For several years, I watched large sections of the tour on Europsport. Last year, 2007, was the first year that I stopped ‘wasting time’ watching hours of the Tour on telly. This year I have made a pact not to get Eurosport as well. (Alas, watching the Tour on telly, doesn’t get you fit… )
Despite not watching the Tour, I really hope it can regain the confidence and support of the general public. I think everyone is hoping for a tour free from drug scandals and a worthy winner. The sport desperately needs new champions and new heroes – riders not tarnished with doping infractions. Whatever it’s problems, the Tour remains one of the greatest sporting spectacles. It is a fieresome sporting challenge and provides 3 weeks of drama, beautiful scenary and the capacity to inspire even the non cycling public.
In way this tour could make for an exciting race, because there is no dominant rider. There are several contenders.
Leading contender for the Tour
There is an absence of any really strong favourite. Many of the great challengers of recent years have disappeared under a cloud of doping investigations. Ullrich, Basso, Rasmussen, Tyler Hamilton, Flloyd Landis… (last years winner A.Contador because of Astana’s exclusion – it should be pointed out Contador is not under suspicion himself) the list could go on. But, who does it leave? It leaves a field wide open. These are some of the strong contenders.
ALEJANDRO VALVERDE
Age: 28
Country: Spain
Team: Caisse d’Epargne
A strong rider who has won numerous one day classics and importantly this years Dauphine Libere.
CADEL EVANS
Age: 31
Country: Australia
Team: Silence-Lotto
Strong overall rider, a good record of high placings in previous stages. Not the most exciting rider but, with the potential class and intelligence to be a winner.
DENIS MENCHOV
Age: 30
Country: Russia
Team: Rabobank
Former white jersey winner. Has had good positions in the Tour and Vuelta a Espagne
DAMIANO CUNEGO
Age: 26
Country: Italy
Team: Lampre
Made a dramatic impression on the pro tour scene winning the Giro. His form is erratic but on a good day has the ability to stay with the best.
CARLOS SASTRE
Tour de France 2008
Age: 33
Country: Spain
Team: CSC-Saxo Bank
A regular top 10 finisher since 2002. Strong, if unspectacular rider. Strongest in the mountains
My Predictions for Tour De France 2008
1. Damiano Cunego
2. Carlos Sastre
3. Alejandra Valverde
Related:
Photo by AartN Flickr
Come on, point your remote at ITV4…you know you want to. Vive le tour, Fabio!
My pick for the TDF winner is: Cadel Evans first; Alejandro Valverde second; and Ricardo Ricco third.
These are the top three. Denis Menchov is not to be discounted and he could finish in the top three.