been great to us and especially to Saul. Saul still has a long hard road to travel, but we all know he can do it."

An air ambulance is lined up to transport the rider to a rehab centre in the Atlanta area in his home state of
Georgia.

Jan-the-man-Ullrich has this week been given the all-clear by his T-Mobile medical staff to start the Giro d?Italia following his recent knee injury.  "His knee is okay. Jan can start in the Giro," team doctor Stefan Vogt told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It unrealistic to think that I could do well at the Giro," understated Der Kaiser.   "That would be impossible against the Italians, who are already in top form." But, Ullrich continued, "I know that I will suffer at the Giro. But it is better to suffer because of a race than because of knee problems."

In an interview with German Netzeitung, Ullrich?s Team Manager, Olaf Ludwig stated that come July, his favourite for the Tour de France is Italian Ivan Basso.   "Basso was second behind Armstrong last year, and Armstrong isn't there any more."

He stated however that he ?hoped? it would be Jan and not Basso standing atop the podium in
Paris.  "When he is in top form, he is the best time trialist and one who rarely loses time in the mountains, even against the climbers. He is mentally very strong and he knows the race. And contrary to public opinion, he knows how to suffer."

When questioned whether this might be Ullrich?s final Tour should he again fail to win, Ludwig refused to comment.  "Nobody knows that. Even if you asked Jan Ullrich that, he wouldn't know either, I'm sure of that he will listen to what his heart tells him - but only after the Tour."

Finally this week, the first Chinese riders to clinch deals with a ProTour team are 21 year-old Kin San Wu from
Hong Kong and 22 year-old Gang Xu.  Both riders will begin life with the Italian Lampre-Fondital team.   Wu was winner of last season?s Tour of the
South China Sea .

As always, until next week...

Ian

ian@roadcycling.com