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3 July 2005

4 July News ...

Ulle Sees a Cowboy Blaze Past

Armstrong, who started one minute behind Ullrich, set the course on fire. The cowboy caught and passed the 1997 Tour champion, Ullrich. With 5K remaining, the Disco cowboy passed on Ullrich's right, as the German gave a quick glance. It was a huge psychological burn for Ulle, but there are still three weeks to go. Even though Ulle was passed, he did record a decent time.

Checking in with T-Mobile, Ulle had this to add, "I went flat out today and did not feel so bad. But to be overtaken by Lance straightaway on the first stage is certainly not a nice feeling." Clearly the German was a little upset. But Ulle did ride well, "I felt in good shape actually and because of this was optimistic for today's stage. ... I did feel somewhat demoralized. Despite that, I´m happy that things have finally got started. There is still three weeks of racing to go in the Tour and I will battle on." Good luck Jan!

Americano Zabriskie In Maillot Jaune After Stage Win

In Stage 1 of the 92nd Tour de France, the Americano Zabriskie struck again. David Zabriskie (Team CSC) finished the fastest, coming in first in the 19K TT. Now the American will wear the Maillot Jaune in the coming stages. Zabriskie has won a stage in the Vuelta a España (2004), Giro d'Italia and now the Tour, making it three stage wins in a row.

BiciRace.com checked in with Team CSC, Zabriskie said post stage, "I'm extremely happy. It's a great achievement, and I hadn't dared dream that the big names would be unable to beat me. Of course I'd hoped to get a good time, but this totally took me by surprise. It'll be amazing to wear that yellow jersey, but first of all I'm here to work for Ivan Basso."

Ivan Basso, who finished 1'26" down, commented: "This was a TT very particular, the first of the Tour. It is one thing to dispute a TT after some stages or at the end of a grand tour. Another is to start with a huge force. Last year, there was 6K of prologue from Liège, and I had lost 20 seconds." The Italian is keeping his cool and knows it is a long three weeks. Basso added, "I don't need to get excited because the Tour has hardly started. I have said that I will be there once the difficulties come. But my objectives have not changed."

It will be an interesting first week for Team CSC. They will ride to loosely protect the lead of Zabriskie, who should keep the jersey at least until the team TT. The team will also look to the sprinter's teams for help controlling affairs.

A Lighting Fast TT by Zabriskie

Yesterday David Zabriskie was the 19th rider to start the TT, making for a long wait. The wait was much longer then his actual riding time, which was lighting fast: 20'51", averaging 54.67 K/h! The American was in suspense for three hours, until Armstrong crossed the line, to realize that his time was a winning time.

By riding at an average pace of 54.67K/hr, Zabriskie recorded a new Tour de France record. His ride was the fastest ever in a proper Time Trial. Only Chris Boardman has ridden a faster time at the Tour, averaging 55.152K/hr in 1994, but that performance was in a prologue, at a distance of just 7.2K. Compare Zabriskie's time to that of Greg LeMond's 1989 record-setting TT. On that final stage of the 1989 Tour, LeMond averaged 54.545K/hr over 24.5K. Both rides produced stunning results, Zabriskie in Yellow and LeMond with a 2nd Tour GC victory.

Joseba Beloki is Back in the Tour de France

After a horrible crash in the 2003 Tour de France, Joseba Beloki (Liberty Seguros-Würth) is back. Yesterday the Spaniard put in a solid time (2'05" back on Zabriskie), but more importantly made a return to the Tour. "It was the first time trial I had ridden flat out in two years and, despite the fact that it was not my type of parcours, I did well. Especially in the last part, and I finished not too far behind," Beloki said post stage. Thrilled to be back at the Tour, he added, "I knew that this was a crucial stage, but even if I had done a very bad stage, I would still be happy, because for me it was a prize just to be at the starting ramp."

Helping to make the return is team boss, Manolo Saiz. Beloki added, "I was very happy when I found out that Manolo Saiz was going to follow me in the car, because it was the first time in two years, since the Paris prologue." For this Tour Beloki has responsibilities to others, "I haven't forgotten that Roberto Heras is the leader, but you also have to expect something from Joseba Beloki, because I have not come here for nothing."
(Read the BiciRace.com Interview with Beloki)

Italians in the Tour de France

The top three Italians in the TT yesterday were Ivan Basso (20th at 1'26"), Dario Frigo (30th at 1'34") and Paolo Savoldelli (32nd at 1'35"). Not too shabby for the Italian boys. Frigo, riding for Fassa Bortolo, said "It was a TT hard where you had to push a hard gear from the start to the end. I always used an 11 or 12. I did a good test, now I will wait for the stages that are more suited for me."

Liquigas-Bianchi rider, Stefano Garzelli, finished 92nd at 2'30". After the stage he noted, "I went more or less how I expected. I was with the other climbers, Heras and Mancebo." (Read the BiciRace.com Interview with Garzelli)

92nd Tour de France:
Startlist, Classifications, Tour Challengers, Discovery Channel Profile
Key Stages, Key Stage Descriptions, Stages and Maps, Overall Map

2 July News ...