MONTPELLIER, France - With the Tour de France heading toward its decisive stages, there is still no favorite in a wide-open race that is fueling the passions of French fans who hope Thomas Voeckler holds his lead against all odds.
When racing resumes today after a rest day, Voeckler will open the 16th stage nearly two minutes ahead of Frank Schleck - supposedly a weaker rider than his younger brother, Andy - and four minutes ahead of three-time champion Alberto Contador.
Voeckler remains fiercely adamant he has a "zero percent chance" to become the first French Tour winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985, while doubts persist about Contador's troublesome right knee. Even the Schleck brothers seem undecided who is No. 1 on their team, while two-time runner-up Cadel Evans is conspicuously staying out of the limelight.
All of this means that it was increasingly hard to pick a favorite heading into the last week of the Tour.
People are also reading…
"It's still a bit strange because I think people still look at the Schleck brothers as favorites, but they're two minutes down," Evans said Sunday after British sprinter Mark Cavendish won the 15th stage. "So it's still about Voeckler for now."
Evans is third overall, 2:06 behind Voeckler, 17 seconds behind second-place Frank Schleck, nine seconds ahead of Andy Schleck - the runner-up to Contador in the last two Tours - and 1:54 ahead of Contador.
"Voeckler is in incredible form," Contador said. "He has a big lead, it will be hard to make that up."
None of the Tour contenders managed to cut loose in the three Pyrenean mountain stages last week, and someone has to make a big move in three punishing Alpine stages that loom.
"I don't want to arrive in Paris with regrets," Contador said after Cavendish raced to his fourth stage victory of the race by beating American sprinter Tyler Farrar on a 119.6-mile stage from Limoux to Montpellier.
Last year's Tour was a duel between Contador and Schleck, the year before saw Contador beating Schleck again, with seven-time champion Lance Armstrong completing the podium.
This year, there are six contenders, with Italian rider Ivan Basso - third overall in 2004 and second in 2005 behind Armstrong - sitting 44 seconds ahead of Contador.
Today
• What: Stage 16
• TV: 5 a.m. on Versus
Lloyd to get clarity on Arizona basketball future this week | Greg Hansen
