I thought the radio ear-pieces were only outlawed for a couple of the flat stages (sort of as a trial run).

I think Cav will rack up at least 3 stage wins, but I'm going to say he won't take the green for not attempting to pickup midrace sprint bonuses.

Cadel's team is better than last year, but so is the rest of the depth of the field, so I'd say he's still in trouble. He seems to be better in the TT this year though

Sastre gets frustrated too easy, and will certainly have a blowup day w/o the help of the Schleks up front

Menchov has to be on a decline...there's no way he's kept top for from the Giro still.

As for Astana, they certainly have the talent to dominate, but we'll see how it pans out. I'm not sure who I'm for...but either way it should be quite a show this year. Of course I'll have to play catch-up since I'm out of town w/ no TV this weekend.

like the no radio rule for the 2 stages. should be interesting to watch

no idea about how it will play out but look forward to watching

Having just started to get into the cycling scene I'm excited to watch this year and know names, faces, some riding styles and what the terms mean. Can't wait, I set up the DVR last night and moved the trainer in front of the tv in the basement for anytime I get the itch...

The excitement is definitely building. My wife and I watched the Tour preview on VS the other night and they are also showing the big stages in Lance's wins.

I'm hoping to see Tyler Farrar compete with Cavendish but it will be hard, he's the first Washington resident to ride in the Tour so he's sort of a local for my wife and I (she's from Washington). I also like Thor Hushovd from Cervelo but Cavendish is an absolute monster in the sprints and I think the only way to stop him is with team tactics (block him the best they can).

I'm still on the fence about the radios, so we'll see.

Interesting to see if Astana can get 2 on the podium. I'm a LA fan but I don't think he's going to end up on the podium, too much talent out there this year. I really believe in the end he'll work for Contador and give 110% doing it.

Not to mention the stacked Saxo-Bank team.

I'm pulling for Garmin-Chipole and Van de Velde but coming off his crash in Italy its a tough call.

Plus the Team Time Trial is back and the Tour will end atop Mont Ventoux before the final ride to Paris. Should be great.

All of this and we'll see all of the new fancy TT bike rolled out.

the earpiece rule is only in effect for 2 stages, but i think after some organization argued that it was risking the safety of the riders it became optional, not 100% sure about that though,

cavendish, putting aside the fact that i dislike him, will most likely win a few sprint stages, but Thor Hushovd from cervelo could definitely give him a run for his money, along with tyler farrar from garmin

i think the riders on astana will have to put their egos aside and work for Contador. The guy is fit like none other. Along with that, his time trialing abilities are stronger than theyve EVER been. He should be the clear favorite, not Lance. If anything, Lance should work for Contador as a super-domestique, along with Leipheimer, and if he feels good, try to get on the podium. But this being his first year back after a 3-year break, Lance probably isnt fit enough to win the Tour. Lance KNOWs from his winning years in the Tour that, in order to win, he needs a team with good camaraderie that will work their butts off for their leader. He will realize that he is not fit enough to win and will do serious work for Contador.

Cadel Evans, despite being incredibly fit right now, doesnt have the team he needs to win a tour. Do i smell ANOTHER second place? probably.

Sastre will be able to challenge without the Schlecks, and he proved that in the Giro. The guy climbs like none other (except for perhaps Contador). Look for him and Contador to battle it out and completely break away from the pack on the big mountain stages. Sure, he doesnt have a VERY strong team, but at the same time he showed that he does not neccesarily need them to win big on the mountains.
The schlecks, although they have amazing talent, will not be able to contend this year at the Giro. Maybe next year or a few years after that Andy will win the tour, but right now he has not showed that his fitness is where it needs to be to win a grand tour.

Menchov was in outstanding form for the Giro, but he hasnt raced since then, and its going to show in the tour. He'll place top 10, but i doubt he has been able to maintain the form he was in for the Giro just from training and not racing. Plus, as mentioned on cyclingnews this week, Giro-Tour doubles are VERY rare. The last person to do it was Marco Pantani in 1998.

As for these 3 weeks, well theyre the highlight of my year, haha jk. But seriously, i love watching the Tour. I love waking up nice and early to sit on my butt for hours to watch cycling, then going out for some hard training. I just love cycling.

I would have to agree, my girlfriend hates the month of July and our DVR fills up with cycling, nothing could be better.

Yes, but it was immediately followed by a commercial break so I couldn't see the riders, only the same Saab commercial for the 100th time :)

I'm jealous that you you get to see the Tour

If you want Lance's attention just dress up as the Livestrong Devil and wait for Lance to shove you into the ground like at the Tour of California, that guy seemed to get his attention.

Muw haw haw haw haw, and the tour is free to go and watch. I could decide to go watch it or I could decide to go swim in the mediteranian. :-)

I am so jealous! I don't have cable and didn't have VS when I did. The though police won't let me get to any video websites at work. I'll have to settle for reading about it.

does anyone think that if I yell loud enough "YEE HAW" in a texas accent, that lance will notice me at the end of the stage? I mean we're both from texas, and I just happen to be in one of the stage finishing cities (perpignan, Stage 5). also, i'm not exactly sure what the riders do after the stage is over. I really want to meet him.

EDIT: maybe i don't really want to meet him...from everything i've read (book, newspapers, all that jazz), I don't think he comes across as a little bit of an A$$, but I would certainly not mind meeting him :-)

Warrior! how are you liking the first stage?

And the opinions comments are where? ................I am following Nicolas Roche, his father won the tour when I was just a lad.

Your dad rocks Gsal.

Looking forward to watching the TTT today.

Astana and Garmin in a close 1,2 finish.

Nice prediction Garen, you know your stuff............ and Hey Gsal I was going to say that Anton didn't say he hated me :-) he just said some hated me, then I did what Lance never does, I looked back.........arrgh....
I have a buddy in Ireland Shane Stokes who bikes and is a biking journalist, I don't know if you read his stuff. He normally follows the tour. I am amazed at the amount of following it has outside of Europe... Stunned.
I think a lot of you might find the Europeans are not so anti- american, given the cheers it looks like folks want Lance out front. Interesting the politics of the team.... I wonder what will happen.

As Lance said today and I paraphrase, yesterday I was lucky, you have to make your own luck.

Lance is interviewed in English and French by the French Journos here every day, live on Television, there is nothing but love and utmost respect for him........it's sickening actually we get the yellow jersey and Lance and that's it. No one else.

Hey there, my guy came in second on todays stage. I am noticing the distinct lack of aero bars in the tour.. They seem to be used only for sprints, while the Nice Iron man didn't have a bike without them.... Why do triathletes use them?

In the Tour, aero bars are actually illegal except during a TT.
The rule says, roughly, that you must ride with your hands covering the brakes.
Exceptions are made during feeding times, attending the Doctor's car and other obvious, necessary occasions.

While using aero bars, apart from control issues, as ChunkyB has noted, your hands are too far from the brakes to stop quickly. Okay, okay, so braking is as much a part of "control" as steering is, I just wanted to say..

PoC