I thought Aitor was concentrating on the Giro and Basso was leading
FB for the tour.

Personally, i don't think the separation will affect Lance, he has
always used negative situations to his advantage.

Botero could be a threat but an he ride clinically and not so
emotionally, he needs consistancy.

I think the course is the biggest threat this year, i can't see the
time gaps being so huge in the mountains as the satges are not quite
so severe as previous years.

Simoni coudl be a threat but can someone go really well at both the
Giro and the Tour?

I think the person to finally beat Lance in the tour will be Cadel
Evans and he will do it in 2004 not this year.

Anyway, i'm making the trip to the Alps for this year's Tour so i
can't wait for the bunch to climb the Alp D'Heuz!

Simon


--- In roadracingukandireland@yahoogroups.com, jorin_green
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
> I think Aitor Gonz. has the potential to do some damage, though I
get
> nervous when someone comes out of no-where, and suddenly wins so
big,
> with no real previous history. Botero should be a factor, too if he
> can be consistant. Any chance for David Miller?
>
> Not sure that Armstrong is going to win this year. He should
clearly
> be the favourite, but I suspect the problems on the home front could
> tip the scales in favour of opponents. Of course, he may show up
in a
> really bad mood and ride everyone into the ground, but usually the
> emotional energy like what he may be using is conter-productive to
> good training and racing. Guess we will have a better idea later
this
> spring, but I think he is more vulnerable than ever before.
>
> I would call Ullrich as a wild-card rather than a favourite, due to
> the team he is with. I think Riis could have put him on top, but
now
> I am not sure it is going to happen.