This years Tour de France will start off with a very interesting twist from day one as the tour offers up a Prologue which is nearly three times as long as last years prologue and gives true time trial specialists a chance to distance them self from their rivals. The prologue comes in just over 19 kilometers (just over 10 miles), to compare just how long that is for a prologue is this years Giro d Italia prologue was just over 1 km.
Expect Fabian Cancellara (pictured on the left) to make his bid for a second consecutive prologue win this year (which would also put him in the yellow jersey for the first “stage” of the tour). The Swiss riders is in excellent forum having just won his third National Time Trial beating Phonak rider Martin Elmiger by over 1 minute in the 43 kilometer course.
However with the end of a cycling era coming to an end as Lance Armstrong tries for an incredible 7 overall win at the Tour de France this year expect “no favors” from Armstrong. Lance is sure to want to set the record straight with the peloton and show his strength during the prologue on Saturday July 2cnd. Other rivals like Yan Ullrich will also be in testing himself as well as sending a message to his cycling competitors on the opening day. Ullrich (described as a locomotive) is incredibly strong and capable of turning in an excellent time trail on Saturday.
Also be on the look out for Ivan Basso (2004’s runner up to Armstrong), more of a climbing specialist Basso was the only rider capable of hanging with Lance during last years mountain stages. Lance was able to distance himself from Basso on the time trails. Aware of his weakness Basso has spent considerable time working on his weakness and it shows. This years Lance has commented several times on just how much stronger Basso is on the time trials and also has made mention of his improved aerodynamic position on the bike. This years tour should be exciting as ever, as you watch never forget your watching Lance ride his last tour as well as his last race in his 19 year pro cycling career.
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