R
Robert Chung
Guest
Ullrich has said he'll make a decision about which team to go to on 15 January. Why so late? I think
it's because the UCI announces its final selection for "Top Ten Clubs" on Friday, 10 January. The
Top Clubs get a free pass to the major tours (along with the previous year's World Cup winning team
-- I don't know if QuickStep-Davitamon gets this, or if it's at play; Lotto-Domo is already a Top
Club). Reportedly, Coast and Telekom are on the cusp at the moment, while Phonak is on the outside
looking in. Notably, CSC has already nailed down a Top Club spot.
Telekom will probably qualify for the major tours anyway (they get a free pass to the Giro), but the
STdF will almost surely give most of the discretionary spots to French teams. If either Coast or
Phonak want to get into the TdF, what better way to do it than to show up with Ullrich?
If Coast gets the 10th spot they won't need Ullrich; but if Telekom gets it then Coast and Phonak
will fight for Ullrich's services.
it's because the UCI announces its final selection for "Top Ten Clubs" on Friday, 10 January. The
Top Clubs get a free pass to the major tours (along with the previous year's World Cup winning team
-- I don't know if QuickStep-Davitamon gets this, or if it's at play; Lotto-Domo is already a Top
Club). Reportedly, Coast and Telekom are on the cusp at the moment, while Phonak is on the outside
looking in. Notably, CSC has already nailed down a Top Club spot.
Telekom will probably qualify for the major tours anyway (they get a free pass to the Giro), but the
STdF will almost surely give most of the discretionary spots to French teams. If either Coast or
Phonak want to get into the TdF, what better way to do it than to show up with Ullrich?
If Coast gets the 10th spot they won't need Ullrich; but if Telekom gets it then Coast and Phonak
will fight for Ullrich's services.