Most observers agree there are three favorites for the elite men's road race: Alessandro Petacchi, Robbie McEwen and Tom Boonen. But every world's delivers at least one surprise. Here's a look at some of the characters who could rock the sprinter's boat: Alejandro Valverde, Spain
The enigma of this year's world's, the 2003 silver medalist has only raced once since pulling out of the 2005 Tour with a sore knee. With three-time defending champion Oscar Freire sidelined, the Spanish team will be doing everything to avoid a sprint. Valverde and other Spanish riders such as 2003 world champ Igor Astarloa or Juan Antonio Flecha will be attacking to try find the winning break. Erik Zabel, Germany
Zabel might not be the powerhouse that he once was, but the veteran German rider will have a strong team to back him up. Last year he was still strong enough to finish on the Verona podium and could pull off a major upset if he could get around Petacchi's wheel. He couldn't do at the Vuelta, but if nothing else, Zabel never gives up. Jakob Piil, Denmark
Although he only has two other Danish teammates, the blonde-haired Piil is said to be stronger than ever. Team CSC manager Bjarne Riis said Piil was so strong he couldn't drop him in in motor-pacing training last week from a scooter. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan
The cold-blooded Kazakh is one of the few riders strong enough to hold off the sprinters in a late-race attack. The undulating Madrid course isn't as flat as some said it is, but it will take true brawn to avoid the chasers. 'Vino' did it during the final stage of this year's Tour, he might be able to do it again. Fred Rodriguez, USA
"Fast Freddy" will lead the determined American team that also includes Christian Vande Velde, Italian-American Guido Trenti, Patrick McCarty, Jason McCartney, Saul Raisin, John Lieswyn and Phil Zajicek. Rodriguez will be motivated to exploit his wild-card status against the favorites. He has proved he can beat the big guns on a good day, just like he did with a stage-win in the 2004 Giro d'Italia against Petacchi. OTHERS
Max Van Heeswijk and Leon Van Bon will try for the Dutch, while Tour green points jersey winner Thor Hushovd will ride without teammates. Jean-Patrick Nazon for the French can never be overlooked nor can veteran Jaan Kirsipuu of Estonia. 2004 Paris-Roubaix champ Magnus Backstedt can go the distance while Brit Roger Hammond and Austrian sprinter Bernhard Eisel could pull the upset. And if we're talking outsiders, why not one of the one of the six starters for the Islamic Republic of Iran? Final corner smoothed out
The controversial U-turn at 600 meters to go - nicknamed "McEwen's Corner" for the Aussie sprinter's top handling skills - wasn't a major factor in Saturday's racing after race organizers widened the radius of the turn. Following complaints from riders at last weekend's Vuelta a España finish on the same finishing straight, the final right turn was widened by creating a more gradual turn that makes for a cleaner line through a traffic circle. The finish line was also move further up the street compared to the Vuelta finish, with Robbie McEwen's personal measurement to be just shy of 700 meters. In the women's race, Oenone Wood said the corner still forced the bunch to slow down, but there remained plenty of asphalt to reorganize the group. "It bunched it up because everyone had to slow down. I got boxed out, but the final sprint is so long that it gives you a chance to recover your position," Wood said. "If it was shorter, I would have been like on the 15th wheel, but I was able to get back in the right position." Freire MIA
Defending world champion Oscar Freire won't be in Madrid on Sunday to defend his rainbow jersey. Sidelined with complications following hip surgery in June, the three-time world champ can't even bare watching the race in person, so he'll be parked in front of a TV set instead. "I feel powerless to not be able to defend my world title," Freire said in an interview with the Spanish daily AS. "I'm frustrated because it's one thing to miss the world's if you're not in shape or strong enough, but it's another because of injury. These things happen in cycling and unfortunately I've become accustomed (to being sidelined with injuries)." Freire also confirmed his 2005 season is over. He's only been able to train about an hour or so since complications from a June surgery have kept him off the bike. He expected to recover quickly, but by August he admitted his chances to be at full strength in time for Madrid was in doubt. Freire safely remains in the "three-win" club that also includes Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx and Rik Van Steenbergen He said without his presence on what he called a relatively easy course, Spain's chances to medal are "small." Arrieta signs with Ag2r
Spanish rider José Luis Arrieta signed a two-year contract to join the French team Ag2r for the 2006-07 seasons, the team confirmed Saturday. The 34-year-old has raced professional for 12 years, spending all of his career on the Banesto/Illes Balears outfit. Arrieta joins compatriots Francisco Mancebo and David Navas on the French team hoping to earn a spot in the ProTour rankings for 2006.