We all have our favourites… and there’s ceratinly plenty to choose from. I suspect that this will be a very aggressive Tour as there are a few new faces who want to make a mark.
So I think the teams will be riding on the attack from day one and suspect that Discovery will have a very stressful three weeks. Phonak and CSC seem to be looking just as determined as we come into the race. T-Mobile’s uber squad need a result too…
Here’s the RCUK top ten…
1. Lance Armstrong
I think Lance will either win it or not finish. There’s a lot of pressure on his 7th win. He looked a bit stressed at the Dauphine, but that’s when he starts to get fired up.
2. Ivan Basso
If Lance doesn’t win Basso could. He’s been resting up since the Giro and he showed there that he’s in great shape.
3. Jan Ullrich
Lack lustre performances so far this year, apart from the TT in the Tour of Switzerland I expect him to win a TT stage and if he finds his climbing legs, who knows?
4. Alexandre Vinokourov
Always has a bad day and rarely challenges the above in the time trials, could put pressure on the Disco boys.
5. Santiago Botero
Silly-fast in a TT or on the descents. Climbing may let him down. Could shock the big boys though.
6. Floyd Landis
Who knows, good rider and a strong team, with Botero on his side they could be really dangerous
7. Levi Leiphiemer
Plenty of ability, could challenge if it blows apart in the hills. Great climber and TT rider.
8. Andreas Kloden
Poor form so far this year, but we’ve said that of other riders before and they’ve done great things…
9. Aitor Gonzalez
Had a strong Tour of Switzerland, spanked Ullrich in the hills too…
10. Christophe Moreau
Top French rider and the best chance of a top ten. Looks good so far this year andcould win a stage or two.
Compeition time
So the Tour de France starts tomorrow. But who’s going to win? RCUK have a special competition ready for the start of the Tour. Vote for the top three GC riders to finish in Paris. We will keep the competition open until Bastille Day (14th July) just so you can have a week or so to suss out the competition. (The competition page will be live on 8th July).
Evans have supplied a Specialized helmet worth £100 for the winner, we will draw it the Monday after the finish. So get voting!
It’s a bit early for predictions but this will be a ‘Roadman’s Tour’ with hilly and technical stages rather than lots of mountainous ones. It’s not in favour of an ‘engine’ rider like Ullrich, or a climber and TT expert like Armstrong. But on the other hand it will suit an all-rounder and an aggressive rider. So Lance Armstrong for a seventh win then?
If the Texan doesn’t win, expect it to be a transitional Tour and one that will set the tone for the next 5 Tours or so. So it could suit young stars like Valverde and Cunego, should they decide to have a crack at it. I can’t wait.
Stage 1 – July 2: Fromentine – Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile ITT, 19 km
No Prologue in 2005, so this 19 km TT should see the big hitters coming to the Tour in peak form. Although the first test is usually no indication of the overall winner… it could be.
Stage 2 – July 3: Challans – Les Essarts, 182 km
A sprinters day. As usual, crashes and rain could be the biggest challenge for the leaders.
Stage 3 – July 4: La Châtaigneraie – Tours, 208 km
This stage will be faster than a TGV, as the peloton tracks across France.
Stage 4 – July 5: Tours – Blois TTT 66 km
The crowd love it, the riders hate it. The team leaders will be hoping for a trouble free ride and that Discovery go off course.
Stage 5 – July 6: Chambord – Montargis, 179 km
The sprinters will be getting that 53×11 going…
Stage 6 – July 7: Troyes – Nancy, 187 km
… and will carry on bashing away today.
Stage 7 – July 8: Luneville – Karlsruhe, 225 km
Eric Zabel will want to win one in his home country and today will be right up his strasse.
Stage 8 – July 9: Pforzheim – Gerardmer, 235 km
Not quite the longest stage and not necessarily the longest day either. This is a tough one though as it takes in the Vosges Mountains, which are no push over.
Stage 9 – July 10: Gerardmer – Mulhouse, 170 km (Le Ballon d’Álsace)
Back on French soil and all looking forward to a rest tomorrow
11 July – rest day
Stage 10 – July 12: Grenoble – Courchevel, 192 km (Courchevel 2004 m)
First to the top may well be the 2005 winner. Expect plenty of training camps from pro teams to be heading here next Spring to check it out.
Stage 11 – July 13: Couchevel – Briancon, 173 km (Col de Madeleine, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier)
The second alpine stage will be more familiar and traditional. They’ll be some fireworks today.
Stage 12 – July 14: Briancon – Digne-les-Bains, 187 km (Col Saint-Jean, Col du Corobin)
Another climber’s classic day out. Plenty of pain for the sprinters.
Stage 13 – July 15: Miramas – Montpellier, 162 km
If they get over the agony of the Alps the sprinters should have a better day today.
Stage 14 – July 16: Agde – Ax-3 Domaines, 220 km (Port de Pailheres 2001m, finishing at Ax 3 Domaines 1372 m)
A hard day with a hard finish to the top of the Plateau de Bonascre, it’s a killer. Expect a small spanish speaking fella to win here.
Stage 15 – July 17: Lezat-sur-Leze – Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pla-d’Adet),
205 km (Col du Portet d’Aspet, Col de Peyresourde, Col de Val-Louron-Azet, finishing at Pla-d’Adet 1669 m)
And they’re saying that this year’s Tour is ‘easier’? This little stage will throw up (if you excuse the pun) a few surprises – it’s just before the rest day and the hills are far harder than they sound…
18 July – rest day
Stage 16 – July 19: Mourenx – Pau, 177 km (Col d’Aubisque, Col du Soulor)
With fresh legs expect some carnage today. Two classic Cols, which is why this is the Etape stage. Thank God they didn’t choose stage 15.
Stage 17 – July 20: Pau – Revel, 239 km
Another day of hell in the Massif Central. Expect an early breakaway of bit part men and local boys to tank off down the road. Unless the GC is still to be decided and then this day could be a very tough one.
Stage 18 – July 21: Albi – Mende, 189 km
This stage starts in one of the prettiest towns in France, home town of Toulouse Lautrec no less. This stage could be one of the prettiest too, as it heads through the Tarn region. Boar hunting anyone?
Stage 19 – July 22: Issoire – Le Puy-en-Velay, 154 km
As we continue to head North, the sprinters will have a final fling before a ‘rest’ in the TT and the Paris finale. It’s not a flat day as such, but they’ll have had enough by now so it should keep the peloton together.
Stage 20 – July 23: Saint Etienne ITT, 55 km
St. Etienne is the scene of many classic Tour TT showdowns. Wonder if anyone will nip under the hour? Vinokourov will be out to win this one, as it is billed in homage to his freind and fellow countryman Andrei Kivilev, who died in a crash last year.
Stage 21 – July 24: Corbeil-Essonnes – Paris (Champs Elysees), 160 km
If an Australian fast man doesn’t win this stage, I’ll eat my keyboard.
RCUK predictions? Overall winner?
Armstrong. Although there aren’t so many mountain finishes and long TTs, it’s still a tough Tour and one for a rider with a good tactical brain. He’s always the best prepared and most experienced.
Best of the rest?
Jan Ullrich will be up for it, he just suffers tactically and doesn’t prepare like Armstrong. Wild card?
Damiano Cunego, if he decides to ride.
