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News :: July 2005

11 July 2005

Team CSC ... A Team Of Yellow Strength

Voigt In Yellow, photo: Tour de France

Yesterday in Stage 9, everyone's favorite rider, Jens Voigt (Team CSC) took the yellow jersey. This was the second time in Voigt's career that he has worn the maillot jaune. Fortunately for Voigt today is a rest day and he can take it easy, enjoying the knowledge that he has the leaders's jersey. It is most likely that Voigt will lose the jersey in stage 10, "I'm not made for the high mountains, and I'm now expecting other riders to take over from me."

Stage 9 was the day after the Discovery Channel melt-down, a good day for Voigt to have a try. Team DS, Bjarne Riis, post-stage said, "We had a feeling, that the Discovery Channel riders wanted to save their strength after yesterday's tough stage [stage 8], so Jens was going to make an attempt, if his legs were up for it."

Team TT, photo: Team CSC

This is the second time the team has worn yellow in the 92nd Tour de France. It is a testament to a united team that works well together. Riis added, "We've been very keen to re-capture the jersey, especially for Dave's sake, and this proves, we're a team, and that we keep on fighting and don't give up." David Zabriskie did not finish stage 9, still suffering from the Team TT crash. Voigt echoed Riis's words, "He [Zabriskie] never had time to recover after he crashed, I feel sorry for him as he is my hero. He is a good fellow. I hope he gets better soon ..."

Voigt's chances of obtaining the yellow jersey were numbered. Yesterday was on the last realistic chance for Voigt, he added, "I knew that today [stage 9] was the last opportunity for me to take the jersey. For the last few days, I had repeatedly told my team manager (Bjarne Riis) that I was feeling pretty good. I wanted to set up a breakaway but he kept holding me off. Eventually, he gave me the green light today and told me to do whatever I wanted."

Now many are questioning Team CSC's motives, including the Dust Devil. (Read The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap for more he thoughts on CSC.) The team's main goal is to have Ivan Basso finish in Paris in Yellow, but their energies seem to be spent on other affairs. Time will tell for this tough team.

92nd Tour de France:
Startlist, Classifications, Tour Challengers, Discovery Channel Profile
Key Stages, Key Stage Descriptions, Stages and Maps, Overall Map
Photos, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

Ullrich Takes Tumble but Happy for Voigt

Ulle with blood after crash, photo: T-Mobile

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) was happy for his fellow German, Jens Voigt (Team CSC). "At breakfast [before stage 9] we already speculated on whether Jens will ride into the yellow jersey and if Lance is going to let him," said Ulle post stage. "At last he got his just reward for his tireless attacks. He is an amiable rider, who really deserves this."

Ulle took a tumble early on in yesterday's stage. The German was caught off-guard by the wind and went rolling on the ground. He got up quickly and continued, aided by his magenta squad. Ulle added post-stage, " ... a narrow curve, I was caught by a gust of wind, lost control of my bike, and rolled three or four times in a ditch. ... I have some light cuts and bruises, but other than that, I'm okay." The BiciRace.com crew sends out our best wishes. Now go and attack in stage 10!

Discovery Has Many Reasons for Stage 8

Ballon d'Alsace, photo: Rabobank

The words keep coming in response to the Discovery Channel melt-down in stage 8. All of Armstrong's teammates seem to be giving their own reasons why the defending team failed. 2005 Giro d'Italia champion, Paolo Savoldelli, gave his account, "We worked hard and paid for it, moreover Rubiera had bronchitis and Azevedo had had a hunger bonk. ... I am tired from the Giro. To think that there are still 11 stages, it give me bad feelings."

The Disco team has a rest day to rework their strategy. Or perhaps playing the "weak" card is their strategy, the Dust Devil gave his thoughts on team Disco yesterday. Lance Armstrong agrees that a rest is good, "We will take advantage of the rest day. It was the fastest first week that I remember." Then the 6X champion went on to comment about the new German leader, "Voigt is not a rider of grand mountains, it does not bother us that CSC will have to defend his yellow jersey."

Times are Getting Tough, Riders Leaving

It was bad news for the former yellow jersey, David Zabriskie (Team CSC). In stage 9 Zabriskie could not keep up, adding, "My body's not working well enough to be able to compete at this level. It's unfortunate, but there's nothing you can do about it."

Also out is Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Liberty Seguros - Würth), who is suffering from back and knee pains. "I feel very bad, not only about my back injury, but about my bad luck. In the last two years I haven't managed to reach my level ... two days ago I had problems with my right knee that caused me to lose time yesterday. I was hoping to be able to recover, but I have not had time."

For a complete list of riders who have left the Tour de France, consult our startlist. We have crossed out the names for you, like 95 Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano.

Tour Jerseys, Yellow Changes

Yellow Jersey: Everyone's favorite (including BiciRace.com), Jens Voigt (Team CSC), moved into the lead. Voigt was attacking from the gun in stage 9. At the BiciRace.com offices it was widely thought that the tough German would take the yellow jersey. Today we were proved correct, when Voigt rode home with Moreau (Crédit Agricole). Moreau and Voigt are ex-teammates and it showed when Voigt flatted and the Frenchman waited up. Both of the boys moved up the GC later, Moreau now in second. Expect Voigt to lose the jersey in stage 10.

Polka Dot (climber's jersey): Skinny man, Michael Rasmussen, added a whole boat-load of points to his overall lead in stage 9. The Rabobank rider topped every mountain peak first, adding a further 56 points to his tally. Moreau is in second.

White Jersey (young GC rider): The long-haired Russian, Vladimir Karpets (Illes Balears), still holds on to this jersey. There was no changes in stage 9, but expect large time gaps on Tuesday in Stage 10. Karpets will come under fire from his young rivals: Popo, Valverde, Contador, etc.

Green Jersey (sprinter's jersey): Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) is still the green champion. All of the sprint points were gobbled up yesterday by non-sprinters, making the day a wash. Stay tuned for after the high-mountains (stage 13) for more sprint action.
If you need to know more about the classifications, then read here: Tour de France Classifications

10 July News ...