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British rider Mark Cavendish celebrates on the podium after the 20.5 km team time trial in Venice - Source: Reuters -
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Part two of tvnz.co.nz's Russell Van Hyer's mini guide to the teams competing in this years Tour De France
Colombia-HTC:
Mark Cavendish - What can I say, possibly the greatest cyclist to ever come from, er, the Isle of Man - one that has the potential to be a Tour legend!
Continually proved last year that he had the best gallop in the world, he started to show his real class this year by snatching the single day monument the Milan - San Remo.
His strong Colombia team has one of the best lead out trains in the business - If he can drag himself over the bumps he's got to be up for green in Paris.
He is coming into the Tour on form, and a stage win in the recent Tour de Suisse will help gain a mental edge (not that he needs any!)
Kim Kirchen will be rested and fit after his broken collarbone from the Tour of California and will be up there fighting for the overall - although he may be lacking what is needed for the Ventoux stage.
However, at Cav and Kirchen's side will be Tour veteran George Hincapie - a super domestique behind eight Tour wins - if anyone knows how to help someone win, it's him.
Full Team ; Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Bert Grabsch, George Hincapie, Kim Kirchen, Tony Martin, Maxime Monfort, Mark Renshaw, Michael Rogers.
Milram:
Possibly the worst team strip in the Tour this year!
All of the team will be trying for the green, yellow or even polka dot jersey in an attempt not to wear their own.
Cavendish's former final lead out man, Gerald Ciolek, moved to this team over the winter and will be chasing green like Cav.
Should be an interesting head to head.
German talent Linus Gerdemann should be coming of age for this Tour's overall standings, and is expected to challenge the top ten.
He is so cocky he probably thinks he can win - that's the spirit, eh, Linus?
Full Team; Gerald Ciolek, Markus Fothen, Johannes Fröhlinger, Linus Gerdemann, Christian Knees, Niki Terpstra, Peter Velits, Fabian Wegmann, Peter Wrolich.
Katusha:
Despite being one of the greatest posers in the peloton, Filippo Pozzato is also one of the strongest sprinters and single day racers, as proved with his second place in this year's Paris Roubaix.
Watch out for that first big bunch sprint, Pozzato will be the one with the mirror on his handlebars checking his perm before the finish.
Overall, this Russian sponsored team is headed by Vladimir Karpets, what a fantastic name, anyway, Karpets has yet to really prove himself in the Tour and will be looking for a good time buffer before heading into the final week.
Full Team; Alexandre Botcharov, Joan Horrach, Mikhail Ignatiev, Sergei Ivanov, Vladimir Karpets, Danilo Napolitano, Filippo Pozzato, Nikolay Trusov and Stijn Vandenbergh.
Lampre-NGC:
Normally strong in the spring classics, the curse of the rainbow jersey has crippled current world champion Alessandro Ballan's season so far, and he will be looking to grab a stage in the Tour to try and redeem his season.
Marzio Bruseghin could be a surprise contender for the overall, but at 34, he might be past his peak.
Full Team; Alessandro Ballan, Marco Bandiera, Marzio Bruseghin, Angelo Furlan, David Loosli, Daniele Righi, Mauro Santambrogio, Marcin Sapa, Simon Spilak.
Yet another article with no mention of Armstrong!
To read part one of Russell Van Hyers Tour de France team guide CLICK HERE
