Le Tour
Posted: July 2, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment »
The greatest cycling show on earth is here!
The Tour de France 2010 kicks off in Rotterdam July 3 and ends on the Champs Elysees in Paris three weeks later on July 25.
While there are four jerseys up for grabs, it is the famed yellow jersey of the overall winner that has always been at the center of attention. This year is no different.
Browsing for some sports news earlier today, I chanced upon a link to the BBC’s Tour de France 2010 Guide where Alex Murray takes a look at the main contenders for the maillot jaune, the hams in contention for the green jersey, the tough riders who will edge out one another for the polka dot jersey of the King of the Mountains, and the best young rider (under 25) who will wear the white jersey.
There is no doubt that defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain is first in line for yellow and the top podium position when the race ends in Paris. Contador had to battle the opposition from other teams and within his own last year, Murray says, but this time “his team will be totally at his disposal and with a route more suited to his phenomenal climbing ability, it is difficult to see him being beaten.”
Then there is Andy Schleck of Luxembourg who took second place and the white jersey as best young rider last year. Murray sees the support of his brother Frank in the mountains as a factor in Andy’s possible victory, something which could make up for what he lacks in the time trial.
Murray also sees 2010 Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans, who will ride the tour in the world champion’s rainbow jersey, as contenders for yellow.
And how about sentimental favorite Lance Armstrong?
This is how Murray sees it for the American:
Either the seven-time champion is past his best at 38 or he still has the experience to make up for what the legs are lacking in his final Tour.
His third place last year was an incredible result for someone coping with the effects of a four-year retirement, fatherhood and injury and his recent performance at the Tour of Switzerland suggests he has timed his preparation well enough to be capable of chasing a podium place again.
Few other teams can boast as much experience as Radioshack. Manager Johan Bruyneel has overseen nine wins in the last 10 Tours his team has been competed in and Armstrong will have strong support from Levi Leipheimer and Andres Kloden, both of whom have stood on the Tour podium.
Armstrong has played down his own chances saying: “We’ll have to be smart, lucky and play the team card.” Being smart and being lucky has proven to be a winning formula for many a Tour victory.
The Texan has made a habit of being in the right place at the right time, as he was last year when the bunch split in crosswinds on the run in to La Grande Motte. The 45 seconds he gained there were enough to put him on the podium ahead of Wiggins.
In 1999, he avoided a crash on the slippery Passage de Goi giving him six minutes over his main rivals – more than the gap between him and Contador last year – and enough of a lead to defend on the road to his maiden Tour victory. This year, the cobbles and crosswinds of the opening week present a similar challenge.
Let the show begin!
