Armstrong: "Back Next Year" - Ullrich:"Next Years Mine"!

[Keith]

From http://www.velonews.com/tour2003/details/articles/4697.2.html

"In any case, Armstrong will return hoping to achieve what no other
rider has done.

"I'll be back next year, and I'm not coming back to be second, but
hopefully to come back to the level I was in the first four Tours.
Because this was not acceptable," he said.

Not acceptable, hehe...Come on Lance stop playing the "underdog" as
Krissie would say.

Since he's broken the 32nd year rule, he might as well break the 6th
tour rule! Doesn't seem like Ullrich can get any stronger than he was
this year so who knows...He did say: "I believe the next years will be
mine."!

[Stephen Ferguson]

> Doesn't seem like Ullrich can get any stronger than he was
> this year so who knows...He did say: "I believe the next years will be
> mine."!
>

Why can't Ullrich get any stronger next year? By his own admission he
didn't think he would be able to compete for the overall this year (which
might have been all blag with the benefit of hindsight).

Whichever way you look at it, this was Ullrich's comeback year and age
is on his side . He knows now that he can rattle Armstrong and I think that
he'll cmeback stronger still next year.

F.

[Tom Kunich]

"Stephen Ferguson" > wrote in message
...
> > Doesn't seem like Ullrich can get any stronger than he was
> > this year so who knows...He did say: "I believe the next years
will be
> > mine."!
> >
>
> Why can't Ullrich get any stronger next year? By his own admission
he
> didn't think he would be able to compete for the overall this year
(which
> might have been all blag with the benefit of hindsight).
>
> Whichever way you look at it, this was Ullrich's comeback year and
age
> is on his side . He knows now that he can rattle Armstrong and I
think that
> he'll cmeback stronger still next year.

Jan can and will be stronger next year than he was this. However,
Lance was pretty punk for the first two weeks of the Tour. And they
are both on the very highest levels of power that humans can produce.
Lance as a slight advantage on the climbs and Jan has a very slight
advantage in the TT's when he is completely optimal. The problem is
that Jan won't be optimal next year because he will be relaxing too
much after this almost Tour.

And Lance will be secretly more worried about Beloki and Hamilton than
Jan regardless of what he says.

[Stephen Ferguson]

> The fact is that I think JU doesnt have the same level of commitment from
> his team as LA. LA has built HIS team as well as the years schedule
around
> the TdF.

But remember that Bianchi was a team cobbled together after the Coast farce.
Imagine how much stronger they would have been in the mountains with
Beltran and Zuelle riding for Jan.

F.

[Keith]

On Sat, 26 Jul 2003 23:37:42 +0100, "Stephen Ferguson"
> wrote:

>> Doesn't seem like Ullrich can get any stronger than he was
>> this year so who knows...He did say: "I believe the next years will be
>> mine."!
>>
>
>Why can't Ullrich get any stronger next year?

Other than the Alpe d'Huex stage, he seemed to me to be as strong as
in 1997, the year he won. He certainly finished the tour in tip top
shape. The fact is I don't think he can beat Armstrong if he's in a
good shape.

>By his own admission he
>didn't think he would be able to compete for the overall this year (which
>might have been all blag with the benefit of hindsight).

oh really ;-)

>Whichever way you look at it, this was Ullrich's comeback year and age
>is on his side . He knows now that he can rattle Armstrong and I think that
>he'll cmeback stronger still next year.

>
>F.

[Keith]

>Jan can and will be stronger next year than he was this. However,
>Lance was pretty punk for the first two weeks of the Tour. And they
>are both on the very highest levels of power that humans can produce.
>Lance as a slight advantage on the climbs and Jan has a very slight
>advantage in the TT's when he is completely optimal.

They are indeed very close and in a "good" year Arsmtrong would
probably be better in the climbs.

>The problem is
>that Jan won't be optimal next year because he will be relaxing too
>much after this almost Tour.
>
>And Lance will be secretly more worried about Beloki and Hamilton than
>Jan regardless of what he says.

ah...Beloki ?! Hamilton maybe, but Beloki, come on.

>

[Mark Scardiglia]

What's the deal with the Postal Service and whether or not it will
sponsor the team again? Any determinations been made there?

In article >,
says...
> >Fair call I guess considering the toll that it might be taking on LA's body.
> >Ullrich will win the TdF in the future as long as he doesnt go 'tripping'
> >too much in the off season! ;-)
> >
> >The fact is that I think JU doesnt have the same level of commitment from
> >his team as LA. LA has built HIS team as well as the years schedule around
> >the TdF.
>
> Jan just needs some better climbers. Casero and Plazza just can't
> compete with Lance's "Spanish" mercenaries.
>
> >
> >Its a big chance to take to build your whole year around 3 weeks if your man
> >has never won the race before.
>
> I take it you're not referring to Ullrich right? 1 win and 5 seconds
> is not too shabby!
>

[zeno]

IMO, Jan's biggest challenge this coming year will be the one he has
always faced and usually lost out to: not falling off the strudel wagon
and doing regular, productive workouts.

If he gets depressed over losing a close one, reverts to type and drowns
himself under a mountain of marzipan & Dortmunder Union, this might have
been his last hurrah instead of the first step of of his comeback.

I hope not. I would hope he learned his lesson, but he suffers from a
nasty addiction. No matter what he says today, he will still have to
face a long winter without the comforts he loves.

zeno

Stephen Ferguson wrote:
>>Doesn't seem like Ullrich can get any stronger than he was
>>this year so who knows...He did say: "I believe the next years will be
>>mine."!
>>
>
>
> Why can't Ullrich get any stronger next year? By his own admission he
> didn't think he would be able to compete for the overall this year (which
> might have been all blag with the benefit of hindsight).
>
> Whichever way you look at it, this was Ullrich's comeback year and age
> is on his side . He knows now that he can rattle Armstrong and I think that
> he'll cmeback stronger still next year.
>
> F.
>
>

[TritonRider]

He's still got to find a team too. I can't see him staying with Bianchi.
Bianchi was a last minute save. He is going to need a strong team for next
year. I don't see them putting up the money, or having the support riders
available to hire. The Postal team has been built over years into a fine
machine to support Lance, and they do an incredible job.
Bill C

[Doug]

>Jan can and will be stronger next year than he was this.

"Can" is the operative word.

>The problem is that Jan won't be optimal next year
>because he will be relaxing too much after this almost
>Tour.

You can say that again. It all boils down to Jan's desire to work
hard. Who knows how he'll run next year.

I met a guy last year who was a former confidante of Jan's, having
worked for him on the Telekom team. He told me Jan was very serious
and determined to make a good showing at the TdF. I just nodded my
head and said I hoped he was. Let's hope next year too.

Doug

[Nick Burns]

"TritonRider" > wrote in message
...
> He's still got to find a team too. I can't see him staying with Bianchi.
> Bianchi was a last minute save. He is going to need a strong team for next
> year. I don't see them putting up the money, or having the support riders
> available to hire. The Postal team has been built over years into a fine
> machine to support Lance, and they do an incredible job.
> Bill C

Before the "Coast Fiasco", Bianchi had planned to take over as title sponsor
in 2004. I have not since heard anything about any change for next year.