Think Jean Marie is tempting Lance back?

hombredesubaru

from cycling news:

Tour to honour Casartelli

Next year's Tour de France will pay homage to Fabio Casartelli, the Italian rider who died during a stage of the 1995 edition of the race. On the 10th anniversary of his death, the 2005 Tour will award a special prize to the winner of the Pyrenean stage that features the Portet d'Aspet - the same climb that Casartelli died on. There is already a monument to Casartelli on the western side of the climb.

Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc and Casartelli's family have agreed to further initiatives to commemorate the fallen 1992 Olympic champion. In addition, Casartelli's home region of Albese con Cassano will host a stage of the Giro d'Italia next year.


Remember Lance in 2001 TdF stating, "yeah when we passed the memorial that day I sadi to myself, no one else is winning today." I recall an epic performance that day.

Watch out Basso!

Virenque

Why not just the special prize for first on d`Aspet?I`m sure Simoni would get it hehe..

Roadrash Dunc

Good stuff.
I hope he races and wins that day but i'll be cheering for another guy for the overall now he has his record.
Still dont know who i will be cheering for : Looks unlikely Tyler will be there , no millar - i sure do pick 'em.
Looks like i will give Ulrich a bit of support before he turns into a giant pie.

gntlmn

I'm wondering about Santiago Perez. With Tyler out of the way now (probably) on Phonak, he may have a chance at winning the Tour next year, if he's allowed to be captain for that race. Take a look a the 2004 Vuelta commentary under this forum. This guy's someone to watch in the future.

Galibier

Heh heh. Looks like Jean Marie has found a way to ensure Lance races the 2005 TdF....wonder if I can find a bookmaker who'll take a bet on LA winning that stage?

Virenque

I was checking something and I saw that in 2003 TdF route went over d`Aspet but Lance didn`t win that stage or d`Aspet`s KOM points! That stage went to Simoni! Hm..

hombredesubaru

Silly point.
I was there and saw that too.

Lance was saving everything he could for the next day ay Luz Ardidden.
That day he was conserving and still recovering, as I recall since I rode the entire stage...
it was blazing hot, and the Portet d'Aspet figured early and the race blew up on thelast climb, the Col de Peyresourde when a long break including Simoni and Virenque went away early and stayed away.

Vinokourov attacked Lance on the Peyresourde and Ullrich and Lance sat back and marked each other. At one point Vino was close to or actually the virtual yellow jersey, until Lance and Ullrich pulled the time back of a flying descent of the Peyresourde.

It was fun to see Simoni outsprint Virenque on the line, though.

Virenque

As silly as that then..

hombredesubaru

Not silly at all.
I simply was pointing out that Lance famously won stages in Fabio's honor on two occasions and Jean Marie surely must have been thinking that when he planned this out.

Its no secret that the Giro is trying to recruit Lance to race, and LeBlanc will do everything he can to keep Lance in the Tour.

When Lance won one of his first stages at the TdF in 1995 he did so out of motivation from his teammate dying a few days before. And made a big show of pointing to the sky to indicate his won was dedicated to Fabio.

Then later in 2001, the first time the race had gone by the crash site and memorial since 1995, Lance was very moved and vowed to win that day.

He has stayed in touch with Fabio's wife and kids over the years.
I think he always means to do honor to his fallen teammate's glory.
I would suppose that every chance he gets, he would do the same. The fact that he didnt in 2003 only indicated how rough shape he was in.

Roadrash Dunc

Ive got all the Phoank team on high-alert after Tylers issues.And i think a relative unkown like Perez , blowing people away in LA Vuelta doesnt do anything to dismiss that suspicion.He was amazing in that race after Tyler quit but almost 'too amazing'.