http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/apr04/apr13news
Although Jan Ullrich maintains that he is right on target for his Tour de
France plans, there are concerns that he is taking things a little too easy
at this time of year. In today's Rund um Köln, Ullrich could only manage
64th place at 5'41 down from the winner, a far cry from his 52 km solo
effort to win last year.
Ullrich joked afterwards that, "In 2003 I was an outsider and I was only
able to win because the others didn't recognise me in my Coast jersey.
However, it's a long time to the Tour and I'm on the right track."
Five time Tour winner Eddy Merckx, who is never afraid to speak his mind,
told DPA, "It seems that Jan has again not worked hard enough in his
previous preparation and is still too much overweight. Sure, he has still
over two months, but to beat Lance Armstrong in the Tour will be harder than
2003."
Ullrich will ride in Wednesday week's Flèche Wallonne (April 21), followed
by Liege-Bastogne-Liege (April 25) and the Rund um den Henninger Turm (May
1).