The Tour de France starts its three-week run Saturday in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The leading trio of contenders are the same who topped the 2009 Tour: Alberto Contador, the winner; Andy Schleck, the runner-up; and Lance Armstrong, the third place favourite. All eyes will be on Armstrong as he tries one last time for his eight yellow jersey.
Alberto Contador, 27, Team Astana: The Spanish, two-time Tour champion is this year’s favorite. He has already won three races this year, including the Paris-Nice race, and placed second in the Criterium du Dauphine. Contador has a well-earned reputation as an all-rounder, a cyclist who excels in all aspects of stage racing and has been referred to as the best climber in the world. This year, Contador will probably be making his move when the race climbs the Col du Tourmalet twice, but it’s hard to say how well his team will support him.
"I would love to make the difference in the Col du Tourmalet," Contador told Reuters. "I love this pass and I know it very well, it's my favourite."
Andy Schleck, 25,Team Saxo Bank: The Luxembourger runner-up to Contador at the 2009 Tour de France. A solid climber, he won the Luxembourg time trial championship this past weekend. He also won the Young Rider Classification for the second time at the 2009 Tour de France.
"Alberto really just needs two or three climbers at his side in the mountains, but it will be different on the cobblestones," Andy Schleck told Reuters last October. "He could suffer, while myself and Frank will have the support of cobblestone specialists.”
Lance Armstrong, 38, Team RadioShack: Cycling’s biggest star and seven-time Tour winner will be racing his final Tour. After a difficult spring, he finished second at the Tour of Switzerland and third at the Tour of Luxembourg. This year he’s got a strong supporting cast at the RadioShack team, and he’ll need their help to win. Last year with the Astana Cycling team, he finished third in the 2009 Tour de France, which was won by then-teammate Contador.
“He's a complete rider with few weaknesses, he climbs better and he time-trials with the best," said Armstrong about Contador.
Frank Schleck, 30, Team Saxo Bank: The older brother in the Schleck tandem, who twice finished in fifth place at the Tour, won the Tour of Switzerland and was a rung above Armstrong at the Tour of Luxembourg. He won the 17th stage of the 2009 Tour de France, reaching the finish line with overall leader Alberto Contador and his brother Andy. He is known for a knock-kneed riding style and a high cadence when climbing.
Ivan Basso, 32, Team Liquigas: The Italian, whom Armstrong once called his most feared rival, returns to the tour after a four-year absence cause by a doping scandal and a self-imposed exile. He won the three-week Tour of Italy in May. Basso, also known as "Ivan the Terrible," is one of the best mountain riders in the professional field and is considered one of the strongest stage cyclists.
Cadel Evans, 33, Team BMC Racing: The two-time Tour de France runner-up and winner of the Fleche Wallonne has the highest Tour de France finishes for an Australian, second-place in both 2007 and 2008. Evans began his career as a champion mountain biker, only turning to road cycling in 2001. At the end of the 2009 season, it was speculated that Evans was on the lookout for a new team to better support him at the 2010 Tour. Now, he will benefit from one of the strongest teams he has ever had, including teammate George Hincapie, a longtime sidekick of Armstrong’s.
Bradley Wiggins, 30, Team Sky: The British cyclist is a specialist in time trials. He won three medals at the Athens Olympics, two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and came in fourth at the 2009 Tour de France. He is out to show that his fourth-place finish last year, where he held up surprisingly well in the mountains, was more than a fluke. A Tour victory this year is unlikely, but a podium spot is in his reach.
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