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Early signs show Cadel is the Tour favourite
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Enlarge textThe body responsible for organising the Tour de France has stuck by its ban on the 2007 Tour champion Alberto Contador and his Astana team. This leaves the way open for Aussie Cadel Evans, or does it, asks Mike Tomalaris.
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The clock is slowly ticking for Cadel Evans and his date with destiny at the Tour de France.
Barring a turnaround of the highest order, it seems Tour organisers will not renege on their decision to ban Alberto Contador from taking his place at the start line on July 5.
No Contador means Evans will start a raging hot favourite to win - or will he?
With less than four weeks to go, one senses the Australian may be starting to feel the pressure.
Take stage 2 of the Dauphine Libere - traditionally regarded as a TdF warm-up.
Evans was involved in an mountain-top sprint with many of his Tour rivals.
He finished 5th.
It's by no means a final form guide for July, but it does prove Evans won't have it all his own way over the three week race.
Alejandro Valverde is in good form.
For years the Spaniard has promised so much but hasn't quite delivered on the biggest stage.
In 2007 he finished 6th overall while his results this year suggests he's timing his Tour run to perfection.
He's the complete allrounder - this was underlined by winning the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and securing third place in the Amstel Gold race in the European Spring.
Evans is not leaving anything to chance.
For the first time he will employ his own personal bodyguard for the Tour's duration and supply his own food and chef - all this in order to stand on the top step of the winner's podium in Paris.
The whole experience is another learning curve for Evans as he prepares for the biggest race of his life.
Expectations are certainly high.
Let's hope he's ready to fire, it doesn't go pear-shaped and he doesn't leave France empty-handed.
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Comments (23)
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24 Jul 2008 17:13 AEST
From: Brighton
CSC Dominance
Here is a clue for Cadel. Forget about CSC and go for it from the start. When a team controls the tour from the start we see very little racing. I would like to see all riders go for it and let the fittest person win. It would be more interesting than what we see know
08 Jul 2008 15:29 AEST
From: Seven Hills
Go Cadel and Robbie?
Although I would love to see Cadel win and obviously the whole team is behind Cadel.I feel kinda sorry for Robbie as he is getting no support what so ever. Would love to see Robbie win green jersey. Hope Cadel doesn't make a victory speech when he wins, his voice is like a 12 year old girl.lol
05 Jul 2008 22:48 AEST
From: Clovelly NSW
Take a Breath!
Please, please can you ask the commentator, whose name escapes me (the first commentator) to TAKE A BREATH! It was a non-stop barrage on the ears.
29 Jun 2008 21:16 AEST
From: samford
music
can any one tell me who sings the song in the sbs tour de france 2007 video on this web page
29 Jun 2008 21:01 AEST
From: samford
music
can any one tell me who sings the song in the sbs tour de france 2007 video on this web page
24 Jun 2008 4:23 AEST
From: Bayswater
Limp dick as well..
"... as for boonen, well yeah he got caught with cocaine in his system, but thats hardley a performance enhancing drug ..." He'll certainly need that SBS limp dick ad - you know what cocaine does in the long term - look at what happened to John Holmes (70's porn star) 15 inches hanging down :-(
22 Jun 2008 19:28 AEST
From: Melbourne
Cadel's Chances
Evans needs to race differently to last year if he is to win in Paris. If he contents himself with sitting on other riders' wheels on the climbs then he'll again find himself having to ride hard when other riders are feeling strong, rather than when he does. Cadel has the ability but needs the confidence to ride the race on his own terms.
16 Jun 2008 11:34 AEST
From: Lidcombe
Cadel has the support
The tour is a long race and I think it will come down to Cadel for the first time having some good riders around him, Cioni, Aerts and the experience of Popovych. It only takes one other team member to be with you at the end of the big climbs as Astana proved last year and Discovery in the previous years and I think this is where Popo will slot in. Go Cadel and bring it on!!! PS Go Mick also!!!
15 Jun 2008 18:06 AEST
From: Dulwich Hill
Tour 2008
The Tour cannot come quick enough.
15 Jun 2008 18:02 AEST
From: Canberra
Rogers/Kirchen
I disagree. Rogers is getting the big bucks to lead High Road. He's not in this team as a super domestique. Kirchen will be riding for Rogers - wait and see. I'd be surprised if Rogers didn't rule the TTs and finish in th top 5 behind Cadel in Paris.
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About this Blog
Stay in touch with the ProTour road cycling season with SBS's cycling blog, featuring race reports, video highlights and blog coverage of every race of 2008, as well as details of SBS's racing coverage
Mike Tomalaris is SBS's cycling presenter, who has covered the Tour de France for 12 years. Mike is a keen cyclist himself, and covers a few hundred kilometres a week in a social weekend bunch ride. For cycling fans around Australia, Mike Tomalaris is cycling.
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