Ol’ 10 Speed has had a few days of R&R from cycle blogging, but my Big Magnus Backstedt is back on its Selle San Marco and I’m dreaming of Foot-Hi Pies at Trailnet’s ride this weekend.

But until then, a little about the upcoming bicycle race in France.

– Still can’t believe Alberto Contador and Astana won’t be there, that the ASO hasn’t followed the Giro d’Italia and come through with a last minute invite to maintain the sporting integrity of its race this year. Gonna be like Tiger Woods missing the British Open and the PGA, but for all the wrong reasons.

– But I guess I should get over it.

– OK, I’m over it.

– To borrow from the title of Johan Bruyneel’s book: “We Might As Well Watch” Eh?

– Actually, me, Mrs. 10 Speed and son of 10 Speed watching the race was never in question … considering Versus has stayed on pretty much 24/7 at ol’ 10 Speed’s home for the past 8-9 years, dating to Versus’ days as the Outdoor Life Network — pre-OLN even!

– Now for a little about the U.S. teams with U.S. ties.

– First, High Road … er, Team Columbia … I like Bob Stapleton’s team to have a good showing at the TdF. Exciting young sprinter Mark Cavendish should be good for a couple of flat-stage wins, and Kim Kirchen is fresh off a good showing in the Dauphine Libere and could make some noise in the overall, maybe have an outside shot at podium spot. Kirchen has Big George Hincapie, Tour de Georgia winner Konstantin Sivtsov and Thomas Lovqvist riding in support, so, hey, dude’s got a chance. And maybe Big George could pull off a stage win.

– One of my cycling heros — Big Maggie Backstedt — is on the Garmin-Chipotle squad, and that should hearten the soul of any bike rider whose weight is north of 200 pounds. I know Big Maggie can make it through the valley and the woods, but I don’t know whether he can make if over the hills and make it to the end of the race, but he gives us big fellas hope.

– In all seriousness, I like the Garmin-Chipotle TdF debut squad. I’d like it better if David Zabriskie was healthy and on the team, but after his broken vetebrae at the Giro, Z might not have been on form, as they say. Nevertheless, the squad with the likes of David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Julian Dean, Tour de Georgia runner up Trent Lowe, Danny Pate, Tour of Missouri runner-up Will Frischkorn, Ryder Hesjedal and Martijn Maaskant is nothing to sneeze at.

– Contador is on record as declaring Silence Lotto’s Cadel Evans, last year’s runner-up, as the favorite this year. Candle, as he’s called at 10 Speed’s house, should light it up on the hills and in the time trials, but there are any number of contenders ready to take aim at him.

– Two-time World Champion Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d’Epargne is coming off big wins in Dauphine Libere and Liege-Baston-Liege, and might be Evans’ biggest challenger … if he doesn’t crack as he has done every other year he’s been touted as a contender in pre-Tour analysis.

– Rabobank’s Denis Menchov got the short end of the stick last year when he went into the Tour de France as the team leader, only to be relegated into a support role after teammate Michael Rasmussen took charge of the race … before, of course, Rasmussen got booted by the team’s sponsor for allegedly lying about his whereabouts in missing a doping control test. Menchov was so distraught about his missed opportunity and his wasted effort for Rasmussen that he quit before Paris. So, Menchov, a two-time winner of the Vuelta a Espana, should be super-motivated this year at the TdF, tho he couldn’t match Contador at the Giro (which may have been by design).

– Lampre’s Damiano Cunego was the best young rider in the 2006 Tour, is a former Giro winner and won the Amstel Gold Race this year. Unfortunately, his team isn’t the strongest so he’ll be largely on his own in keeping pace with Evans. He’s a big wild card. He could be wildly successful, or a spectacular failure.

– Saunier Duval-Scott’s Ricardo Ricco had an eye-opening Giro, with a second-place finish. His time trialing leaves a bit to be desired; that’s where he lost the Giro to Contador, but he probably was the best climber in this year’s Giro. By the way, team co-sponsor Scott is an American bicycle company, so I’m claiming the team as American.

– CSC-Saxo is leaving American Bobby Julich at home, unfortunately, but the Schleck boys — Frank and Andy — will be there, possibly contending for a podium spot. Frank won at Alpe d’Huez when Family 10 Speed was on the 12th switchback in ‘06, and Andy has a second-place at the Giro to his credit. Carlos Sastre is talking podium, but I don’t think so. Fabian Cancellara may win a stage or three. Oh, and Big Jens Voight (The George Hincapie of Germany) should be good for a breakaway or three.

– Let’s not forget plucky Barloworld climber Mauricio Soler, who won the polka-dot jersey last year as the TdF’s king of the mountains. He had a bad Giro, including a broken wrist, so he may be motivated to show he’s more than a one hit wonder.

– Only four Americans are in the Tour this year … Big George, Vande Velde, Frishkorn and Pate. Three of the four rode at the Tour of Missouri last year, and all four could be at the ToM this year.

– Speaking of which, the routes are out, and ol’ 10 Speed is really digging Stages 5 and 6. Another good course by the folks from Medalist.

– I fully expect Columbia, Garmin-Chipotle, Astana and Saunier Duval-Scott to be at the Tour of Mo this year, tho Bruyneel told me at the Tour of Georgia that Astana will send its B-team with the A-team working for Contador to win the Vuelta. That A-team would include U.S. champ Levi Leipheimer, Bruyneel said, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Leipheimer in Missouri come September.  As for as other UCI Pro Tour teams, Gerolsteiner (on U.S. brand Specialized bikes), Quick Step-Inergetic (also on Specialized bikes) and CSC-Saxo (CSC is an American company, tho without much pull as it departs from sponsorship) all have outside chances of being here in September.

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