Name: Cadel Evans
Nationality: Australian
Team: BMC Racing
Age: Born 14 February 1977 in Katherine (outback Australia). 34 years old.
Background:
After a trying TDF career of two second places in 2007 & 2008, and two terrible tours in 2009 & 2010, Australian Cadel Evans finally won the 2011 tour. Coming up to the 2012 TDF, Cadel is clearly a man to watch. Why? He's still hungry for victory and said as much in November 2011 according to news reports. He did very well in the 2011 UCI World Tours taking GC for Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour de Romandie, & TDF. The 2012 UCI Tour podiums will be widely watch in the build up to TDF 2012 to see if he can continue his form. With BMC Racing behind him for another year, Cadel is looking to keep the momentum going.
Name: Andy Schleck
Nationality: Luxemburger
Team: Saxo Bank
Age: Born 10 February 1985 in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. 26 years old.
Background:
At only 26 years of age, Schleck is arguably favoured to become the 2012 TDF champion, although he’ll have tough competition from Australian Cadel Evans & Spaniard Alberto Contador. Schleck has finished second twice in 2009, 2010 & 2011. In 2009 he lost by just 39 seconds. In 2011 he had the lead until the last stage before Paris where he lost 2’31” to Cadel in the time trail, losing the yellow jersey. He is still young and is building experience, if he gains strength in the time trials, Schleck should have his revenge during the 2012 TDF.
Name: Levi Leipheimer
Nationality: American
Team: Team RadioShack
Age: Born 24 October, 1973 in Montana, United States. 38 years old.
Background:
Not quite a 'new face', some could say Levi has bicycle grease for blood. Leipheimer's track record is impressive: 4 Top 10 finishes in the TDF including 3rd overall in 2007. As part Radio Shack's Armstrong dreamteam, we at Spyns thought that 2010 was Levi's year to shine. Levi Leipheimer had a strong year in the TDF in 2010, even after a crash, a flat and suffering an infection prior to the Pyrenees, he finished the GC in 13th place overall and helped RadioShack win the overall team classification. In 2011 he dropped back to 32nd overall but we haven't written him off just yet. He will be back in 2012...but with younger riders like Contador and Schleck both returning, we ask: what are his chances?
Name: Tom Danielson
Nationality: Americian
Team: Team Garmin - Cervelo
Age: Born 13 March, 1978 in Connecticut. 33 years old.
Background:
Tom started as his sports career as a mountain biker and when his performance started to stagnate, he moved into road cycling while studying at Fort Lewis College in Colorado . He has had multiple impressive performances in the Vuelta a Espana, finishing in the top 10 three times between 2005 & 2010. In 2011 he entered his first year in the Tour de France, where he was the best placed American rider at 9th overall. With a new born son to feul his winning desire, could 2012 be his year?
