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medpal · 07-02-2009, 08:02 PM

...... contd from previous post.

Quote:

Cadel Evans (Australia), 32, Silence-Lotto
Will this able rider muster the aggression needed to convert his back-to-back runner-up finishes into a win? Evans' well-documented stumbles with the media last year were widely viewed as a negative response to pressure, but give credit where credit is due -- he has missed the top step of the podium by a combined 81 seconds the last two years, pretty good for a guy who was supposedly cracking.
Evans had two strong time-trial performances at the recent Dauphine Libere tuneup race but faltered in the mountain stages, in part because of the apparent ad hoc partnership between Contador and ostensible rival Alejandro Valverde, who is not starting the Tour because of doping allegations.
If divisiveness fells Astana, fatigue hampers Menchov, Sastre fails to put two good days together, Christian Vande Velde isn't quite recovered from his injury and neither of the Schleck brothers is up to the task, Evans might sneak through on sheer consistency. But he'll probably have to take a risk somewhere to make a difference, even though it may not be in his nature.

Andreu: "Who knows. He doesn't take things into his own hands."
Julich: "Again, it boils down to team. It's amazing that he's been able to do what he's done with next to no help when it really matters."

Andy Schleck (Luxembourg), 24, Saxo Bank
Frank Schleck (Luxembourg), 29, Saxo Bank
Most observers think the younger of the two Schleck brothers is better positioned to vie for a Tour win this year, even though he has a thinner résumé at this point. Neither raced the Giro this year; Andy concentrated on the classics and came away with a win in the prestigious Liege-Bastogne-Liege event, along with succeeding his brother as road champion of his tiny bike-mad nation. At last year's Tour, Andy had a morale-crushing bonk on the first serious climbing stage in the Pyrenees but rallied the rest of the way to take Best Young Rider honors in a competitive field.
Frank was sidelined by a training crash in March and has struggled with a knee problem, but he came back to win the Tour of Luxembourg and survived an agony-of-defeat-caliber crash in the Tour of Switzerland. In the offseason, he also survived an inquiry over past payments to Operacion Puerto's central figure, Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes; authorities followed the money but could not establish a direct connection to doping. Frank's disastrous time trial on the penultimate day of the 2008 Tour, which dropped him from second to fifth overall, raises some doubts about his mettle under pressure.
Saxo Bank's situation is somewhat complicated by the fact that time-trial specialist Fabian Cancellara likely will be in the hunt for the yellow jersey early in the race. This much is certain: There will be no such thing as sibling rivalry between the Schlecks once the race gets going. Each would toil tirelessly for whoever winds up as the chosen one.

Andreu: "Andy Schleck is an underdog favorite with a great chance to make the podium. He's got great climbing ability, and his time trialing is improving. The experience from last year should really help him."
Julich: "Andy is a cold-blooded killer, a warrior, a hunter with no fear and the brashness of youth that helps you 10 times over in this sport."

Christian Vande Velde (United States), 33, Garmin-Slipstream
What Vande Velde did last year, finishing fifth in the Tour and moving up to fourth after the doping disqualification of Bernhard Kohl (originally in third place) was either a career trip or a sign that he can compete for the podium after a decade spent largely as a support rider.
The question is whether he can build on that result so soon after a jarring crash early in the Giro left him with fractures in five vertebrae, his pelvis and one rib. Vande Velde logged some quality miles in his legs at the Tour of Switzerland, and given his aversion to hype, it may be better for him to come in under the radar and try to peak for the all-important last week. But he is a far longer shot than he would have been had his spring not been so rudely interrupted.

Andreu: "He'll have his hands full trying to repeat in the top 5."
Julich: "He was definitely stronger than I thought he would be in Switzerland. I see the desire of a leader, even though he may not be where he wants to be yet [physically], and that's half the battle."

source : Top contenders for 2009 Tour de France - ESPN

My take is on one of the best rider right now Alberto Contador, Sastre will be there to challenge and so will be one the schelks.

I have not much to look out for Lance Armstrong, he is a fighter

, a great rider

and above a wonderfull strategist

but i feel his age will be a great factor here.

Plus I believe his main aim is to Promote his new team from next year LIVESTRONG - NIKE TEAM

.