Who will win the 2008 Tour de France?
Thursday, July 24th, 2008
Will we see a ”winner” in this year’s Tour?.
The 2008 Tour de France is almost ready to conclude despite all these doping scandals that have plagued cycling’s premiere event.
Of course, this year’s Tour is still something Cadel Evans to lose. He already has a firm grasp on that title and if everything works out as planned, I won’t be surprised to see this guy winning it. So who else will win this year’s Tour if Evans finds himself being tested positive for performance enhancing drugs?
First we have Damiano Cunego. He has shown considerable growth as a rider since winning the 2004 Giro d’Italia, the type of results and maturity that is needed to win the world’s biggest cycling race.
The 26-year-old won the young rider classification in his only Tour de France appearance in 2006 but failed to live up to his earlier promise until he won the Giro di Lombardia last fall. Add to the fact that he is a former winner of the Giro d’Italia, the ‘’little prince’’ who rides for Lampre is a huge talent in stage racing, especially in the mountains. Next we have Alejandro Valverde. Known as the ‘Green Bullet’ in some circles, he might just be blasting his way to the top of the Tour de France podium.
The 28 year-old Spaniard from Murcia who was brilliant throughout 2006 has that same spark this year, thanks to big wins like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Dauphine Libere. The former was a welcome addition to Valverde’s solid palmares, but the latter, coming only three weeks before the Tour de France depart, indicates that his one-day racing legs have developed to handle stages races.
Alejandro Valverde is also a proficient…
Will Cadel Evans win the 2008 Tour de France?
Monday, July 21st, 2008
Because quite frankly, you’ll never know who’ll win it even after the tournament is over.
It has been well documented that doping scandals have always plagued cycling’s premiere event. And these doping scandals can snatch the title away from whoever wins it, like last year when Michael Rasmussen should’ve been the winner but because of him getting tested positive for dope, the 2007 title was then literally handed over to Alberto Contador. Guess what, we already have THREE in the 2008 Tour de France.
Sad huh? The latest of which? Riccardo Ricco. The guy already won two stages of the Tour de France as people are probably starting to marvel his endurance in what is a very very grueling spot. When he was tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, it was all over.
The biggest question now is, who will will don the maillot jaune of best overall rider when the three-week race concludes in Paris? Who will be the next Lance Armstrong?
The list of favorites boils down to just five men; Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Carlos Sastre (CSC-Saxo).
But since Cadel Evans is the first guy we mentioned, let’s find out if this dude can win this one shall we?
Cadel Evans has been in the top ten in the last three years, including second in 2007, that’s why he is the hottest pick for the 2008 title. Last year, just 23 seconds separated him from a Tour victory.
This year, his morale has surely been raised, thanks to one of his best spring campaigns in years, with wins in Vuelta a Andalucía (stage), Paris-Nice (Mont Ventoux stage), Coppi e Bartali (overall and stage) and the recent announcement that the Silence-Lotto team would be 100 percent behind him, leaving top sprinter Robbie McEwen to look after himself in the bunch gallops.
Can he win it all? There’s only one way to…
Landis suspended for flunking Drug Test; may lose Tour de France title
Friday, July 28th, 2006
Tour de France champion Floyd Landis denied taking performance-enhancing drugs during the race, after initial tests found higher-than-normal levels of testosterone in body.
Floyd Landis would become the first Tour de France cycling winner to be stripped of the title for drug use if the second portion of the test confirms a violation. The 30-year-old rider […]
Landis captures first Tour de France crown; succeeds Lance Armstrong
Monday, July 24th, 2006
American Floyd Landis captured his first Tour de France title in Paris Sunday, ably succeeding seven-time winner Lance Armstrong.
The 30-year-old Pennsylvanian cruised to victory on the Champs-Elysees, one day after recapturing the yellow jersey from Spain’s Oscar Pereiro. Landis stayed out of danger during the final kilometers while being escorted by […]
Landis poised to take 2006 Tour de France
Sunday, July 23rd, 2006
American Floyd Landis has given the Tour de France its greatest roller coaster ride in years. In Saturday’s final time trial through the Burgundy countryside, the 30-year-old Landis reclaimed the top overall position for the fourth time in 19 days of racing.
Though Landis is poised to become the third American to win the Tour de […]