Le Tour De France 2009

It is with a shaking hand that I type these words that will make or break me. Words that will prove me to be either an utter genius or an utter moron. I give you...my prediction.

1. Alberto Contador

2. Christian Vande Velde

3. Andy Schleck

4. Cadel Evans

5. Kim Kirchen

6. Levi Leipheimer

7. Carlos Sastre

8. Dennis Menchov

9. Michael Rogers

10. Roman Krueziger

11. Frank Schleck

12. Robert Gesink

13. Lance Armstrong

14. Oscar Pereiro

15. Remi Di Gregorio

16. Jose Luis Arrieta

17. Vicenzo Nibali

18. Linus Gerdemann

19. Mikel Astarloza

20. Vladimir Efimkin

Green Jersey

Oscar Freire

King of the Mountains

Remy Di Gregorio

I've heard so much garbage about how amazing Lance is and how he's going to take over team Astana. He's good, but he's lost fitness, and Contador has always been the leader. Lance isn't selfish. He will work for Contador, I believe. And what about Levi? The poor guy is always over shadowed. Odds are that the race will determine the team leader. This tour favours a good climber with a good team. There is now a Team Time Trial, and there's only 56 kilometers of individual time trialing. Add to that Mount Ventoux, and a grueling succesion of mountains, and you've got a recipe for pain.
It favors a good climber with a good team. I think that rules Cadel Evans out of the podium. I'm really taking a gamble with Vande Velde. He's a much better TTer than a climber, but Slipstream can definitely win the TTT. I really want Columbia-Highroad to do well. Kirchen can win stages, and I think he's ready to go for overall glory now.
For my fantasy team, I have picked the following riders:

1. Filippo Pozzato------------------------- Decent sprinter, and even better on transition stages with smaller mountains.

2. Roman Krueziger -----------------------Good climber/GC rider. Threat for White Jersey. Inexpensive.

3. Christian Vande Velde-----------------All out GC rider. Climbs well, and TT's like a rocket.

4. Andy Schleck------------------------------A fantastic climber that can go top 5. Threat for White Jersey.

5. Robert Gesink-----------------------------A rather unknown, young rider. Climbs beautifully and TTs decently enough.

6. Gerald Ciolek----------------------------- A young sprinter just leaving Cav's shadow, with a whole team built around him.

7. Frank Schleck------------------------------Peaking for this race with a lot of motivation to get out of his little bro's shadow.

8. Michael Rogers----------------------------Superb TTer with decent climbing abilities and an AWESOME TEAM!

9. Remy di Gregorio--------------------------A brave opportunist climber. Motivated to win for France.

10. Kim Kirchen-------------------------------A puncheur that can sprint, climb, and TT well. Explosive and dangerous.

11. Linus Gerdemann------------------------Young climber. Inexpensive, yet talented.

12. Romain Feillu-----------------------------A very consistent sprinter that can turn to opportunistic ways when he wants to.

13. Henrich Haussler------------------------A very quick sprinter from a good sprinters team. Better value than Hushovd.

14. Jimmy Casper-----------------------------Young, inexpensive, and fast! Plus, he's French!

15. Danniele Bennati------------------------A serious threat for the green jersey, and a passable climber.