(Updated: July 1 — Poll results)
Back in May, I asked Biking Bis readers who they thought would win the 2006 Tour de France. Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich received three-fourths of the votes.
With those two heavy favorites out of the race, I'm posting another quickie poll at right. Here are some top contenders:
Floyd Landis (US) Phonak: The world's fastest Mennonite has won three one-week bike races this year — the Tour of California, Tour de Georgia and Paris-Nice. Generally he won on the strength of the time trial coupled with holding the lead through the mountains. Finished 9th in the Tour last year.
Iban Mayo (Spain) Euskaltel Euskadi: After a strong 2003 finish, Mayo dropped off the radar screen. Apparently he now trains without high-tech equipment, just cycling every day in the Pyrenees. A strong climber.
Levi Leipheimer (US) Gerolsteiner: As is his way, Leipheimer has quietly improved over the season to win the recent Dauphiné Libéré. He started the year by winning the opening stage of the Tour de California, a time trial up to Coit Tower in San Francisco. Finished 6th in last year's Tour de France.
Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine) Discovery: Often touted as Disco's champion of tomorrow might find himself boosted to the top by the events of today. The 28-year-old was named Best Young Rider in last year's Tour de France.
George Hincapie (US) Discovery: For the long-time Lance Armstrong lieutenant, it's now or never. His win in Stage 15 last year — 127 miles over six Pyrenees mountain passes — showed he had added climbing to his sprinting strength. This year comes a top 4 finish in a 27-mile Dauphiné Libéré time trial. Race journalist Graham Watson likes his chances, see Paceline.
Alejandro Valverde (SP) Illes Balears: Another cyclist with a bright future, like Popovych. Won a Tour de France stage last year.
None of the above: I didn't include Alexandre Vinokourov as nine members of his Astrana-Wurth have been implicated in the drug investigation, leaving too few to compete. I think Andreas Kloden of T-Mobile would have been another to add to the list; he finished 2nd in 2004, but rode in support of Ullrich in 2005.
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