George Hincapie, Discovery Channel
Hincapie has been one of America’s strongest riders for an amazingly long period, transforming himself from a powerful one-day racer to a strong lieutenant with serious climbing chops. The man is big for a climber, yet he won the hardest day of the Tour in 2005 (although he sat in without taking a pull). And he has become a better than respectable time trialist, one of the fastest men against the clock.

But after being groomed as the leader for Team Disco last year, and failing to capitalize on it, we can expect Hincapie to return to his role as the uberdomestique, the ultimate support rider.

Should Levi falter, it’s possible that Discovery will marshal its forces behind George in a bid for the podium. And while it’s a long shot, George could find himself as America’s front-runner.

So Who’s Gonna Win?

I’d love to say America has a shot, but my money’s on Astana’s Kazakh rider, Alexandre Vinokourov.

He’s a rider who thrives on chaos, a strong racer who’ll take chances to win. And in the absence of a dominant team or personality at this year’s Tour it’s a situation that’s tailor-made for Vino.

Vinokourov will be on a mission, as he’s been knocking on the door for the past two seasons. The man has something to prove, and if history is an indicator he’ll have the legs to do it.

Peter Dejong / AP Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan will be on a mission, as he’s been knocking on the door for the past two seasons, Garrett Lai writes.

In 2005 he was thrust into a support role for T-Mobile teammate Jan Ullrich, a team so poorly organized its pink-clad riders actually chased Vino on a climb, shutting down a potentially winning move that could have inflicted serious damage on Lance himself. By mid-race Vino announced he was leaving T-Mobile, which effectively cut off support. Riding alone, the Kazakh not only won the Tour’s coveted final stage, but managed to outfox and outgun well-supported riders like Levi Leipheimer.

And last year’s Spanish anti-doping investigation, Operacion Puerto, netted so many of Vino’s teammates his team wasn’t able to field a minimal complement, and was barred from the start. His entire season was a wash.

He’s 33, and probably just past his physical peak. He’s deserved to win, and with age looming this could be his one and only crack at the podium. He knows it, and he’s the kind of rider who won’t let opportunity slip away.

MORE FROM TOUR DE FRANCE

Tour de France Section Front

Contador defied all, including Lance Armstrong lambastes Contador on Twitter Contador's reign on Tour expected to last In his return, Lance shows a more human side Contador says he ‘never had admiration’ for Lance Astarloza facing 2-year ban after positive B test Opinion: When it counted, Armstrong came through NYT: In the end, France is in love with Lance Spanish Vuelta gets more TV coverage in US   Slideshow from the 2009 Tour de France Tour de France Section Front   Add Tour de France headlines to your news reader: