The most important aspect in becoming a victorious cycle racer is enjoying a powerful bond with your team manager. From Coppi and Binda (well sort of, bear with us) to Armstrong and Bruyneel, all the grand champions of the post-War period have had an almost telepathic link with their directeur sportifs. And now, with little over a month to the Tour de France, we can guarantee that both Alexander Vinokourov and Monolo Saiz are thinking exactly the same thing: "Oh shit." How's that for being on the same wavelength?

(Is it bad taste to be making light of the biggest disaster to happen in cycling since 1998?)