Is Ullrich the new Indurain?El Mundo Deportivo ran a poll amongst riders, managers and ex-champions and they all coincide: the German's tyranny is the beginning of a new era.
Here are the four questions that were asked:
LAURENT FIGNON (Ex-rider. Winner of 2 Tours) 1. I would say that almost. 2. Yes, at least in the Tour. We will have to see his performance in the Classics and other races. 3. His performance in the time trial. 4. His descending. RAYMOND POULIDOR (Ex-rider) 1. If I tell you no, you won't believe me. Yes, I think that he already has it won about 90%. 2. he could be the new leader. Already last year he showed great hope, even considering that he was working for Riis. He rode a great final time trial and surprised us all. He's very young, like when Fignon won his first Tour and has it all ahead of him. He has a dominating and winning spirit. We will have to see if he'll be able to beat the record of five Tours, held by a very select club. 3. He is exceptional in the time trial and the mountains. has prepared his season well and has shown his qualities as a winner at the Tour. 4. Up to now I haven't seen a weak point. FERNANDO ESCARTIN (Rider for Team Kelme) 1. He hasn't won it yet. 2. He could be the new leader. 3. His youth and that he's a good professional. 4. I haven't seen any defect yet. JOSE M. ECHAVARRI (Manager for Team Banesto) 1. No. 2. Could be. 3. His youth. 4. His youth. GUIDO BONTEMPI (Sport Director for Team Batik) 1. Yes. I don't see any rivals for him on this Tour. Only a fall could take away the win from him. 2. It's possible. He's young and rides very well in all terrains. 3. I don't know him enough to say. Right now he's the strongest and that's what counts. 4. The same. GILBERT DUCLOS-LASSALLE (Ex-rider) 1. He has won the Tour already unless he falls. 2. We would have to wait one of two years to know for sure. If he continues progressing in this way, he could win 5 or 6 Tours. But he's path should not be twisted. We have to remember that he's a rider from the East, who lived a tough childhood and we'll have to see how he assimilates the life of comfort in a capitalist system. 3. Climbs well, is great in time trials and has a great team. He reminds me of Merckx, because of his rolleur style, Indurain because of his calmness when climbing and Hinault because of his aggressive mentality. 4. I haven't seen any defects yet. MARCELINO TORRONTEGUI (Masseur for Team Cofidis) 1. He has more than won it already. 2. Yes, without a doubt. 3. The maturity he's shown, considering his young age. 4. His youth. DOMINIQUE ARNAUD (Ex-rider) 1. He hasn't won it yet, but he's going to win it. 2. I don't know, but for now he's the great dominator. Everyone thinks of him as the new Miguel Indurain. 3. How calm he is being the strongest and that he climbs well. Reminds me of Miguel in the mountains, it's very difficult to create differences with him while climbing. He's strong in the time trial and has a good team. I think that he's great rival could have been Pantani, if he hadn't lost four minutes the first week, in the four stages he fell or was left behind. 4. His youth, which could hurt him when the time comes to bear with the press and the fans. RAPHAEL GEMINIANI (Ex-rider and sport director) 1. Yes. Who is going to be able to deal with him? Everyday he increases his distance from his rivals. 2. I think so. He's the best in the time trial, doesn't stay behind in the mountains and his team dominates perfectly in the flat stages. 3. Rides well, is intelligent and knows how to read the race. Climbing the Alpe d'Huez he didn't obsess over Pantani which could have made him blow up. There are details that speak for themselves: to turn around once he crosses the finish line to see what time he did and be able to figure out the time that he has put on his rivals, for example. 4. Apparently no weak points. He doesn't fall easily, lies the rain, the cold and the heat, it doesn't matter. MASSIMO GHIROTTO (Sport Director for Team Roslotto) 1. Unless he falls, he has already won the Tour. 2. Yes, no doubt. 3. has won in a team where the leader was the last winner of the Tour and also has somebody like Zabel. At 23, he already is the undisputed leader of Telekom. 4. I have yet to see his negative side. ADRIANO BAFFI (Sprinter for Team US Postal) 1. He has more than won it. 2. This I don't see as clearly. Remember that it is easier to get there than maintain yourself. We will have to wait. 3. His youth. 4. I can't say because during the race I'm never close to him. I don't see him, because it takes so much to get to his position. I only see him on TV and it is not the same. GIANCARLO FERRETTI (Director for Team MG) 1. Only about 80%. 2. he has all the characteristics to become the new leader of the peloton. 3. He's a rider with depth who rides well the time trial and uses his bravery in the climbs. 4. I don't know yet. ERIK BREUKINK (Rider for Team Rabobank) 1. Something weird would have to happen for him not to win. 2. Yes. He reminds me of Indurain. It is impressive to see him time trial. 3. He's a very complete rider and has everything in his favor: his young, has a good team and his dominance could last many years. 4. I can't say, I still don't know it. DAVIDE CASSANI (Ex-rider and TV commentator) 1. Yes, if something extraordinary doesn't happen. 2. Yes. At least he has what is needed to become the great cycling dominator in the coming years. Although it is risky to predict the future. 3. It is difficult to speak about one in concrete. It looks like his best asset is his time trial and it looks like in the mountains only the best climbers can leave him behind and there aren't enough pure climbers in the peloton to join against him. So he's very complete. 4. The descents. That's where he resembles Indurain the least, who was tremendous in descents. Tour NewsRiis - When you have won a Tour, is it disappointing to be fighting for the third place? If I would have been asked that at the start, without a doubt I would have said so. But now, after doing everything that I could and realizing that I'm not the strongest, like last year, I feel a pleasant sensation. I do what I can, but some are stronger than me. People your age like Indurain, have already hung up the bike. Are you starting to think about it? No, I'm still competitive and above all, I still don't feel like leaving this work. For now, I don't know which one will be my last year. maybe I can't win the Tour, but I can win other races or do other important jobs in cycling. For example, now help Ullrich get the win. When Pantani attacked at la Joux Plane, you told Ullrich something, what was it? Ullrich is 23 and it is normal that he lacks experience. I told him not to get nervous in the descent. I knew that Virenque, who descends well was going to go all out. I warned him that a fall could cost him the Tour.Virenque - The second place in the overall, everybody expected Virenque to leave Ullrich behind in the descent of la Joux Plane. He's an expert in the discipline, but it wouldn't be like this: "When Pantani attacked I didn't move, because I thought that Ullrich or Riis would go after him. They didn't do it and when I went to do it, it was too late. I didn't want to risk it in the descent. I had a lot to lose and little to gain". Pantani - The best climber in the world said this after getting his second Alpine stage in this Tour: "When I said that maybe yesterday I wouldn't start, it wasn't to mislead or anything like that. At the start of Bourg d'Oissans I went to see the Tour doctor, who gave me advise and some medicine. Yesterday, I went a little better. At la Joux Plane, which is a tough climb and one that suits me, I tried to jump away. I made my maximum effort, because I knew that with a minimum advantage at the top, I could win. I'm not worried about the overall, because in this conditions to reach Paris will be a triumph. I leave the Tour convinced that I have lost the fear of falling". Estonian Rider diesEstonian rider Janek Ermel, 22, died of injuries on Thursday last week. He collided with a truck while training close to Bergamo, Italy on Monday. He suffered serious skull injury in the accident and the doctors couldn't help him anymore.Ermel, rider of For 3 club in Italy, collected several Estonian championships during his career, both in juniors and elite, and rode successfully in many international events. He was regarded as one of the most promising young Estonian riders. In junior years he had to stop racing for a while due to a bad accident in Russia. Last year he survived a car accident with slight injuries. Thanks to Janno Toots, Tallinn, Estonia for this snippet. |