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Anglophones set to dominate Prologue Posted: Saturday July 06, 2002 6:23 AMLUXEMBOURG (Reuters) -- The opening time trial of the Tour de France on Saturday looks set to be a battle of English speakers. Three times Tour winner Lance Armstrong of the USA, Australian Bradley McGee and Britain's David Millar are the favorites to win the seven-kilometer time trial around the center of Luxembourg. Only Christophe Moreau of France, Santiago Botero of Colombia, Rik Verbrugghe of Belgium and Igor Gonzales Galdeano of Spain look like having a chance of stopping them winning the opening stage and pulling on the first leader's jersey of the 2002 Tour. McGee won the prologue of last month's Dauphine Libere race showing he has the speed and power for short time trials. Last year McGee finished 12th after the pressure of the Tour de France got to him but at 26 he appears ready for his first moment of glory. David Millar won the prologue in 2000 and went on to lead the Tour for three days, experiencing the huge attention feted on the first yellow jersey of the race. He crashed during last year's prologue but is determined to ride well throughout the whole race this year. "I've prepared for the whole Tour and not just the prologue," he said recently. "The prologue is dangerous. I'm on form for the Tour but I don't want to sacrifice the Tour for the first seven kilometers." Armstrong, aiming for win his fourth consecutive Tour de France, is so strong in time trials that he could win the prologue just as he did in 1999. Strongest rivals Moreau won the prologue last year in Dunkirk beating Igor Gonzales Galdeano, however the Frenchman crashed two weeks ago in training and has only recently recovered from his injuries. Gonzales Galdeano and Botero are probably the strongest rivals for McGee, Millar and Armstrong. Gonzales Galdeano won the Spanish time trial title last week and Botero beat Armstrong to win the time trial at the Dauphine. The winner Saturday is expected to cover the course in less than eight minutes at an average speed of close to 50 kilometres an hour. The opening three kilometres are all down hill with seven corners to negotiate at full speed. The climb to the finish is just as technical with sections of cobblestones and two hairpin bends before a long final blast to the line in Avenue Victor Hugo. The weather could also play a decisive factor. Forecasts for Saturday are predicting rain showers and a rider who races on dry roads would have a definite advantage over those forced to ride in the rain. The prologue will be held in the early evening with the race winner decided at 1730 GMT. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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