So it’s a Giro rest day; that means no news, right? No way, man. The world of competitve cycling never stops turning. Let’s begin on the home front where American U23 phenom Tyler Farrar (gotta love the victory salute) was recently reported to have signed with Cofidis. Well, turns out he didn’t. Or at least he hasn’t. Yet. Farrar, who currently races for the domestic HealthNet squad, is the first American to ever win a major Eurpoean U23 race and seems all but destined to land on a ProTour team within the next few years.
Across the pond, Jan Ullrich, fresh of the Volta a Catalunya says he’s satisfied with his pre-Tour form, but adds “there’s room for improvement.”
Oh, wait, that’s not news. Ah well.
Anyway, Ullrich teammate and 2004 TdF runner-up Andreas Kloeden says pretty much the same thing. Kloeden, who has yet to participate in a major race this season, was suffering from a mysterious lack of power a few months back, but appears to have overcome the problem.
Giro ’05 begins its final kick tomorrow, with what appears to be another sprinter’s stage. Next comes 17, with a 30k climb and mountain-top finish, before Stage 18’s hilly 34k TT. 19 offers no respite, with two climbs of the famous Sestriere, and will no doubt decide the winner of this year’s event. It’s all downhill from there, as the 20th stage gives Petacchi and the boys one more shot at glory on the streets of Milan.