Rabobank has also replaced its doctor and has chosen Dr Peter Plag, who is a GP in France and has the necessary legal paper to be allowed to work in the Tour.
Bill's tip (without Ullrich, Pantani, Jalabert) is Boogerd!
To cope with the extensive dope use in the peloton, the Tour organisers will be taking more blood tests than ever. On Saturday all the entrants will be tested.
Early favourites include Bobby Julich (3rd last year) who has said he is fit and aiming high. But Julich's climbing ability will not be assisted by the lack of climbing in this year's race. Initially, that is why Pantani was boycotting the event. Later, of-course, he was thrown out of the Giro for failing a blood test and would have probably been excluded by the Tour organisers anyway. That is a mystery we will never know about.
Another fancied rider is Italian Ivan Gotti, who won the Giro after Pantani was thrown out of the race. He can climb and was 5th in 1995. The Russians are hoping for Pavel Tonkov who last rode the Tour in 1994.
The Dutch are putting their hopes, as always, on Micheal Boogerd.
Last year Aerts refused a Mapei-offer. Telekom is also interested in Peter van Petegem (TVM) and Gian Matteo Fagnini.
In Sunday's cross-country, Volvo-Cannondale teammates Alison Sydor, Canada, and Christoph Sauser, Switzerland, earned wins, while Ruthie Matthes, Durango, Colo. (Trek-Volkswagen) and Jimi Killen, Fort Collins, Colo. (Diamondback) were the top Americans.
Saturday's downhill victories marked the first time since 1997 that two Americans topped the podium at a World Cup event.
"I'm really psyched to win on my home turf. USA is awesome," said Giove, who was the last American woman to stand atop the podium when she won a World Cup in 1997.
Giove, the 1996-97 World Cup champion, said the key to her race was backing off on her speed and using her mind.
"I used the qualifier as a warm up, that way I could be more physical for the final," said the 1994 world downhill champion. "I usually ride at more than 100 percent, but today I probably only went about 90. I knew it was going to be tight today, but I really wanted to win."
Giove, who qualified second for the finals, edged out current World Cup leader Anne-Caroline Chausson (France/Volvo-Cannondale) by four one-hundredths of a second. Chausson had not lost a race since May 1998. Yeti rider Marla Streb, San Geronimo, Calif., added another top-10 finish to her resume, taking third. Current national downhill champion Leigh Donovan also visited the podium, finishing fourth.
Palmer's victory Saturday was his first-ever World Cup win. The four-time world snowboard champion eeked out Steve Peat (Great Britain/GT) by just one one-hundredths of a second.
"I'm back in it," yelled Palmer at the finish line. "There's been so much hype about Shaun Palmer, it's about time for a World Cup win."
Going into Saturday's race, Palmer, a 1996 world championships silver medalist, knew his biggest challenge would be 1998 World Cup and World Champion Nicolas Vouilloz.
I always knew I could beat him (Vouilloz). The key to today's win was using my brain and keeping myself in control," said Palmer, whose best '99 finish before Saturday was fourth at the World Cup in Les Gets, France. "I've had some struggles in the past. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season, and I'm feeling confident."
In the dual, it was current World Cup leaders Brian Lopes, Laguna Beach, Calif. (Volvo-Cannondale) and Katrina Miller, Australia (Jamis) on top the podium.
Matthes, a three-time consecutive national champion, continued the Americans' roll Sunday, taking the podium for the first time since 1997. The 1991 world champion began at the middle of the pack, but quickly began picking off riders.
"I've been looking forward to this World Cup in the states for awhile," said Matthes, who was fourth for much of the race before being caught by Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle. "I didn't want to blow up today, so I tried not to go too hard and kept a steady pace. I'm pleased with my race today and I'm feeling confident for the rest of the season."
The last time, the 1990 junior world mountain bike champion, broke the top-20 of a World Cup was in 1997 in Vail, Colo.
"I was happy to be riding up there with the tough guys. My goal today was to finish in the top-20, so I'm pleased," said Killen, who finished third at Snow Summit at the Chevy Trucks National Championship Series in May.
Killen added that his recent surge through the mountain bike field was due to a change in mentality.
"I've worked hard with my coach to fine tune my training program. I've changed my state of mind this year and stayed positive," Killen said.
Women's Downhill 1. Missy Giove (USA) Foes/Azonic 4.10.49 2. Anne-Caroline Chausson (Fra) Volvo-Cannondale 0.46 3. Marla Streb (USA) Yeti 11.35 4. Leigh Donovan (USA) Intense 12.03 5. Mercedes Gonzales (Spa) Team GT 14.37 Men's Downhill 1. Shaun Palmer (USA) Mt. Dew/Specialized 3.50.29 2. Steve Peat (GB) Team GT 0.12 3. Gerwin Peters (Ned) Be-One 2.72 4. David Vazquez (Spa) Mt. Dew/Specialized 3.64 5. Kirt Voreis (USA) Mt. Dew/Specialized 3.70 Women's Dual 1. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis 2. Leigh Donovan (USA) Intense 3. Tai-Lee Muxlow (Aus) GT/Hutchinson 4. Cheri Elliott (USA) Maxxis/Tomac Men's Dual 1. Brian Lopes (USA) Volvo-Cannondale 2. Eric Carter (USA) Team GT 3. Cedric Gracia (Fra) Volvo-Cannondale 4. Michal Marosi (Cze) Rock Machine Women's Cross-Country 1. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale 1.43.57 2. Annabella Stropparo (Ita) Volvo-Cannondale 0.53 3. Caroline Alexander (GB) American Eagle 2.09 4. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) DBS 2.40 5. Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek-Volkswagen 2.54 Men's Cross-Country 1. Christoph Sauser (Swi) Volvo-Cannondale 2.11.19 2. Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale 0.07 3. Patrick Tolhoek (Ned) Be-One 0.52 4. Bas Van Dooren (Ned) Be-One 1.28 5. Jerome Chiotti (Fra) Team GT 1.50