Somewhere in the history of cycling, when the decision was made to market the sport to a global and more generalized audience, the emphasis switched from touting the actual races to the individual riders.
Although doping was in the sport well before this marketing push, riders [and their teams] seemingly became more creative in their attempts to vie for that center of attention. As a result, the sport of cycling has seen unprecedented growth, but it has also lost sight of one of the basic tenets of all sport, individuals come and go but the events and the sport continue to move forward.
Given the current state of cycling, it is perhaps fitting then that cycling publications and media outlets alike have chosen to market the sport's biggest race merely by one of its signatures, the color of the maillot jaune. Of all the publications currently on the newsstands, only one has a rider's image on its cover. But even Road Bike Action does not directly refer to Cadel Evans' chances or likelihood of becoming the next Tour champion in its Tour preview, only that he is a SRAM Red user.
Perhaps the most striking marketing campaign and commercial for this new faceless Tour comes from the very face of it television coverage, the Versus channel. Their current Tour de France URL reads, www.takebackthetour.com, where its home page challenges you to join up and re-seize the grandeur of the Grand Boucle.
The funny thing is, the Tour has always been grand, but those who have been packaging it recently have chosen instead to make its riders bigger than the race and the sport itself.
The Contenders
Most publications and pundits would have you believe that with the exclusion of Astana, and therefore the absence of last year's first and third place finishers, that the line of succession begins and ends with Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), who finished in second in 2007.
Although he is the most likely choice for victory in 2008, this Tour is very much wide open.
Another year has brought experience and confidence to a host of riders who have previously tackled the Tour. The CSC trio of Carlos Sastre, and Frank and Andy Schleck should prove formidable and provide enough headaches for those team leaders looking to mark any of them over the three week race, while riders like Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Kim Kirchen (Columbia), Stijn Devolder (Quick Step - Innergetic), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), and Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Chipotle) have more than legitimate puncher's chance to fight themselves on to the top spot in Paris.
In addition, all of the men mentioned above have raced and measured each other enough times that none is truly fearful of each other's skill set.
The Johnny's
Maillot Vert (Points Jersey) - The exclusion of Tom Boonen (Quick Step - Innergetic) also makes this a wide open affair.
Could this be teammate Gert Steegmans' Wally Pipp moment?
Perhaps, but Boonen's exlcusion may also mean that Thor Hushovd (Credit-Agricole), Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto), Erik Zabel (Milram), and Baden Cooke (Barloworld) may have an easier time in winning their next Maillot Vert.
If you're a betting person or a fantasy cycling player, be leery of picking riders who may be eyeing gold in Beijing rather than green in Paris.
Maillot a Pois Rouge (KOM) - The line really does begin and end with Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) in this category. Even with the exploits of the tainted Michael Rasmussen in last year's race, Soler proved he could climb [and out-climb] any one in the field on any given day.
Maillot Blanc (Best Young Rider) - Given to the best rider under the age of 25, this jersey has usually gone to the best young climber. Look for CSC's Andy Schleck or Caisse d'Epargne's Luis Leon Sanchez to take this prize.
Pools
If you've played in a Fantasy league in any other sport or think you know cycling, then head on over to these two sites and beginning managing your team to victory today.
ProBikePool
Performance Bike Fantasy
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