[Giro 2004]Preface & Prologue 2004

[tour-junkie]

Preface & Prologue - Liege Belguim - 6.1 km Time Trial

Preface - "Six"
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So many images and thoughts float about at the beginning of this race.
Boundries always exist. They spoke about the 4 minute mile, the 10
second 100, the "fact" that no one would ever travel beyond the speed of
sound.  Now we ponder the potential for one man to win the Tour for a
sixth time.

Even though the "SIXTH" is being pounded into everyone's conciousness,
and will be repeated endlessly for the next three weeks, that will take
care of itself. It (to state the obvious) will take care of itself if
Lance Armstrong can win the bike race.

I recall an interview around the 3rd or 4th time he'd won the race. The
question had to do with his longer term goal of winning a 5th Tour.
Before he answered the question, there was this pause, and a gleam in
his eye. In the silence, it was obvious what his real focus was - to win
the sixth race (at least). That's an incredibly far-reaching strategic
goal and the effort to do so stretches beyond what most of us can
comprehend.

To win once is a staggering accomplishment.  To remain at the top for 5
years in a row is mind-boggling - especiallly since the man who has the
potential to do this wasn't really even supposed to be here.

There was another interview in Outside Magazine - before the cancer,
before the first TdF victory - when he brashly replied to a question
that he had probably heard too many times that he was not the next Greg
Lemond, rather the first Lance Armstrong. It's been a wonderful
priviledge to watch the story unfold.

More images: a team picture in some bike magazine of the Cofidis squad,
when Lance was going through treatment.  He was clearly bloated and
wasted, bald and yet somehow propped up and photographically dropped
into the picture.  He looked bad.  Not long after, he was let go.

Another year and stories began that he was considering racing. Then he
was racing.  Then it became clear that he was challenging. When he lined
up on the start for the Tour, it was a stunning return. When he thrummed
through the prologue and it became clear he was going to win that day
and tears began to fall from my eyes, he really did not need to do
anything ever again. Coming back from cancer and competing at that level
was plenty.

Of course, to make an incredible understatement, he did do more.  The
victories, of course. But, because of the nature of the story, he has
transcended the boundries of our quirkey little sport. When people who
have never in their adult lives slung a leg over a bicycle know his
story, you have to know that his reach has moved far beyond mere cycling.

So, we find ourselves at the start of 91st Tour de France, lining up 188
riders on 21 teams to cover over 2000 miles in the next 23 days.  That's
a whole lotta pasta.

Everyone knows the "short list" by now - Jan Ullrich trying to not
become the first man every to take 2nd a record 6th times; Tyler
Hamilton who had his obligatory pre-Tour bounce on the ground, thereby
ensuring some initial pain to ride through; Iban Mayo, the reclusive yet
  dynamic climber who just beat Lance by 2 minutes in the Dauphine
Libere's Mt Ventoux Time Trial; Roberto Heras, ex-USPS climber
extrodinaire now leading Spanish team Liberty.

Others to watch will include Ivan Basso, now riding under the tutelage
of Bjarne Riis on the CSC squad. He's a very strong rider and with the
masterful leadership and tactical sense of Riis, he's due for a breakout
Tour.

This year should be a dynamic rumble for the sprinters. Mario Cipollini
finally back into the race with his Domina Vacanza semi-zebras,
screaming-fast Allessandro Petacchi of Fassa Bortolo coming off 9
(NINE!) victories in this year's Giro D'Italia, Robbie McEwen the
Thunder from Down Under on the Lotto squad, Brad McGee Anotha Thunda
from Down Unda will be FDJeux.com - winner of the Giro Prologue Time
Trial and last year's P.

Of course, no discussion of prologue time-trialing would be complete
without a quick discussion of David "Dummy" Millar who (a) will not ride
in the Tour and (b) has been dropped by the Great Britain Olympic Team
because of admitted EPO usage. What a waste of talent.


"A Very Bad Way to Start Your Day"
Whap!
A mistake while warming up puts Matthew White from Cofidis down hard, a
cracked collarbone at the world's least opportune moment has ended the
Tour hopes of this young Aussie.  The Cofidis curse continues, as
Richard Farezin gets the weirdest cell phone call of his career to drive
across town in two hours and join the Tour squad for the next 23 days.

Prologue - Liege
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Oscar Pereiro of Phonak set the early time at 7:01

We begin to get into some recognizable faces as George Hincapie flows
into the streets of Leige, sporting a bike that almost vanishes when
viewed from the front.  There's been a lot of chatter about Lance's new
equpment, but it seems that everyone benefits.  George has also shifted
to the nearly flat extensions that seem to be molded to the handlebars.
  His shift and rear brake cables disappear into the frame just behind
the  headset, leaving no lever for the wind to pull upon.

Hincapie pushes hard and finishes just outside the current fast time at
7:02.  Looks strong.  The guy you'd want to have as your engine for a
2000 mile race.

In other tech-geek stuff, riders have slightly swollen heads, as they
use actual helmets rather than the eggshell thin aero "helmet" of years
past. Giro has developed a protective version of their earlier designs,
while riders such as Paolo Bettini who simply have non-perforated
version of their normal helmet.

The sun is out in earnest now, and the roads have remained dry for the
riders.

Battling Bobby Julich of CSC lines up with a day-old beard.  Another
talented rider who has had a bit of a rebirth this season under the
direction of Riis. Unfortunately, about half way around the circuit, he
has a bit of trouble on a tight turn, slipping the back wheel a bit
after misjudging the entrance. Even with the distraction, he nips
Hincapie by 5/100ths for second, but can't quite push his way past Pereiro.

Robbie McEwen leaves the start house in what most be the ugliest
flippin' helmet in the peleton.  This one (by Lazer?) looks like a Texas
debutante's haircut from 60's.  He's a big-hair boy as he heads out onto
the roads of Liege.

Michael Rogers puts it down in the same corner where Julich ran into
trouble.  Clipped so strongly into his pedals, he remains attached even
with a slow-speed flip.  He's up and seems to be back into the rhythm,
but he's not going to make up the time he lost.  In slow speed replay,
it looked almost like he clipped a pedal on the inside as he finished
the corner.

CSC's Jens Voight takes a hard stab at the stage, but finishes 2 tenths
behind Pereiro.

Fabian Cancellara from Fassa Bortolo strains against his machine and
finishes at just a mini-tick past 6:50 - eleven seconds faster than
Pereiro!  A new leader on the day!

Baden Cooke of FDjeux.com  rolls over a good sized gear.  The tail of
his helmet seems strangely truncated and looks a bit like the end of a
lemon.

Another of the USPS squad, Jose Azevedo finishes in the top 20 with a
solid ride.  This is the man who replaced Heras on the squad, and he
definitely gives them more strength in the Team Time Trial, in addition
to being a stunningly good climber.

Michele Scarponi of the Domina Vacanza squad moves through the streets
on his all black Specialized TT bike.  The Domina's have shed their
stripes, by the way, opting for a much more subdued kit.

Well, it is strange how quickly the weather can change in places other
than California - the sun has disappeared as the sky clouds over.  No
rain yet.

Mario Cippollini is having "adjustments" to this year's skinsuit - it
seems that judges may not be allowing the bits below his knees for some
reason. It looks like a bit of wardrobe that wasn't used for the remake
of TRON.

As we head into commercials I have to wonder, can there really be a
"World Series of Poker"?.....

Lance drips sweat as he warms up in the shadow of his bus, wearing his
iPod.  Focused. In his own world as he listens to the music and warms up
his engine.

Over by the pink bus, Ullrich sips water and spins as well. The total
difference last year was 61 seconds.

Hushovd is pushing to strong time, but just misses the 7 minute mark,
notching into 3rd currently.

Aitor Gonzalez of Fassa Bortolo finds the finishing straight a bit too
long for his liking, but loses a bit too much time and drops into the
mid-20's.

Brad McGee glides onto the roadway with his eyes on the victory.

Levi Leipheimer has the most determined face of anyone who has left the
start house.  Homeboy from Santa Rosa.

The first mists of rain begin to hit the camera lens and roadway.  That
nasty light coating of moisture that could make things treacherous..Of
course, as soon as I type that, every other camera shot seems to be
drenched in sunlight - well, I can't be worse than most of the other
weather forecasters...

McGee pulls around the corner and becomes the third rider to finish
under 7 minutes, but finishes 9 seconds behind Cancellara. Reports were
that he was ill last evening, and as Phil points out, he's changed his
prep this year to focus on a bit better climbing at the sacrifice of
some raw speed.

Levi rolls in strongly and finishes in 7:05.04, putting himself into
11th on the day.

Heras comes in at 7:27.

Iban Mayo of Euskatel carries his early season form out of the start
house.  Winner of the recent Dauphine-Libere, the question is whether he
can carry his form through the Tour.

Tyler rolls away.

Ullrich sets himself onto his cycle and then moves away from the start
to a rousing roar from the crowds.  He's ina new position as well, with
his handlebars pitched well down.  The power of Ullrich - who has lost
they say 14 pounds since April - is frightening.

Armstrong on the line - flashes going off - an even louder set of cheers
and howls.

Mayo goes through 13 seconds behind Cancellara's mid-course time.

Hamilton goes through 10 seconds behind Cancellara's time.

Ullrich matches Hamilton's time at the check.

More or less a minute behind, Armstrong is out of the saddle picking up
some speed as the course rolls along the river. He's looking very fast -
  an image aided by his phenomenally smooth and fast cadence.  We won't
know for sure until  - there we go! - Armstrong comes through 2 seconds
behind Cancellara's

Though not regarded as a strong time trialist, Mayo looks strong and
comes in at 7:11.

Hamilton pushes to the line and comes across with some fading, -
finishing at 7:08

Ullrich looks well within himself, but will be outside the top 10 at 7:07

Driving to the line, a clearly on-form Armstrong finishes in 6:52.58 - 2
seconds behind Cancellara and one of only 4 riders to get below 7
minutes on the day.

At 23 years of age in his first Tour de France, Cancellara begins to
shed tears of joy as he realizes that he will wear the Yellow Jersey
tomorrow.

In the bigger picture, Ullrich needs to now find 15 seconds.  It is
always important not to overdramatize the Prologue, but this is a very
different Tour route this year, and a very special challenge.  There is
no question that Armstrong and the best tactical mind in bike racing
today, Johan Bruyneel, have a definite plan for success.

Stay tuned - this is going to be quite a Tour.

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Tour de France 2004 - Prologue

1 - Fabian Cancellara - Fassa Bortolo - 6:50
2 - Lance Armstrong - USPS - @ :02
3 - Jose Guiterrez - Phonak - @ :06
4 - Bradley McGee - FDJeux.com - @:09
5 - Thor Hushovd - Credit Agricole - @:10

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6. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp), Phonak, 00:11
7. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, 00:11
8. Christophe Moreau (F), Cr=E9dit Agricole, 00:12
9. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, 00:12
10. George Hincapie (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 00:12
11. Gutierrez Jos=E9 Enrique (Sp), Phonak, 00:14
12. Angel Vicioso (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:15
13. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Rabobank, 00:15
14. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 00:15
15. Arvesen Kurt-Asle (Nor), CSC, 00:16
16. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, 00:17
17. Floyd Landis (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 00:18
18. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Phonak, 00:18
19. Viatceslav Ekimov (Rus), U.S. Postal Service, 00:19
20. Andrea Peron (I), CSC, 00:19


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