THIS year's race for the maillot jaune, the yellow jersey claimed by the winner of the Tour de France, is seen as one of the most open since the end of the Lance Armstrong era. For a start, last year's champion, Alberto Contador, will not be defending his crown. The decision to ban Contador's Astana team after a doping scandal at last year's race while under different management is seen as controversial, especially as Contador rode for Discovery Channel in 2007. But despite the Spaniard's win at the Giro d'Italia, Tour chief Christian Prudhomme refused to budge. Contador has accepted the situation, and even picked a possible heir to his throne in either Cadel Evans or fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. "My favourite for the Tour is Cadel Evans. He's a solid rider who can really make time differences count in the time...
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