I can’t believe this isn’t a bigger story. Sorry if it has been posted already:
http://www.tdfblog.com/2007/06/danielson_to_mi.html
*Tom Danielson’s illness will keep him out of the Tour de France this year. *
“Tom is off the Tour team,†Discovery Channel boss Johan Bruyneel told VeloNews’s Andrew Hood. “He’s sick. We’re trying to find out exactly what the problem is. He’s had stomach problems throughout the year at several key moments. It’s definitely a disappointment.â€
The Discovery team itself has become a minor story, and Danielson is a minor player on it. It’s been several years now that people have been tooting his horn, as the next coming, and he remains an average, good domestic. He is not the team leader, and I doubt if he is even top 3 there now. I had hoped that he would take the reigns of American cycling, along with maybe Levi, and Zabriske, but it just hasn’t happened yet…Howerver, after watching Zabriske climb with the mountain goats in the Dauphine last week, his stock has just gone up as an overall GC contender in my book…
Danielson won the Queen Stage of the Vuelta last year, so how do you figure he’s not living up to the hype? He’s also won some stage races in Europe as well. He only started racing road a few years ago and is a young 28, so let’s cut the guy some slack. He’s apparently got a virus and will seek attention for it, but that doesn’t make him a failure…
And, as was said last week, not to take anything away from Zabriskie, but Moreau gapped him badly and the true heavy hitters weren’t really trying their damndest. If anything Zabriskie has yet to show he’s more than a one trick TT pony.
Bob
I didn’t say he wasn’t a good rider, and yes he has some one day victories. But he is not even the best guy on an average pro tour team this year… I’m not against the guy, I hope he can make the leap, but from what he has shown so far, he doesn’t have what it takes for two week plus stage races. He climbs ok, he tt’s ok, but his luck or endurance sucks so far. He has to start winning stages, and then holding on. He has some team mates that can help him, but he has to show leadership with his legs first. ANd you must be well connected to know that the “heavy hitters” were not trying in that last stage. Pretty cool that they can drop the whole peleton without even trying…
What you thinks of Controdor (forgive my spelling)? He seems He maybe something. No?