The UCI and the Grand Tour race organizers have declared a cease fire so that Paris-Nice can go on as planned on Sunday. I’m sure that this battle is far from over, but at least we can now get on with some racing. Is anyone else getting tired of all the non-racing news in cycling these days?
The “race to the sun” will start with it’s traditional time trial in Paris, which was won last year by Bobby Julich. The route then takes the west route around the Massif Central. The organizers say that “opportunities can be seized anywhere and at any time throughout the race.”
Like last year, look for a strong showing from the Americans after good start to the season in California. Team CSC will be sending their three American riders Julich, Zabriskie, and Vande Velde, but look for Frank Schleck to assert his leadership a great 2006, and recent 3rd overall in Valencia. I will be interested to see how Schleck does in the time trial. He will need to improve in that discipline this year is he is to make a run at the Toue de France.
For the Discovery team I haven’t yet seen their lineup, but Leipheimer is scheduled to race Tirreno-Adriatico so we will not see a Tour of California - Paris-Nice double as we did in 2006 with Floyd Landis. Levi may have to contend again with Jens Voigt since he will also be at Tirreno-Adriatico instead of Paris-Nice. Tom Danielson will be at Paris-Nice and I imagine Ivan Basso will be there too.
Other American riders who have Paris-Nice on their schedule include Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) , and Tyler Farrar (Cofidis).
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