Tour de France winner says Leopard Trek needs to choose a leader
2006 Tour de France winner Oscar Pereiro has been keeping a close eye on the action in the French race this year and believes that Cadel Evans is in the prime position to win the race in Paris.
“As the race is developing, the Australian is in the best position to go to Paris in yellow,” he told Marca. “The time trial will benefit him greatly.”
Pereiro was the surprise winner in 2006 when he finished second to Floyd Landis. The American was later suspended for the illegal use of testosterone leaving the Spaniard as the victor.
“It’s been a different Tour,” noted Pereiro. Of the current yellow jersey Thomas Voeckler, he said, “Much must change in the circumstances of the race for him to finish out of the top three. The Frenchman is no longer a surprise after his display in the Pyrenees.”
The former Astana man will be all too familiar of Voeckler’s circumstances, as he also gained the yellow jersey in 2006 through a long breakaway initially. The deciding factor came down to the time trial when Landis eventually took the jersey off Pereiro’s shoulders, but not forever as time would reveal.
He also made comment of his countryman Samuel Sanchez’s chances of ending in a high placing in Paris saying, “Samu has been the bravest among the favorites. He knows exactly the advantages that he had to take and is gaining little by little. He deserves to be on the podium.”
The Spaniard had one criticism of his observations and that was of the Schleck brothers. “I think Leopard has still not clearly defined their leader and that is something that is hurting them.”
Pereiro who spent his last year as a professional cyclist riding in support of Alberto Contador says he expects his fellow countryman to attack in the Alps.