Professional Cycling For the Fans - Jan Ulrich is finished . . .

Well, it appears that the German's legendary lack of discipline has finally caught up with him big time. If he's ever had the motivation to lay off the strudel und bier, this was the year, and yet he appears to be 5 - 10 kilos heavier than he should be for an event like the TdF. The difference between the bloated Ulrich and the fit Armstrong yesterday was stunning! He's gone from being the Kaiser to the Graf Zeppelin!

I was actually hoping for a competitive Tour this year, but unless Armstrong gets sick or crashes, I think we're in for #7. Yawn.

Dr. Bill

Ullrich is right on race weight this year. Even the German cycling press, who always says he's fat (and for him "fat" means MAYBE 5-8 pounds of excess) is saying his right as the right weight. He's built differently that Lance. I doubt anyone on a serious team is 10 KILOS above their race weight and is actually selected for the TdF. Someone can correct me with some fat dudes out there, but seriously 10kg is freakin 22 POUNDS! I doubt anyone in the tour is OVER TWENTY POUNDS over their race weight.

It looks like maybe Vino might be the man this year but honestly its too early to tell. Ullrich is only what, 1:08 back? Lance had a GREAT TT, but look at Ulle compared to the other contenders or the whole field. Basso is behind him, Botero is behind him. He's right there with Landis and Levi. People are writing him off too quickly.

Ullrich will be on the podium.

Ullrich is right on race weight this year. Even the German cycling press, who always says he's fat (and for him "fat" means MAYBE 5-8 pounds of excess) is saying his right as the right weight. He's built differently that Lance. I doubt anyone on a serious team is 10 KILOS above their race weight and is actually selected for the TdF. Someone can correct me with some fat dudes out there, but seriously 10kg is freakin 22 POUNDS! I doubt anyone in the tour is OVER TWENTY POUNDS over their race weight.

It looks like maybe Vino might be the man this year but honestly its too early to tell. Ullrich is only what, 1:08 back? Lance had a GREAT TT, but look at Ulle compared to the other contenders or the whole field. Basso is behind him, Botero is behind him. He's right there with Landis and Levi. People are writing him off too quickly.

TOTALLY. Jan looks great and although he is down by over a minute (after crashing hard the day before)..Its ONLY a minute...and everyone is down close to a minute. Compared to EVERYONE except Zabriskie and Armstrong Jan had a great race.

People you should surprised at is guys like Rogers..who people thought would win yesterday. Ivan Basso even beat Rogers..

All these Jan sucks posts are going to get boring pretty quick. Focus on some other stuff, you'll enjoy the tour a lot more.

OK, the 5 - 10 kilos is a bit of an exaggeration, but judging from the race footage yesterday he looks to me to be around 8 - 10 pounds heavier than he should be. Sure he's built differently from Lance, but Armstrong looked fit and ready, and Jan clearly didn't.

Does Jan have a shot at the podium? Sure--if the T-Mobile squad continues to ride in support of him. But does anybody really think he's going to make up any time on Armstrong in the mountains, . . . or the next ITT, . . . or the TTT, . . . or the flats? I'll be looking for indications that T-Mobile management is shifting their emphasis to Vino for the GC.

Dr. Bill

PWNED

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/images/05tdfSt1/$file/10.jpg

His crash Friday was a serious deal. Yet, his time for the time trial was just about at his normal pace. What made Ullrich look "slow" was that Lance ran the time trial of his life. Lance had trouble clipping in at the beginning of the trial, and clearly eased up after he passed Ullrich. He was cruising, not pressing, during the last couple of miles.

Yet, at the end, Lance was within just three seconds of running the FASTEST TIME TRIAL IN 102 YEARS at the Tour de France! Anquetil, Poulidor, Merckx, Hinault, Fignon, LeMond, Indurain...yesterday Lance beat the best time trial times of the greatest riders in Tour history. There was nothing wrong with how Ullrich rode.

So, Ullrich is in fine form, but Lance is in exceptional form. As usual, Ullrich will ride near Lance, day after day, looking for an opportunity. If Lance becomes ill, has a mechanical problem, gets in a crash, Ullrich will be right there to take advantage of the opportunity. BUT, without such a bit of luck, Ullrich is racing for second.

Ullrich's critics mock him for coming in second, year after year. However, over the past century, thousands of the best bike racers in the world have entered this race. Only a dozen or so have stood on the podium in Paris as many times as Ullrich. He is a great champion, with the bad luck to be riding in the era of a slightly greater champion.

pffft, zabriskie beat lance and he's already been in one GT already this year, armstrong hasnt

if a bunch of knee jerk reactions should be made its whats wrong with lance based on that LOL

Ullrich broke a freakin window of a car,probably with his head for crying out loud

I dont expect anyone to win cept armstrong though, but as usual it wont be all armstrong, it will be yet another clinic put on by TEAM discovery that will tow armstong along for all but about 100 miles of the race, nothing new there.As usual Ullrich and the rest of the few GC contenders that you can count on one hand will be drafting team discovery the whole damn way unable to attack because of the tempo discovery sets.as each Discovery team member gets used up and burned out he will be replaced by another expendable piece of meat to tow armstrong along.You will NOT see another team in the race do this as effectively as discovery, its a team sport, Armstrong is hardly out there by himself.

if credit is really due anywhere, its guys like Salvodelli and Basso and Zabriskie, these guys have enough guts to actually race more than one big race, some working for someone else, some for themselves.

I really wish some people would do their home work before posting garbage.

There is no way Ullrich is 8-10 pounds overweight. Do you have any idea how much that is? Seriously man. I can't find any really good pictures, but to me - He looks to weigh less than he has in a LONG time at the first day of the Tour....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tour05/tour051/JD05tdfstg1012.jpg

That is fat?

No, thats not a gut - he's breathing. Lance is the same way:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tour05/tour051/JD05tdfstg1013.jpg

on top of that ALL these guys are gonna lose even more weight during the tour, they ride so hard each day that they are right on the edge of what you can humanly digest nutrition wise, it only takes one day of problems with your caloric intake or hydration and it can easily be "game over"

He's listed as 75K, whereas Lance is listed at 77K. Neither are fat by any means.

Editors of Velonews seem to have the same opinion. Jan himself once said it is impossible to recover 45 seconds on Lance.

It is still too early to tell. But Vinokourov is the man to watch this year.
http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/news/articles/8372.0.html

Jan sure as hell isn't fat,he looks great. Maybe it was the crash, although they say it wasn't. It's a real bummer. I fear it's going to be another yawner, i really hope it picks up a bit. As we all know, it's only the first stage!

All my sports heroes are bailing on me! The red sox got clobbered on friday! Mind you, they won yesterday.At least they're offering some real genuine thrills these days!

Give it some time...The flat stages are always less eventful (except for the final km) than the mountains...patience.

People keep saying things like he got owned, etc when he got passed. But the fact is, Armstrong beat what, everybody except Vinokourov and of course DZ by more than 1 minute. Put ANYONE as Armstrong's minute man and he would have passed them.

Jan needed to take time out of Lance in the TT, because he cannot get it in the mountains. Yesterday was a bad sign even though he rode a typical, good Jan Ullrich TT.

A better way to look at yesterday's TT is to say Lance rode past not just Ullrich, but all of his rivals.

I hope he just manages to go away and lives a long, happy life.

But Jan Ullrich is a tragedy waiting to happen. On top of all the stuff from a few years ago, he still relies on his Svengali/Rasputin Rudy Pevenage, whom many in the inner circles of the sport seem to believe is a major problem for him. Then he rides without a helmet and crashes into his own lead car a day before the TdF in which he is taking his last shot at LA because "to be the best you have to beat the best".

Too many events showing too little discipline over too long a time, and a surfiet of, ..., what? Stupidity? Inability to learn from one's own (oft repeated) mistakes? Lack of common sense? Lack of discipline? Belief in one person's opinions over those of many others who are at least as smart? Too much belief in the impending appearance of miracles?

It has really been too bad, but perhaps he is just another in a long line of these types in sports. He has been called the "biggest engine in the sport" for a long time by LA. Unfortunately he simply wastes it.

Please don't post stage results from Stage 2 here- we have a thread already created in the Tour de France forum.

Thanks!

Koffee

Ullrich will be on the podium.

In your dreams - he is really going to blow up in the moutains, and I love it!

Ok

People keep saying things like he got owned, etc when he got passed. But the fact is, Armstrong beat what, everybody except Vinokourov and of course DZ by more than 1 minute. Put ANYONE as Armstrong's minute man and he would have passed them.

True however - the psycological pressure of knowing you MUST gain at least one whole minute on LA - on Day one ... then add that to the fact that Jan had a front row seat of LA gliding past and then easing off and still being unable to regain any time - HUGE psycological blow - huge !

Jan needed to take time out of Lance in the TT, because he cannot get it in the mountains. Yesterday was a bad sign even though he rode a typical, good Jan Ullrich TT.

A better way to look at yesterday's TT is to say Lance rode past not just Ullrich, but all of his rivals.
As always, a voice of reason. Thanks!

In your dreams - he is really going to blow up in the moutains, and I love it!
the worst he has done is 4th, he has been 2nd 5 times and he has won. He is already making up time on LA he moved up 6 places and is now only 58 seconds behind. there are still 22 days left.

I feel bad for the guy. He's obviously great, but everyone craps down on him for not being good enough. And now his team is publicly slapping him. Imagine having to race knowing that's what everyone thinks of you

I hope Ullrich catches up to Armstrong just so you all have to eat crow!

I still think going into The Tour 5-8 lbs heavy isn't a bad idea. A couple of lbs could come off in the first week, especially if they run at the crazy pace they did last year. Regarding the Prologue TT, the course was pan-flat except for the bridge. 5-8 lbs is a non-issue. Finally, maybe Jan's crash has taken more of a physical toll than he's letting on. There's no doubt that being passed was demoralizing... one more obstacle for Jan to overcome. Regardless, we look for the TT to be Jan's biggest strength, and the event that he can put the screws to Lance. Instead, he finished respectably, but not outstanding.


Add Godefroot to Jan and T-Mobs woes, and you have a recipe for wasted talent. If T-Mob podiums in Paris, it will be in spite of their DS.

I still think going into The Tour 5-8 lbs heavy isn't a bad idea.

I thought I once read it's common for a GC rider to finish with 5 less pounds. I could be wrong. Also I thought Armstrong said he started the 2003 Tour too light.

I guess it depends WHY those extra pounds are there.

I see a lot of post about Jan and his time trialing ability, and how he can pick up time on Lance. When was the last time Jan picked up time on Lance in a TDF time trial? In the tour Lance seems to be a time trial son of a gun. I was in awe of his time trial last year where he ran down Basso, and yesterday was amazing. I really thought the entire field would be starting 1 minute behind David Z.

Richard

Add Godefroot to Jan and T-Mobs woes, and you have a recipe for wasted talent. If T-Mob podiums in Paris, it will be in spite of their DS.


Maybe a team tactic playing Jan down to take eyes/pressure away from him. I don't conceive Team heads talking $hit of their own player in public and at the very begining of a GC

When was the last time Jan picked up time on Lance in a TDF time trial?

2003. During which, Armstrong thought to himself that his chance of winning the Tour was over after seeing the second time check (his words).

It wouldn't surprise me if the poor TT performance by Jan motivates him. Oh well it ends up we shall see.

Richard

Im rooting for Jan to catch Lance, it will make things more exciting :)

jan should go for intermediate sprints to close down that 1 minute before the mountains.

like that will ever happen, but its be cool to see him scrapping for it any way whe could.

In your dreams - he is really going to blow up in the moutains, and I love it!


/laugh... how can you judge already? There is 19 days left to go, Lance could eat **** or anyone else for that matter. That's all that needs to happen. Jan has a shot just as much as anyone else.

I remember now why I drop out of this forum about this time every year. 2 days in still a couple of thousand miles to go and already people have LA winning the tour.

All it takes is for one of the main contenders to have one bad day in the mountains and 58 seconds looks like nothing!.

Enjoy the race. personally I am and always have been a Jan fan. Any guy who can go on the Elvis diet over winter and still be the best all round cyclist in the world (note I didn't say best TdF rider) is ok with me.

I'm just set for three weeks of enjoyment and trying to get to Paris for the finish.

For me, Voeckler and Boonen provide a lot of entertainment, Jan is always dangerous. Enjoy the combo of tactics, double dealing and athleticism. All these guys are gods.

Jan Ullrich, as photographed in the start village yesterday. It's amazing how recongnisable he is out of his T Mobile kit

/laugh... how can you judge already? There is 19 days left to go, Lance could eat **** or anyone else for that matter. That's all that needs to happen. Jan has a shot just as much as anyone else.

Well, I judge because I watched him unable to keep up with the acceleration in the mountains of the tour de Suisse! One thing that may help him is the team time trial which is looming - they should be able to turn in a good time, but much to my glee, not even close to Discovery which should win that stage and put Lance into the yellow jersey.

Jan Ullrich, as photographed in the start village yesterday. It's amazing how recongnisable he is out of his T Mobile kit

When did he lose all of the weight? :D

I remember now why I drop out of this forum about this time every year. 2 days in still a couple of thousand miles to go and already people have LA winning the tour.
At least this is the last year you will have to put up with that.

I figure that unless another American really gets great this year, the traffic in here should go down by 90% or so.

I don't understand the Ullrich defenders. He's not even the strongest rider on his team, and I expect Kloden will spank him in the alps also. Can Armstrong lose the tour? Yes of course, anyone can have a bad day...just look at Basso. But it doesn't look like he's going to be beaten. If his rivals can't beat him in the TT, and can't ride with him in the mountains has cycling really been reduced to hoping some guy gets a stomach bug?

TOTALLY. Jan looks great and although he is down by over a minute (after crashing hard the day before)..Its ONLY a minute...and everyone is down close to a minute. Compared to EVERYONE except Zabriskie and Armstrong Jan had a great race.

People you should surprised at is guys like Rogers..who people thought would win yesterday. Ivan Basso even beat Rogers..

All these Jan sucks posts are going to get boring pretty quick. Focus on some other stuff, you'll enjoy the tour a lot more.

Look I don't think Jan sucks but at over a minute behind LA and we still haven't hit the mountains I'd say Jan's chances are pretty slim. Jan just follows LA in the mountains and rarely attacks, if LA dosen't have an off day Jan's TdF ambitions are through. Past is prologe with Jan and the chances of him being even further down on LA after the team time trial are pretty good. Given all of this all he can hope for is to keep pace with Lance on the big climbs and hope Vino doesn't attack. If Vino goes he'll put time into Jan and Jan will be lucky to see the podium this year.

I don't understand the Ullrich defenders. He's not even the strongest rider on his team, and I expect Kloden will spank him in the alps also.

KLÖDEN!?! KLÖDEN!?!!!!???

WTF!? Have you been paying attention at all this seas...

Nevermind. I just saw your join date.

You realize that Klöden is doing absolutely terrible this year, right? He will not be a contender this year. He lost 2'01" to Zabriskie in stage 1. If anyone from Ullrich's team is going to "spank" Jan in the mountains, it's Vino.

Well, I judge because I watched him unable to keep up with the acceleration in the mountains of the tour de Suisse! One thing that may help him is the team time trial which is looming - they should be able to turn in a good time, but much to my glee, not even close to Discovery which should win that stage and put Lance into the yellow jersey.

What difference does that make? Jan and Lance prepare in completely different ways for the Tour. If you look at Lance's early season rides, he was not doing so well.

JU has turned up fitter than in the last couple of years and if he is fully fit can leave Lance (as long as CSC don't join up with Discovery as they did with USPS last year)

Well, Ulrich said after yesturday that he did feel better than the day before. Like he was feeling a bit off from the crash on the TT.

There is always next year for Jan.

KLÖDEN!?! KLÖDEN!?!!!!???

WTF!? Have you been paying attention at all this seas...

Nevermind. I just saw your join date.

You realize that Klöden is doing absolutely terrible this year, right? He will not be a contender this year. He lost 2'01" to Zabriskie in stage 1. If anyone from Ullrich's team is going to "spank" Jan in the mountains, it's Vino.

hey wise ass my join date is because I'm too busy riding, and I've been following the tour since you were on training wheels. The point was the Ullirch is simply not great. Very good: yes. But a serious contender not even a little.

hey wise ass my join date is because I'm too busy riding, and I've been following the tour since you were on training wheels. The point was the Ullirch is simply not great. Very good: yes. But a serious contender not even a little.
I'm glad you've been following the Tour since I was on training wheels. Regardless, my point stands and you are incorrect: Klöden is already struggling severely. His season has been absolutely terrible so far. A few months ago, he couldn't even get through a race without abandoning. He will not be anywhere near the front when the road goes up. Ullrich and Vino will.

Also, Ullrich not great? I beg to differ. A TdF win, five second place finishes, a fourth place finish, an Olympic gold medal, an Olympic silver medal, a Vuelta a Espana win, a World Time Trial Championship, amateur World Road Race Championship, and many, many other notables. Want me to go on?

Please, not great? The only race your hero Lance can beat Jan in is the Tour de France.

Mr. Devil, Lance isn't my hero. I'm too old for heroes. The simple fact is Ullrich's TDF win was a very long time ago, and if you'd like to put the vuelta in the same category as the tour you're clearly not well versed in the heirarchy of important wins. Ullrich would trade all those other wins to beat Armstrong in the tour. Is it a secret that Armstrong only trains for the tour? Ullrich did the same this year and it's simply not going to pan out. He can't lose a minute in the opening time trial. He can't climb with armstrong, historicaly he isn't as good a time trialist so how exactly is he making up this time?

he has some nice wins, but it's not a great career. he under achieved. much more was expected to him, and 5 seconds makes you a perennial bridesmaid not a champion.

Mr. Devil, Lance isn't my hero. I'm too old for heroes. The simple fact is Ullrich's TDF win was a very long time ago, and if you'd like to put the vuelta in the same category as the tour you're clearly not well versed in the heirarchy of important wins. Ullrich would trade all those other wins to beat Armstrong in the tour. Is it a secret that Armstrong only trains for the tour? Ullrich did the same this year and it's simply not going to pan out. He can't lose a minute in the opening time trial. He can't climb with armstrong, historicaly he isn't as good a time trialist so how exactly is he making up this time?

he has some nice wins, but it's not a great career. he under achieved. much more was expected to him, and 5 seconds makes you a perennial bridesmaid not a champion.

I never thought I would defend Ullrich, but to say that, "...it's not a great career," is ludicrous. He had the misfortune to compete in the Lance era, and his resume stands up to anyone racing today.

do you really think that's a hall of fame type career?


edit: I'm not a particular LA fan. I don't really like the guy. I'd love to see him lose. I just don't see Ullrich as being the guy who is going to unseat him. Perhaps there's someone out there who can get away in the mountains and put a gap that armstrong can't make up in the TT. But that isn't going to be Jan.