The bookies say Alexander Vinokourov, right, has the best chance of winning the 2007 Tour de France bike race, which starts Saturday in London. They're laying 3-to-1 odds that he'll win. Who do you think will win?
I think it would be cool to have US-cyclist Levi Leipheimer (18-1 odds) win the bike race this year, if only just to drive the French nuts. They have to go back 22 years to 1985 with Bernard Hinault to remember a Frenchman on the top step of the podium; 11 of those years it was won by an American.
I've listed other cyclists in this year's peloton who are considered to have a chance at winning at a Tour de France poll in the top right column. Check out the list and vote for one, or choose “other.” The polling will close after the prologue on Saturday.
Vinokourov, 33, didn't race in the Tour de France last year because his former team was excused from the race at the last minute. Kazakhstani business leaders quickly formed a team — Astana — around their countryman and he came back to win the 3-week 2006 Vuelta a Espana.
Cycling fans are making him the favorite not only because of his strengths, but the personnel on the Astanta team. While Discovery Channel's Johan Bruyneel says Vino doesn't outrank the peloton like Lance Armstrong did, he says it's a similar situation of a strong rider backed by a strong team. (Read also: “20th place finish makes Vino a favorite for 2007 Tour de France?”)
A young rider with a bright future and good chances this year is Alejandro Valverde, 27. The Spanish rider for the Caisse d'Epargne team has beat Armstrong in Tour de France matchups (10th stage in 2005), but crashed out in the third stage of the 2006 Tour. After recovering, he made a play to win the 2006 Vuelta, but lost to Vino.
Another Astana team member with a chance of winning is Germany's Andreas Kloden, 32. Kloden finished 3rd at the 2006 Tour de France and 2nd in 2004. Interesting that he would be riding with Vinokourov again, after some of the leadership confusion that arose during 2005. Maybe the media made more out of that than actually existed.
Team CSC's Carlos Sastre is another favorite this year, after finishing in 4th place in 2006. The 32-year-old Spaniard is captain of the strong CSC team this year, which gives him a good boost. Teammate Frank Schleck is another favorite from Team CSC.
Also coming to the Tour backed by a strong team is 33-year-old Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, California. He's previously raced at the Tour de France with three teams, US Postal Service, Rabobank and Gerolsteiner. He finished 8th and 9th in 2002 and 2004. In 2005 he had a 5th place finish locked up, until Vinokourov stole it in the final stage.
Last year, Leipheimer was considered a favorite, especially after his overall win at the Dauphine Libere in 2006. But the American entered the Tour sluggishly and finished 13th.
Who is France's best hope? Probably Christophe Moreau, the 36-year-old on the AG2R team. Himself a veteran of many Tours de France, Moreau also is coming into this year's race with a win in the Dauphine Libere.
As for last year's runner-up, Spain's Oscar Pereiro of Caisse d'Epargne, does anyone think he has a chance?
In last year's Biking Bis poll for the 2006 Tour de France, Floyd Landis received 33% of the votes. First runner-up was George Hincapie with 28%. Leipheimer and Valverde tied with 9%.
Check out the Online Betting Guide for the current odds.
Here's the roster of Americans in this year's Tour de France:
Levi Leipheimer (Discovery)
George Hincapie (Discovery)
Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto)
Freddy Rodriguez (Predictor-Lotto)
David Zabriskie (Team CSC)
Christian Vande Velde (Team CSC)
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