Maillot Jeune Time and other tales Part I

Possibly the most eagerly awaited three weeks for cycling fans is at hand. Le Tour is upon us. The most famous cycling race of them all the big daddy- 'Tour de France'. This year the tour will be very interesting as there are lots of mountain top finshes both in the Pyrennes and the Alps. I will try and give a brief about the main contenders and their chances. 

Alberto Contador: The defending champion has just completed a magnificent Giro d' Italia win in convincing style and looked unbeatable in the mountains and very good in the time trials as well. He will be the man to beat in the race. However the Giro was a very difficult and gruelling this year and how much toll it has taken on him is till to be seen. Contador has also shown that he does not require his team too much in the mountains and can attack and decimate his opposition by himself. In my opinion he will still win the race.




Andy Schleck: The runner up from the last two editions of the race. Andy tries to peak for the tour and does not pay much attention to too many other races. He has a new team by name but with a lot of his old helpers. He is tipped by many to in fact beat Contador this year being fresher of the two. He should be up there contending for the win. The only issue with Schleck is his time trial skills which are not at par with the champion. Last year he lost the race in the time trials. This year there has been no marked improvement in this discipline in the races he has done. He will finish within the top two unless something unprecedented happens.



Cadel Evans: The almost man who has come second twice. Once to a newcomer named Contador in 2007 and to Carlos Sastre in 2008 after being continuously attacked by Sastre's teammates the Schleck brothers. Last year he had participated after the Giro and had nothing left in the tank. Plus he has always been unlucky with crashes and injuries. His team was new last year and was trying to gain recognition therefore he had to enter a lot more races than usual. This year the synergy with the team would be better and he should be more relaxed and fresh for the race. The problem with Evans is that his team is very weak in the mountains where you need to have strong helpers. Also it has to seen how he will cope with the attacks of Alberto and Andy when the race reaches the mountains. However his solid time trialling abilities should get him close to the podium. 


Samuel Sanchez: The Olympic road race champion was 3rd in the race last year till the penultimate day time trial when he was overtaken by Denis Menchov. Menchov is not here this year. Sanchez should do solidly in the mountains and his team has always been very strong when the road slopes upwards. The major problem he faces is the Team Time Trial at which his team is historically abysmal. He may have to spend a lot of time playing catch up to the other contenders due the time lost in the team time trial. 

Robert Gesink: Now the sole leader of the oldest team in cycling after the departure of Menchov. He had rollicking start to the season and comes into the event with a lot of confidence. Last year he was very poor in the time trials and lost a few races because of that. However this year he has improved his time trialling immensely and even managed to defeat the current world champion in the discipline. He is a very decent climber but not the exlplosive type like Contador or Schleck. He is more of a steady like a diesel engine tapping out a even pace with a large gear. A few people feel that his improvement in time trialling has come at a cost of his ability to climb mountains. How he will do only the coming weeks and roads in the mountains of France will deside. 


Ivan Basso: The former podium finisher and last years Giro champion was considered as the main challenger to Contador and Schleck. He did not defend his Giro crown to concentrate on the Tour. He was building up form until he was involved in a training accident on the roads of Mount Etna. This has left him a little short of training and condition to possibly challenge for the win. However he may feel better by the time the race reaches the mountains and he may very well be in contention. 


Here I have to end the first part of my contenders for the Tour de France. Part II will have the other main contenders and a few people to watch out for in the race.


Calcutta quizzing is in a bit of a quiet phase right now as the Tax man or the Great One has gone across the pond for some sort of mid career upgradation. I don't know how the government of our country can upgrade a person who probably has more knowledge than the entire two houses of parliament put together. After the great one is back quizzes will be happening thick and fast. On other fronts heard from NH that AHJ has an offer at the land of the Burj from Hyatt and is still undecided. Meanwhile I will try to write in as soon as I can. Its a little difficult with work  and all. Adios Amigos.