Mar 29, 2006
Ullrich Watch: Start Delayed Again
As Ivan Basso, Alex Vinokourov, Floyd Landis and other Tour contenders already bagged ealry season victories, Jan Ullrich is delaying his racing season start yet again. This time Jan is going to start his season at the Tour de Romandie that ends a few days before the Giro is set to start. At this rate, I will be starting my racing season before Jan Ullrich, and I live in Upstate New York!
Jan’s training in Tuscany has resulted in an inflamation of his knee. This may be the same knee that kept Jan out of the 1999 and 2002 Tour de France. In 2002 his knee flared up in January and caused all sorts of problems that concluded with a mild drunk driving incident and taking Amphetamines.
This year Jan is fitter, so chances of a quick recovery in time for the Tour are still possible. The only problem for Jan would be if he missed the Giro due to this injury. Ullrich needs lots of racing miles to get into top condition. If he keeps putting off his start that may mean that Ullrich will not be in top form for the Tour and should expect another second place.