So anyway guys, I hate to tell you so but was I right or was I right? McGee and Millar brought it home in Paris yesterday and with the top ten also featuring Armstrong and Hamilton it turned out to be a real Anglophile affair. With only 600m to go I thought I'd be bragging today about me having previously raced with the yellow jersey wearer but unfortunately, due to a mechanical problem, Dave missed out on the jersey by the smallest of margins. Now Millar says that he'll have to wait until the mountains for his moment of glory and I urge you all, do not underestimate the flying Scot - it's Millar time! And don't think that it'll be the end of McGee either; there's more to come from the Sydneysider in this year’s Tour.
This past week has just been a press conference merry-go round in Paris, an event that Armstrong described as "truly my favorite moment of the tour!" This year there was a real repetitive theme of "I'm feeling good, my team is strong and yes, we're very motivated" - yawn! I'm waiting for the day that one of them turns around and tells us that actually "my team is going like a bag of s&%$!"
Despite finishing 7th in the prologue Armstrong is still the favorite. Previous winner Miguel Indurain commented, "Even as a young rider, Armstrong had incredible self-confidence. He only lacked consistency. I believe the cancer changed everything. Today he races with a completely different attitude, and is a better rider. He has a mentality, which forces others to their knees. He can't have a bad day or crash."
Of the other riders aiming to challenge the Armstrong crown, Stefano Garzelli is talking down his chances after having to take a course of antibiotics due to an inflamed throat and Paolo Savoldelli (Telekom) has withdrawn due to a stomach ailment, which now leaves Team Telekom with 'only' two team leaders - Alexandre Vinokourov and Santiago Botero. The form of the Columbian is not too clear as he spent the first part of the season in his homeland before coming to Europe to hone his form. There is a little concern within the management however as Botero is said to be looking a little over weight. Teammate Eric Zabel has suggested that Telekom may look to help former team-member Jan Ullrich (Bianchi). "In cycling that happens frequently when teams have similar intentions. Maybe we will form an alliance with Ullrich. If Armstrong is on the attack and Ullrich is chasing, we will try to ride with him in the chase." Meanwhile Jan is presently celebrating the birth of his first child, Sarah Maria who was born on Tuesday afternoon. "I could dance on clouds," he beamed.
Another rider hoping for big things this year is Tyler Hamilton of CSC, which has just confirmed sponsorship for a further two years. "I feel good at the moment. The condition is still coming and I hope to hit my peak here at the TdF." One thing of interest for cycling fans across the globe is that IMAX is following the CSC team throughout this year's race. A forty-minute film is expected towards the end of this year/early next year.
As many of you will know by now, at the Fitchburg Classic last weekend, Navigators pro Henk Vogels was involved it what many present described as the worst crash they had ever seen. Whilst descending in the leading group, Vogels turned around to view the chase behind and clipped the wheel of the rider in front. Henk was catapulted against the guardrail at the side of the road and eventually ground to a halt. He was flown to Massachusetts University Hospital where it was discovered that he had suffered a triple break to his ankle and also a fracture to one of his vertebrae. I heard from Ed Beamon last week, Navigators Team Manager, who told me that he his condition is slowly improving and that as soon as he can, he will be flying home to Queensland to be with his wife Cindy and young child.
It was announced this last week that the Beijing Olympics in 2008 will feature BMX racing for the first time at the expense of two track events. It is expected that these two events will be the Madison and then either the Team Pursuit or Individual Pursuit due to the amount of time taken to run each of the events.
I realise that this next piece of news may come as a shock to some of you but I can now confirm that Lampre rider Rumsas has discovered that his B sample from this year's Giro has also tested positive for EPO. It is now thought that the rider who finished third in last year's Tour de France will be hit with a two-year ban from the sport. And if Rumsas isn't then we, the fans, really need to start asking questions of those that govern cycling and how serious they are about cleaning up our beautiful sport.
Finally, British Tester Michael Hutchinson failed in his bid to succeed Chris Boardman's distance of 49.441872km in Wednesday's Hour Record attempt. Hutchinson pulled up after 40 minutes, already 2 minutes down on the record. He later commented that he had peaked too early in the season but that he would look to schedule another attempt for September/October when he hopes to have regained some form. One spectator who witnessed the attempt described him as "riding like a dog! He was all over the place and kept riding on the tops!" I guess you could interpret that as peaking a little early!
Keep your thoughts and comments coming in.
Be sure to follow our Tour de France coverage during the next 3 weeks. Check out our Tour de France section at http://www.roadcycling.com/events/tdf2003 for lots of great info. Keep sending us emails at info@roadcycling.com and let us know about features and content you would like to see on Roadcycling.com during the World’s biggest stage race.
Following the Tour from France yourself? Send us an email if you would like to contribute.
Till next week,
Ian Melvin
Cycletw@aol.com
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