Preview - Yellow Jersey

The maillot jaune, the golden fleece, the yellow jersey. The most famous prize in all of cycling. In 2008 Carlos Sastre rode himself into history with a glorious solo ride up L'Alpe d'Huez to take it. In 2007 it was Alberto Contador who danced his way to a Tour victory with an impeccable display of climbing. And between 1999 and 2005 the jersey was owned by one man. Lance Armstrong recorded a record seven consecutive victories in the race, and he returns this year to go for an eighth.

But just who will be wearing the yellow jersey on the final podium in Paris in 2009? Let's take a look at The Falcon's top 5 riders for 2009:

5 - Cadel Evans (11/1) - Everyone's favourite Aussie returns to the Tour after blowing his golden chance at victory in 2008. He is probably at the same level as last year but a couple of his competitors have improved, and a couple more have returned after absences in 2008. He'll be high up in both the time trials and the mountain stages...but he won't win.

4 - Lance Armstrong (13/2) - One of the top 5 athletes of all time returns, and I can only slot him in for 4th! The fact is he is 37 these days, and was already the oldest winner since the war when victorious in 2005. Lance was left behind by his younger, faster rivals in the Giro. He is good enough to finish top 5 and it wouldn't take a miracle (which he has produced before) to see him winning. At his career best - he wins again, but I think he is a long way short of that and a podium spot would be a fine effort for the veteran.

3 - Denis Menchov (16/1) - An old Falcon favourite who always flys under the radar. A two time winner of the Vuleta, and backed that up by winning the Giro this year. He can hang with the best in the mountains and is usually a better time trialler than the better climbers. Previously regarded as a follower he found the courage to attack on a couple of stages here last year. Super consistent and is sure to be in the finish on all the big stages, especially with Rabobank teammate Robert Gesink to assist him in the mountains.

2 - Alberto Contador (5/4 fav) - The new golden boy of world cycling who has taken over the Armstrong mantle as the premier 3-week Stage rider. In 2008 he added the Giro (after being hauled back from a beach holiday with his girlfriend) and the Vuleta to his palmiers to go with his 2007 Tour win. This makes him one of only 5 riders in cycling history to have won all three Grand Tours. Not even Lance can match that. He can climb, he can time trial, he has the best team. Hell...he'll probably win. But then again, remember what happened to the favourite last year.

1 - Andy Schleck (8/1) - This may be a matter of heart over head as I tipped the Luxembourgian to win the 2009 edition as soon as the 2008 running of the Tour finished - so I can't jump off the bandwagon now! Andy burst onto the stage as a future star with a memorable performance in last years Tour. He was bolting on L'Alpe, but could not be unleashed as his teammate Carlos Sastre was riding to overall victory up the road. Even though he finished only 12th in the overall standings it was a performance good enough to have the experts taking notice. Since then he has finished an excellent 5th at the Beijing Olympics in the road race, and early in 2009 he took out his first major classic with victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. His climbing is majestic, and his time-trialling ability will be serviceable enough in an edition of the race that only contains 55km of that discipline. He has the same team that rode Sastre to victory last year. HE CAN WIN! (I hope)

Best Outsider - Linus Gerdermann (300/1)
Gerdermann is on the comeback trail from injury after bursting onto the scene when taking the stage, and the yellow jersey, in the race to Le-Grand Bornard in the 2007 edition of the Tour. The route once again stops at Le-Grand Bornard this year and Gerdermann could suprise a few people with a high GC finish. He showed he was in decent form this year with a top 10 finish in the shorter stage race Tirreno-Adriatico.

Prices courtesy of Betfair. (Always gamble responsibly)

Stay tuned for a preview of the green jersey competition.