This 2009 Tour de France — starting Saturday in Monaco — might seem like old times for viewers, as many of the seven cyclists from the US are blasts from the past.
In fact, the seven spread across three teams has tallied 47 Tours de France among them.
The biggest name is of course Lance Armstrong, 37, who returns to the peloton after a three-year hiatus. A winner of seven straight Tours de France between 1999 and 2005, he needs no introduction. This is Armstrong's 12th Tour start.
Returning to the Tour de France in 2009 for his seventh start is Armstrong teammate Levi Leipheimer, 35, who had to sit out last year because he happened to be a member of the banned Astana team. Remember Let Levi Ride?
The most veteran of the bunch is George Hincapie, 36, who is starting Tour No. 14 this year. In 2006, he become one of the few Americans to ever wear the yellow jersey. He rides for Columbia-High Road.
The other US-based team, Garmin Slipstream, is bringing the rest of the US riders competing in this year's Tour.
Leading that bunch is Christian Vande Velde, 33, who finished 5th overall in last year's Tour de France. You may remember him as having his breakout year in 2008, when he graduated from domestique to a team leader. This is his 7th start at the Tour.
David Zabriskie, 30, is looking for his 5th start of the Tour de France. The time trial specialist is also distinguished with owning the yellow jersey for a day in the 2005 Tour de France.
Another Garmin rider is Danny Pate, 30, who is seeing his 2nd Tour de France.
The only completely fresh face in the bunch is Tyler Farrar, 25, of Wenatchee, Washington, who is coming to the Tour de France for the first time. A top-notch sprinter, he'll be one of the challengers to Columbia's Mark Cavendish at the finishing line in the opening week.
O Canada
Elsewhere in North America, there's one Canadian riding in the Tour. Ryder Hesjedal is competing as a member of the Garmin team. His Canadian teammate, Svein Tuft, did not make the cut.
Armstrong domestiques
In reading through those names, you might have noticed that many have something in common — four have ridden in support of Armstrong at previous Tours.
Hincapie, Leipheimer, Vande Velde and Zabriskie all rode for either US Postal Service or the Discovery Channel team at one time or another while Armstrong was tallying up his championships.
It will be kind of a throwback to yesteryear to see all of them riding in the same peloton again.
To learn more about the seven cyclists from the US, check out James Raia's “Seven Americans will ride in 2009 Tour de France” at Cycling Examiner.
Recent Comments