Tuesday, 01 July 2008
Rating the Aussies in the Tour
- Cadel Evans - The obvious standout. This guy has it all. Can timetrial, climb and now has a team built around his success. Cadel is insanely driven and wants this more than anything. Cadel has been criticised for not being an attacking rider but what he lascks in aggression he makes up in by being so consistent. Cadel knows he must ride like the Spaniard Miguel Indurain. Just ride them off your wheel. Having Popovych with him will be a huge help as he is a selfless worker and will be the pilot for the Pryrenees and Alps.
- Robbie McEwen - Robbie has had an up and down season and this year sees him as more of a team captain than a Green Jersey contender. Robbie just might be the missing link to the Silence Lotto team as he has a cool head and is a master tactician. He just might find himself in Yellow after Stage 1 but his team will not want the pressure of the race too soon. Their tactics wil be interesting but Robbie will get a stage win maybe two at this year's Tour.
- Baden Cooke - This is Baden's last chance saloon after some lean years. It is hard to see where he fits into the scheme of the Barloworld team but he will want a stage win to justify another Pro Tour contract. Baden has won Green before but that seemed like a lifetime ago. He will need every bit of his skill to get arond some of the flyers of the group.
- Simon Gerrans - Gerrans is getting good at this. Riding support for the Tour. Credit Agricole doesn't have a rider that can challenge for the overall but they are packing the Norweigan God of thunder in Thor Hushovd. His job will be to get Hushovd around in one piece so he can unleash the big sprint we know he has. 'Gerro' is a good smart rider and might even escape himself.
- Mark Renshaw - Renshaw is paddling the same canoe as Gerrans in that they both ride for the Credit Agricole team. Renshaw has had 24 victories as a pro and look for him to try to make a breakaway and get up the road. Renshaw is an excellent finisher so any breakaway that takes him will be very watchful. He could make a breakthrough this Tour.
- Adam Hansen - Hansen is the current Australian timetrial champion so look for him in the first week of the Tour to go well on that stage. (Stage 4). Hansen's team Columbia is quite eclectic and will be the opportunist team. They don't have a big GC hope but they have plenty of riders who can make escapes. Hansen may be one of those and as he is an unknown he might stay away in a break.
- Stuart O'Grady - Arguably the best all round cyclist in the world Stuey will have a huge July. When you are on a team that can win overall you have to sacrifice your own goals for that of the team. O'Grady's dream of the green jersey looks to be over but he is an escape artist and my be allowed by the team to go up the road.
- Trent Lowe - There is a lot to like about trent Lowe. The former team mate of Lance Armstrong is a very good talent. He rides for the Garmin- Chipotle team and will be determined to put the team on the map. This is not a team looking for the overall but will make some riders nervous during the Tour with some bold breakaways. Trent can climb so look for him during the mountain stages.
One rider we should've been raving about this year was three time world timetrial champion Michael Rogers. Rogers has had a virus all season which has laid him low and he won't make the starting line. Who could forget his attacking move last year when he was the leader of the Tour on the road before a horrific crash ended both his stage and race. Rogers will be back but not this season.
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