2009 Tour de France favorites and UCI World Rankings

 2009 Tour de France favorites and UCI World Rankings  Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek

The ever-seductive Le Tour already promises to live up to its colorful reputation for indulging its audience in outrageousness and scandal as it has in years past. High drama is nothing new in the Tour de France; and particularly the subject of doping with its tragic consequences.

There’s been plenty of negative press for the riders who’ve been banned from participating in the tour because of prior doping allegations. The French Anti-doping Agency (AFLD) announced its plan for extreme testing on riders, with special focus on the 50 most suspicious. Not only is the AFLD increasing testing during the race but is also cracking down on abusers by dredging up previous cases of suspected doping and performing retroactive reanalysis on old samples.

The excitement of 7 time tour winner Lance Armstrong resurfacing from retirement and the last minute resurrection of his team Astana from near death have certainly added to the pre-race flurry.

Drama aside, there are plenty of interesting contenders to watch in this year’s race. No. 2 world-ranked Alberto Contador (ESP) 26, of Astana is a popular choice to win the race, having won the Tour de France in 2007 and the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana in 2008. Denis Menchov (RUS), 31 of Rabobank is another force to be reckoned with after his unstoppable performance in the 2009 Giro d’Italia, where he took first overall. Menchov was 5th overall in the 2008 Giro d’Italia and 4th overall in the 2008 Tour de France.

Look for the talented Andy Schleck (LUX) 24, of Saxo Bank to provide some serious competition in this year’s race. Schleck won the young rider classification and placed 12th overall in the 2008 Tour de France. He placed 2nd overall in the 2008 Giro d’Italia and won the 2009 Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the first rider from Luxembourg to win the race since Marcel Emzer in 1954.

Favorite Cadel Evans (AUS) 32, of Silence-Lotto, the no. 4 world-ranked rider has an impressive Tour de France record, having placed 2nd overall in both 2007 and 2008, and 4th in 2006. He placed 2nd overall in both 2008 and 2009 Criterium de Dauphine Libere.

Carlos Sastre (ESP) 34, of Cervelo Test Team with his history of impressive wins is another rider to watch. His Tour de France record includes 1st overall in 2008, 4th overall in 2007 and 3rd overall in 2006. He placed 4th overall in the 2009 Giro d’Italia.

Other favorites include Andreas Kloden (GER) 34, of Astana, Michael Rogers (AUS) 29, and Kim Kirchen (LUX) 30, of Team Columbia-Highroad, and Roman Kreuziger (CZE), 23 and Ivan Basso (ITA) 31, of Liquigas. 

Pro-cycling UCI World Ranking (Road), Top 25 Riders (as of 24 June '09)