Ullrich : Fleche Wallone

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by limerickman
www.cyclingnews.com reports that JU will start the Fleche Wallone tomorrow with Vino and a strong T-Mobile team.
First Classic of 2004 for JU.
Should be interesting !

Jan is not looking to good at this point in the season. He abandoned before the end of the 2nd lap. With Beloki not looking like he is making a strong come back either, its looking like Vino and Tyler might be Lance's competition this year. Yes its early, but at this point in previous seasons Jan was winning races. He has a long way to go to catch Armstrong.

Sorry to hear that Ullrich abandoned early. While I'd love the see Lance win his sixth TdF, it would be so much better if Jan gave him the strong challange that we know he's capable of. If Ullrich were to beat him to deny him his sixth, I'd be disappointed. But who's more deserving? Jan is a great cyclist who just seems to have trouble staying focused. It's still early though and it's possible that Jan will be on form for the Tour. We'll just have to see.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by davidbod
Jan is not looking to good at this point in the season. He abandoned before the end of the 2nd lap. With Beloki not looking like he is making a strong come back either, its looking like Vino and Tyler might be Lance's competition this year. Yes its early, but at this point in previous seasons Jan was winning races. He has a long way to go to catch Armstrong.

Don't count Jan out quite yet. This is MO. No he isn’t looking good, but he is lien. Possum is the first thing that comes to mind.

And don't forget about Mayo, and Heras.

Jdawg

Have just read Der Spiegel (Germany daily paper) and in it
Pevenage has a blast at JU.
He says that JU didn't get enough miles in during Jan & Feb and that this is why he couldn't stay with the pace (dropped out after
100 Kms) in Fleche Wallone.
Peveange says that training with Kloden and Tobias Stenhauser is
no use - it cannot replace hard racing miles - no matter how much training one does.

So naturally enough, JU has decided to go home to train (with Kloden and Steinhauser presumably ?!?!?!).

Despair.................

Mmmm this is not looking too good for Jan. I am sure he was fitter this time last year and I am getting a tad worried. However be positive L'man don't despair too much there is a long way to go to the TDF and as Jdawg says, this is the usual MO.

Seems odd that Pevenage is criticising JU as JU pays his wages now doesn't he? Personal Trainer/Mentor or something? Interesting to see him having a go at him so publicly, although I am not saying he doesn't deserve it! I'm not entirely convinced about all this training in Switzerland with his best mates - seems more like a 180km jolly to me! Surely he should be racing more even if he is not competitive. Just like footballers - they can look great on the training ground but are not match sharp when it comes to real games.

I read somewhere that this is all a grand plan by Jan to try some mind games out on LA for once - dropping out of races, claiming he can't last the pace etc. Sounds rather drastic and improbable to me but you never know these days. After all, as I type this LA has just won a sprint and TT split stage and taken the overall lead in the Tour of Georgia! Looks like Jan can't get going and Lance is (old chestnut) "peaking too early" and needs to slow down!

There are lots of people quick to write of JU already for this Tour (naive imho) but if it were to start next month I would be worried. However it doesn't and there is still plenty of time. As soon as the sun comes out he will shed what extra weight he is carrying and get the form back.

I hope! (Gulp!) Kampf Jan!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by limerickman
www.cyclingnews.com reports that JU will start the Fleche Wallone tomorrow with Vino and a strong T-Mobile team.
First Classic of 2004 for JU.
Should be interesting !

Ohhhh, nice one! I have been wanting to ask you for ages now but havn't wanted to start a thread on it....

What about Telecom? It seems like such a strong team worth being able to topple Lance and Postal. However, is it too strong and will Vino work for Ullrich or want/need to 'go it alone' so he is right up there with the top 3 ?
How will that be contained do you think?

Can a team handle someone like Vino, (who I love btw) yet still get J.U onto the top of the podium too?

Alice x

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by NeilMac
I read somewhere that this is all a grand plan by Jan to try some mind games out on LA for once - dropping out of races, claiming he can't last the pace etc. Sounds rather drastic and improbable to me but you never know these days. After all, as I type this LA has just won a sprint and TT split stage and taken the overall lead in the Tour of Georgia! Looks like Jan can't get going and Lance is (old chestnut) "peaking too early" and needs to slow down!

Dangerous games to play if that is indeed true! Jan will need to start getting some real racing under his belt if he's going to be on form for the TdF. And I would hardly call winning two stages of The Tour of Georgia "peaking to early" for Lance. LOL!