Tour de France - Cav heads green jersey pack
Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 10:00:00 2009
Eurosport-Yahoo!'s Felix Lowe runs the rule over the main contenders looking to take the green jersey in this year's Tour de France.
If the green jersey was awarded for the best sprinter in the peloton then there would be few doubting its probable destination. But while points are awarded for the top 20 finishers at the end of each stage there are also points up for grabs at two intermediate sprints during each stage - while the eventual winner must, of course, actually make it to Paris.
In Oscar Freire and Thor Hushovd, the peloton for this year's race contains two previous green jersey winners - but no one comes close to the record six wins amassed by retired German sprinter Erik Zabel.
Mark Cavendish (GBR, Columbia) ****
Even Cavendish (pictured) himself admits that he's the fastest man on two wheels - but that alone will not win him green. Since he blitzed four stages in last year's Grande Boucle, the 24-year-old has added three Giro wins and two victories in Switzerland this term - not to mention his outstanding Milan-San Remo scalp. With no Olympics to prepare for at the end of the summer, Cav will have no excuses if he fails to make it to Paris - especially after controversially pulling out of May's Giro to focus on the Tour. Having Zabel as an advisor will certainly help and if he gets through the mountains and contests a few intermediate sprints, there should not be much stopping Cavendish becoming the first Briton since Robert Millar in 1984 to win a jersey.
Thor Hushovd (Nor, Cervelo) ****
The Big Norwegian won green in 2005 and has six Tour stage victories to his name, including one in last year's race before a certain Manxman arrived on the scene. Even Hushovd will admit he's not the best sprinter in the peloton, but he will contest all the intermediate sprints, finish consistently high and certainly make it to Paris. After eight years at Credit Agricole, being at a new team has brought out the best in the 31-year-old, who has wins in California and Catalunya to his name this season, plus a strong showing in the classics.
Oscar Freire (Spa, Rabobank) ****
Another rider who knows what its like to win green, Freire, at 33, is the oldest and most experienced amongst the runners for the points jersey. The three-time world champion wore green from stage nine all the way to Paris last year and has displayed fine form this year to bag two stages in the Tour of Romandie. The Spaniard's staying power and ability to ride the intermediate sprints will act in his favour - and might just make him the favourite.
Heinrich Haussler (Ger, Cervelo) ***
The man so narrowly beaten by Cavendish in San Remo, Haussler nevertheless has had an extraordinary breakthrough season since joining Cervelo from Gerolsteiner. The "German Kangaroo" was all-conquering for a period in the spring, rushing to victories in Qatar, Paris-Nice and the Algarve with apparent ease and a kick to savour. Some fear the 25-year-old has peaked too early, but a well-earned rest in May and some heavy training since should see Haussler in the centre of all the action this year.
Daniele Bennati (Ita, Liquigas) ***
It has been a quite season so far for the Italian but with a couple of minor wins to his name and months of preparation behind him, the 28-year-old looks to be rolling back into contention for green. Before a leg injury last year, Bennati was one of the only men to match Cavendish for speed, equalling his rival's hoard of three Giro wins before taking a further two in the Vuelta after sitting out the Tour. If Bennati shows similar form, he has what it takes to mix it with the best. All will rely on his fitness.
Gerald Ciolek (Ger, Milram) **
The young German is Zabel's heir at Milram after making the switch from Columbia at the end of last season. No longer having to lead out Cavendish to the line, it will be fascinating to see how the 22-year-old fares against his old team-mate. Perhaps too young to be a top contender for green, Ciolek is still a good outside bet - and gained praise this week from Bernard Hinault, who predicted great things from the former under-23 champion. A stage win looks likely.
Kim Kirchen (Lux, Columbia) **
Not an out-and-out sprinter as such, but Kirchen has staying power and a will to sniff out his chances. In the absence of Alejandro Valverde, Kirchen is the kind of guy who can take the bunch by surprise and nick a stage win. The 30-year-old wore green for six days last year and is not afraid of contesting intermediate sprints.
Tyler Farrar (USA, Garmin) **
The American makes his Tour debut on the back of a solid season. Twice two times in the Giro, the 25-year-old has picked up wins in Tirreno-Adriatico and the Delta Tour Zeeland this season. No way as fast as Cavendish, Farrar may however surprise a few people with his speed.
Leonardo Duque (Col, Cofidis) **
Not the most explosive of sprinters, but Colombian Duque is both consistent and persistent. The 29-year-old was fourth in last year's standings but has yet to win a stage in the Tour.
Danilo Napolitano (Ita, Katusha) *
Following the absence of Robbie McEwen and Gert Steegmans, the 28-year-old Italian has found himself Katusha's top dog in the sprinting stakes.
Filippo Pozzato (Ita, Katusha) *
The Italian classics specialist came second in Paris-Roubaix and has one Tour stage to his name, back in 2005. No longer acting as lead-out man to Alessandro Petacchi or Tom Boonen, Pozzato will have freedom to try his own hand.
Julian Dean (Nzl, Garmin) *
Consistent and experienced, the New Zealander will not trouble the big guns for victories but will linger like the smell of freshly chopped grass in most bunch finishes.
Allan Davis (Aus, Quick Step) * or Tom Boonen (Bel, Quick Step) ***
Depending on the 11th-hour outcome of Boonen's appeal to race, Quick Step will either field the gritty Australian outsider Davis or their main man. Despite the difficulty of the last two months, the Belgian would certainly be one of the major contenders for green. He has six Tour stages to his name and won the points jersey in 2007 before the first of his two bans for cocaine came into action. Boonen's replacement lacks explosiveness, but should place in the top ten of most sprint finishes.
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Comment 1 - 13 of 13
The endurance you need to finish a long tour comes with age. Cav will get better at handling the long mountain stages with time. There no rush for him to win the green jersey this year or even in the next 2. He will be a force in cycling for years and years to come. I would be suprised if he doesnt pick up at least 4 green jerseys before he retires. Given that he should be able to ride at least another 10 tours and he will be getting stronger all the time I really dont think that should be a problem.
With regaurds to Boonens Cocain mess its not a banned drug on the UCI list out of competition. Cycling is one of the only sports where you even get tested for these things. How many soccer players have been caught for coke and how many have admitted to having problems with the stuff for years. Its great cycling is fighting drugs but sometimes its over the top. The fact that people wnat him to be charged crimanly is crazy aswell. There must be a million TV shows about celebraty rehab and you dont see them going to jail each time they get high. The double standards the media hold are killing the sport almost as much as the problem with illegal drugs
Hmm, Cav does seem to want to make it to Paris this time, he seems genuinely angry at himself for not finishing the Tour last year, and I honestly think he will, just. I still don't think he will be able to contest those intermediates though. He'll win end-of-stage sprints (hopefully) and I really hope he proves me wrong but I just wonder whether he's able to maintain that effort for three weeks. As Pedro said, Cipollini reckons he's being pushed too hard and I agree. I reckon he WILL make it to Paris because he is mentally strong enough to do it, and he'll win on the Champs Elysees but I think green will elude him this year. That said, I really really hope he proves me wrong! He'll probably win the polka-dot jersey too now I've said this...!
I read some interesting comments on Cav by Cippolini. Mario reckons he's being raced too much and isn't, therefore, able to dedicate the time required to work on and improve his weaknesses (long climbs) in training. He's a victim of his own success to some degree and he wins most of the sprints he contests and Columbia want to win as many races as possible. I can't see him contesting intermediate sprints (unless its towards the end of the race and the points competition is close), just stage wins/placings. Hopefully he can make the time limit on the really tough days.
What I meant Dr J is that I feel if you are a serious sports person (whether pro or not), you wouldnt want to put harmful substances into your body. The sport gives you it's own natural high.
Julian Dean (Aus, Garmin) Nice proof reading work eurosport. You might wanna change that AUS to NZL. that type of blasphemy roughly equates to calling a Welshman english!
What the hell is recreational about cocaine DR J you Ignoranus.
jasonwhitnell i believe cav finished the giro last year so it wont be his first time to finsh a grand tour. I think if he get to paris he is the only winner as he will take atleast 4 stages again
Liz S, if they are recreational, they are not in sport, you wombat!
To win the green jersey Cavendish has to do two things he has never done. Go for the intermediate sprints and finish a grand tour. Can his team do this for him as well?
I believe that it is not going to be the rider that wins most points to win the green jersey in Paris - it's going to be rider that can reach to Paris.
On Cavendish behalf the continuous mountain stages are early on but I think he won't be able to pull the Mount Ventoux. So again Mark will win couple of stages, at least, be top in points but he won't be able to ride in Paris. The others are complicated, it all depends will they have to work for the yellow jersey. So if Sastre comes of yellow from the Pyrenees Hushovd can kiss the green jersey goodbye, yet if Sastre is not in yellow I fancy Thor.
On the other hand, for the first time, Oscar won't have to worry if any Rabobank rider is in yellow. Since he is the strongest sprinter on the climbs - he will surely finish in Paris and has a nice chance to win the green jersey.
Finally - pick 1 Hushovd - pick 2 Friere.
I would have my money on Hushovd and Farrar duking it out. I doubt that Freire will make it through the first week without a crash to put him out.
Cav definitely wont win it this year because he has stated he will race the race just to finish and take some stages as we all know. Having him rated as a candidate is a joke. In turn Friere is my pick but my heart lies with Dean but how in the heck can he win when he is racing for Garmin?? Hushovd or Bennati I would expect would rate as strong possibles if Friere has back problems. Once again not a real good class of sprinter material much like the GC.
I for one am hoping Allan Davis gets in. Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of Boonen but I don't like drugs in sports even if they are "recreational". Give it to the cleaner man!
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