2008 Tour de France

Since 2004, the Tour de France has been one of the most enjoyable sporting events to watch for its annual 3 week exhibition. The perception of cycling as a boring sport given it takes 5 hours to complete a stage and nothing happens on most of the flat stages until the last 10km's does not hold when you actually sit down and watch it.

The tactics within professional cycling are highly nuanced and it takes the skill of the great cycling broadcaster Phil Liggett to make the Tour. Pay attention to all that he says and you will begin to put into perspective the behavior of each of the riders and teams. The other thing that makes the tour is the pain that you know each rider must be going through, even on the flat stages.

In this years tour Australia has the favorite for the first time in tour history. Cadel Evans became a national sporting icon in the 2007 tour but I don't feel confidnt for his chances in this years tour. Last year he was tacked on to the superior leading pair of Alberto Contador, and Michael Rasmussen right through the mountains. Cadel proved he is one of the great chasers of all time but at no stage did he look capable of putting away any climbers. The result is that this year without those 2, the filed will come up to Cadel in the mountains and less he is willing to take more risks. I do not think he is capable of performing a solo breakaway. As a result looking through the other climbers will find this years winner and the first place to look is Juan Mauricio Hernandez Soler, last years King of the Mountain.