Criterium International 2008: The Favorites

The 2008 Criterium International parcours

The 77th Criterium International, the two day, three stage “mini Tour de France” starts today in France. Last year’s winner, Jens Voigt, will try for a fourth overall victory for his CSC team, leaving him one short of the record five wins by Raymond Poulidor in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Voigt will have some real firepower backing him up, as former winner Bobby Julich will be on hand, as well as the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank.

Voigt's fearless tactics are well-suited to the Criterium International

Looking to unseat Voigt will be a host of contenders looking to show their form ahead of the upcoming classics and the year’s first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia. Still others will use the race merely as preparation for the ultimate prize, the Grand Boucle, the Tour de France. CI is a great chance for riders to test themselves in as the race features one flat stage, one hilly stage, and one time trial stage. If a rider comes good overall at CI, they can feel confident that they’ll show well in their other season objectives.

Fans will get a glimpse of Valverde for one of the first times this year

The contenders for the 2008 edition are many, some who have had some good early season results, and some that have been M.I.A. thus far in 2008. First up is Caisse d’Epargne’s “Green Bullet,” Alejandro Valverde, second overall in last year’s race. The Spaniard, dominant only two years ago, has been unheard of in 2008, and will hope for a good CI ride to announce his form ahead of the hilly Wallonian classics. Lampre’s “Little Prince,” Damiano Cunego, will try his luck again at CI in 2008 after a good 2007 that saw him take victory in the Tour of Romandy, a prestigious fall classic. Cunego will be targeting the overall at the Tour de France, and a good ride in the Criterium International will help his morale heading into the meat of the season.

Cunego will race the "mini Tour de France" before the real TDF in July

Rabobank’s climber Robert Gesink will be present to do battle in stage two, but the young Dutchman probably won’t have the chops to contend for the overall. Francaise des Jeux’s Sandy Casar will be motivated on home soil, and Kim Kirchin of the High Road squad is always dangerous in a stage race with hills and a time trial.

Two-time defending American time trial champ Zabriskie is a contender for 2008

The American Slipstream team will have a strong contingent in France as well, with time trial specialists David Zabriskie and David Millar flying the flag for the “Argyle Gang”. If either can stay with the leaders on stage two, they’ll be in with a real chance for the overall in the final day’s time trial. Zabriskie had a great Tour of California from a climbing perspective, staying with Astana’s Levi Leipheimer and Gesink for almost the entire Sierra Road climb in stage 3 of the Tour of California. If he can find the same climbing legs in France, he may bag his biggest win to date.

Astarloza will give his best effort for the Basque fan base

Finally, for dark horses, consider Mikel Astarloza of the Euskaltel-Euskadi Basque team. Astarloza is a good climber and a decent time trialist, and if the weather cooperates, he could do some damage in the short stage race. Another underdog is Columbian climbing ace Mauricio Soler of the South African Barloworld team. Soler is a fearsome climber, and if he can take a minute or more on stage two, he may be able to limit his losses enough in the final time trial to net the win. More likely though is that Soler will use CI to continue to build his form for the July Tour de France.