ZABRISKIE For Real!
Finally the 2005 Tour is underway.
I say finally because probably like most of you this morning was spent waiting and waiting for the race to start. The difference in it being a Stage vs. a Prologue was indeed a difference. David Zabriskie confirmed that he is for real fresh off of a victory in the Tour of Italy. Does he have something else in mind for the next few weeks?
This quality of being able to cream the best in the world save one guy who is set to retire in a few weeks is a good one. Vinokourov, Landis, and Leipheimer confirmed they are top contenders but still no sign that they have made that next step to threaten Lance’s run at #7. Jan Ullrich must be disappointed. The psychological blow of being caught in Stage 1 is big advantage to Lance.
Ullrich will have to put this behind him and hope for better days to come. Ivan Basso lost a fair bit of time and we will have to wait and see whether he can be a factor. You have to wonder as he bettered teammate Zabriskie in the final time trial at the Tour of Italy. Fast forward to today where David turned the tables -- a few times over.
Stage 2: Nervous, windy, fast and nervous. Expect to see a fair amount of crashes and splits in the peloton. All the riders are expecting the same and will be prepared to fight and stay in the front. There is a good chance the group will arrive mainly compact because several teams are interested to keep their overall contenders in the front.
It makes it difficult for one team to break apart the field when six to ten others are lined up in the front with their leader in tow. Add to it everyone is fresh and ready to go! CSC is in a tough spot. In one aspect they have Basso looking for the overall win but they currently have the resident maillot jaune.
This is great exposure for the team. Tactically Discovery is in a great position. They do not have to ride and control the race. If things get messy they will join in but have an ally in CSC whose interest is to keep the yellow jersey. If Lance had taken yellow it may have made the tactics of his competitors more clear if they want to have a go at him. Attack and try to send Vinokourov or Kloden or Botero up the road -- essentially trying to ride away from Discover and CSC.
Stage 2 picks: McEwen, Boonen or Cooke
Spoiler: Robert Hunter
I say finally because probably like most of you this morning was spent waiting and waiting for the race to start. The difference in it being a Stage vs. a Prologue was indeed a difference. David Zabriskie confirmed that he is for real fresh off of a victory in the Tour of Italy. Does he have something else in mind for the next few weeks?
This quality of being able to cream the best in the world save one guy who is set to retire in a few weeks is a good one. Vinokourov, Landis, and Leipheimer confirmed they are top contenders but still no sign that they have made that next step to threaten Lance’s run at #7. Jan Ullrich must be disappointed. The psychological blow of being caught in Stage 1 is big advantage to Lance.
Ullrich will have to put this behind him and hope for better days to come. Ivan Basso lost a fair bit of time and we will have to wait and see whether he can be a factor. You have to wonder as he bettered teammate Zabriskie in the final time trial at the Tour of Italy. Fast forward to today where David turned the tables -- a few times over.
Stage 2: Nervous, windy, fast and nervous. Expect to see a fair amount of crashes and splits in the peloton. All the riders are expecting the same and will be prepared to fight and stay in the front. There is a good chance the group will arrive mainly compact because several teams are interested to keep their overall contenders in the front.
It makes it difficult for one team to break apart the field when six to ten others are lined up in the front with their leader in tow. Add to it everyone is fresh and ready to go! CSC is in a tough spot. In one aspect they have Basso looking for the overall win but they currently have the resident maillot jaune.
This is great exposure for the team. Tactically Discovery is in a great position. They do not have to ride and control the race. If things get messy they will join in but have an ally in CSC whose interest is to keep the yellow jersey. If Lance had taken yellow it may have made the tactics of his competitors more clear if they want to have a go at him. Attack and try to send Vinokourov or Kloden or Botero up the road -- essentially trying to ride away from Discover and CSC.
Stage 2 picks: McEwen, Boonen or Cooke
Spoiler: Robert Hunter
4 Comments:
I totally agree Jan Ullrich has to be completely shocked and I don't see how he gets back into this thing. It's like Lance took all the drama out of this thing on day one. I just don't see how anyone can challenge the guy. The way Lance is riding you could argue he could go for eight Tours.
Ralph Walters,
Boise, ID
It's a long race Ralph. I wouldn't be handing this thing to Lance so fast.
Kevin, where's your post for stage 2? I want to see who you're picking for tomorrow. Are you in France right now? Or maybe you're flying over there now.
Hey Kevin-
Great commenting on the race. We are watching everyday and loving it. Will we see you on OLN at some point? Sent you an email from one of your web pages, coming to Austin in Sept for ACL. Ran into Suzanne, she said you live there. Come meet us out.
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