How will the record book report on Jan Ullrich's first attempt of the Giro d'Italia?
It won't.
Their Man Jan pulled out of the Giro during the last few kilometres from the finish of the punishing 221km 19th stage from Pordenone to Passo di San Pellegrino (isn't that soda water -- with bubbles?) on Friday. TMJ consulted with team director Rudi Pevenage, then climbed into the T-Mobile team car. So much for Ullrich's 42nd place in the overall standings, 45:31 behind leader Ivan Basso when he abandoned.
Said Jan:
"I feel a bit tired after three weeks and don't want to endanger my build-up of form ahead of the Tour de France. The (Giro) penultimate stage (on Saturday) will be really tough and I didn't want to overstretch myself any more."
Hey cranks
ReplyDeletesorry, no reliable connectivity out in the Dolomites, but back in Milan now and you need to know Jan had a GREAT Giro and is right on schedule for the TdF '06 BfJ (Built for Jan)
we saw him live on Passo de Fedaia on Friday (I may never recover from that 15% beast) and then crusing through Alleghe after Fedaia & Passo de Pordoi (historic climb but definitely more human) with the pretty select Basso group ...
Jan was (of course) still carrying a few winter kilos , but he was TOTALLY comfortable hanging in the elite group on a monster stage day (just another training ride for him)
and that he bailed on Passo di San Pellegrino (which we rode today - ditto Fedaia comment above!!) after such a long stage was probably a smart move (especially with another 7 hr day scheduled today)
he came to train to form, get his 3 week stage legs, but not burn out ... I'd say he's totally fit, hoping to trim a few kilos by July and then just figure out strategically (and this will be the hardest part) how to win the Tdf BfJ
ROR's a Landis fan this July, but let's honor the Giro end and Basso's total coming of age ... and start hyping the Dauphiné Libéré and all that it will reveal, because this could be the BEST TdF since YBL's first two wins (and that's ultimately what we're all in this for eh!)
Triple Crankset rocks!! (and hopefully several more Giro riders will start playing online in June)