Tour de France News for June 8, 2003 Edited by Jeff Jones Armstrong using Dauphiné as form tester Lance Armstrong Photo: © Jeff Tse In a few hours time, Lance Armstrong will line up in Villard-de-Lans for the 5.1 kilometre prologue time trial of the 55th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Armstrong won this race last year and showed that he was the man to beat in the Tour. This year he faces some tough opposition, as well as the fact that he hasn't raced for over a month, since Liege-Bastogne-Liege on April 27. At a press conference on Sunday, Lance Armstrong was grilled for nearly an hour by the world's media, who took advantage of one of the few remaining opportunities to ask him questions before the Tour. Cyclingnews' Chris Henry was there and reported the following excerpts from the press conference (detailed report here): Armstrong said that he is not sure if he'll be able to defend his title this year, as "Last year I won the Midi Libré, so I knew I had race condition and could race to win again. In training I feel strong but I'm not sure I'm ready to win." "The primary objective is to make sure that everything is in order," he added. "The most important thing is the sensations and how I feel in this race." When asked about his rivals, in particular Jan Ullrich, Armstrong responded, "He's clearly had a complicated spring, but he looks to be in better shape than in the past. His status or situation doesn't change for me. He's still one of the biggest engines in cycling and still one of the biggest threats." After having missed the opportunity to race Armstrong last year, Gilberto Simoni (Saeco) is considered another rival for the Texan. After he won the Giro, Simoni said that he believes he can challenge Armstrong in the mountains, but Armstrong is not so sure. "They all talk the big talk," he stated. "It's the same every year, but talk is cheap. I prefer not to talk, I prefer to work and do my training with the team." Asked about how much attention he's paid on his main rivals, Armstrong replied that "I'm keeping tabs. I'm always watching, whether it's on TV or on the Internet. I'm always paying attention." Finally, if Armstrong does win the Centenary Tour and thus equal Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain's record of five wins, what significance will that have? "My first priority is to win again, or to try to win again. If that means equalling the record I'll be honoured." Armstrong added that he prefers not to think about the mathematics. Full report on the press conference here. Photography Images by Jeff Tse/www.jefftse.com/cycling Lance Armstrong was cautiously optimistic about his chances in the Dauphine Libere Lance Armstrong answers questions about the recent death of French professional cyclist Fabrice Salanson Lance Armstrong commenting that the suspicion of doping situation is a never ending part of the sport Four Gerolsteiners sure for Tour The Gerolsteiner team, riding in its first Tour de France this year, has so far selected four of its nine riders that will eventually take part in the three week race. Tour veteran Udo Bölts will be there of course, along with Davide Rebellin, who was forced to miss the Giro due to injury, Austrian climber Georg Totschnig (7th at the Giro), and Swiss sprinter Markus Zberg. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)

Recently on Cyclingnews.com Mt Hood Classic Photo ©: Swift

Cyclingnews' live coverage of the 90th Tour de France is powered by