Anything can happen over the next three weeks, but here we take a look at the riders most likely to be in the spotlight throughout the Tour de France. Below is a guide to what are expected to be the most pivotal and exciting stages, and a breakdown as to what the different colored race jerseys signify.
Five riders to watch
Lance Armstrong (Astana) &ndash There is a fascination about this man and everything he does that transcends sport. Even though it would take an extraordinary set of circumstances for him to stand any chance of winning the Tour, all eyes with be on Armstrong to see how much his years away from the sport have taken out of him.
Alberto Contador (Astana) – The Tour favorite could not possibly ask for a more experienced or accomplished rider than Armstrong to help him on his quest for glory. A magnificent climber, Contador will look to establish himself in the mountains and wrap up the title.
Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto) – The Australian is … Details
Mavericks Surf Ventures, Inc. (Mavericks) announced today that the upcoming 2009/2010 big-wave season at Mavericks will honor and celebrate the 35th anniversary of Jeff Clark’s first session at the now world-famous break. In the winter of 1975, then-17 year-old Clark first paddled out to the nautical hazard named after a white haired German Shepherd.Â
In a remarkable personal odyssey, Clark then surfed Mavericks completely alone for 15 years before the news media began reporting on the 50-foot waves, house-sized rocks, and bone chilling waters that characterize this treacherous locale.Â
From those solitary beginnings, Mavericks has become an international phenomenon. The annual Mavericks Surf Contest® brings the world’s preeminent big-wave surfers together on 24 hours’ notice … Details
This summer heralds the birth of Girl Jam – the UK’s first all-female bodyboarding event aimed at bringing girls together from across the country to surf and share their skills.
The event is open to EVERYONE, whether you are ripping it up around the globe or just want to try something new.
The event is being held on July 12th at Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall in association with Rob Barbers Bodyboard School (www.robbarber.com – 01637 879 571) and supported by Three Sixty Magazine (www.orcasurf.co.uk/threesixty) – starting at 10am, meeting at the Carnmarth Hotel.
We are actively seeking more sponsorship and funding for the event…Â Details
The overall winner of this year’s Tour de France, which begins Saturday, will be the rider with the best set of lungs over 21 days of racing. That’s likely to be a contest between the spindly Spaniards Alberto Contador and Carlos Sastre, along with a cast of dark horses that could, at least in theory, include seven-time winner Lance Armstrong.
But behind the leaders, the future growth and maturation of American cycling may rest on the gigantic quads of a kid you’ve never heard of.
Tyler Farrar, a 25-year-old who races for the American Garmin-Slipstream team, is a mellow sort who wears a Tibetan tattoo on his wrist with the Buddhist mantra “inner peace.†But don’t let his placid exterior fool you. Cycling experts say he may be the fastest American ever to enter the race … Details