Tour de France: Top Sprinters Ready To Rumble

Top sprinters in the 2010 Tour de France will have nine chances to triumph in finish-line sprints.

Team tactics, lead-out riders, strength, and endurance training, chance and sheer drive factor into some of the most dramatic moments during the Tour.

Who are the top contenders for the green jersey, and who are the notables missing?

The Manxman Cometh

Top slot goes to Team HTC Columbia's Mark Cavendish, who in recent years has obliterated his competition in finish-line sprints with his explosive power.

Clouds over Cavendish?

Some doubts surround Cavendish after a rough start to 2010. He instigated a nasty finish-line crash in the recent Tour de Suisse and has had other health issues.

And unity within Team HTC Columbia may be splintering. Cavendish was pulled from the Tour de Romandie after making an obscene gesture to defy his critics, and sprinter teammate Andre Greipel (not riding the Tour) is vying for team support currently dedicated to Cavendish.

Threat from Farrar

Tyler Farrar of Team Garmin-Slipstream looms as a real threat to Cavendish. He's riding his second Tour, he won two stages at this year's Giro d'Italia, and he's beaten Cavendish in the past.

Team dynamics

Farrar is one strong element in Team Garmin-Slipstream, which also boasts GC contenders such as Christian Vande Velde and Dave Zabriskie.

Mighty Thor

Thor Hushovd of Cervélo won the green jersey at last year's Tour. He won the Norwegian national road title this year, but injuries have plagued him as well.

Hushovd has pegged Farrar as the top green jersey contender. Yet his name (which is invariably preceded by "mighty") continues to rise to the top of feared sprinters.

Never discount Freire

Oscar Freire of Rabobank is another perpetual sprint contender. He won this year's Milan-San Remo classic, but one of the more notorious facts about him is that he (and Julian Dean) were shot by an air rifle in last year's Tour; he completed that stage nonetheless.

Lucky (and fast) Petacchi

Alessandro Petacchi's name is mentioned as a possible bunch sprint victor in the 2010 Tour. The fact that this Lampre-Farnese rider was able to elude the violent Cavendish-catalyzed crash in the Tour de Suisse, and win the stage, shows he also has luck on his side.

Where art thou, Heinrich?

Heinrich Haussler of Cervélo underwent knee surgery on July 1 and will miss this year's Tour. He has risen to the top ranks of sprinters to challenge none other than Cavendish, who veered into him at the finish line of the fourth stage of this year's Tour de Suisse, causing a massive wreck.

Sans Boonen

Previous green jersey-winner Tom Boonen will also miss this year's Tour, due to lingering knee problems from a crash in the Tour of California. The ailment also prevented this Quick Step rider from defending the Belgian national title.

Ex X-factor?

Robbie McEwen's name was once synonymous with "sprint finish," but the inexorable effects of age (he is 38) have taken their toll. He is back to ride the 2010 Tour with Katusha; we'll see if skill, experience, and luck can bend his way.