jfmckenna

I hear OLNTV is reporting one of their camera crews spotted Jan Ulrich riding L'Alpe
d'Huez training in secret...

MacMan

Damnit! I just can't get that channel where I live. If that is true, it would be interesting indeed.

Devil

Very interesting. When was this mentioned on OLN? I follow all of their cycling coverage.

rygreen

It was mentioned during today's (May 24th) coverage of the Giro.

Hopefully this means that Jan is getting serious about getting in good form for the Tour this year. I'm rooting for him. For some reason, I have a soft spot in my heart for him...maybe because I always get fat in the winter too!

girl27

Ahh. In secret. That's some crackerjack reporting from OLN.

Why would anyone be surprised to see Ullrich on Alpe d'Huez? Was anyone surprised to see Armstrong there, two weeks ago? The TT up Alpe d'Huez may be the pivotal stage of the TdF this summer. Ullrich's dropped races from his calendar, and I assumed that meant he'd be out training, and doing some recon.

What? Did OLN think he'd be hanging out on the sofa, watching their Giro coverage?

Devil

Yes, I just finished watching the coverage (missed live coverage due to work) and they mentioned it with around 10km to go. Interesting. I wonder why it's secret, though.

rygreen

It probably wasn't regarded as "secret" by OLN until their camera crew got (reportedly) chased away...

lotek 

hey you guys why are you discussing this here in an open forum? its a SECRET, you're not
supposed to tell.

I'm guessing it really isn't "secret" just that T-Mobile don't want Jan distracted by
lots of reporters and cameramen.

Marty

Devil

Could be. I'd like to think it's a bit more glamorous though, like Pevenege didn't want Lance and company to see Jan's ultra effective training techniques in which he is assisted by an alien from outer space. Or that he's absolutely struggling to make it up The Alp.

But you're probably right.

Jakey

Part of me wants Lance to win a sixth, but at the same time I would really like to see Jan win this year.

RonH

Jan?? Jan who??
I want LA to win #6. He he loses I hope Tyler takes it.

brent_dube

How neat it would be if Jan and Lance happened to find each other climbing l'Alpe.

auricpoe

good for jan...he finally get it....your supposed to get in form for a race like this, lance has been "secretly" training in france on the tdf route every year.....

roadwarrior

Couldn't happen....since it was a "secret", Ullrich and T-Mobile had reserved the entire Alpe for the day. That's why OLN was chased off...and of course the few people who live there were sworn to secrecy, lest they be "never seen again"...

Lance, on the other hand just won yet another race and a LOT of people knew and showed up to watch him train..as he LIKES to let Jan know the pain and suffering he has in store for him in about six weeks...



Or maybe Jan will just lie in bed and look at the Alpe on a video like he did the time trial last year...

I'm thinking that this could be the biggest buttkickin' yet. Cuz Jan's coming into this Tour with, I believe, his lowest racing mileage yet...unless they have been "secret races"...

Maybe he was the big guy I saw at the last crit....

brent_dube

I guess the Blitzkrieg has already started

USpostal needs to send in the reserves and at least capture the Pyrennes

townandcountry

The German army also tried to take Moscow. Got stuck in the mud and ran out of gas.

Laggard

How does one reserve a mountain? Is it private land and a private road?

Devil

It was a joke.

parakeethouse

Lance is in great shape. Lance has raced races, Lance has won stages. Lance has won races. Lance is ready.

As for Jan? I doubt he'll be ready, no races, no race wins. These things matter over this important time.
I wouldnt be suprised to see someone else in 2nd if Lance wins. Maybe Tyler or Simoni.

Laggard

At the moment, Simoni isn't looking as strong as in past years.

1. Armstrong
2. Mayo
3. Moreau

Devil

You honestly think Moreau will finish ahead of Hamilton and Ullrich?

roadwarrior

No way...Tyler's in good from right now, although Moreau won last week...but I can't see Moreau on the podium in a three week race.

Devil

Neither can I, that's why I asked. I think it will probably be

1. Lance
2. Jan
3. Tyler

Or perhaps Mayo instead of Jan or Tyler - I wouldn't be surprised at all. He had good form in last year's Tour, and he's on fire this year.

Laggard

Those are my picks and I'll stand be them. I might swap out Tyler for Moreau though.

I'm not even convinced that Lance will win. He's due for an injury. It takes a certain amount of luck as well as talent to win.

Devil

Well, he had all of the bad luck he could handle last year to make up for his four previous years of more or less perfect luck.