Road Bike Racing - Bobby Jullich "Dropped" by Telekom

Can you believe it!?! Bobby Jullich has been dropped from the Telekom team for the TdF. He came 3rd behind Ulrich just a few years back and is having a strong spring. While not someone who would be expected to be on the podium at most races, he has done yoeman duty these past few years. Wonder if the Posties could pick him up.

:eek:

What the heck is going on out there in France? This Tour stuff is getting crazy!!

Why do they keep letting the good ones get away for the Tour? This is not the time to be cutting teammates, and it's certainly not good to cut the strong riders.

:confused:

Bobby J doesn't have results. He hasn't shown the form this year and I'm not surprised. Besides, that's a german team so they will give preference to german riders.

Originally posted by RacerX
Besides, that's a german team so they will give preference to german riders.

Partially right. The team is:

The full Team Telekom includes Mario Aerts, Rolf Aldag, Santiago Botero, Matthias Kessler, Andreas Klöden, Daniele Nardello, Paolo Savoldelli, Alexandre Vinokourov, and Erik Zabel.

A couple of Germans to be sure, but more non-Germans. The theory is that they can attack Armstrong but also have a few guys that can lead out Zabel in pursuit of the green.

Julich has really turned out to be a flash in the pan as a contender. He also was fortunate to get a great result in a TdF that was destroyed by dropouts from the Festina Affair.

Some other Top Ten finishers that year include:

4. Christopher Rinero

7. Roland Meier

9. Guiseppe di Grande

Not exactly the who's who in cycling, eh?

You look at the team and it's pretty clear why Bobby J didn't get in the squad.

I agree with Racer X and Easyrider completely. That third place came FIVE years ago. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say that Julich is doing poor, after all he was placing in the top 25 in the mountain stages in Switzerland and got 7th in the stage 8 TT.

If you take a look at the riders that Telekom is bringing to the Tour they are pretty justified. Aldag to lead out Zabel, Kessler who won Ghent Wevelgem earlier this year, and everyone else is pretty much a famous class act.

- Maurizio

BJ has ridden well in the build up to the tour, but it's hard to compete with the winner of the Tour de Suisse and Paris-Nice, Vino; the 2002 winner of the Giro, Paolo; the world TT champion and perennial TDF top 5, Botero; another very solid climber and support rider in the mountains, Kloden, and Nardello who can win short stage races and climb well.

USPS is carrying 4 strong mountain men this year; LA, Heras, Rubiera, and Beltran, but I think USPS has the strongest climbers in the tour. Heras and LA are balls to the wall right now. It is entirely possible that USPS may get 2 jerseys on the podium in Paris, especially if Heras continues to TT like he did in Catalonia.

What I want to know is why the heck was Guiseppe Guerrini (sp.) was left off the team!?!? He just came 2nd OVERALL in Switzerland. That's fantastic! The guy climbed very very well, and even put in a top 10 performance in the TT.

So what's up with that!?

Guerini not making the TDF roster IS a bigger surprise than Julich; I agree. Personally, I think Telekom's strategy looks like this. They are targeting Botero as their podium boy. Salvodelli and Vinikourov are their wildcards if Botero has his bad day. Nardello, who has ridden the big tour and never distinguished himself(has he ever won a stage?) and Kloden are their mountain mules.
They will probably give Nardello and Aerts rouleur stage opportunities, while Vino, Paolo, and Botero will ride conservatively, mark LA, test him with multiple attacks and try to put Botero in yellow in the TT's. If Botero has a bad day and drops out of contention, they'll let him loose for a stage victory. Of course, Zabel will have Aldag, Kessler, and maybe Aerts to help him compete for the green.
whaddya think?

why have jullich in?

A one hit wonder, and a long time ago -what?'98? - what has he done to gain a start

Vino and Botero are GC men. Salvodelli will support and gain experience. Kloden is a good tempo man for the mountains and Nardello, Aldag and Kessler can motor the flat stages for Zabel.
With the team as it is, they have the chance to wear the yellow, green and white jerseys this TDF.
(I think Salvodelli qualifies for the white jersey?)

Bobby J is NO surprise. Guerrini may not have had the TDF in his plans or wants to peak for later in the season or politics at telekom... maybe info about that later?