Professional Cycling - Jan the Darling of Germany? NOT

Read this article at VeloNews:
German Tour great says Ullrich grows tiresome (http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/news/articles/8417.0.html)

Seems Rudy Altig is not impressed with Jan,
and it sounds like he isn't the only one.
How does this affect T-Mobile?
How does it affect Vino?

Germany wants the win, and will support the
rider who can get the job done, and I don't think
it's Jan.

Marty

Ouch! I think that's gonna leave a mark :D

So how much of the blame being dished out by Altig should go to Ullrich and how much should be placed on Telekom? I doesn't seem to me that Jan Ullrich has been able to perform up to his potential since leaving Bianchi. Whose fault? I have no idea. Maybe it was a sub-optimal fit between rider and team.

Maybe he should ride for someone like Manolo Saiz. :)

the other teams, t-moblie included definitly don't support their leader like discovery does. up till this year t-moblie tried competing for both the green and yellow jersey with Zabel going for green. i don't think you can compete seriosly for both in the tour these days. if your team is helping to chase down break aways on flat stages to set up a sprint they won't have the energy needed when it comes to the mountains. and now this year they left zabel behind, but they have no clear team leader.
i think Jan's getting a bad rap, barring an accident or sickness i don't think you can beat discovery on the tour unless you ride like discovery on the tour.
put Lance on t-mobile and he'd have a much harder time winning i think.
Altig sounds a bit like when lemond talks about armstrong.

I agree with Shaharidan. Maybe next year Ulrich will reunite with Riis and ride with CSC.

the other teams, t-moblie included definitly don't support their leader like discovery does.

... nor their domestics for that matter. How many promising riders have recently gone through the T-Mobile washing machine only to pop out dirtier than when they were thrown into the wash? If ever a team was due for an all new management team, it's T-Mobile.

When great expectations are not met, great outrage ensues. Nowhere is this more evident than in sports. One day you have a cheery mob chasing you with a pen for your autograph, the next day you have an angry mob chasing you with pitchforks and torches for your head.

I think T-Mobile is in a good position to attack with 2 good riders within 2 minutes of LA. They should send Jan down the road and counter with Vino. If T-Mobile and CSC made an alliance......

If T-Mobile and CSC made an alliance......


Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding. IMO, The magic answer.

IMO, multiple teams need to get together and attack him, it's the only way they can tire him out (or at least try). Everyone sits back and lets him and his boys dictate, someone else has to sacrafice and push the pace. If it takes a few of the teams, so be it.

Hopefully they'll try it and we'll see some exciting racing. I'm no Lance fan, but he is indeed the King until someone pushes him off the cliff. They better actually act like they realize he's gone after this year and no one can lay claim to actually beating him if they don't do something about it now.
f

If T-Mobile and CSC made an alliance......
I have ten bucks that says this will happen.

I think that is what Jan and Bjarne were talking about in the funny picture
thread. . .
yah, I could see it happen.
I think the problem with Jan is Rudy Pevanage.

I don't see that Rudy Altig sounds like Greg, in that Jan isn't delivering and
thats the cause of the problem as opposed to I shoulda woulda coulda
(even though I greatly respect Lemond).
Marty

I don't see Ullrich fitting at CSC. Because Ullrich is not a baby - if he wants to be the best, and try his best, then he can with the top class team he already has. The pressure at CSC might make him want to retire earlier, even. (just a guess)

Never a shortage of critics...never....especially if you are ONE of the best or the best under duress

I don't see Ullrich fitting at CSC. Because Ullrich is not a baby - if he wants to be the best, and try his best, then he can with the top class team he already has. The pressure at CSC might make him want to retire earlier, even. (just a guess)
Nobody is talking about Jan signing with CSC (although he should have, years ago). We're talking about CSC and T-Mobile forming an alliance to crush Lance.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding. IMO, The magic answer.

IMO, multiple teams need to get together and attack him, it's the only way they can tire him out (or at least try). Everyone sits back and lets him and his boys dictate, someone else has to sacrafice and push the pace. If it takes a few of the teams, so be it.

Hopefully they'll try it and we'll see some exciting racing. I'm no Lance fan, but he is indeed the King until someone pushes him off the cliff. They better actually act like they realize he's gone after this year and no one can lay claim to actually beating him if they don't do something about it now.
f

So you are saying that Lance and DSC are so strong that it will take 2 teams to beat them? Cool..

Nobody is talking about Jan signing with CSC (although he should have, years ago). We're talking about CSC and T-Mobile forming an alliance to crush Lance.

Yes, someone mentioned it. And it's been mentioned on this forum many times in past threads, and I felt like bringing it up :eek:

Yes, someone mentioned it. And it's been mentioned on this forum many times in past threads, and I felt like bringing it up :eek:
Yeah, I just saw it. Didn't realize you were responding to that at the time though. Either way, I think Ullrich WOULD be better off at CSC. He needs to drop Pevenage and T-Mobile altogether. Look what Mr. 60% has done for other riders. He could easily do the same for Jan.. it's a perfect fit, especially since they were once teammates. Bjarne has a very, very good understanding of how Jan works and what he needs to do to succeed. Pevenage and the T-Mobile entourage clearly do not.

Yeah, I just saw it. Didn't realize you were responding to that at the time though. Either way, I think Ullrich WOULD be better off at CSC. He needs to drop Pevenage and T-Mobile altogether. Look what Mr. 60% has done for other riders. He could easily do the same for Jan.. it's a perfect fit, especially since they were once teammates. Bjarne has a very, very good understanding of how Jan works and what he needs to do to succeed. Pevenage and the T-Mobile entourage clearly do not.

Yeah I may have been confusing there in the sequence I replied during. You know I almost forgot about Ullrich and 60% being partners before. He should know Jan well as you say. Pevenage and T-Mobile haven't really shown the professionalism needed to make a Tour winner IMO.
Seems too late though. Like age is catching up, or will catch up soon.

I love how everyone has their opinions on everything. I don't think JAN is out of it yet. There is plenty of time to catch up. Also, as far as T-Mobile itself, I feel that they are very unprepared as a "team" to send Jan to the front. They went in having Jan, Vino, and Kloden going for number 1. They said that was their strategy before they even started. As a team you can 't do that. You have to pick one man and have him try to be first the whole time. Do you see discovery channel saying oh hincapie, armstrong, and whoever else going for first. They are dedicated to one person - Lance. I think it's pathetic as far as coaching for T-Mobile. Another thing is that Armstrong has expressed his respect for Ulrich saying that he will be there at the end and that he will catch up. So I don't think anyone should make any assumptions on Jan till about the 17th stage. What happens if Lance pulls a an awesome CSC fall, think about it. There is more than enough time for Jan to advance.

So you are saying that Lance and DSC are so strong that it will take 2 teams to beat them? Cool..


Hey, I'm not a Lance fan but I have the upmost respect for his riding. He is that strong! It may take at least two teams attacking. :rolleyes:
f