geist

Jan is the man. It's cool to see LA get six but ya gotta love watching Ullrich grind it out. MAYBE Ullrich can gain enough time in the ITT to get on the podium, that would be sweet.

lotek 

Ok, I'm going out on a limb here.
I'm tired of hearing that Jan has more talent than any other rider in the peloton,
if he did, he would be in yellow. Ok? good.
Now, I will say that Jan has more RAW talent/power than any rider in the peloton.
But (and its a big butt!) he lacks a few things which leave him perpetual bridesmaid.
1) Who the hell is running t-mobile (and Jan) Grodfoorte? Pevenage?
2) There is no clear leadership of T-mobile, not in the same sense that LA is team
leader of USPS.
Under someone like Riis, or Bruyneel or the Phonak management I think Jan would
be unbeatable. I don't think training/weight etc. would be a problem. I also don't think
that they would have allowed Jan to sleep in and watch a video as opposed to
actually riding the course.

Until Jan gets out from under t-mobile and Pevenage he will continue to never
live up to his expectations.

FWIW I hugely respect Jan, even tho I may not be a huge fan of his.
Just my .02 worth.
Marty

Devil

Bjarne has offered his former teammate a spot on CSC in the past. Not sure why he didn't do it. Riis would really whip him into shape.

duracann

Maybe thats why. Jan is incredibly focused during the tour (just look at his face), but his lack of lance-like discipline in the off-season is losing him the races. I love lance, but I wanna see Ullrich get the chance to school him before the tour is over-ITT- The problem is that lance is unstoppable right now

Crack'n'fail

I was really hoping Jan would pull himself back up into second place. Not sure he can do that, maybe third. Why the hell didn't he attack on stage 17? He had nothing to lose and lots to gain. I guess Floyd just drove the pace too hard, but dang I kept waiting for him to go. Then when they had dropped Basso and Kloden on the descent he was pi*#ing around wanting Lance to pull instead of going for the time he needed. very strange indeed. I can't figure this guy out.

astonv0l

As I said when I started this thread, If Jan was in a different team, more disciplined and tactical, I think he would blow the s#@t out of everyone. If everyone respects Armstrong as much as they say they do, they must admit how good Jan is. Armstrong has made no secret of telling the world that Jan is his main rival, dont you think Armstrong would know?

roadbuzz

Well, it's not just Jan. As far as I can tell, USPS has made the whole field look "division 2." Except, just maybe, CSC.

I was thinking the same thing. If Jan wants to win another tour, he needs to quit F@#king around and hook up w/CSC before they blow their budget on some other GC hopeful.

roadbuzz

...And how is it that everybody is an expert on Jan's focus and preparation? You also are aware, no doubt, of Lance's Krispy Kreme habit and all the time he squandered with Sheryl that he should have been training? C'mon people...

duracann

The difference between lance and jan physically is obvious just by looking at them. Lance may eat krispy kreme, but I bet once that donut is digested, it wishes it was never born.

wabbit

Jan's big weakness is chocolate. Well, he is german. And they all gain weight off season, jan's not the only one. And it's not like germans are known world-wide for being dainty pickers and light eaters. I think some are just better at self-denial.

Eddy Merckx said that he also had a tendency to pork up in the winter, so he would do six-day races. ALso for the money,of course. Maybe jan should do something like that and be more active in the winter.

Jakey

Sure doesn't look like he wasted any time to me...

Buddy_Lee

He needs to do some 'cross or MTB in the off-season

- Buddy Lee

bianchi_rider

Jan is a good rider and I admit it, But Jan lacks the determination, he doesnt stay mean and lean year round.
Sure Teams have a huge role in the outcome, if the Team can support the leader then that just widens his chances of winning. Last year was a perfect example, Team Bianchi took Jan to 2nd, he could have given Lance more of a run if he wouldnt have crashed in the final TT. My opinion is if Jan would concentrate and make the TDF his goal, have the same tunnel vision a Lance, Train and discapline himself and stay with one Team, work with that Team (Team Postal is one smooth running machine, the team has been together for a long time, yes there are a few additions and departures, but they also get molded into the team that they are) as Lance he would definately be a better contender than he is this year. as lotek say "just my .02 cents worth"
Oh here is anothe pennies worth, Jan isnt riding a Bianchi this year, last year he was look at the difference

lotek 

what makes you think he actually did last year?

Marty

bianchi_rider

Hmmmm yea you are right Marty, my mistake, definately a trek just painted black and celeste with bianchi decals

Cyclist7

hahaahhahahahaa!!!!!!!!! this is true!

TimB

actually thats a Walser, made in switzerland, with Bianchi stickers.
His carbon Bianchi for the stage races last year was a Reparto Corse Carbone, By Bianchi.

now Walmart TREK's in that team

brent_dube

I cannot confirm this, but today I believe Paul Sherwin said that T-Mobile's DS said something like "If you combined the professionalism with Erik Zabel and the body of Jan Ullrich, you would have the next Eddy Merckx"