The first portion of the Tour de France is over. The field has been through a time trial, several flat stages, and several tense mountain stages and now sit at just past the halfway point in the Tour. Now are the days that each GC rider must be carful, as the next big stage doesn't come until Friday, when the riders confront a mountian top finish at Prato Nevoso.
Each GC threat must take care not to crash or ride inefficiently between now and Friday. Each must save his energy for what promises to be an explosive final week of racing at the Tour. After stage 15, stage 16 features two Hors Catagorie climbs, and then the mythical Alpe d'Huez awaits on stage 17. The true fireworks will start on stage 15, and the Tour will be won (and lost) over the course of those three stages.
Between now and then though, it is a race for the breakaway artists, and no one is as good at long attacks than the French. Look for either of the Chavanel brothers, French champ Nic Vogondy or little Tommy Voeckler off the front often. The Columbia and Gerolsteiner teams, also filled with attackers, will factor as well.
A crash or sickness to any of the GC contenders would be a huge blow to the 2008 Tour experience, as there are so many riders close on the GC. Hopefully each contender will be able to stay upright and out of the wind until Friday. After that, the strong will win, the weak will lose, and the 2008 Tour de France will be stamped into history.
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