2007 Tour de France
 

The Tour starts tomorrow in London, and while there are some riders I still recognize it seems many of the big names of the past won't be there. Seems like this might make for an exciting wide-open tour, if it can skirt pass the doping scandals.

Anyway - anyone more in touch with the cycling world, want to venture some opinions on who to watch?

My money is on:

First failed urine test comes out of the 5th stage.

I'm not up on this thing (I've tried but just can't work up any interest in anything other than the gruesome accidents) but if they are starting in London, how are they getting to France? Do some legs not start where the previous leg ended?

bike racing in the chunnel?

I like the idea of them having to ride in circles around the deck of a ferry while it crosses.

I'll be routing for the Discovery boys and Levi Leipheimer.

Here's a good article in the NYT summing up the favorites.

Yes, they usually start in the same town where they finish, but not all the time. Sometimes they fly or take a train between towns.

Is George riding?

Yes. Here's the Discovery roster: Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador, Vladimir Gusev, George Hincapie, Egoi Martinez, Benjamin Noval, Sergio Paulinho, Yaroslav Popovych and Tomas Vaitkus.

Will this guy be riding? It's often said that one needs an intimate connection with your bike to be successful.