This is a variation on an email I sent out to a few of the boys today in regards to the 2008 Tour course, which was unveiled on Thursday afternoon. For the first time in many, many years, they've shaken up the Tour in a big way. Despite the fact that for the first time in eons there will be no American-sponsored team, I am pretty stoked nonetheless.
Anyway, the news, as follows:
1. for the first time I can recall, there is no time trial prologue. We start with a long stage!
2. no boring first week of sprints! We move to some big ass climbs late in the first week.
3. lots of mountain finishes, including the return of Alpe d'Huez. For sure this will be a climbers tour which bodes well for Alberto and Levi.
4. most important and interesting change: no time bonuses will be awarded for winning a stage. This is huge and will keep the pressure constant.
Lastly, without question, I will be rooting for two teams this year: Astana (which is essentially Team Discovery, replete with Contador, Levi and Johan) and Slipstream, presuming of course that they get a bid.
It's not too early to be thinking about July, y'all.
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