Well, it's Tour de France time again. What July would be complete without my prognostications on cycling's finest event? I'll start with my predictions for the overall General Classification:

Yellow Jersey
1. Cadel Evans
2. Alejandro Valverde
3. Riccardo Ricco

Cadel Evans is the odds on favorite, but he has a long history of being a reactive racer, rather than a proactive racer. If he doesn't fall too far behind on the road stages, he can make up time in the individual time trial. And he's so strong in the mountains, he won't lose much time. Valverde's been riding strong so far this season, his time trialing has improved, and he has a strong team that will be dedicated solely to him. Ricco is an outstanding climber but a poor time trialist. If he rides like he did in the Giro d'Italia, he'll certainly animate the race in the mountains. Evans is good at following wheels, though, and I don't think Ricco can gain enough time on the slopes to hold a gap through the time trial.

Other rides to watch for include Carlos Sastre and the Schleck brothers, Fränk and Andy, who all ride for CSC. They're all podium contenders, but the triple-headed monster strategy rarely works, as evidenced by Team T-Mobile in the Ullrich-Vinokourev-Klöden days. I wouldn't be surprised to see all three in the top ten, but I doubt any of them will reach the podium. Damiano Cunego has dedicated his season to racing well at the Tour, but he just seems to lack that little bit extra to reach the podium—a top five is a possibility though. Haimar Zubeldia has finished in the top ten so many times it's hard to count him out, but, like Cunego, he seems to lack what it takes to make the top three. Roman Kreuziger is rider who's been racing great all year but gets little credit for it. I think he's got a shot at a top ten placing and will contend for the White Jersey for best young rider. Now that Denis Menchov won't have to support Michael Rasmussen, he should contend for a high finish. Stijn DeVolder will make a run for the top ten, especially now that his team won't have Tom Boonen to support. Alas, he's no longer wearing the Belgian National Champion jersey, so he'll be little harder to pick out of the peloton. After quietly finishing seventh last year, expect Kim Kirchen to be in the mix as well.

Green Jersey
Robbie McEwen

With Tom Boonen barred from racing thanks to a coke problem, and Daniele Bennati out due to injury, the Green Jersey race is wide open. I'm going with McEwen because he always places highly, even if he doesn't win, he has a good history of actually finishing the whole race, and his form finally seems to be coming around after some early-season setbacks. Mark Cavendish is a McEwen-esque racer, and I was tempted to pick him for the title, but he'll really struggle in the high mountains, and I've got a suspicion that he won't make it all the way to Paris. Erik Zabel will contend, as always, but he's lost a bit of speed and can't seem to get higher than second place any more. I really think the Green Jersey will go to a rider who wins at least one stage. Robbie Hunter will stick his nose in again, as will Oscar Freire and Thor Hushovd. The points race could come down to the finish on the Champs Elysees.

Polka Dot Jersey
Mauricio Soler

Unless Soler decides to make a run at the GC, he should win the King of the Mountains classification. One big day in the mountains and some smart defending are what it takes to win this jersey, but a GC contender never gets that big day because he'll get chased down by the other highly-placed riders. I think Christophe Moreau might make a run at the Polka Dots, but he has such a long history of poor strategy, it's hard to see him pulling it off. If Soler falters, this Jersey will likely go as a consolation prize to one of the top-placed GC riders—someone like Ricco or Valverde.

White Jersey
Riccardo Ricco

The jersey for the best young rider is a hard one for me to pick because I don't know who's eligible without looking up a bunch of birthdays. I do know Ricco is young enough, and I picked him to podium, so there you go. Look for Kreuziger and Andy Schleck to contend as well.

Stage One: Brest to Plumelec — 197.5 Kilometers

The finish of this stage is a two-kilometer climb at a five-percent gradient. That will make it rough for the sprinters. I expect a strong classics rider will win this stage, and there are a few good ones to choose from: the Schleck brothers, Alessandro Ballan, Juan Antonio Flecha, Philippe Gilbert, Filippo Pozzato, Oscar Freire, and podium favorite Alejandro Valverde. Valverde beat Fränk Schleck in a similar sprint at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and it's quite tempting to pick him to do the same here. In fact, I think I will.  ¶ 1:55 PM