Biking Bis readers picked Ivan Basso by a wide margin as the most likely cyclist to win the Tour de France bike race that begins July 1.
The Italian cyclist who handily won the Giro d'Italia in May received 59% of the votes. If the Team CSC leader does win the Tour, he'll be the 13th cyclist to win both events, the last being fellow Italian Marco Pantani in 1998.
First runner up was Jan Ullrich with 14% of the votes, followed by George Hincapie at 10%; Floyd Landis with 7%; and Levi Leipheimer and Yaroslav Popovych tied at 2%. Alexandre Vinokourov received zip, zero, zilch.
Ullrich dropped out of the Giro d'Italia's penultimate stage with back soreness, leading many to wonder about his ability to race in the Tour. However Ullrich is signed up for the June 10 Tour of Switzerland (Tour de Suisse), a 9-stage bicycle race. T-Mobile teammates Andreas Kloden and Michael Rogers are among those riding in support.
The other leading Tour de France contenders in the poll are meeting at the Dauphiné Libéré, an 8-stage bike race in France that begins Sunday.
South Carolina resident Hincapie, is riding the Dauphine for the Discovery Channel pro cycling team, but it's Popovych of the Ukraine who is designated with number “31”, team leader. Popovych was voted best young rider at last year's Tour de France.
Hincapie, who injured his shoulder in the serious bicycle malfunction during Paris-Roubaix, reports on his blog that he's been training in the Pyrennes and that his shoulder is improving.
Another Tour de France contender who is not leading his team at the Dauphine is Landis. The Pennsylvania native rocked cycling earlier this year with wins at Tour of California, Tour de Georgia and Paris-Nice, but it's Santiago Botero who is carrying the torch for Phonak.
Leipheimer, the Santa Rosa, California-based leader of the German Gerolsteiner team is designated as the team leader for the Dauphin.
Team CSC will race at the Dauphine, but without Basso. Face it. He deserves a rest after his achievements at the Giro. American David Zabriskie, who wore yellow for four days at the Tour de France last year, will carry the team leader's number. CSC has not named it Tour de Suisse team yet; could Basso show up there?
Finally, Alexandre Vinokourov will ride at the Dauphine at the head of the Wurth team, formerly known as Liberty Seguros until the sponsor abandoned after a doping scandal.
Another American will figure in the Dauphine, that's Chris Horner who's leading the Davitamon Lotto team.
Thanks to Cycling4all for team rosters for the Dauphiné Libéré.
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