While I still expect some excitement in this year’s Tour… next year should be AWESOME! Who will rise to the top? I’m liking Vino if he moves to Discovery and the team stays in tact for the most part… Someone had said in another post that the Tour would lose its popularity when LA leaves, but I think the excitement will be HUGE next year.
Andy
I don’t know but I’m more into cycling this year than last year. Before 2004, I followed Lance. In 2004, I followed other riders such as Landis and Basso. This year, I’m following all of the top riders that I know of and next year I plan on following it in even more detail since I’m learning more about the sport and I’m participating in the sport (somewhat).
Also, Lance may not be racing, but he still may be heavily involved in cycling after he retires.
Andy, I think there will definitely be some drop off in American interest in the TdF next year as there was when Greg LeMond retired. The losses will be in the casual viewer but others that have gotten interested in the sport as of the last couple of years and have seen that there are great riders, personalities, and teams to follow such as Landis and Basso as mentioned above, and will continue to watch, hopefully.
As for the other possible riders to challenge next year, though remember this year’s TdF isn’t over yet:
Three things you need: Great team including director, must be top tier TT rider, and great in the mountains, plus I should add that you probably need to concentrate your season around the TdF.
With that said these riders fit the profile or could if on the proper team: Basso, Landis, Popo, Vino, Levi, Karpets, Canego and some others as well.
I think the current Spainish/Basque contingent of Heras, Beloki, and Mayo just aren’t strong enough as TT riders to seriously contend, though they are certainly great in the mountains.
One of my favorite riders is Jens Voight and I think if the guy was given the chance he could do some serious damage via his famous attacks, similar to Vino, but he is a true team player.
I think that Ulrich won’t quite make it to the top again. I think more than anything he is not strong enough mentally, especially versus Lance, but I would like to see him do well this year and next. I t would be interesting to see what Rijs or Bruyneel could do with him without Pedvenge in the way. BTW-Yes I know he has won before ;-).
Wild Cards: Georgie and Tom Danielson. I think George vastly improved his climbing skills last year and has obviously improved his TT skills this year. He probably is just to big for the mountains though and he probably still wants to take a crack at beating Boonen @ Paris-Roubaix. Tom D. will probably ride in support of Popo or insert Vino or other Top Rider for Discovery next year. Then he will be groomed to take over the top spot in two-three years.
BTW-We still don’t know how this year’s TdF will play out and hopefully it will be exciting.