Tour 2010, no walk in park for Radioshack

The route and stages have been announced for next summer's Tour de France. Go to www.cyclingnews.com for the latest updates on the course. It appears that once again the Tour organizers were not pleased with the way this past year went. In 2009, from the beginning, Astana held a stranglehold on the other GC contenders. With a relatively long opening TT, a Team TT and another long individual race against the clock, the ahem, Kasakh outfit left little doubt that one in their fold would take the title.

2010 will not be the same. The opening tt(prologue this time) is only 8km. There is no TTT and the remaining race against the clock is on the second to last day. Given this formula, Lance Armstrong's Radioshack as well as Alberto Contador's team, whoever that might be, will have a hard time using the same old formula for victory. If Radioshack controls the race from the beginning, Contador, as well as several of the other contenders, will get a free ride to Paris. If Radioshack doesn't control the race, who will? Look for an attacking ride around France in 2010, perhaps even Lance will stick his nose in the wind a few times?

My early prediction for 2010: A wide open, attacking race with several surprises, but in the end a very familiar podium.

1. Alberto Contador
2. Lance Armstrong
3. Cadel Evans