Cycling Fans! The Official Dauphiné Libéré Thread Is Here! Check in!

[HuckleB]

Yeah, it's almost over, but it's the last big hurrah before the Tour starts in a few weeks.

Today:

Dauphiné 5: O’Grady too quick for Hincapie

http://www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsId=5373

"Stuart O’Grady took his best result of what has been a fractured first season with the Cofidis team when he got the better of US Postal’s George Hincapie in a two-up sprint at the end of the Dauphiné’s fifth stage in Sisteron."

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O'Grady wins 5th stage at Dauphiné

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/6248.0.html

"Australian rider Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) won the fifth stage of the Dauphiné Libéré on Friday, edging U.S. Postal's George Hincapie at the finale of the 149km leg between Bollene and Sisteron. Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) was third.

Spaniard Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) retained the overall race lead."

[HuckleB]

1. Lance Armstrong and Iban Mayo Talk About Yesterday's Ventoux Time Trial

Armstrong: "The Tour does not start on Saturday"

http://www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsId=5371

"The scale of Lance Armstrong’s defeat on the Ventoux might have been surprising, but speaking to the press three hours after the stage finish the Texan was quick to remind everyone that the Tour is still a month away and that his best form is yet to come.

He admitted to being slightly disappointed with his performance on the stage that was his main reason for coming to the Dauphiné. "I thought I would be able to go quicker today. I realised that my form is still not at 100% yet," he said."

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Mayo: "I was surprised by Armstrong’s performance"

http://www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsId=5370

"Iban Mayo admitted he rode with a simple plan in mind during Thursday’s Dauphiné Libéré time trial on Mont Ventoux. He rode the first 5.5 kilometres fairly steadily (although fast enough to be quickest to this point) to get used to his new Orbea time trial bike, then upped his pace to the 15.5km mark, then gave the last 6km all that he had left. The result was not only an impressive stage victory that regained him the race leadership, but also an astounding 1-58 margin over defending champion Lance Armstrong.

"I was surprised by Armstrong’s performance," Mayo said afterwards. "I thought he would finish higher, but I suppose he just hasn’t had a good day. In contrast, my legs felt great. I was surprised I had the best time . I believe it has been a great test for the Alpe d’Huez time trial ."

[HuckleB]

2. A tangent: Americans Maneuver in a Competitive Market - focused on Horner

Americans Maneuver in a Competitive Market

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/06/sports/othersports/06BIKE.html?ex=1087272000&en=5967c331e45874fa&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1

"The best American cyclists spend most of the year racing in Europe for big dollars: millions for Lance Armstrong, six figures for Tyler Hamilton, Fred Rodriguez, George Hincapie, Bobby Julich and a handful of countrymen.

For the other American riders, there are plenty of races at home, with modest salaries and prize money to match. Their hope is that they will catch the eye of an international team and ride in Europe.
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Chris Horner has been there and done that. From 1997 through 1999, he rode for Française des Jeux, a French team. Since then, he has been riding at home and waiting for another call from Europe.

"I've been the No. 1 U.S. domestic rider the last three years," he said by telephone last week. "I'm the great American hope." Then he laughed. "I'm 32, so make that the great American middle-aged hope," he said. "But in this sport you're usually good until you're 36 or 37."

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I guess I'm waiting for the senior tour to get started, since I'm already 36. For some reason, my times have been getting better for the past seven years, however. I guess one might call it a mid-life crisis of sorts -- the dread of noting when one's athletic ability trends downward. Yikes!

[HuckleB]

3. Spin!

[HuckleB]

4. Ullrich eyes Swiss tour; Armstrong eyes Ullrich

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/6246.0.html

Greetings cycling fans. I know you're out there somewhere!

:)

[HuckleB]

5. Hamilton crashes again, survives mountain stage intact.

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/6253.0.html

Rasmussen grabs a win for Rabobank
...

"Phonak team leader Hamilton crashed halfway down the long, dangerous descent of the Col de la Morte ("Pass of the Dead") along with two others, his Spanish teammate Santos Gonzales and Frenchman Walter Beneteau. All three had superficial cuts and bruises, but only Hamilton - who said he lost about two minutes and needed two bike changes - managed to catch back to the lead group led by Mayo's men in Euskaltel orange.

The American ripped his shorts and had a bloodied elbow, but he cast off the pain and made an amazing chase up the day's toughest climb, the Col de Luitel, which averages 9.5 percent over 9km of bumpy, narrow pavement. Hamilton got an assist from another of his Spanish teammates, Oscar Pereiro, who dropped back to help his leader. They gained back half the two-minute deficit on the climb, the other half on the incredibly fast, curving descent to Uriage-les-Bains."

[HuckleB]

6. Ullrich sprints to victory in Swiss opener

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/6254.0.html