dasnootz

https://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=1842555


Basically the article says how Jan realizes that he's riding like struedel and has given carte blanche to Andreas Kloeden to go for the podium.

Guest

I don't know about given up, but if you want someone on your team to do well, you have to put all your support behind them. So if he sees that his teammate is doing better, I could see how he would say he would support the guy. But it is equally heartening to see that Kloeden is loyal to Jan and claims to support Jan, and it's equally heartening to see that Kloeden is verbally supporting Jan. I'm sure that helps to lift Jan's spirits, even if he doesn't have the confidence to be the team leader. I still think Jan can come back if he rides hard in the next week, but I guess we'll wait and see. I think Wednesday's time trial will give us an idea of how strong his legs really are.

Koffee

hollow

I think that if Jan was really giving up he would have found an excuse and abandoned the race. His support of Kloden shows a lot about what a class guy he is. I'm not giving up on him for a podium spot.

...jeff

my jan icon will never give up!

dasnootz

I agree... I think Jan is showing a lot of class, something you don't often see in big name athletes of any sport.

TXCiclista

Grrr. If only Jan would put that class into his training That man could really "put the screws" to Armstrong if he'd truly dedicate himself during the off-season. Jan is top-notch in my book and it's frustrating to hear him like this. I'm all for Lance for #6, but Jan could really have done it last year (and probably this year) if he'd trained to win. His attitude + his potential could equal the most-loved Tour champion ever if he'd just add the training Still, vote ULRICH FOR YELLOW in '06!

auricpoe

he will be there come the end of the week....at least thats what i think......who knows, he is one tough SOB

Devil

I don't see Jan giving up. Assuming he is stronger in the third week (as always) and doesn't lose any time, I see him with a podium finish. He can still rip people to shreds in the final TT.

bagel

From his Tour diary (https://www.t-mobile-team.com/cms/tmoteam/en/)

19.07.2004/ The Tour starts again tomorow, for the third time! Facing us are five hard days in the saddle, before we can even think about rolling in to Paris. Five days, in which - I promise - to fight to the bitter end. Five days, in which I will seek out chances to attack. I will only be satisfied when I can look at my image in the mirror after each stage, and say: "You gave it everything today:"

Maybe the yellow jersey is out of reach now, but there are still two more places on the podium to be decided. What's to stop me getting on the podium? Nothing - I'll take a day-to-day approach to things and try, as much as possible, to get up there. Let's see where this approach brings me.

Today, I am enjoying the laid-back mood and the picture-book surroundings of our team hotel "Manior de la Roseraie". The pleasant environment helps me relax and prepare mentally for the rest of the Tour.

Physically it has been an easy day. After an hour on the stationary bike, I went for a 60 minute training spin. Then my physio Birgit Krohme was waiting for me, ready to put her "magic hands" to work, getting the lactic acid out of my muscles. These two hours transform me. It's not just the muscles that benefit, but my mental well-being also.

Sure, I am unlikely now to meet the expectations of all my fans in this Tour. But believe me; coping with that is the hardest thing for me! I came to this Tour with one ultimate goal. That's unlikely now, but I can still try to turn things around.

I am encouraged by the fact that I know all the Alpine mountain passes we will be crossing really well. I know where I can attack on the climbs. Now I just need my legs to respond. Let's see how it goes!

Until tomorrow,

Jan

bagel

Oh and also from the day before. I'm sure psychologically he feels like a loser, but he's not being sore about it at all. He's being totally gracious and still optimistic both for himself making podium and for Kloeden.

18.07.2004/ Fortunately there were no mountains to climb today. The only thing making life difficult today was the wind. But after the breakaway jumped clear, things calmed down in the peloton. So, a nice stage before the rest day, and I can thank Sergei Ivanov and Daniele Nardello who worked hard as my "bodyguards" throughout.

The two of them looked after me well, shelttering me from the wind and keeping me well supplied with food and water. My friend Andreas Klöden has been freed from these duties. After his power-performances in the Pyrenees he is our other trump card for a GC place now. For this reason, we don't want him wasting valuable energy going backwards and forwards carrying water bottles.

For me "Klödi" has been a revelation in this Tour. I hope he can maintain his current level all the way to Paris. He was clearly the better man in the Pyrenees, so I've given him "Carte Blanche" in the Alps. I certainly won't split hairs over who works for whom.

Use "Klödi" just as a helper when he's in the form of his life? No way! For a start, I know he is currently capable of leaving me in his wake. That's not a good thing for my morale. Secondly, I dont want to make the mistake of using him to pace me in the Alps. I need to ride at my own rhythm.

In all truth, I was quite content to plough my own furrow on the climb to Plateau de Beille. It will only make sense to enlist Klödi's help in the Alps if its to our mutual benefit. If I think he has the stonger legs, then he not only should, but must, go for it alone.

I am fully concentrated on the final week now. It will be one battle after another, with no respite until we roll into Paris on Sunday. I'll need to be at 100 percent for the five stages of torture that lie ahead. That means a real break tomorrow: A two hours training spin, then rest - and no press interviews.

From now on, I want to let my performances on the bike do the talking for me.

Devil

Jan is a true fighter. I really hope that he finds his legs and is able to podium this year, and I think he will.

Smoothie104

...jeff

hahahahah nice!

Devil

Nice pic.

dasnootz

I wonder if Jan is using some of Armstrong's mind games, by saying that Klodi has carte blanche to try and win the race now USPS has to monitor both riders more closely... Ulrich's break from the Peleton today makes me wonder if he and Klodi can work together to try and wear Lance down.

hollow

Yeah, it looks like he's given up.

lotek 

I don't think so, he's attacking Armstrong today.
I agree the yellow is out of the question for him but
I think he is racing for pride. I couldn't see him
just rolling over (like mayo?).

Marty

dasnootz

Armstrong and Basso's group is bringing him back down to earth.

brent_dube

The thing about Ullrich in the Tour is that, even when he seems off form, he looks to always give %100 (in the actual race, not necessarily preparation).
He will probably get a podium again. He's a fighter.

Guest

I have a particular love for Jan these days... after seeing him race in Lugano, and reading his diary notes and reading the interviews he's giving with regards to the Tour de France. I hadn't really rooted for anyone in particular, because as I said before, I think every rider up there is as strong and great as anyone else, and I'm just excited to see this level of racing. But Jan.... *sigh* he is just the shizzle. I was heartened today to see him breaking away, and I was also heartened to see a strong finish from him. I know he time trials well too, so I look forward to seeing how he does in the time trials. Barring mistakes, I think he will move up significantly in the GC after the individual time trial in the Alps. I can't see him losing time on this stage. Let's all pray for good weather for all the cyclists so we can see some of the best climbing techniques of any cyclists in the entire world. With 21 switchbacks up the Alps, this is probably going to be one of the most exciting races, if not the most exciting race, in the entire season. I can't wait.

Go Jan! But go everyone! I think all riders are doing incredibly well and I'm so psyched!

Koffee

dmd70

Jan is alive. Hope he can keep it up. On stage 12 and 13 I was wondering if he was playing Lance a couple of years ago. When Lance looked to be struggling and rolling in the saddle. Maybe I am pipe dreaming but if he can gain a minute a day for 4 days he will be on the podium. Man, I glad to see he hasn't given up and still fighting.

lotek 

While I'm glad to see Jan still hanging in there, I don't think he was trying
to bluff anyone. When Lance did his bluff he didn't lose any time, if you recall
he finished by winning the stage. I think the pace was just too high and
that Jan couldn't respond to it being lifted so much. I'm guessing that Jan
just ran out of steam and was having 2 really bad days.

Marty

SipperPhoto

The problem I have with Jan is, that on paper, he looks to be the strongest rider out there... even stronger than Lance, I believe. But his lack of training in the offseason is virtually non-existent. If he were to dedicate himself, he would be unstoppable. But he seems too lazy...

Lance trains nearly year round, and doesn;t have to worry about dropping 25 lbs. 2 months before a race...

I still wouldnt; count him out yet though... Jan is tough, and he probably won;t win, but he'll be in the top 5 or so... TT tomorrow should help narrow out the field

jeff

only-haley

Which is why he needs Rudy Pevenage or Bjarne Riis on his ass, instead of Godefroot who seems to not have a clue what "team" means. It doesn't seem like Ulle is one of those riders who looks inward for motivation, but he flourishes greatly in the hands of the right sportif.

p.s., did you see his journal entry for today? Sounds like an excited little kiddie. "I was in form again today!"

Guest

Lance doesn't train year round. Lance takes off a couple of months at the end of the year, kicks back, drinks his beer, goes to concerts with Ms. Crow, and hangs out with his buddies. Then in January, he throws on his shoes and starts up with his base training. Lance is on a very strict, periodized program designed to peak when the Tour begins. This is the design that Chris details on the Lance Armstrong website. It hasn't deviated since Lance won his first Tour de France, and we all can see why!

In the past, Jan has taken quite a bit of time off, partied up, and started way too late into the year to be in good form. Usually, he's struggling with weight issues and being out of shape. I don't think Jan had any real, solid training program, just tried to lose the weight and race hard. That's no training program. However, this season, I saw he started training in December. He joined his teammates in January to start a very regimented training program. While I thought it was great Jan was training and focussing so early, I was equally surprised that he would begin racing so early in the season (March)! If you start peaking too early, how are you supposed to time the big peak for Tour de France in July? I know a lot of coaches want to try to peak as many times as possible, but you always want your strongest and longest peak to happen for your most important race, and starting to race in March, I don't see how he'd be able to hold onto a high fitness base until July. He'd still be in great form, but I know I mentioned back when people first started talking about Jan at the beginning of this year that he was racing too early, and I also stated that I feared he would not be able to time his strongest peak by July. Very few people can hold onto their training for that long and peak in July (actually, I don't know of any, but then again, not very many people reveal their training programs either!). I saw for myself at Tour de Suisse that he was definitely in great shape, but whoooooo... I think perhaps he just didn't time it right. But I bet his coaches will be looking really hard at his training under a microscope. A little tweaking here and there, and I'll bet he'll be back next year even stronger. Physically, this year, I think he's stronger than he was the past, but now, it's just a matter of timing.

Koffee