Pre-season predictions

With the TDU ink drying in the record books it's time to make a few random predictions for the year ahead. Next week the peleton head for the desert (or Indonesia) and then off to California before the 'real' season gets underway on the continent. So, without furthur ado, my picks of the season to come:

Lance will do ok.

Not great, just ok. Sure, he's taken down Le Tour on 7 occasions, but things have moved on. There are a new gang in town, and I don't see Albert just rolling over for some Texan with ulterior (albeit benevolent) motives. Lance might hold on through the first few hilly days, but just watch the attacks fly when the race gets closer to the pointy end. He may stick around for another season yet, but this is a promotional activity only.

Valverde will do ok too.

This guy has been written up so much that there is now no way for him to ever live up to the hype. No tour win, no big classics, just a national champs jersey and a few mid-range stage races. Time is running out for this rapidly balding spaniard (what, you didn't notice?) to prove he has even a slither of Indurain in him.

Phil Liggett will get even taller and thinner.

Has anyone else noticed that Phil appears to be getting taller and thinner? Soon he will disappear into a single line of pixels on my tv. Not this year perhaps, but maybe 2010.

Baden Cooke will be thereabouts but not there.

After hanging about too long at FDJ and then that disastrous run with Unibet this guy had a better '08, but better than what? No more glory days (green jersey, anyone?) but perhaps a semi-classic for this much-loved Australian.

Basso will struggle

My big call: It's one thing to come back after a break, but to come from a ban in this era of drug-cheat Macarthyism is nigh impossible. He might ride well, but I doubt the media will give him a chance and who knows what the fans will think. Without the 'underdog' support he will drop form and results, probably hitting the conti ranks next year then spiralling into a bar-stool outside of Trieste by 2011.

Well, that's my prediction - take it or leave it.