July 15 - Here's some observations about the 2004 Tour winner... Jan Ullrich :)

1) Melanoma?- Skin cancer on the lips? He's been sporting a black lesion on his lower lip for about a month now. It can't be a cold sore. What is it? I hope it's nothing serious. He'll probably get it taken care of after the tour.

Photos this week:
<img src="http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/tour04/stage9/6.jpg">
<img src="http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/tour04/stage5/22.jpg">

<p>
Photos taken 6 weeks ago at the Tour of Switzerland:
<img src="http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/jun04/tourdesuisse04/stage1/reuters2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/jun04/tourdesuisse04/stage5/34.jpg">


2) Weather is favorable - As we approach the big mountains, the weather has turned very favorable for Jan. Hot, hot, hot. Jan is at his best in warm weather. Unlike Lance, he hates cold. Sooo, yeehah!!


3) The loss of Matthias Kessler is very, very unfortunate. He seemed liked a very strong rider and could have helped Jan in the mountains. On a high speed curve on stage 10, he went wide, hit the dirt then t-boned a wooden post with his rib. He looked like a rag doll. He soldiered on and finished the stage knowing that Jan would need him. But... broken ribs... out of the race.


4) Finally, Jan has not been in the news in the first 11 stages. This is good. No crashes, no work, no spotlight. Good race so far.

sick of the Chronicles,
francois

I think Zabel may hurt Jan. T Mobile has two agendas going. One to support Jan's quest for the GC the second to support Zabel's quest for the points jersey. I think T Mobile has spent significant energy so far supporting Zabel. Will they have enough left to Support Jan during the next week?

I question why T mobil isn't throwing everything behind Jan. Maybe to limit their losses? Do they think they can get both the yellow and the green in such a competative contest? It just does not make a lot of sense to me.

It's pretty clear what USPS's only focus is.

Well they should be heading up the mountains about now, we will see.

I think Zabel may hurt Jan. T Mobile has two agendas going. One to support Jan's quest for the GC the second to support Zabel's quest for the points jersey. I think T Mobile has spent significant energy so far supporting Zabel. Will they have enough left to Support Jan during the next week?

I question why T mobil isn't throwing everything behind Jan. Maybe to limit their losses? Do they think they can get both the yellow and the green in such a competative contest? It just does not make a lot of sense to me.

It's pretty clear what USPS's only focus is.

Well they should be heading up the mountains about now, we will see.

T-mobile has ignored Zabel. I actually feel bad for Zabel. It is clear t-mobile is focused on Jan.

The La Mongie stage just finished. I am in mourning :(

francois

The lesion is probably from biting his lip at night thinking of seeing the back side of Lance disappearing in the distance on yet another mountain stage.

{2) Weather is favorable - As we approach the big mountains, the weather has turned very favorable for Jan. Hot, hot, hot. Jan is at his best in warm weather. Unlike Lance, he hates cold. Sooo, yeehah!!)

Well it was a storm actually and Jan is now 4 minutes back. Remember I'm a size large.

3) The loss of Matthias Kessler is very, very unfortunate. He seemed liked a very strong rider and could have helped Jan in the mountains. On a high speed curve on stage 10, he went wide, hit the dirt then t-boned a wooden post with his rib. He looked like a rag doll. He soldiered on and finished the stage knowing that Jan would need him. But... broken ribs... out of the race.

No one can save Jan now.

4) Finally, Jan has not been in the news in the first 11 stages. This is good. No crashes, no work, no spotlight. Good race so far.

The only spotlight is the one from the broom wagon coming up behind him, ouch (oh, his bite his lip again! in my best Phil Liggett voicing). Did I mention I'm a size large?

Ahhaha!

The only spotlight is the one from the broom wagon coming up behind him, ouch (oh, his bite his lip again! in my best Phil Liggett voicing). Did I mention I'm a size large?


Hey man, that's not funny. I am in mourning today. I will be hitting the bottle tonight.

At least I covered my bases and made bets with Tyler fans too. He, he, he.

francois

on Jan? on the Tour nicknamed 'the climbers tour'? c'mon people if you are laying down $ or beers or whatever do some due diligence. First rule of gambling
1) don't bet your heart

He is hanging in there and maybe be there until the ITT

Hey man, that's not funny. I am in mourning today. I will be hitting the bottle tonight.

At least I covered my bases and made bets with Tyler fans too. He, he, he.

francois