Today I thought it was about time I checked out cycling.tv, and as I post I wonder just how much time I will loose this summer now that I have access to so many great pro races. OLN and cycling.tv will team up in a few days time to bring daily coverage of the Giro d’ Italia. That should really be great, back to todays news.
The Tour de Romandie is a smaller 6 or 7 day stage race that allows riders one last prep race before the first grand tour of the year, the Giro. The race got underway several days ago and Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) has shown he is in excellent form and prepared to not only defend his Giro title this year but also might go for the double. Savoldelli took the prologue win just barely edging out Alejandro Valverde who is also on incredible form right now after his two back to back classic wins about a week ago.
Stage One
Australian Robbie McEwen made sure he was in prime position at the end of stage one and it paid off, the Australian rider won the bunch sprint as he stamped out his authority in the discipline yesterday. Savoldelli remained in the over all lead however Valverde and Bradley McGee sit just mere seconds behind the Discovery rider.
Jan Ullrich
German rider Jan Ullrich has made his first appearance this year at the Tour de Romandie and has admitted that he is far behind in his preparation for the 2006 Tour de France. Yet Ullrich is firm with the fact that he will be riding in the Giro this year …”I know I’m going to suffer on the Giro but it’s better to have pain from racing than a knee that bothers you,” mentioned. Ullrich goes on to say that he won’t be able to compete with many of the top Italians who are already in fine form.
Year after year this seams to be the same song and dance that we hear from Jan, does that mean he will fail in July? No one really knows, however it just seams that their is always a reason why Jan gets started so darn late in the season. It seams as if Jan has an incredible gift but lacks the discipline to get the job done, I hope he proves me wrong in July. If he won I would be so happy for him, year after year finishing behind Armstrong must have been difficult. None the less I would also love to see Basso emerge as the next big rider and take the 2006 TDF.
Back to Jan, I go give him props for entering into the Giro this year, for him that is a major deal and it could help him find great form for the TDF… time will tell.
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