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89th Tour de France - Grand Tour
France, July 6-28, 2002
Tour de France news for June 23, 2002
Edited by Jeff Jones
Tour teams take shape
With two weeks to go until the Tour de France, many teams are now being finalised.
Mapei-Quick Step will announce their team on Monday, with likely candidates being Tom Steels, Laszlo Bodrogi, Oscar Freire, David Canada, Luca Paolini, Robert Hunter, Pedro Horrillo, Andrea Tafi and possibly Kevin Hulsmans, who is currently riding the Tour de Suisse, his first appointment since his injury in Paris-Nice.
Lampre-Daikin will likely go with Ludo Dierckxsens, Raivis Belohvosciks, Rubens Bertogliati, Alessandro Cortinovis, Luca Pagliarini, Raimondas Rumsas, Marco Serpellini and Jan Svorada.
ONCE-Eroski will be one of the strongest teams in the Tour, and on paper the team most likely to challenge Lance Armstrong and US Postal. "I'm conscious of ONCE's depth," said Armstrong in his latest interview with Cyclingnews. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Joseba Beloki, Marcos Serrano, Jose Azevedo and Jorg Jaksche seem to be certain selections, with strong candidates for the remaining spots being Abraham Olano, Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano, Mikel Zarrabeitia, Rene Andrle, Jan Hruska, Mikel Pradera, Isidro Nozal and Rafael Diaz Justo.
Ag2r will be without Ludovic Capelle, who is still suffering from tendonitis in his left knee. Capelle's season has been interrupted by this injury, and his director doesn't consider him in good enough condition to help Kirsipuu in the sprints.
