T-Mobile Punch

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

What evidence do you have that Kloden is in decent form?

You know T-Mobile well. Can you draw me an orgchart? I've never been able to
figurte out who calls the shots. Godefroot, Pevenage, Kummer, Ullrich? At
least Gabby's no longer in the picture 🙂

If Vino weren't such a pro (as well as a friend of Jan's), I'd question him
putting a lot into getting Jan to the top step when he must be thinking that
T-Mobile has hired Rogers to be Jan's protegé; and he is obviously on the
market.

T-Mobile always looks good on paper. To me, they haven't shown that they can
translate that to the race.

I agree though. Shouod be fun to watch.

trg said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

What evidence do you have that Kloden is in decent form?

I'm going on the fact that he's usually pretty good about peaking and
the team thinks he'll be on for the start of the Tour:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?W1A522F4B

'Vino' in shape for Le Tour
Vinokourov did his homework well with regards to the big Loop. Van Looy
has no doubt, Andreas Klöden will do the same: "Klöden is not at the
top of his game yet, but he's getting there. If he efficiently uses the
time remaining to the Tour, Klödi will be in top shape at the starting
line in Fromentine."

"Our Spanish mountain specialists Oscar Sevilla and Paco Lara also
confirmed their good form. I was very pleased by our young gun. I was
surprised how Kohl held his own at the mountain alongside the best
riders in the world," van Looy praised the 23-year-old Austrian, who
was the second-best magenta rider in 27th overall.

Quoted message said:

You know T-Mobile well. Can you draw me an orgchart? I've never been ableto
figurte out who calls the shots. Godefroot, Pevenage, Kummer, Ullrich? At
least Gabby's no longer in the picture 🙂

I'm not sure that T-Mobile knows what the org chart is either. It's a
little better this year, but not a whole lot that I can see. Jan's
personal people haven't always been on the same page as the team and
that's caused some of the past friction, hostility, and confusion.

Quoted message said:

If Vino weren't such a pro (as well as a friend of Jan's), I'd question him
putting a lot into getting Jan to the top step when he must be thinking that
T-Mobile has hired Rogers to be Jan's protegé; and he is obviously on the
market.

Yeah, I don't think Vino stays, but I think he'll try to be there
working with Jan, but I'm not sure that he'll bury himself for Jan. Jan
has seemed to have one really bad day every Tour recently and I think
Vino is their insurance in case that happens again.

Quoted message said:

T-Mobile always looks good on paper. To me, they haven't shown that they can
translate that to the race.

I'm hoping that by leaving Erik home and focusing on nothing but the
GC they'l get it together but you have to really wonder about a lot of
their strategy in the past. I'm really pretty much out of the loop with
them now. We still keep in touch with the people running the US
Military cycling team which is based out of Sembach Ge. and keep an eye
on Queidersbach, and RSC Kaiserslautern which my kids used to ride for,
but not being there we haven't kept in touch as much and my son's not
racing now due to some personal problems he's had. He did have an
invitation to go back and race for RSC Kaiserslautern during the
summers, but right now we're happy his life is going pretty well
without worrying about racing.

Quoted message said:

I agree though. Shouod be fun to watch.

Yep, I think it's going to be a real [censored] shoot with the possibility of
spectacular meltdowns from both T-Mobile and Lance.
Bill C

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.

My guess is that T-Mobile is going to have too many cooks this year as they
did last.

Tom Kunich said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.

My guess is that T-Mobile is going to have too many cooks this year as they
did last.

Wouldn't surprise me at all Tom, especially if Jan is a little bit
off, but not bad enough to force a switch of leaders. If Jan and Vino
are arguing over who's going to work for who, then they're both off the
podium. The Vino to Discovery rumor really adds to the possible soap
opera. Can you see it if Lance and Vino get away on a climb and work
together to the finish and bury Jan in the process, then Vino goes to
Discovery?
I'm glad that Cunego is going to miss the Tour too. He can reload for
the Vuelta or worlds.
Gonna be some serious fun to watch this year, and you KNOW we'll be
buried in Lance Mania coverage.
Bill C

Word is that Vino is going to Cofidis???

Patricio Carlos said:

Word is that Vino is going to Cofidis???

They already have Dmitri Fofonov on their roster, a fellow Kazakh. I
wouldn't be surprised if they trained together or knew each other as
juniors...

-Sonarrat.

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

trg said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

What evidence do you have that Kloden is in decent form?

| I'm going on the fact that he's usually pretty good about peaking and
| the team thinks he'll be on for the start of the Tour:

I have great doubts about Kloden. IMO he is FAR from ready. I watched him in
the Dauphiné. He fell off as soon as the road went upwards. I think T-Mobile
is "dissasembling" (That means not telling the truth - GWB )

I also don't understand why they kept Paco Lara off the team. He seems to be
going pretty well.

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the situation is
perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a valid GC
contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery burn
lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting. In
my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday, once
it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to go
for a break.

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the situation

is

Quoted message said:

perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a valid

GC

Quoted message said:

contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery

burn

Quoted message said:

lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting.

In

Quoted message said:

my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday, once
it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to go
for a break.

Two can play that game.
Substitute "Discovery" for "T-Mobile", Popovich for Vino, Savoldelli for
Kloden and it works just as well. Oh yeah, add Azevedo into the mix.

Plus, there's always another little Frenchy without GC aspirations whose
team's fondest wish would be to chase down all breaks so they can hang on to
the jersey for as long as possible, capture the fancy of the French public,
thereby assuring their sponsorship for next year. Look for a break with one
of those guys in it to get away early, especially without Fassa chasing for
Petachi.

trg said:

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the situation

is

Quoted message said:

perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a valid

GC

Quoted message said:

contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery

burn

Quoted message said:

lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting.

In

Quoted message said:

my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday, once
it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to go
for a break.

Two can play that game.
Substitute "Discovery" for "T-Mobile", Popovich for Vino, Savoldelli for
Kloden and it works just as well. Oh yeah, add Azevedo into the mix.

Plus, there's always another little Frenchy without GC aspirations whose
team's fondest wish would be to chase down all breaks so they can hang onto
the jersey for as long as possible, capture the fancy of the French public,
thereby assuring their sponsorship for next year. Look for a break with one
of those guys in it to get away early, especially without Fassa chasing for
Petachi.

But Fassa could be defending Cancellara's yellow. Although, they might
not try as hard.

I doubt either Tmobile or Discovery will try any of these creative
tactics, other than some sorting out in the TT and TTT.

"gym.gravity" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

trg said:

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the situation

is

Quoted message said:

perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a

valid

Quoted message said:

GC

Quoted message said:

contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery

burn

Quoted message said:

lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting.

In

Quoted message said:

my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday,

once

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to

go

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for a break.

Two can play that game.
Substitute "Discovery" for "T-Mobile", Popovich for Vino, Savoldelli for
Kloden and it works just as well. Oh yeah, add Azevedo into the mix.

Plus, there's always another little Frenchy without GC aspirations whose
team's fondest wish would be to chase down all breaks so they can hang on

to

Quoted message said:

the jersey for as long as possible, capture the fancy of the French

public,

Quoted message said:

thereby assuring their sponsorship for next year. Look for a break with

one

Quoted message said:

of those guys in it to get away early, especially without Fassa chasing

for

Quoted message said:

Petachi.

| But Fassa could be defending Cancellara's yellow. Although, they might
| not try as hard.
|
| I doubt either Tmobile or Discovery will try any of these creative
| tactics, other than some sorting out in the TT and TTT.

These aren't exotic tactics. They're pretty standard. Discovery (USPS) has
used exactly these tactics in the past. Thomas Voeckler has spent the last
year trying to live up to his time in yellow at the 2004 tour. And look at
Rubiera in Stage 13 of the 2003 tour. IIIRC, Beltran(?) played a similar
role in another stage that year

"trg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the situation

is

Quoted message said:

perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a valid

GC

Quoted message said:

contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery

burn

Quoted message said:

lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting.

In

Quoted message said:

my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday,
once
it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to go
for a break.

Two can play that game.
Substitute "Discovery" for "T-Mobile", Popovich for Vino, Savoldelli for
Kloden and it works just as well. Oh yeah, add Azevedo into the mix.

I don't think that Discovery can play "the send rider up the road" tactic as
effectively as T-Mobile. I know that they pretend that they will, and that
Johan even discussed it in 2003 when Rubiera was in the break on Stage 13
but I can't believe that LA's ego would allow anyone else from Discovery win
the TDF.

Can you imagine the conversation at the dinner table when Johan says that
Azevedo is up seven minutes and that Lance should work for him now? I would
love to see that on OLN.

trg said:

"gym.gravity" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

trg said:

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the situation

is

Quoted message said:

perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a

valid

Quoted message said:

GC

Quoted message said:

contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery

burn

Quoted message said:

lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting.

In

Quoted message said:

my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday,

once

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to

go

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for a break.

Two can play that game.
Substitute "Discovery" for "T-Mobile", Popovich for Vino, Savoldelli for
Kloden and it works just as well. Oh yeah, add Azevedo into the mix.

Plus, there's always another little Frenchy without GC aspirations whose
team's fondest wish would be to chase down all breaks so they can hang on

to

Quoted message said:

the jersey for as long as possible, capture the fancy of the French

public,

Quoted message said:

thereby assuring their sponsorship for next year. Look for a break with

one

Quoted message said:

of those guys in it to get away early, especially without Fassa chasing

for

Quoted message said:

Petachi.

| But Fassa could be defending Cancellara's yellow. Although, they might
| not try as hard.
|
| I doubt either Tmobile or Discovery will try any of these creative
| tactics, other than some sorting out in the TT and TTT.

These aren't exotic tactics. They're pretty standard. Discovery (USPS) has
used exactly these tactics in the past. Thomas Voeckler has spent the last
year trying to live up to his time in yellow at the 2004 tour. And look at
Rubiera in Stage 13 of the 2003 tour. IIIRC, Beltran(?) played a similar
role in another stage that year

Sure, you're right in the mountains. I meant during the first 9 days,
that is what you were talking about, right?

Quoted message said:

I don't think that Discovery can play "the send rider up the road" tactic as
effectively as T-Mobile. I know that they pretend that they will, and that
Johan even discussed it in 2003 when Rubiera was in the break on Stage 13
but I can't believe that LA's ego would allow anyone else from Discovery win
the TDF.

Can you imagine the conversation at the dinner table when Johan says that
Azevedo is up seven minutes and that Lance should work for him now? I would
love to see that on OLN.

It did work, twice in a row:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/tour03/?id=results/stage14

Also in the big break of the day with Simoni was USPS rider Manuel
'Triki' Beltran, who executed team director Johan Bruyneel's strategy
perfectly for the 2nd day in a row. Triki told Cyclingnews post-stage
that "Today things went pretty well for us. I got in the break and our
team didn't have to do the work today."

Like yesterday, that was Bruyneel's plan and today it worked again.
Once the break had a 15 minute lead, Euskaltel and then Bianchi were
forced to chase behind since Triki was the virtual Maillot Jaune on the
road.

Armstrong was happy with the way things went with Bruyneel's team poker
on the road to Loudenvielle today. "We wanted to force the other teams
to work, when our riders are in the breaks but they're not working,"
Armstrong explained. "That forced Bianchi to ride and take
responsibility. If we have the opportunity to play the tactics like
that again, we will."

"gym.gravity" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't think that Discovery can play "the send rider up the road" tactic
as
effectively as T-Mobile. I know that they pretend that they will, and
that
Johan even discussed it in 2003 when Rubiera was in the break on Stage 13
but I can't believe that LA's ego would allow anyone else from Discovery
win
the TDF.

Can you imagine the conversation at the dinner table when Johan says that
Azevedo is up seven minutes and that Lance should work for him now? I
would
love to see that on OLN.

It did work, twice in a row:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/tour03/?id=results/stage14

Also in the big break of the day with Simoni was USPS rider Manuel
'Triki' Beltran, who executed team director Johan Bruyneel's strategy
perfectly for the 2nd day in a row. Triki told Cyclingnews post-stage
that "Today things went pretty well for us. I got in the break and our
team didn't have to do the work today."

Like yesterday, that was Bruyneel's plan and today it worked again.
Once the break had a 15 minute lead, Euskaltel and then Bianchi were
forced to chase behind since Triki was the virtual Maillot Jaune on the
road.

Armstrong was happy with the way things went with Bruyneel's team poker
on the road to Loudenvielle today. "We wanted to force the other teams
to work, when our riders are in the breaks but they're not working,"
Armstrong explained. "That forced Bianchi to ride and take
responsibility. If we have the opportunity to play the tactics like
that again, we will."

I remember those events well and I think that the best think that worked out
each day was that the rider in the break was able to help Lance when they
were caught. I still don't think that Discovery would protect anyone but
Lance even if their own rider was way up on GC. Do you really think that
they would help another rider on Discovery win GC if Lance was still in the
race and in a relatively decent GC position?

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"trg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
> The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in

decent

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
> has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> going to try and be agressive about it.
> For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and

if

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
> themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
> into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
> problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
> Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
> Bill C
>

I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the

situation

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is

Quoted message said:

perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch how Discovery
reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap and becomes a

valid

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

GC

Quoted message said:

contender. If they do chase they keep sending him and watch Discovery

burn

Quoted message said:

lots of matches. If Kloden has any form it only gets more interesting.

In

Quoted message said:

my mind Discovery is going to have to set a blistering pace everyday,
once
it starts to go uphill, hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to

go

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for a break.

Two can play that game.
Substitute "Discovery" for "T-Mobile", Popovich for Vino, Savoldelli for
Kloden and it works just as well. Oh yeah, add Azevedo into the mix.

I don't think that Discovery can play "the send rider up the road" tactic

as

Quoted message said:

effectively as T-Mobile. I know that they pretend that they will, and

that

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Johan even discussed it in 2003 when Rubiera was in the break on Stage 13
but I can't believe that LA's ego would allow anyone else from Discovery

win

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the TDF.

Can you imagine the conversation at the dinner table when Johan says that
Azevedo is up seven minutes and that Lance should work for him now? I

would

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love to see that on OLN.

I'll bet they've already had that conversation. If we're very lucky, this
year we'll get to see what the answer is. Too bad everyone askd Ullrich the
question, but no one seems to ask Lance.

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"trg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

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"Frank Drackman" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
news:[email hidden]...

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I agree that it is going to be fun to watch. I think that the
situation is perfect for T-Mobile. Send Vino off the front and watch
how Discovery reacts. If they don't chase Vino gets a big time gap
and becomes a valid GC contender. If they do chase they keep sending
him and watch Discovery burn lots of matches. If Kloden has any form
it only gets more interesting. In my mind Discovery is going to have
to set a blistering pace everyday, once it starts to go uphill,
hoping that no real GC threat has the legs to go for a break.

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OF course, T-Mobile could send a rider up the road then have all of
Discovery (including Lance) chase them. Then all of T-Mobile will have to
chase Discovery who can then launch someone for T-Mobile to chase....

I think Kloden's results last year were a fluke.
It still coes down to this ...

1) Delta in T-Mobile and Discovery TTT. I have no clue who will be better here.
Loosing Eki will definitly hurt Discovery

2) Lance will take time out of Jullrich in mountain top finishes. There will be
one stage where Vino will loose big time, but there will be another stage
where he causes a lot of problems.

3) Jan will probably be a little better than Lance in the ITT this year.

Conclusion: Lance wins the 7th tour with a winning margin of 2-3 minutes.

Bill C said:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/8256.0.html
The 1,2,3 of Ulrich, Vino, and Kloden all of whom look to be in decent
form is going to make this one a lot of fun especially since the team
has decided to put all it's focus on the GC and it sounds like they are
going to try and be agressive about it.
For the first time they'll be totally focused on a single goal, and if
any of the three are close I'm pretty sure the other 2 would ride
themselves into the ground them. I just hope that it doesn't develop
into a split, or a problem deciding who to work for. That's the only
problem that I can see coming up if they are all strong.
Gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Bill C