Jakey

I think getting fourth last year will give Ullrich the motivation (at least I hope) to prepare better this time around.... I would LOVE to see him in Yellow riding into Paris..

gcasillo

He'll have to race a hell of a lot more earlier in the season and especially after the Tour when he traditionally hangs 'em up. Guys like Bettini, Rebellin, Friere, Valverde, and Zabel will accrue more points simply because they race anywhere, anytime.

Crack'n'fail

Lance will win.

That being said, if he is going to be beaten I certainly hope it is Ullrich who pips him. Think about it, coming in 4th was an off year for this guy. He's classy and strong, hopefully he gets another yellow jersey before his time is done.

Trev Doyle

It's not just Lance that will win I think. It's his team that will win. If you put Lance on Credit Agrigole or almost any other Pro Team he may not win. I think a lot of people give Lance too much credit. Don't get me wrong, he is the man. But his team is THE TEAM.

trekcyclist1000

I think Lance will probably win because of his stable team but there are a lot of great riders out there who will give him a run for his money...ex: Damiano Cunego, Tom Danielson,Alejandro Valeverde....

Bigmikepowell

Who cares. They are all on drugs, and with silly UCI rules, arn't riding the best bikes. Bit contentious but I can't take seriously a sport that has such an ambivilant attitute towards drugs. The madness of it all is that the UK's cycling hero, somebody or other Simpson, died when he was wacked out of his body on drugs. Why is he a hero?

Maybe they should change the rules and just say drug taking is fine. Who cares who wins until this lot is sorted out.

Laggard

Huh?

Smoothie104

Is there anything in the Pro Tour rules that would keep LA from showing up at the start line, riding along for a few hours and then abadoning the events?

Laggard

No. But what would be the point?

Grasschopper

Yes but is it THE TEAM because Lance is THE MAN? It is a Chicken and Egg thing. At some point he gets the credit for assembling THE TEAM and for those riders wanted to ride for him. If you don't think Lance has his hands in the pick of every rider on his squad you are fooling yourself.

Bigmikepowell

Bikes have to be made of tubes, no monoques, there is a minimium weight restriction and dimensional restrictions. You couldn't race a recumbent for instance. If these rules where not in place the bikes that we ride on the street would would be total different and better. Chuck the rules away, let design and innovation flourish.

Laggard

My guess is the UCI wants to keep the sport from turning into a competition based on technology.

Bigmikepowell

That is just daft, it already is. The moment you put sports people together with equipment unless it is standard issue equipment, technology will become important. Just look at the technical innovations to get round the UCI rules already. It just increases the cost of finding ways to get equipment advantage and my big beef means that this filters into the commercial market giving us bikes that are less than the best and more expensive for a given performance than they have to be.

gcasillo

Tell that to these guys. Most of that team's members ride this bike which is full monocoque.

Technology and legalese turned the America's Cup into a debacle. I'd rather the UCI keep a firm handle on what is and isn't legal to race.

cyclezealot

Lance is an American icon..We all want him to win...But he has set a record already..My question.."It is about the bike."? He is doing what he loves. RIght. Some young stud comes along..Sooner or later one is gonna knock you out..Muscles age with age...That is why we have categories in bike races for those over 40..
Is it a crime to be best in your age group...Cunego is a boy wonder for his age. Who knows what will happen. I am countin on Lance doing it..But what is so magic about 6/7? Bet no one will top Lance record in our time.

Bontrager

Win or lose he's still the greatest. Most of the guys aren't young enough to even think about breaking Lance's record. I wonder how that feels

Bigmikepowell

Thats the point. Monocoque made to look like tubes. They are off down the America's cup legalease route. What is the point of designing a monocoque bike to look like tubes. From the other side how far can you distort tubes to make it resemble a compact monocoque design.

lennyparis

Why is 7 so magical? So what if that is the record. He rides to win no matter what the record is (was).

Did Cal Ripken stop playing once he broke Lou Gehrig's record? No because he plays because he loves the game and not to break a record.

Go Lance.

Bontrager

I don't think 7 is a magical # but he seemed to hint on Oprah that his age may be a limiting factor. He might have other things that he is passionate about that he wants to do. Dunno. I hope he keeps on going but only because he wants to.

cyclezealot

I thought when LA won his last tour, he might be satisified because he probably has a record for maybe this century..Maybe another will give added insurance...
Was there not hints that he might try the Vuelta or Giro..Never once has he competed in either....Winning the Giro...be photographed in a pink jersey...But Italian podium girls are hottest....Question...Which climbing is worse...Italian Alps or French...?

roadgator

i think you can only strongly factor the team in his fifth (2003) win. in 1999-2001 postal was by no means the dominant team. in 2002 they were arguably the top team but lance was so dominant that year it didnt realy matter. only in 2003 when lance was off did they realy come through for him. think about it, his 61 second winning margin was LESS than the time postal put over ulrich's bianchi squad in th TTT. ulrich dominated the first TT while lance looked plain sick, and lance wouldnt have had a chance of saving face in the mountains if it wasnt for heras killing himself to keep the other riders in check.

that said. i think lance will win this year becuse he has shown he knows how to prepare for and strategize the tour better than any other man alive. lance will have to be noticably off or have some very bad luck to win. however i hope its a much scrapier fight this year than last, it was so dissapointing to see the big names (mayo, heras, hamilton, ulrich, beloki) either not enter, drop out, or just be off form last year. in 2004 you knew that lance could (and usualy did) win every day he got on the bike. this year i hope he looses a few battles becuse he just couldnt pedal any harder--not because it was tactically adventageous or even polite to let the other guy win-- but still wins the war.

brent_dube

If they're out racing, then they aren't working as hard for a Tour de France win.

Over-hype about the team. Really, could you give any reasons for that assumption?

Huh? He has finished 4th in the Vuelta.

st. nicks

I hope that Lance loses in a close race, then comes back and wins in '06.

aadhils

Is there a time where lance won with a crappy team? If not then I wanna see lance win with a crappy team....

Blackberry

Don't hold your breath. He, his coach and his team director are just too smart to try something that stupid.