Basso says he is aiming for a podium finish at the TDF

perhaps he has a chance.....but I was not impressed with his form in some races leading up to the tour...while the other contenders were all impressive in recent weeks. The real 'comer' of the dark horses in my opinion is Juan Miguel Mercado of Quick.Step. I think there is a possibility that Mercado could take the yellow jersey at Alp'd'Huez...but then surely lose a few days later during the long 60km TT. There are a few pivotal climbing stages leading up to Alped'Huez where Mercado should excel and put him in a good position for the Alpe. I don't see any stages early in the tour where Mercado wil lose any time. Quick.Step will do well in the team TT and Euskatel(mayo) will not....so I guess that Mercado could have an advantage over Mayo heading in the crucial Alpe'dHuez TT. That said...the race will be won or lost during the 60km long hilly TT a few days after the Alpe TT. This will be bad for riders like Heras, Mayo, and Mercado...and good for riders like Hamilton, Armstrong, Ullrich. I think that Mercado is the most improving young rider I see out there right now...and he's proved himself at being competitive against the very best riders in the world...as he finished 5th in the recent Dauphine and even had a phenominal TT up Ventoux in the Dauphine(beating Lance).

By the way...the cycling world should have taken note when Mercado finished 5th in the Vuelta a'Espana a few years ago at age 22...even while just acting as a domestique for his leader Jose Maria Jiminez(Banesto). He even won a stage in the mountains.

Good point about Mercado. Also about Basso... who knows? Let us see if the 'CSC treatment' will be able to change Basso from someone who is happy to hang along with the big boys as opposed to ever putting his nose out in the wind.

I would have to agree with you - I think that Mercado is a bit weak in TT-ing to be able to have a real possibility at a podium, but then again, he should do well!