Yellow may be their color
Cadel Evans, 30, Australia, Predictor-Lotto (Belgium) -- A former mountain bike standout, Evans can climb with the best and hold his own in time trials, and he's finished in the top 10 both times he's raced the Tour. Finished second in the Dauphine Libere tuneup race in the Alps last month and had top-10 finishes in two other major stage races, Paris-Nice and Romandie, but his focus is the Tour and he had a low-key early season.
Levi Leipheimer, 33, US, Discovery Channel (US) -- The three-time top-10 finisher finally has the kind of support riders who can deliver him to the podium. Had a strong early season with a Tour of California win and two stage victories in the Tour de Georgia. Needs to avoid pattern of having a bad day in a critical stage in France -- a shocking letdown in the first long time trial undid him last year.
Denis Menchov, 29, Russia, Rabobank (Netherlands) -- Winner of Best Young Rider honors in 2003 when he finished 11th, Menchov disappeared for a couple of years, then won a Tour mountain stage and finished sixth in 2006. Could mix it up with the big guns, although Rabobank has never shown it can do what it takes to support a race leader.
Christophe Moreau, 36, France, AG2R Prevoyance (France) -- His country's best chance to break a 21-year drought. Even a podium appearance would carry great irony, since Moreau was a member of the disgraced Festina team forced out of the race in the 1998 scandal. He confessed and served a doping suspension. Finished fourth in 2000 and eighth in 2003 and last year. Won the Dauphine Libere tuneup race in the Alps last month.
Carlos Sastre, 32, Spain, CSC (Denmark) -- A gifted climber, Sastre's hopes of getting on the podium depend on gaining a significant edge in the mountains so he can fend off better time trial riders. He has a strong, disciplined team behind him despite the controversy involving its owner and director, 1996 Tour champion Bjarne Riis, who recently confessed he doped in the latter part of his career. If Sastre falters, look for 27-year-old Frank Schleck of Luxembourg to shoulder the slack and compete for the overall.
Alejandro Valverde, 27, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne (France) -- Last year's champion of the Pro Tour circuit, Valverde has raced consistently well in big events this season and won the first time trial of his career. This two-time podium finisher in the Tour of Spain has abandoned the Tour de France both of the last two years because of injury. So far no consequences from his alleged link to the Operacion Puerto scandal.
Alexandre Vinokourov, 33, Kazakhstan, Astana (Kazakhstan) -- The overall favorite for the race, "Vino" finished third in 2003 and fifth in 2005. In '05, in a typically unconventional move, he went for broke to win the final stage to Paris that is normally contested only by sprinters. Vinokourov is now a marked man and probably won't be able to employ his maverick tactics. He was kept off the start line in 2006 by the Operacion Puerto scandal that implicated several of his teammates and recently admitted that he had worked with Dr. Michele Ferrari, Lance Armstrong's former trainer and long the subject of doping allegations.
Other US riders:
George Hincapie, 34, Discovery Channel (US) -- A support rider in all seven Lance Armstrong wins. Has raced in every Tour since 1996. Top finish was 14th in 2005, when he won a Pyrenees stage in a breakaway.
Chris Horner, 35, Predictor-Lotto (Belgium) -- Journeyman got his first chance to ride the Tour in 2005. Finished 33d that year and 64th last year. A breakaway specialist.
Fred Rodriguez, 33, Predictor-Lotto (Belgium) -- Former US champion Rodriguez has won sprint stages in the other two Grand Tours but not in France. Has finished two of six Tours he started.
Guido Trenti, 34, Liquigas (Italy) -- A lead-out man for sprinters. Has an American passport but grew up in Italy and speaks little English.
Christian Vandevelde, 31, CSC (Denmark) -- Rode in support of Lance Armstrong's first Tour win in 1999. Finished a career-best 24th last year. Versatile rider who is a legitimate threat to win a stage.
David Zabriskie, 28, CSC (Denmark) -- Wore the yellow jersey for three days in 2005 after winning the prologue time trial. Crashed out of that race. Finished 74th last year.
BONNIE DeSIMONE
