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Per Doc Moonlight's post in last year's thread I thought it might be easier to give this year's race it's own thread.

Some good links

cyclingnews.com Tons of racing articles daily.

OLN TV The place to watch the race daily. Live and replays every day. Race recaps and standings all on their website.

Lance\'s site Say no more.

US Postal Team Site Details about the team beyond just Lance

Tyler Hamilton\'s Site Another US hopeful with a great chance to win it this year.

So, with the cloud of scandal wafting above the tour this year's ride begins Saturday. While I wouldn't mind if Lance won, I'd really like to see Tyler Hamilton pull it off this year. He's a great rider on a new team built just for him. They had a great training season and Tyler is having as good a year as he ever has. With his fourth place finish last year done while riding with a broken collar bone I'm hoping this is his year.

Jan Ullrich will of course be considered Lance's main rival. But Iban Mayo and Ivan Basso can be expected to be tough competition along with Tyler.

This year's race is a bit unique with most of the major mountain stages coming in the last week. Team strategy will really be huge. As well as getting your team to the mountain stages intact. The mountains are where the race will be won or lost. The time trial up Alp d' Huez coming in stage 16 (of 20) could be a classic.

Ahh, let the games begin!

Thanks for the links John. This should be an exciting year. Some are saying that Lance is at a disadvantage because of the distribution of hills on this year's course but he is very intelligent and will certainly adjust as needed.
When I get home from Wisconsin the first thing I need to do is to check to see if I get the OLN station. I'm praying that I do. We have a different cable provider so I'm hoping this year I get to watch it. The coverage on the major networks is basically a joke.

Woooohoooooo!!! TDF time. We have to send Benedict an invite to participate in this thread. We must! have the French perspective from the sidelines. Im so stoked about this race.

Kirk

OK, I'm keeping this thread on the front page if I have to do it by talking to myself. I'll do it! I've seen me do it!

Lot's of good cycling shows on OLN tonight including the final preview show at 8:00 Eastern 5:00 or 8:00 Pacific.

Tour starts with the Prologue on Saturday.

This should be a great tour. Lance is looking good, but his competition looks incredible! Iban Mayo killed him on Mt Ventoux. The Alpe d'Huez is going to be tough. A friend of mine just got back from riding his Trek 5900 up the course. He said that when he was there the road was getting repaved and it was easily 100 degrees. Hope Lance stays hydrated this year. What do all you ride? Litespeed Vortex here.

Often people try to make predictions based on the races that happen in the months leading up to the Tour. It is alot like predicting which baseball team will do well based on the exhibition standings...not a good way to predict. For those riders like Lance who are aiming for THE Tour, the other races are just a warmup. I like Armstrong's chances going into this one. I believe he has one more goal driving him and that is to break the record for consecutive wins...

and who held it previously?

The bottom line is that anything can happen. Remember the huge crash on the first day last year? One slight misstep and it can be over for Lance. Barring any disasters and assuming a perfect race, I would agree that Lance has the best chance. Although far from certain. All the drive and training in the world can't help you if you take a hard spill.

tcmod, I ride a Calfee mostly but also a steel Serotta.

John, nobody trains harder than Lance but I do believe he is slipping even if ever so slightly. At those levels of competition there is very little seperating the best from the rest. I don't think he will win, but I thought that last year too. I could be wrong?

I agree that picking a winner based on spring training can be a bad idea. Let me thorw in a potential challenger I did not previously mention....Roberto Heras. Lance's former teammate. Roberto has his own team (Liberty Seguros) built around him now (mostly the old ONCE squad). Roberto is a great climber. With a mountain TT (Alp d'Huez) in lieu of a flat TT the TT stage goes from being a weakness, to being a sstrength. Watch him.

Still pulling for Tyler. His best shot ever at winning the Tour.

Other than Lance, only Miguel Indurain won 5 in a row. But Eddie Merckx, Jaque Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault have also won 5 Tours.

I told you I'd keep this on the first page even if I had to talk to myself.

Don't make me have to keep doing this!

The pain in Spain
Was mainly Indurain...

Sorry 'bout that folks

Armstrong has his work cut out this year. Should be great!

I work as a translator for one of the main cycling teams that take part in all of the main cycling events. Although I am not at all interested in the sport, over the years I have come to learn an awful lot about it and realise that those athletes are completely mad!

Mozart, would you care to share which team? Are you now working at the TdF?

Well, in a bit of a surprise to me, Lance, while finishing second in the Prologue (short time trial) today, actually beat Ullrich by 15 seconds and Tyler by 16 seconds.

A long way to go, but a positive start for the five time defending champ.

John, I will certainly help you keep this as the top page. I just got home from the airport and have really not been able to post much over the past 2 weeks. Thanks for letting us know what happened in the Prologue...impressive, huh?!
Just curious, who won the event?
Just read an article today about Lance. The one where he did a training ride around Beverly Hills and then took a dip in Sheryl Crow's pool...lucky guy!

The winner was a new to the Tour Swiss rider named Fabian Cancellara of the Fassa Bortolo team. Lance was two seconds back finishing second.

Many of the Postal team finished near the top today. They certainly appear to be ready to try and make history.

John, what did you find out about your OLN TV reception? Hope you are able to watch.

I used to work for Mapei Quick-Step now I work for Quick.Step - Davitamon.

John, I got back late from the airport last night and I work a 12 hour shift today. I'll be sure to check as soon as I get home. Thanks for asking.
I just signed up to get instant updates on my cell phone of the day's stage.
Have a great 4th everyone!!!

Just an FYI.....The Tour comes on early out here (5:30 AM) I Tivo it and watch it later in the day. During the week I view it in the evening. Soooo, I won't be coming here until after I've seen it. Don't want to spoil it.