They will both be foiled by Basso...
And Hushovd will win the Green jersey..
Yes, I have has a couple of Aquavitae's :-)
Cheers.
I really enjoyed watching him last year and I think he does have a great future. I especially hope he livens things up the next few weeks, however I still want our boy to win this last one.
But after Lance retires to Malibu with The Skanky One(and shortly thereafter gets dumped for somebody who's more happenin' than a newly retired cyclist),all bets are off. Judging from his spirited run in TDF 04, I think you may be right that Basso's gonna be the one to beat the next couple of years.
Armstrong’s Competition Falters
No significant challenge to Lance
By Cyril 'Guimard, Team Strategy Columnist
July 23, 2005
http://www.tourdefrancenews.com/tourdefrance/experts/columns/0,5976,s1-12851-527-expert,00.html
Even Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso could use some help. After the first time check at 17 kilometers, Basso was actually ahead of Armstrong by seven seconds, and Ullrich was only 10 seconds behind Lance. But both lost enormous time to Armstrong on the middle section, where there was a long, sinuous descent.
Basso lost a minute 25 seconds! He must have a mental block because if you are leading for the first 17 kilometers, clearly you are riding very strongly. There is no reason to lose so much time.