Quick Tour Preview
July 4th, 2008 by Ricky Blayney
Here are some facts, figures and information about the upcoming 95th edition of Le Tour de France starting tomorrow.
Distance: 3,500 km / 2,100 miles
Start: Brest, Bretagne
Flat Stages: 10
Hilly Stages: 4
High Mountain Stages: 5
Time Trials: 2 (82 km total)
Summit Finishes: 4
Rest Days: 2
Longest Day: Stage 17 - 210 km
New Towns: 10
Finish: Champs-Elysees, Paris.
TEAMS
Team Slipstream/Garmin-Chipotle (USA), Cofidis (France), Saunier Duval (Spain), Francaise Des Jeux (France), Team Milram (Germany), Bouygues Telecom (France), Rabobank (Netherlands), Agritubel (France), Gerolsteiner (Germany), AG2R-La Mondiale (France), Quick Step (Belgium), Credit Agricole (France), Lampre-Fondital (Italy), Liquigas (Italy), Barloworld (Britain), Team High Road/Columbia (USA), Caisse D’Epargne (Spain), Euskaltal-Euskadi (Spain), Team CSC (Switzerland), Silence-Lotto (Belgium).
FAVOURITES
Cadel Evans, AUS (Silence Lotto); Denis Menchov, RUS (Rabobank); Alejandro Valverde, SPA (Caisse d’Epargne); Michael Rogers, AUS (High Road); Andy Schleck, LUX (CSC); Carlos Sastre, SPA (CSC); Damiano Cunego, ITA (Lampre); Mauricio Soler, COL (Barloworld); Kim Kirchen, LUX (High Road); Sylvain Chavanel, FRA (Cofidis).
GREEN JERSEY MEN
Thor Hushovd, NOR (Credit Agricole); Robbie McEwan, AUS (Silence-Lotto); Robbie Hunter, SAF (Barloworld); Daniele Bennati, ITA (Liquigas); Mark Cavendish, GBR (Team High Road).
POLKA-DOT MEN
See the favourites list but your best bet is Mauricio Soler.
WEBSITES
A list of sites worth looking at to follow the race:
Le Tour
Eurosport
Velo News
BBC Sport (live updates)
ITV Sport
The Guardian (excellent coverage in the print paper as well).
TV COVERAGE (in UK): ITV 4 and Eurosport.
MY PREDICTION:
I think it will be Evans or Sastre to take the win. I would quite like to see Evans become the first Aussie to win the race, or Rogers for that matter. Barloworld are a British team but dont contain a Brit rider but it would still be nice to see them do well. I’ve always quite liked Valverde and you couldn’t help but support Soler and his style last year. The two American teams are very committed to being anti-drugs and clean riding so it would be nice to see someone in there do well. Mark Cavandish riders for High Road and could get the Green Jersey. So here is what I think:
Yellow: Carlos Sastre
Points: Mark Cavandish
KOM: Mauricio Soler
Team: CSC
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