The Pro Tour season (finally) kicks off this Tuesday down under, at the Tour Down Under. In the past, this event hasn't been Pro Tour, but has attracted big names such as Robbie McEwen and Stuart O'Grady. With a Pro Tour contingent, this race should be a good start to the road racing year.
Startlists:
AG2R
1 ELMIGER Martin Switzerland
2 CALZATI Sylvain France
3 DION Renaud France
4 KRIVTSOV Yuriy Ukraine
5 MANGEL Laurent France
6 MONDORY Lloyd France
7 POULHIES Stéphane France
CSC
11 O'GRADY Stuart Australia
12 KLOSTERGAARD LARSEN Kasper Denmark
13 ARVESEN Kurt-Asle Norway
14 JOHANSEN Allan Denmark
15 BAK Lars Ytting Denmark
16 SORENSEN Nicki Denmark
17 GOSS Matthew Harley Australia
Silence-Lotto
21 MCEWEN Robbie Australia
22 AERTS Mario Belgium
23 LLOYD Mathew Australia
24 VANSEVENANT Wim Belgium
25 GATES Nick Australia
26 JACOBS Pieter Belgium
27 KAISEN Olivier Belgium
Credit Agricole
31 GERRANS Simon Australia
32 BODROGI Laszlo Hungary
33 KERN Christophe France
34 LE MEVEL Christophe France
35 RENSHAW Mark Australia
36 ROLLAND Pierre France
37 HUNT Jeremy United Kingdom
Milram:
41 RIGOTTO Elia Italy
42 LANCASTER Brett Australia
43 MÜLLER Martin Germany
44 POITSCHKE Enrico Germany
45 GHISALBERTI Sergio Italy
46 HAUEISEN Dennis Germany
47 ASTARLOA ASCASIBAR Igor Spain
Bouygues Telecom
51 FLORENCIO CABRE Xavier Spain
52 CHAMPION Dimitri France
53 CLERC Aurélien Switzerland
54 CROSBIE Nicolas France
55 PINEAU Jérôme France
56 PÜTSEP Erki Estonia
57 SOKOLOV Evgeny Russia
High Road
61 EISEL Bernhard Austria
62 BURGHARDT Marcus Germany
63 GREIPEL André Germany
64 HANSEN Adam Australia
65 HENDERSON Gregory New Zealand
66 RABON Frantisek Czech Republic
67 DAVIS Scott Australia
Astana
71 RUBIERA VIGIL José Luis Spain
72 MORABITO Steve Switzerland
73 MAZET Julien France
74 KEMPS Aaron Australia
75 JOACHIM Benoît Luxembourg
76 HASELBACHER René Austria
77 DE KORT Koen Netherlands
Caisse D'Epargne
81 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon Spain
82 ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin Spain
83 PORTAL Nicolas France
84 PERGET Mathieu France
85 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo Spain
86 HORRACH RIPPOLL Joan Spain
87 GUTIERREZ PALACIOS José Ivan Spain
Quickstep
91 FACCI Mauro Italy
92 GRABOVSKYY Dmytro Ukraine
93 PRONI Alessandro Italy
94 SCARSELLI Leonardo Italy
95 SEELDRAYERS Kevin Belgium
96 VAN IMPE Kevin Belgium
97 VIGANO Davide Italy
Francaise Des Jeux
101 GILBERT Philippe Belgium
102 DELAGE Mickael France
103 GUDSELL Timothy New Zealand
104 MENGIN Christophe France
105 OFFREDO Yohan France
106 ROY Jérémy France
107 STUBBE Tom Belgium
Liguigas
111 AGNOLI Valerio Italy
112 ALBASINI Michael Switzerland
113 CARLSTRÖM Kjell Finland
114 FISCHER Murilo Brazil
115 MIHOLJEVIC Vladimir Croatia
116 SANTAROMITA Ivan Italy
117 DA DALTO Mauro Italy
Cofidis
121 BUFFAZ Mickaël France
122 DEMARET Jean-Eudes France
123 HARTMANN Nicolas France
124 HUGUET Yann France
125 MOINARD Amaël France
126 MONCOUTIE David France
127 PORTAL Sébastien France
Gerolsteiner
131 FÖRSTER Robert Germany
132 FOTHEN Thomas Germany
133 HAUSSLER Heinrich Germany
134 ORDOWSKI Volker Germany
135 RUSS Matthias Germany
136 WESTPHAL Carlo Germany
137 WROLICH Peter Austria
Euskaltel-Euskadi
141 ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU Mikel Spain
142 ARAMENDIA LORENTE Javier Spain
143 BRU PASCAL Yon Spain
144 GALDOS ALONSO Aitor Spain
145 LAFUENTE Andoni Spain
146 TXURRUKA Amets Spain
147 VELASCO MURILLO Ivan Spain
Rabobank
151 BROWN Graeme Australia
152 BOVEN Jan Netherlands
153 HAYMAN Mathew Australia
154 FLENS Rick Netherlands
155 DE GROOT Bram Netherlands
156 WALKER William Australia
157 ELTINK Theo Netherlands
Lampre-Fondital
161 BALDATO Fabio Italy
162 BINDI Emanuele Italy
163 FORNACIARI Paolo Italy
164 LORENZETTO Mirco Italy
165 MORI Massimiliano Italy
166 MURRO Christian Italy
167 GAVAZZI Francesco Italy
Saunier Duval-Scott
171 BENITEZ ROMAN Jose Alberto Spain
172 DEL NERO MONTES Jesus Spain
173 DURÁN AROCA Arkaitz Spain
174 FLAHAUT Denis France
175 JUFRE POU Josep Spain
176 LOBATO ELVIRA Ruben Spain
177 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker Spain
Australia-UniSA
181 DAVIS Allan Australia
182 ROBERTS Luke Australia
183 MENZIES Karl Australia
184 SULZBERGER Wesley Australia
185 WILSON Matthew Australia
186 CLARKE Simon Australia
187 PORTE Richie Australia
Favorites: The home fans should have a lot to cheer about. Australia UniSA will be led by Allan Davis. This Aussie Sprinter is an early favorite for the overall title. It's hard to argue against CSC's Stuart O'Grady. We'll see how he comes off a monstrous 2007 season, but with the best supporting cast in the race, O'Grady should make some noise. Robbie McEwen will lead the Silence-Lotto team. This Aussie and Belgian favorite seems to get better with age, we'll find out if that will play true in this early Pro Tour race. Graeme Brown is known as an aggressive sprinter. Rabobank fans will hope that won't get in the way like it did on occasion last year.
Is it to early for the Pro Tour? Well, with the extra confusing schedule, why the heck not start it in January? This may not have the sexiness of the Tour (mountains), but we should see a high speed race that will certainly make cycling fans everywhere stand up and cheer. Welcome to the 2008 Road Racing season, enjoy! |
