Road Bike Racing - Urgent help on WC and Ullrich!!!

I’m really off when it comes to racing, but never the less I have to write about the Amstel Gold Race (April 28 in Maastricht, Netherlands) for our tv supplement. So I wonder:

* Is Jan Ullrich not going to participate in this race? (I don’t find him.)

* Which team does he belong to? (I thought Telekom but I don’t find him there.)

* Why hasn’t an outstanding cyclist like Lance Armstrong ever won the Amstel? Does he prepare for the Tour that time of year?

Please help!

Originally posted by swekarl
* Is Jan Ullrich not going to participate in this race? (I don’t find him.)
Nope. He almost never races in the classics, and he is currently recovering from a knee injury, anyway.


[i]* Which team does he belong to? (I thought Telekom but I don’t find him there.)[/B]
He rides for Telekom, but he' wouldn't be on the start list for Amstel Gold.


[i]* Why hasn’t an outstanding cyclist like Lance Armstrong ever won the Amstel? Does he prepare for the Tour that time of year?[/B]
ONLY outstanding cyclists win Amstel Gold. Erik Zabel won it in 2000, Erik Dekker won it in 2001, Bjarne Riis won it in 1997, Johan Museeuw won it in 1994.

The race actually favours classics specialists and sprinters like Zabel and Museeuw, but Armstrong came in second last year and has a special interest in the race. In fact, if there is any race other than the Tour that Armstrong takes seriously, this is the one.

Personally, I think Armstrong is a long shot in this one. Zabel hasn't been doing all that well lately, but he's won it beforte, and it's his kind of race, Museeuw is in the best form he's been in since 1996, Boogerd looks good again [Dekker is injured, BTW], and there are a couple of old men of the classics who've been looking VERY good, namely Tafi and Cipollini. If Cipollini enters this one -- he's not on the start list, but it's his kind of race -- he could win it. And this could be Andre Tchnil's last race [he's retiring] so, if he's fit, he's going to go all out to win it.

Karl

Ullrich does ride for Telekom (unless he's retired or fired
which I haven't heard!), however due to his continuing
knee injuries he probably won't ride the Amstel. I guess
thats why you don't see him listed.
Lance placed 2nd in last years Amstel, losing to Dekker
by a bike length, same basic time for the results.
LA used it as a training springboard for TdF.
I would say watch him this year, but the way
Musseeuw is riding my money is on him.

Marty

Thanks A LOT guys! :beer:

Armstrong also came in second in Amstel gold to Michael Boogerd, I think it was in 99.

As for Ullrich, hopefully he'll be ready for the Tour de Suisse and Alps classic. The way things have been goind this season, with all the injuries everyone's been having, I fear the TDF will be just another victory lap around France for Armstrong!