Tour of Romandy Favorites Battle for Swiss Glory

The 62nd Tour of Romandy carries much prestige and importance in the world of cycling, and is the last major stage race before the year's first grand tour, the Giro d'Italia. Riders will encounter good climbs and an individual time trial of 18 kilometers, more than enough of a distance to give each rider a good view into their own fitness level.

Happy go lucky defending champion Thomas Dekker is the favorite for the 2008 edition of Romandy

The favorites for the Swiss race include last year's winner Thomas Dekker of Rabobank, Rubens Bertogliati of the Saunier Duval-Scott, Juan Miguel Garrate of Quick Step, and Caisse d'Epargne's talented climber José Vicente Garcia Acosta. Perhaps more interesting than the battle for the overall however, is the fact that there are also a handful of high profile riders taking the start line that haven't been seen much thus far in 2008.

"Benna" (in Lampre's kit last year) will be sprinting for Liquigas this year instead of against them

Head lining the list is Andreas Kloden of the Astana team. Kloden has been ill and unmotivated so far in 2008, bitter over Astana's exclusion from the Tour de France. Perhaps he'll regain some momentum at Romandy. Rabobank's grand tour hope Dennis Menchov will also be riding at Romandy, looking to test his form ahead of the July Tour de France, which he has made a big objective for himself in 2008.

Kloden will don the shades again and grace the cycling public with his presence at the Tour of Romandy

Other notable riders that will be partor Romandy include Francaise des Jeux's young climber Remy di Gregorio, who has been very quiet in 2008, and Daniele Bennati, of the Liquigas team. "Benna" had an excellent 2007, winning stages in the Tour de France, Vuelta Espana and Three Days of De Panne stage races. He has been dealing with injuries so far in 2008, but he still has plenty of time to round into form ahead of the big stage races this summer. He'll start on his journey back to the top at Romandy.

FDJ's young climber di Gregorio will be on hand at Romandy

The Tour of Romandy is a nice distraction as the cycling world begins to anticipate the grand tour season. Challenging courses, lively racing, and nice weather tend to highlight the Tour of Romandy, and so it is a favorite race for cycling's elite. One rider not on the line is Chris Horner of the Astana team. Usually the Tour of Romandy is one of Horner's favorite races of the season, but for whatever reason, Astana team brass has left him off the squad.