The 2009 Paris-Nice is set to unfold. Let's have a quick peek, shall we?
Clear favorite: Contador. The former winner is looking very strong, after taking home the Algarve. His time trialing is better than ever and he may be the best climber in the world. Astana has sent him with an incredible team, as well. He won't lose unless he crashes.
In the running: Cadel Evans: great talent and never takes a race off. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil is a hot young rider and loves this race. Kreuziger is a greatly talented young rider. Can he hang on this steeps? How far has he grown in the off-season? Keep your eyes on this guy.
Dark horse: Joost Posthuma: getting better by the month and on form. Maxime Monfort is a brilliant young rider. He's not ready to beat the likes of Contador or Leipheimer--not yet anyway. Markus Fothen? Quite a stretch, but the young German has big talent and has shown early season form. Jens Voigt is on form, but getting old.
Don't bet on: Nocentini had a brilliant Paris-Nice and is on form, but can he compete in this harder version of the race? I don't think so. Vandevelde: not on form yet. Colom is on form and wants to do well here, but he never wins anything and lacks fire in his interviews. So much talent, but a deficit of motivation.
Stage wins: Voeckler is on form and highly motivated for wins on French soil. Ditto for Sylvain Chavanel and Jerome Pineau. True also for Auge. The wonderful Phillippe Gilbert is always a threat and is on form for the Het Volk. Will he be tired? Haussler is on form and maturing fast. Samuel Sanchez has great talent, though it might be early for his form. Danny Pate brings strong form and great motivation. Is he good enough to win in Europe? Maybe not, but he called the race his major goal. Jurgen Roelandts, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Geert Steegmans, Veikkanen, Chicchi (the field of sprinters is thin!),
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