David reads books

Le Tour

The Tour de France started a few days ago. I am a big cycling fan and there is no bigger race than le Tour.

Australian riders have been some of the biggest stars of the race in recent years. Robbie McEwen is one of the world's fastest sprinters and has one the green jersey twice and many stages. He has already claimed another stage victory in the 2006 Tour.

Stuart O'Grady has been another big star. He has won several stages and also worn the yellow jersey. He is a very aggressive rider and although he is not a sprinter in the class of McEwen he is consistently near the front of the bunch in sprint finishes. He is an outside chance for the green jersey.

Among the other big stars of recent years have been Baden Cooke and Bradley McGee. However, while the Aussies may have won many stages and other honours, none has yet been on the podium when the race finishes in Paris. That may change this year. For the first time since Phil Anderson wore the yellow jersey in the 1980s an Australian is finally amongst the favourites for this year's race.

Cadel Evans is a former world mountain bike champion who made a successful transition to road racing. He made a long awaited debut in the Tour last year and finished eighth overall. He was impressive in several mountain stages, holding his own with the best climbers.

Unfortunately this year's Tour seems to be engulfed in controversy with the two favourites, Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, left out over doping allegations. The allegations raise so many questions about drug use in cycling. It is not the first time something like this has happened. The 1998 Tour was similarly controversial and many of the Tour's biggest stars have been guilty of doping.

Still when the Tour reaches the mountain stages I will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Cadel Evans. In the absence of an obvious favourite the race is there to be won by any rider that has the consistency to finish among the leaders in the mountain stages. Cadel Evans has what it takes. Go Aussie, go!!!!

Labels: cycling

posted by David @ 8:43 AM