Armstrong's victory in the 1999 Tour de France meant nothing. Pantani and
Ullrich were not there. The American surprised everyone because of his
recovery from cancer. He used steroids in a skin ointment that treated
saddle sores. He had unfair advantages over his competitors.
The naysayers have no excuses in 2000. Pantani and Ullrich were at the
Tour. Armstrong's recovery from cancer was old news. Pantani and Ullrich
were on the start line in Futuroscope. (The Societe du Tour de France
even put lots of mountains and a stop in Germany on the route to
accommodate the '99 absentees.) The American did not have saddle sores.
He took the 2000 Tour by the scruff of the neck and held it until he
reached Paris. He dominated the field--pure and simple. Armstrong's
dominance was so pronounced that even on the Col de Joux Plane, where he
lost nearly two minutes to Jan Ullrich, he was never in real danger of
losing the race.
The naysayers criticized what they saw as a weak team. They ignored the
fact that Armstrong's 2000 use of the squad was different from his 1999
use of it. They ignored the fact that, in the mountains, Tyler Hamilton
and Kevin Livingston were always there for Armstrong. They ignored the
fact that U.S. Postal Service finished second in the team time trial. They
ignored the fact that U.S. Postal Service earned more prize money than any
other team. Perhaps worst of all, they ignored the fact that U.S. Postal
Service was the only team that arrived in Paris with a full complement of
riders. The naysayers were so busy looking for negatives that they missed
more important positives.
What about the achievements of other riders and other teams? Telekom did
well, with Erik Zabel taking the green jersey and winning a stage, Alberto
Elli wearing the yellow jersey, and an out-of-shape Jan Ullrich finishing
second overall. Kelme, a wild-card team, more than justified their
selection by winning the team competition and by furnishing the Tour's
King of the Mountains--Santiago Botero. Rabobank concentrated on winning
stages and took four of them, Erik Dekker winning three en route to the
combativity award. Festina recovered from the disgrace of 1998 by
finishing second in the team competition and by putting Tour rookie Joseba
Beloki and Tour veteran Christophe Moreau in third and fourth,
respectively. Despite internal dissension, Mapei won four stages.
Marco Pantani recovered from a year of doubt and guilt by winning two
stages. Banesto offset the disappointing performance of Alex Zulle with
the sterling ride of Francisco Mancebo, who finished ninth and won the
Best Young Rider award. Christophe Agnolutto (Ag2R) and Richard Virenque
(Polti) won a stage each for their country when they picked up France's
first stage wins since 1998.
Who disappointed? At or near the top of the list goes ONCE. Only
five members of the team finished the race. Abraham Olano and Laurent
Jalabert geared their training to the Tour, but aside from Jalabert's
yellow jersey after the team time trial, neither was a factor.
Both men must resign themselves to victories in races other than the Tour.
So must Alex Zulle, who was Banesto's leader. When the road turned
skyward, his place in the standings fell; he eventually abandoned. Bobby
Julich of Credit Agricole was not a major Tour favorite, but no one
expected him to finish 48th at 1:44:15. Robbie McEwen (Farm Frites) and
Jeroen Blijlevens (Polti) were expected to win stages, but neither did so;
perhaps the latter's frustration accounted for his assault on Julich that
resulted in the Flying Dutchman's disqualification.
Based on French cycling's accomplishments in the Tour, how does French
cycling stand? At first glance, it stands very well. Christophe Moreau
(Festina) finished fourth and was the highest placed Frenchman. Christophe
Agnolutto won France's first stage in two years when he took Stage 7,
while Richard Virenque won Stage 16. Veteran Pascal Herve (Polti) finished
twelfth. French riders had a good Tour.
More detailed analysis, however, reveals less room for joyous optimism.
Richard Virenque won Stage 16 but lost the King of the Mountains jersey.
He is 30 and has peaked. So has Moreau, who is 33. Another podium
appearance would be asking too much. Pascal Herve is even older--36.
Agnolutto, 30, has peaked and was never a Tour hopeful. More distressing
than the age of France's best riders is the seeming dearth of young
talent. It will be some years before a Frenchman wins the Tour.
Who might win the Tour next year? Armstrong has demonstrated that he is
not to be counted out, but, like last year, he will need to keep
improving. If Ullrich and Pantani are in form, they will push Armstrong
harder than ever. Pantani's form is less of a worry than Ullrich's. Since
winning the Tour in 1997, the German has been unable to get into shape to
win the race. Less than four weeks before the start of the 2000 Tour,
there was some question as to whether the 1997 Tour winner would even be
fit to start. His finishing the race, let alone as runner-up, is a credit
to his talent, courage, and determination. Ullrich will need to summon
these same qualities to train properly all year round if he is to dethrone
Lance Armstrong.
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