TOUR PICKS

TDF top 10 unless someone from this group gets popped or hurt in the next 12 hours.

1. Alberto Contador, Astana
2. Cadel Evans, Silence Lotto
3. Lance Armstrong, Astana
4. Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank
5. Carlos Sastre, Cervelo Test Team
6. Denis Menchov, Rabobank
7. Frank Schleck, Saxo Bank
8. Franco Pellizotti, Liquigas
9. Levi Leipheimer, Astana
10. Roman Krueziger, Liquigas

Side notes: Lance takes the opening TT and the jersey to get a good publicity splash right off the bat. Contador will be clearly the strongest rider, not only on Astana, but in the whole race. Thus, Lance will stay close in case Alberto suffers or crashes out while Kloden and Levi do the bulk of the pacing. Evans will remain a very solid rider that lacks the panache to win. Saxo's powerful brothers Andy and Frank will come up just short. Carlos Sastre, the defending champion, will not have the benefit of such a strong team as he did last year but will make the top 5 in his second GT in a row.