[Tour 2005]Getting Ready

[tour-junkie]

Less than a month away, and it seems like things have been more quiet than
normal.  Fewer prognostications.  Maybe we are all still stunned and
saddened by the pre-race announcement of retirement.  Maybe there was a
panache about the red, white and blue of the US Postal team colors that the
baby blue of Discovery cannot match.  Maybe everyone is holding their
breathe and trying to decide whether they want someone to scorch the roads
of France and win a staggering seventh Tour.

Whatever the reality, the hard work of grinding down and reshaping has
ended, and the honing phase is upon us.  The players shall slide out of the
shadows and take their places.  We shall see who can still make themselves
suffer while out of the glare of our gaze.

The Dauphine Libere begins Sunday, which will bring out Lance Armstrong for
a bit of leg stretching before "the last picture show" next month.

Sadly, it looks like one of my favorite riders, veteran teammate Viatchesla=
v
Ekimov, has left the short list - injuring his back in a training spill wit=
h
Armstrong last month. Of course, I hadn't even heard of this, which is more
or less why I'm claiming things have been quiet.

Of course, for some reason it's difficult for the US press to get all gooey
about Paolo Savodelli's win in the Giro last month - despite the fact that
he is riding for the Discovery squad.  And, the reason that Discovery is
sponsoring the team has to do with them gaining visibility in Europe, so...=
.

But, the fastest descender in the peleton - that'd be Savodelli - seems to
be among the favorites for Discovery's Tour Squad and Lance's  - what the
heck is "Seventh" anyway - "hepti-Tour"?  Along in that bunch will be Georg=
e
Hincapie, the only rider to be a part of all six of Armstrong's previous
Tour victories, Spanish riders Manuel Beltran and Chechu Rubiera and
Portuguese phenom Jos=E9 Azevedo, fifth overall last year and Armstrong's
pacemaker in the high mountains.

Personal favorite Yarosloav Popovych is slated make his Tour debut. After
his recent win at the Volta a Cataluyna, the Ukrainian via Italy and Belgiu=
m
still is one of the "unknown" riders who could set things on fire with the
right team situationy.

The final two spots on the Discovery squad will likely be decided during
next week's Dauphine. On the short list are Leif Hoste, Benoit Joachim,
Pavel Padrnos and Benjamin Noval.

Jan Ullrich will not be at the Dauphine Libere,  instead choosing to thrill
his German fans by racing this Saturday in the GP Schwarzwald. Ullrich will
use the race as an opportunity to put a lustre on his climbing skills under
race conditions. Two weeks ago, big Jan raced the Volta a Catalunya, where
he finished 18th overall. If Ullrich's focus is now on developing his
climbing potential to the max, riding one of the most hilly and demanding
German one-day races seems appropriate. Seven laps for a total of 12,000
feet in altitude gain and an overall distance of 162,4 km roughly equals th=
e
demands of a mountain stage under the skies of France. He'll have help from
teammates Andr=E9 Korff, Daniele Nardello, Tobias Steinhauser and Steffen
Wesemann.=20

One of the key issues for Telekom has been their lack of singlemindedness
in supporting Jan - since they have an always serious contender for the
green jersey in Eric Zabel.  But, there have been signs that they will
gettin' all USPS-single-minded about the Tour - much to the chagrin of the
normally good-natured German sprinter.  If they truly end up with the squad
dedicated to Jan, it may be the mental wedge he needs to keep himself
propped up come July.

Of course, many eyes will be on Philly this weekend, as the USPRO race hits
the streets there.  No real direct effect on the upcoming Tour, although
some of the CSC riders will be there, craftily guided by the 2nd best
tactician in the game, Bjarne Riis.

More as we get closer, just didn't want you to think I wasn't excited this
year...

Thanks for reading,

- Jim