Cycling News

Much better time riding the bike lately than writing about bikes. 10 days or so to got til the TDF. Outside of the National Championships not much going to down.
Astana's "MIB" took a hit with Kessler getting a positive and getting suspended-test dates back to Fleche Wallone with rumours of more to come......

Last year's TDF top twenty and some predictions.....

1 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak 89.39.30 (40.784 km/h)
2 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.57
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile 1.29
4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 3.13
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 5.08
6 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 7.06
7 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance 8.41
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2R-Prevoyance 9.37
9 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 12.05
10 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile 15.07
11 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 17.46
12 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 19.19
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 19.22
14 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 19.46
15 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 19.57
16 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 21.12
17 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 26.25
18 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 28.33
19 José Azevedo (Por) Discovery Channel 38.08
20 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 43.05

Sastre,Evans,Moreuau,Leiphemer, Rogers, and Schleck seem like they could improve on last years success's
Periero is doubtful-he lucked into the right break last year and will probably have to ride for Valverde til he cracks or crashes. Kloden will probably have his hands tied by riding for Vino.
Menchov has been low key, I can't even remember where he has raced this year??
Tadej Valjavec has the best name in the top twenty and has been riding well. Impressive that Lampre had 3 riders in the top twenty last year.
As far as names that aren't on this list Vino,Valverde, and Brajovic come to mind.
I will drop my final predictions once the final team rosters are selected.

One last observations, microphones need to be kept away from Bruyneel. In the last 2 weeks he has constantly put his foot in his mouth regarding doping, he has given the most back handed compliments to Leiphemer's chances, and finally taken jabs at Telekom and CSC(check comments here). Is he trying to blame Basso on CSC?? Get serious. He is a fucking clown and maybe he is a primary reason people aren't stepping up to be a new title sponsor?