Will Lance look to be doing anything here ? He only now has 11 weeks until TDF and whilst I wouldn’t bet against him Ullrich is going surprisngly well…
Looks the the big boys mean business - nothing has been seen of Heras, Mayo, or really Basso yet either…
Hard to say. It appeared he (Armstrong) was content staying amongst his team in the peleton yesterday.
He and his team got a tremendous benefit of the climbs in Georgia last year. Armstrong even said that during the TdF last year.
Many of these climbs hit 15% to 18% in Georgia.
I agree, it sounds like Jan Ullrich’s form is looking good this year. I think the battle will make for a good race at the TdF.
The first few stages are, quite predictably, sprinters’ stages. Last year, Lance sat back in the peloton and made his move on Thursday morning in the short stage from Carrollton to Rome. He won that sprint stage, took the afternoon time trial, and marked Voigt and Horner in the mountains. I expect he would do the same thing this year – stay in contention for a strong time trial tomorrow afternoon, tighten the screws in the two mountain stages and hang on for the win.
That time trial in Rome is a very difficult course. It sports a 1.5 mile climb about halfway through, and is rolling through the rest of the route. This will be one of the few opportunities he’ll have to time trial before the TdF, so I expect he’ll make the most of it.
So, to answer your question, yeah, I think you’ll see something from him. But maybe not until tomorrow.
RP
Why do you guys say Jan Ullrich’s form is looking good this year? he just finished almost 2 min down in an uphill time trail that was only 11km long. he says he’s on good form, and Rudy says he is the fittest he’s been since 1997, but he also said that last year.
i think Jan is still the contender to beat, but seriously it’s not like he’s done anything different this year then he does any other year.
It will be interesting to see how Basso does at Liege…
Ulrich was profiled during one of the cycling shows this weekend on OLN. That’s where PHil and Paul, etc where commenting that his form looks better than ever. I believe Armstrong even mentioned Ulrich briefly in his press conference by saying that over the years he has always felt Jan was his biggest threat and this year he’s showing he’s in better shape and previous years.
Basso will wste himself trying to win the Giro (thats if anyone actually gets to race there). I don’t think he’s of the cailbre (yet) to handle both tours - thats one hell of a tall order. That said it has been done before but could it be done now ?..
I am predicting that LA will not do much of anything this year. I think he might break into the top ten at the TDF.
If I am right, it could mean that he is racing with out chemical help. I think he is retiring because the dope-o-meters are getting too good at catching people. He is quitting before he gets caught.
Just my guess.
Armstrong finished 3rd in the TdG today and that’s against a pretty tough field. (About half of the riders being from the US.)
I believe the TT is tomorrow. We’ll see what kind of shape he’s in there.
You are right, today will be a good test. Lance is a blue chip athlete. I do not think there is enough talent in the TDG to challenge him. So I think he could perform well here, but will still finish below 5th in TDF.
I am predicting that LA will not do much of anything this year. I think he might break into the top ten at the TDF.
If I am right, it could mean that he is racing with out chemical help. I think he is retiring because the dope-o-meters are getting too good at catching people. He is quitting before he gets caught.
Just my guess.
Nonsense, absolute nonsense. Why don’t you join Mr. Anderson in his lawsuit. First of all, I get tired of thinking about winning the Tour six times, so it would be absolutely no surprise if he is just mentally too tired to win a seventh. Indurain was untouchable for five Tours, and had no chance in #6. The pressure is enormous and at some point, the thought has to creep in that five or six is enough.
Lance has nothing left to prove, he won six, remember? So if he was worried about getting caught (which I am sure he is not) he would quit with an unbeaten record, why would he choose to ride around and finish 10th. The only reason for him to do a seventh Tour would be that he thinks he has a shot at winning it. Whether or not he will is obviously anybody’s guess, but to suggest that a failure to win would indicate previous drug use is just plain silly.
So I think he could perform well here, but will still finish below 5th in TDF.
Lance will have a good lead after today’s TT… which he will hold until the end… might ‘gift’ a climbing stage win to a US team… might take it himself.
As far as the Tour… there is little chance (in my mind any way) that Lance will retire without winning his 7th Tour. That will be the cap-stone for his career.
JB
That and the fact he gave a secret wedge of cash to the anti doping guys to help fund more research. Love him or loathe him he’s a class sportsman and one of the best athletes of his generation. Like the man said at his press confrence, he’ll retire win or lose - but wants his 7th and is willing to risk it. I still think a lot of his nagative pres regarding his current fitness is a bluff and he will be there in the best shape he can get in. He never does anything by halves and I doubt with only 4 months until he retires he will start now.
So I think he could perform well here, but will still finish below 5th in TDF.
Lance will have a good lead after today’s TT… which he will hold until the end… might ‘gift’ a climbing stage win to a US team… might take it himself.