time TdF winner has to be the favorite for this year, even with claims that he’s had a bad flu shortly before the race. He’s been in good form at the start of the season, winning his second Paris-Nice. There were a lot of transfer rumors about Bert last season, but he remains with Astana even as the team changed around him. Former Astana DS Johan Bruyneel left with Lance and a lot of the Astana riders and staff for newly formed Team Radio Shack. But the Astana team is still strong and all the more entertaining with the return of Alexander Vinokourov (http://www.as.com/recorte/20090804dasdascic_4/XLCO/Ies/Alexander_Vinokourov.jpg). All the news reports indicate that Bert is the uncontested leader, but can Vino resist an urge to attack! Team support also includes prior TdF winner Oscar Pereiro.
2. Andy Schleck (http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tour+de+France+2009+Stage+Sixteen+ZF_NQyz-_-Ql.jpg) – If I'd written this preview yesterday, I'd have talked about how one of Andy's biggest assets is being part of a motivated, united team and having Tour de Suisse winner (and big brother Frank) as only one part of the team support that also includes Fabian "Spartacus" Cancellara and Jens! Voigt. But today the news broke that one of the team's Director Sportifs was released from his contract because he's starting a new "Luxembourg based" team in 2011, and that Andy and Frank will be leading the team. This certainly hurts any chance Saxo Bank's owner has of getting a new sponsor and continuing the team, so look for all the other teams to start chatting up the Saxo Bank riders, and possibly some weird alliances on the road as Sky courts Fabian.
3. Brad Wiggins (http://blogs.liverpoolecho.co.uk/acyclistslife/BradleyWiggins.jpg) – Brad started last year’s TdF slimmed down and as support for Garmin teammate VandeVelde. But he defied expectations and finished just off the podium. During the off season, he joined newly formed Team Sky amidst claims of bully tactics by Sky to force Garmin to let him out of his contract. Even as a new team, Sky has a bit of a reputation as one of the “big money” teams and there are a lot of expectations for Wiggins this year. Garmin DS Vaughters continues to publicly say only nice things about Wiggins, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are hard feelings. David Millar hasn’t been as similarly restrained in his comments about Wiggins.
4. Lance Armstrong (http://cdn.buzznet.com/media/jj1//2008/12/lance-health/lance-armstrong-mens-health-cover-01.jpg) – Lance finished third last year riding with his winning teammate, Contador. But there is clearly no love lost between these two and the dynamics should be interesting. However, at 38 and battling new drug allegations made by former teammate Floyd Landis, Lance doesn’t seem to have his prior form, although he finished a surprising second at the TdF warmup Tour of Switzerland. Radio Shack also has a strong, although somewhat aging team. Teammate Jani Brajkovic has worn the leader’s jersey at the Vuelta and recently won the Criterium du Dauphine, so he could be a big help, or surprise winner, on some big stages.
5. Cadel Evans (http://www.cyclingfans.net/images/2009_uci_road_world_championships_cadel_evans_aust ralia_world_champion_gold2.jpg) – finished a dismal 30th at the TdF last year with little support from his team, Davitamon-Lotto. A third place finish at the Vuelta redeemed his season a bit, but the strain with his team was palpable even though he consistently complimented them for their help. Just when the season seemed to be a total loss, Cadel got the “really big win” he’d been missing by winning the World Championships. The rainbow jersey seems to have given him renewed confidence and he’s seemed much more aggressive in his riding style this year. He finished 5th at the Giro d’Italia but his stage win on one of the hardest, muddiest stages and his general “never say die” attitude won him a lot of fans (plus the points jersey). He’s riding with Team BMC this year, another team that seems unable to give him much support (although he’ll have Hincapie and Ballan riding support and they were both missing at the Giro). He also seems much happier at Team BMC where the management seems more supportive of him (and thankful because they know he’s their ticket to the TdF.)
6. Ivan Basso (http://www.bikenews.it/2006/GIRO/TAPPE/21/Ivan%20Basso%20bacia%20la%20coppa%20del%20giro%202 006.jpg)– Basso was last seen at the TdF leaving in disgrace after being kicked out for his role in Operation Puerto. He’s served his two year suspension and avoided the TdF last year, although he had solid “near podium” finishes at a number of big races in 2009. His 2010 campaign got off to a great start with a triumphant win at the Giro d’Italia. He leads Liquigas at the TdF, but how much did that silly-hard Giro take out of him? Liquigas gives him solid support with Kreuziger and this year’s revelation, Peter Sagan (he’s riding the Tour, isn’t he?)
7. Carlos Sastre (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/c/Carlos%20Sastre%2010.jpg) – Sastre won the Tour with Team CSC (now Saxo Bank) in 2008 and promptly left for the then newly formed Cervelo Test Team. Last year he finished a dismal 16th at the Tour and never was in the mix. He had a relatively weak 8th place finish at the Giro d’Italia this season, and there was some question if he’d start the Tour. But he’s leading Cervelo once again, although his form is a big question mark.