Well after being well fancied in 2006 and 2007 surely this is the year that Alejandro Valverde will achieve his destiny and finally take the Tour De France title that has seemed his for the taking ever since defeating Lance Armstrong at Courcheval in 2004. Despite falling into Valverde on previous occasions I have to make him my tip for the 2008 tour after his strong recent form in the Dauphine Libere and the Spanish National Championships.
His two main rivals look to be Damiano Cunego, and Australia's Cadel Evans. As heretical as it may appear I would have to rank Cunego slightly ahead of Evans. He is a brilliant and enigmatic rider who took the White jersey for best young rider at his only tour attempt in 2006, and was already a Giro winner two years before that. If he can match Cadel in the time trials (reduced in length this year) he may just have a bit too much climbing ability for him come the high mountains.
Obviously Cadel has a massive chance to win Australia's first tour. He is clearly the best time trialler of the favourites and has strengthened his support team from last year. If he can be patient and hang with the climbers over the mountains he might just have the power on the flat roads to stand on top of the podium in Paris.
The Falcon's GC Predictions:
1st - Alejandro Valverde
2nd - Damiano Cunego
3rd - Cadel Evans
Outsider - Stijn Devolder
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment