Do I really need to go into it why I picked who I picked? I mean really, it's one guys race to win or loose. Everyone else is a distant second. sorry.
1. Alberto Contador -Astana. Really how could you pick anyone else? In the last 4 Grand tours that Contador has entered, he has won all 4. -that's impressive, even I couldn't do that when I was racing. If Contador doesn't break a colarbone on the cobbles in the first week he should win the whole thing. Then finally after racing the past few years on teams that weren't so friendly to him, see Alberto sign with a new team backed by Spanish F1 star, Ferdinando Alonso.
2. Andy Schleck -Saxo Bank. Top 2 from last year are the top 2 this year, how can you doubt it? Besides, I'd like to see Andy win but he really needs to improve his Time Trials and shake a certain Spaniard.
3. Robert Gesink -Rabobank. Young, and a powerful climber. Gesink would fare much better if he could time trial, and not fall off his bike so much in the Tour. He should benefit from the mountain stages at the end of the race.
4. Roman Kreuziger -Liquigas The 24 year old will be racing his 3rd tour. He is strong and finished 9th last year.
The current World Champion has done the jersey proud this year, not giving into the curse of the Arc en Ciel. Cadel has had a great year so far, winning the Classic La Flèche Wallonne, and finishing 5th at the Giro. People say his team isn't strong to carry him, I say take a look at his past teams on Lotto.
Christian should be a popular choice for a Top-Ten finish. Great rider but another really bad Giro breaking more bones. Please, stay upright! Also, his race number for the tour is 51, always a good sign.
Stage 1 Rotterdam -Brussels 234 km Winner: Mark Cavendish beats Tyler Farrar at the line. sorry.
Stage 9 Morzine -St Jean de Maurienne 205km Winner: Stage 9 is a true nut buster with five climbs on this 205km stage. At least the last 30 km or so are mostly downhill.
Vino - doper -Astana
3. Robert Gesink -Rabobank. Young, and a powerful climber. Gesink would fare much better if he could time trial, and not fall off his bike so much in the Tour. He should benefit from the mountain stages at the end of the race.
4. Roman Kreuziger -Liquigas The 24 year old will be racing his 3rd tour. He is strong and finished 9th last year.
5. Frank Schleck- Saxo Bank. Older Bro of Andy, Frank always has a good Tour. Finishes up there and wins a stage. Last year Frank finished 5th, and I think that's a good place for him this year.
6. Denis Menchov -Rabobank
This guy has won 3 Grand Tours but can't seem to get it right in the big one. Please don't fall off your bike on the cobbled stages okay?
7. Cadel Evans -BMC
The current World Champion has done the jersey proud this year, not giving into the curse of the Arc en Ciel. Cadel has had a great year so far, winning the Classic La Flèche Wallonne, and finishing 5th at the Giro. People say his team isn't strong to carry him, I say take a look at his past teams on Lotto.8. Ivan Basso -Liuigas. Cheater, doper, got caught, paid his dues so he can race again. good for you. can't stand him though, but I'll give you a pass because of your sister, and the fact you won the Tour of Italy last month.
9. Christian Vande Velde -Garmin
Christian should be a popular choice for a Top-Ten finish. Great rider but another really bad Giro breaking more bones. Please, stay upright! Also, his race number for the tour is 51, always a good sign. 10. Bradley Wiggins -Team Sky You probably didn't know that one of the members of the band Oasis was also a pro rider. Wiggo is it, but as the real surprise of the race last year where he finished 4th, he'll find this year a little tougher. The dude can Time Trial like a mofo but we only have 52k of TT's this year, minus the Prologue. Also, you get points because I like your bike.
Now for the more interesting picks of the race, you know the ones you wanted to know right?
Prologue -If you don't pick Fabian Cancellara to win then you're crazy. If you pick Bradley Wiggins its not that bad of a pick but I'm going to pick Fabian.
Stage 9 Morzine -St Jean de Maurienne 205km Winner: Stage 9 is a true nut buster with five climbs on this 205km stage. At least the last 30 km or so are mostly downhill.
Vino - doper -Astana
Stage 17 Pau - Tourmalet 174 km Winner: Andy Schleck will rise and solidify his second place on GC on this the final stage in the mountains.
Stage 20 Longjumeau - Paris 103 km Tyler Farrar!
Yes he will, yes he will. He is fast, he is strong, he and his Garmin team will have learned how to beat the Columbia train and he will win in Paris. A great result for the American. Quick, name the Americans to win the final stage into Paris? Greg LeMond 1989, and Jeff Pierce 1987.
Stage 20 Longjumeau - Paris 103 km Tyler Farrar!
Yes he will, yes he will. He is fast, he is strong, he and his Garmin team will have learned how to beat the Columbia train and he will win in Paris. A great result for the American. Quick, name the Americans to win the final stage into Paris? Greg LeMond 1989, and Jeff Pierce 1987.Green Jersey Winner: Thor Hushovd will be there again, so will Oscar Ferire, aging Aussie Robbie McEwen, and Tyler Farrar, but I think that Brit Mark Cavendish will finally take it. -swearing, man purses, and bad British teeth included.
King of the Mountain winner: Think about this. The past few winners of the Polka dot jersey have found themselves in doping hell and aren't racing: Pellizotti from last year, Bernard Khol, and Michael Rasmussen too. Juan Soler of Caisse D' Epargne is out with an injury. After my epic ride in the Horribly Hilly Hundreds I could be considered a contender for the KOM, but I have to win RAGBRAI so I'm going out on a limb and say that Egoi Martinez De Esteban of Euskaltel Euskadi will win it with Gesink a close second.
The White Jersey: Well its easy to see that if Andy Schleck takes second then he'll win his third Best Young rider jersey. Good for him, he'll be looking for a new team soon and the results will help. -hopefully.
Now for the real out there predictions, you know the stuff thats just too hard to make up.
How many finishers will there be? 148
Where's Lance? Last year I predicted you'd be 9th a lot of folks thought you'd win but you got 3rd. Damn good result from an old guy. But you're now 39, and except for the Tour de Suisse, you haven't had a great season. 14th or DNF? I'll say 14th so he'll probably drop in the top ten.
How many stages will Mark Cavendish win: Last year I said 5, he won 6. I'll still say 5.
Dopers? How many losers will get caught. Recreational Drugs do count. 2. (mechanical doping isn't real conspiracy theorists so shut up).
How many teams will finish with all nine riders?
1 -Saxo Bank
How many Stages will Alejandro Valverde and Tom Boonen win:
Ha, still a trick question. A holdover from last year. zero
How many riders from Footon-Servetto will finish the race? Who? Exactly. 4 if they're lucky.
Also these guys win the award for the ugliest jersey.
Really? I mean come on its the Tour!
1 -Saxo Bank
How many Stages will Alejandro Valverde and Tom Boonen win:
Ha, still a trick question. A holdover from last year. zero
How many riders from Footon-Servetto will finish the race? Who? Exactly. 4 if they're lucky.
Also these guys win the award for the ugliest jersey.
Really? I mean come on its the Tour!
Creepiest guy in the race:
Aka, the Laurent Brochard award. In honor of the rider who won the event a record 13 times, Laurent Brochard because nobody sports a mullet quite like this dude.
New winner! Yes, after years of Brochard's stellar wins in this category, it now goes to the Russian Vladmir Karpets of Team Katusha. Vlad was once a contender for a top ten finish, now he finds himself the winner of this prestigious award.
The “it’s fun to say “Bo Hamburger” award”.Dedicated to the Great Dane who won Stage 8 of the 1994 tour and wore the Yellow Jersey in 1998, whose name was always fun to pronounce!
Aka, the Laurent Brochard award. In honor of the rider who won the event a record 13 times, Laurent Brochard because nobody sports a mullet quite like this dude.
New winner! Yes, after years of Brochard's stellar wins in this category, it now goes to the Russian Vladmir Karpets of Team Katusha. Vlad was once a contender for a top ten finish, now he finds himself the winner of this prestigious award.
The "In my heart I’d love to see him pull off a stage but the last time I listened to my heart I ended up wasting 11 years with a woman who stole my dog" award.
Nicholas Roche -Ag2R la Mondiale. Why? because his dad Stephen rocked the cycling world in the 1980's especially 1987. Nicholas will get a stage win sometime, just not this year.
Lars Boom -Rabobank. Nuf said. 
BOOM!
BOOM!
The Lantern Rouge!
Mirco Lorenzetto -Lampre-Farnese Vini
In 2004 I picked Frédéric Finot to finish last, he finished 3rd from last. As always, I have no idea who this guy is. Heck, he may be a legit G.C. threat, but then again probably not.
Enjoy the Tour!
