More Tour de France: Rivals jostle for position in succession race

Times Online ^ | July 19, 2005 | Jeremy Whittle

[lowbuck]

ONE question remains to be answered during the final few days of the 2005 Tour de France. The destination of this year’s final maillot jaune is known, but the most intriguing puzzle during yesterday’s rest day here was who will succeed Lance Armstrong?

The 33-year-old’s seventh consecutive Tour victory is assured. Unless he crashes or falls ill between leaving the Pyrenees this afternoon and entering the Champs Elysées on Sunday, Armstrong will retire having completed a seven-year reign of undefeated domination.

During the next week, his rivals will fight over the crumbs from the king’s table in some testing and gruelling stages through the southern reaches of the Massif Central. The main contest is likely to centre on the remaining podium positions, with Ivan Basso, of Italy, Mickael Rasmussen, of Denmark, and Jan Ullrich, of Germany, in contention.

Basso, who is second overall, is likely to confirm his status as Armstrong’s most likely successor over the next six days. The Italian, third in last year’s Tour, has been the American’s closest rival in the mountains and, given his improved time-trialling, can expect to hold off Rasmussen comfortably in Saturday’s time-trial in Saint-Etienne.

The hapless Ullrich, after another failed attempt to usurp Armstrong, faces a struggle to overhaul the waif-like Rasmussen, whose third position is based on his form in the mountain stages. As usual, Ullrich will rely on his time-trialling abilities to secure an honourable finish, but even allowing for Rasmussen’s frailties against the clock, it may prove beyond him.

Basso, perhaps the most coveted talent in the peloton apart from Armstrong, has renewed his allegiance to the CSC team, managed by Bjarne Riis. “That’s bad news for us,” Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong’s team manager, who had offered the Italian rider the role of the Texan’s successor at the head of the Discovery Channel team, said.

[lowbuck]

I would appreciate any knowledgable Freepers out there commenting on the future powers in the TDF. The articles I read keep annointing Ivan Basso.

Also, how will the Discovery Team stack up for the next TDF and who do you think is on the horizon to take the place of Lance (if that is possible)?

[upier]

I think that George Hincapie or Popy would be the most likely choices for Disco. The only issue with George is that he is getting long in tooth and would only have one attempt in his legs. Popy may be too young to win the GC. That could lead to them using George for one year then switching to him. I have also heard that Vino may be moving to Discovery. If that happens he would most likely be the man. One thing that ma happen on the Discovery team is that they no longer focus on a single rider like they have for Lance. They may try to win sprint stages and be more like a CSC or T-Mobile. There will be no one like Lance, who has proved that he is worth working and sacrificing for in order for the team to focus prurely on them.

[12B]

If Basso stays with CSC they have to be the favorite. Ullrich may have another shot at it but he's getting old as well.

/watched every stage so far
//Had trouble going up 200 meters in elevation last weekend
///Amazed at how they get up those mountains

[upier]

Ullrich's problem is that he a very strong rider if the pace is constant. He cannot handle changes and pace and has trouble answering hard fast accelerations. You can see people putting a quick gap on him. He can then hold the gap but not always close it. He also never seems to be ready for the tour until the second week. T-Mobile should tell him the Tour starts in late June. He would do much better. Also , he has been the new Tyler Hamilton - can't seem to stay on the bike this year.

[Jibaholic]

Basso stays with CSC they have to be the favorite. Ullrich may have another shot at it but he's getting old as well.

I think it will be Ullrich next year. Lance is a better rider but more importantly Lance has beaten Jan mentally months before the tour even begins. I predict that without having to face a sure defeat by Lance, Jan will actually train pretty hard (compared to his usual standards). He will never be an attacker but he should be able to hang with Basso and beat him in the time trials.

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2005 list.

[nutmeg]

ping

[Purple GOPer]

The OLN guys seem to think that Discovery is going to try to recruit a new rider for next year, but Lance has talked about staying with Discovery and training the next generation of riders.

As far as next year's winner, I know I am in the minority, but I like Rassmussen. I think it is easier to train to be a better in the time trail than to get better in the mountains.