Vive Le Tour!

It's back!!!

Like a hibernating animal this blog has re awoken to find that it has missed out Winter, and Spring and accidentally a couple of months of Summer as well. Whoops. Lets pedal out the normal excuses now, buying and selling cars (as always), buying a house (almost but not quite there), and general laziness (ah yes the one true constant!!).

So after getting off my literary bike and abandoning , I have once again got excited about cycling.

The person to blame is Ned Boulting. Those of you familiar with ITV will know him as either a football reporter or as the Tour De France reporter for ITV. Either way it was his new book, "How I Won The Yellow Jumper" that got me excited for this years Tour.

Books are not my strong point but this was one of those books. I couldn't put it down. Witty, inciteful, personal and interesting I thoroughly recommend you get a copy, if you're reading this, you'll love reading that!!

Those of you who read my last post (no doubt still waiting for part 3!) would be interested and disappointed to note that the Contador case is still rumbling on with Spanish Cycling Federation banning him, then over ruling it then the UCI and WADA appealing to CAS over the over turning.

Phew. Acronym pile up aside its a frustrating situation with the potential for last years winner and maybe this years winner being stripped of both titles.

And all the while the vultures circle ever closer to Armstrong.

Well whatever the outcomes of these cases we'll focus on the here and now, the 2011 Tour De France.

The Route:

This year it starts in Atlantic Sea! Starting in the Vendee region of western France it heads up the coast and round parallel with the English channel to the town of Lisieux.

From there it drops down to Le Mans through the centre of France to the Massif Central Mountains.

Then it heads south westerly towards the Pyranees before hugging the Mediterranean coast to Montpellier.

Finally its off into the Alps and then the long train ride up to Paris for Cav to win on the Champs Elysees!

The Teams:

So in the closed season it appears that a game of musical chairs went on (substitute chairs for teams) with riders going here there and everywhere!

Team Sky - Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas, Ben Swift

Wiggins comes into the Tour in fine form, as National Champion and winner of the Dauphine Libere. He is down to 69kg an astonishing 13kg less than at the Beijing Olympics!

Thomas has had a good season and this is his 3rd Tour so he'll be looking to get the White Jersey on his shoulders early on.

Swift originally wasn't going to be in the squad but an illness to Micky Rodgers and string of good performances and wins means he rides his first Tour. One for the future a punchy sprinter.

Leopard Trek - Andy and Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Jens Voigt

Formed from the stars of the Saxo bank team but yet to fulfil the potential. Endured a tough Giro D'Italia where one of their riders, Wouter Weylandt, died in a crash on a descent. Experience by the bucket load, should win the Tour.

Garmin Cervelo - David Millar, Thor Hushovd, Tyler farrar

Millar has his autobiography newly released (I've not yet started it but it's waiting for me) and is in the twilight of his career. Has made up with Wiggo after a public falling out, and is the thinking man and reformed doper of the peleton.

Thor "God of Thunder" is the current World Champion and will no doubt be a thorn in Cav's side going for the green Jersey as will Tyler Farrar. Farrar withdrew from the Giro after the death of his close friend Weylandt so his form is an unknown entity.

HTC Highroad - Mark Cavendish

What can you say? The Manx Missile has been winning stages and races all season so the Tour will be no different. Expect him to speak his mind, get in trouble and win. A lot.

Will probably be at Team Sky when the dust settles on the Tour. British super team.

Saxo Bank - Alberto Contador

Moved from Astana to Saxo Bank about 2 days after the Schlecks and crew left en mass. Not much strength in depth, but plenty of controversy. Should he even be here?.........hell no!

Astana - Alexandre Vinokourov

Back after his doping ban and in his last tour. Unrepentant and unlikely to do much, maybe a cheeky stage win. Close the door firmly behind you on your way out Vino.

BMC - Cadel Evans, George Hincapie

Cadel was the non attacking, quiet introverted Aussie. Then he won the Worlds, discovered how to attack and ride with a fractured elbow and thumb. Hats off to him. Hincapie is the old man of the Tour, still in fine form on his record 16th Tour. Potentially holds the keys to the Armstrong case, being the only credible team mate left!

Omego Pharma-Lotto - Philippe Gilbert

The Belgian Gilbert is the best cyclist in the world currently. True. He smashed all comers (including both Schleck brothers at the same time!) in the One Day Classics and can do no wrong. Belgian National Champion he is perfectly suited to the slightly lumpy first week stages.

Other Teams - AG2R, Cofidis, Europcar, Euskaltel, FDJ, Katusha, Lampre, Liquigas, Movistar, Quick Step, Rabobank, Radioshack, Vacansoleil.

Phew! An epically long blog post it maybe but it puts you in the picture of who is where and who to keep an eye on. Stage by stage updates will appear over the next few days so watch this space!!