[cyclopop]

It's a very tough call!
I think right know Ullrich is the favorite because he has won the ITT at the Giro and he's showing great form at the TourdeSuisse. But I've lost faith in Ullrich during the past few years (except in 2003) because he's always fading in the big mountains when someone attacks.
It's a very tough call considering that:

-The 2006 TdF fits more to Ullrich than Basso because there's a lot of the ITT's.

-Basso has just won the Giro and that is a huge mental boost form him and his team.

-Basso was unbeatable in the mountains in the Giro.

-Basso has less fresher legs than Ullrich's.

-Vino is gonna attack and may surprise everyone. He's also good at TT.

-Johan "The great" Bruyneel knows how to win a Tour and he's sending 4 potentiel GC contenders: Popo, Sav, Big George and the Ace. But he will have to sacrifice 3 of those guys to put 1 on the podium. Who would that be?

-There's so many great other riders like Valverde, Landis, Kloden,

For all those reasons I'll put my money on : Basso