Six U.S. Cyclists Set for Unique 2007 Tour De France

The 2007 Tour de France, cycling's yearly pinnacle event, begins Saturday, July 7 in London, and it will be unique for three reasons.

The race's 94th edition will start in London, England, a first since the race debut's 1903. It will begin three days after Independence Day - a rare late starting day. And the race will not include a defending titlist.

Last year, Floyd Landis of Murrieta, Calif., became the race's 11th American winner in its last 21 editions. But Landis is still embattled in drug accusations and his absence will be the first time in race history the reigning title won't return via drug-related issues.

In his well-documented ordeal, Landis tested positive for a high testosterone-epitestosteroe level after dramatically winning stage 17 en route to his comeback overall victory. He's currently embroiled in the legal process and his title remains in limbo.

Amaury Sport Organization, the Tour's organizers, says it no longer consider Landis the race winner. Yet it has not officially stripped his title.

Beyond the Landis affair, the new starting location and late starting date, the Tour this year will advance in a clockwise route and will include six days in the mountains, one more than in 2006.

After the start in London, the Tour will cross the sea two days later, continue in Belgium and then progress into France until its traditional concluding day in Paris on July 29.

Although final rosters aren't required until just prior to the race's start, six Americans, all Tour de France veterans, will likely compete.

The pending U.S contingent includes:

George Hincapie, 32, Greenville, S.C., Discovery Channel - Hincapie rode for Armstrong in each of his seven title years. Now he's one of the most experienced riders in the pro ranks. He won a Tour de France mountain stage in 2005 and has now finished the race 10 times, more than any other American.

Chris Horner, 35, Bend, Ore., Predictor-Lotto - After racing internationally early in his career, Horner dominated the U.S. circuit for several years and then return to the European circuit. He's finished the Tour de France twice and will ride this year in a support role for team leader Cadel Evans.

Levi Leipheimer, 33, Santa Rosa, Calif., Discovery Channel - Leipheimer has finished in the top-10 overall in the Tour three times, including as high as sixth. He'll be the team leader for Discovery Channel. Unfortunately for Leipheimer, he's had a career of misfortune in the Tour - bad days to crashes. If he stays on his bike and avoids any horrible days, he could vie for the title or at least a top-three finish.

Fred Rodriguez, 33, Emeryville, Calif., Predictor-Lotto - Rodriquez has finished the Tour twice and he's still has the ability to vie for a sprint stage win. He's often known as "Fast Freddie" and if he's on, look for him near the front of sprints. Mostly, he'll work for teammate Cadel Evans' overall title quest.

Christian Vande Velde, 31, Boulder, Colo., CSC - Like Bobby Julich, Vande Velde's career has been rekindled under the guidance of Bjarne Riis, director of CSC. While riding for Lance Armstrong on Motorola earlier in his career, he held the best young rider's for several days in the 1999 Tour. He didn't participate for several years, but returned to the Tour and rode strongly has year, finishing 24th overall.

Dave Zabriskie (28, Salt Lake City, Utah, CSC ) - His career has been marked with untimely crashes, but when he's riding well, he's among the world's finest time trialists. He upset Lance Armstrong in 2005 prologue and grabbed the race leader's jersey. He crashed hard four days later and eventually withdrew with multiple injuries. The same scenario has occurred in many other races.

In addition to Leipheimer, Tour favorites for the overall title include: Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne) of Spain, Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan and German Andreas Kloden, who both ride for Astana, Cadel Evans of Australia (Predictor-Lotto), Russians Vladimir Karpets (Caisse d'Epargne) and Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Carlos Sastre (CSC) of Spain.

OVERALL TOP-10 AND U.S. FINAL RESULTS, 2006

1. Floyd Landis, Murrieta, Calif. Phonak, 89 hours, 39 minutes, 30 seconds.
2. Oscar Pereiro, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 57 seconds behind.
3. Andréas Klöden, Germany, T-Mobile, 1 minute, 29 seconds behind.
4. Carlos Sastre, Spain, CSC, 3:13 behind.
5. Cadel Evans, Australia, Davitamon-Lotto, 5:08 behind.
6. Denis Menchov, Russia) Rabobank, 7:06 behind.
7. Cyril Dessel (France), Ag2r Prevoyance, 8:41 behind.
8. Christophe Moreau (France), Ag2r Prevoyance, 9:37 behind.
9. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 12:05 behind.
10. Michael Rogers, Australia, T-Mobile, 15:07 behind.
13. Levi Leipheimer, Santa Rosa, Calif, Gerolsteiner, 19:22 behind.
24. Christian Vande Velde, Boulder, Colo., CSC, 50:19 behind.
32. George Hincapie, Greenville, S.C., Discovery Channel, 1 hour, 11 minutes, 14 seconds behind.
64. Chris Horner, Bend, Ore.,Davitamon-Lotto, 2:12:25 behind.
74. David Zabriskie, Salt Lake City, Utah, CSC, 2:33:46

RACE SCHEDULE

7 July: prologue, London (8 km)
8 July: 1st stage, London - Canterbury (203 km)
9 July: 2nd stage, Dunquerque - Gent (167 km)
10 July: 3rd stage, Waregem - Compiègne (236 km)
11 July: 4th stage, Villers-Côtterets - Joigny (190 km)
12 July: 5th stage, Chablis - Autun (184 km)
13 July: 6th stage, Semur-en-Auxerrois - Bourg-en-Bresse (200 km)
14 July: 7th stage, Bourg-en-Bresse - Le Grand Bornard (197 km)
15 July: 8th stage, Le Grand Bornard - Tignes (165 km)
16 July: Rest day in Tignes
17 July: 9th stage, Val d'Isère - Briançon (161 km)
18 July: 10th stage, Tallard - Marseille (229 km)
19 July: 11th stage, Marseille - Montpellier (180 km)
20 July: 12th stage, Montpellier - Castres (179 km)
21 July: 13th stage, Albi - Albi, Individual time trial (54 km)
22 July: 14th stage, Mazamet - Plateau de Beille (197 km)
23 July: 15th stage, Foix - Loudenvielle-le-Louron (196 km)
24 July: Rest day in Pau
25 July: 16th stage, Orthez - Col d'Aubisque (Gourette, 218 km)
26 July: 17th stage, Pau - Castelsarrasin (188 km)
27 July: 18th stage, Cahors - Angoulême (210 km)
28 July: 19th stage, Cognac - Angoulême, Individual time trial (55 km)
29 July: 20th stage, Marcoussis - Paris (130 km)