TarmacDude

It seems like a lot of big names have left the tour such as Lance Armstrong, Michael Rasmussen, Alberto Contador, Ulrich, Alexandar Venakurov...perhaps more that I can't think of. I'm surprised Contador didn't come back to defend his title. I know a lot of the guys above were banned form the tour for doping or suspicion of...but how come Contador didn't come back to defend hit title? Any how, this has made the tour some what boring for me personally, but I think I'm rooting for Ricco Riccardo aka the Cobra. He's in 9th and states he doesn't want to win the tour...but I think he could very well do it. It's always fun to root for someone. Wish Lance would come back, lol.

roadwarrior

This has to be a joke of some kind. Either that, or you just started watching the sport last week.

Contador is not defending his title because the Tour, owned and run by ASO, is by invitation only. Astana was not invited. There were reasons for that, and if you do a search you will find copious amounts of information on the reasons.

You know that Contador rides for Astana, correct?

We are sorry that the tour is boring for you, but for some of us that have actually raced bikes, some even paid to do it, it's actually very interesting from a tactical standpoint.

Hey, there's always NASCAR...

TarmacDude

I watch the tour every year, but I really don't keep up with all the behind the scenes stuff that goes on. I could have swore Contador rode for Discovery when he won that last year's TDF. It is interesting from a tactical standpoint, and being a beginner and have never raced, I watch it more for entertainment probably more so than learning from it. But hey, you don't have to race and do what these guys do to enjoy watching the sport. I was bored...for me watching a sport it's more fun rooting for a team or a specific player. Ricco has made the tour more fun to watch, which is why I'm rooting for him. So I take it your not rooting for anyone?

castillo

Cadel.

robema

lance Armstrong back?
hope not,he controled everyone and his dog
the tour would have been decided on the first day!
at least the tour is still wide open

TarmacDude

Man I can't believe I just posted who I was rooting for and Ricco tests postive for EPO. Ok, I'm pulling for Menchov now. Menchov is solid and has been in the tour for quite some time and has never tested positive.

MDcatV

rufvelo

Problem with this logic is that if they included all the world's cat3/4/5 riders there would be even more uncertainty and maybe even more people would come to watch(immediate families mainly), more advertising revenue etc...I'd go fishing though.

bac

Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood. Who is your 2nd choice?

... Brad

Cyclaholic

Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI!!!!!

GO CADEL!

cydewaze

My favorite rider will probably always be Jens Voigt, even though he'll never win the tour.

This year, I'd really like to see Cadel win. I like him better every time I hear him speak. Second choice is probably Vandevelde. I also wouldn't mind seeing Frank Schleck do well, especially after his swan dive in the Tour of Switzerland.

sagginwagin

Valverde WAS my choice before stage 10. After I get over my disappointment I think I'll be rooting for everyone BUT Cadel Evans, with my new number one being Denis Menchov followed by Frank Schleck.

I think Vande Velde will blow up on the next mountain stage and fall back in the gc bringing him and Vaughters back to reality.

jecjec81

I want somebody from the CSC to win. Frank Schleck.

maddyfish

Vandevelde

Ames

Any rider that does not use doping of any kind with a reputation for riding and racing clean with the public and other riders will make an excellent winner. BTY it is not Ricco.

bratton

hincapie!

eriksbliss

How is it that in a country full of interesting characters, your best TdF rider is a personality-deprived wheelsucker? I half expect Evans to rip off his rubber mask like Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible movies, and reveal that he's really Levi Leipheimer. I respect Evans and his talent. But I have a hard time "rooting" for a guy with so little panache.

O'Grady's P-R win, now -- that I can get excited about. Oi Oi indeed.

avmanansala

Levi, but he's not riding...

G-Whacker

Yeah, it's really surprising he's not defending his third place finish this year!

Flak

The aussie.

LanceFanBoy

OP you have to take some time to read VeloNews or something, even if you've watched the Tour from Day1 you should've known this, it was heavily covered on VS earlier in the race.

I've been pulling for Evans. yes he's a wheel sucker, but he is a great tactician and an overall great rider AND CLEAN.

Trevor98

Whomever doesn't fail doping controls? The win is entirely in the hands of the organizers and doping controls and that isn't sport so who cares.

DiabloScott

You think Evans is boring? I've seen Menchov interviewed in Spanish and Dutch and the guy just nods and grunts. If he wins the Tour it'll be the worlds shortest victory speech.

Laggard

Evans is a wheel sucker? How often did you see Sir Lance out there pulling a group along?

nafun

They're all clean



.... until they're not

I'm rooting for Vandevelde, but only because i like rooting for quasi-impossible long shots.