Biking Bis blog readers are favoring Lance Armstrong to win his 8th Tour de France victory this year. [Results below]
Respondents to the poll “Who will win the 2010 Tour de France” gave Armstrong 36% of the vote. Last year's winner, Alberto Contador, received 31% of the vote.
While cycling pundits are saying this Tour de France is going to be a showdown between Armstrong and Contador, most are touting the Spaniard as the eventual winner. The 97th Tour de France starts this morning with a prologue in Rotterdam and ends in Paris on July 25.
Andy Schleck, the second-place finisher in last year Tour, received 11% of the votes. His older brother Frank Schleck, who also rides for the Saxo Bank Team, received 8% of the vote.
Italy's Ivan Basso received 6% of the votes. The Liquigas cyclist won the three-week Giro d'Italia grand tour in May and in years past was touted by Armstrong to win the Tour in his absence.
Former Tour de France champion Carlos Saste received 1% of the votes, as did current world champion Cadel Evans. “None of the above” received 3% and Denis Menchov didn't receive any.
This Tour de France is the end of the road for Armstrong's comeback attempt that started in 2009. He had been out of pro cycling for 3 1/2 years, calling it quits after the 2005 Tour de France. Now, Armstrong says he's returning to race the Tour de France this year for the last time. He's riding for the RadioShack cycling team, which he formed with Johan Bruyneel after the end of last season.
The 38-year-old comeback cyclist had a rough time this spring. He suffered through some illness during those early races and then crashed out during the Tour of California in May.
He bounced back last month with a 3rd place finish in the Tour of Luxembourg and a 2nd place finish, 12 seconds behind Frank Schleck, at the Tour de Suisse.
The cycling press has set up this Tour de France as a contest between Armstrong and Contador, who famously shared the same Astana team last year. Now Armstrong is surrounded by supporters, including US riders Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner.
There's also the constant distraction of Floyd Landis, who continues to disclose details of alleged doping among cyclists of the US Postal Team when he was a member.
Poll results:
Lance Armstrong, Radio Shack — 36%
Alberto Contador, Astana — 31%
Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank — 11%
Frank Schleck, Saxo Bank — 8%
Ivan Basso, Liquigas — 6%
Cadel Evans, BMC Racing — 1%
Carlos Sastre, Cervelo — 1%
None of the above — 3%
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