Tour de France News for May 27, 2003 Edited by Chris Henry & Jeff Jones Giro stars think of Tour This weekend it was revealed that Aitor Gonzalez (Fassa Bortolo) would change his plans in order to ride the Tour de France, most likely instead of the Vuelta a España later this year. Gonzalez has steadily ridden himself into form in the first two weeks of the Giro, and saw his efforts rewarded with a win in the individual time trial, even after having been slowed by mechanical difficulties. Gonzalez's teammate and star sprinter of the Giro, Alessandro Petacchi, is also considering tackling the Tour. Petacchi has shown that he can climb better than the average sprinter, and could well be a threat to the green points jersey should he decide to make that a target. Current race leader Gilberto Simoni is looking forward to a good Tour de France, and hopes to in some way challenge Lance Armstrong, the heavy favourite who this year shoots for his fifth consecutive win. I was at the Tour presentation last year and I've seen the course, Simoni told Le Monde's Guillame Prebois. "I'll be there. It's a good course for me, and if I'm lucky enough to have a teammate like Danilo Di Luca at the Tour, we'll light up the race." Eisel's learning Photo: © I. Ashworth Although the team has yet to come away with a stage win, FDJeux.com can take comfort in its performances thus far. Team manager Marc Madiot sent a squad of primarily young riders to the Giro to gain experience, and they haven't disappointed. Sandy Casar has frequently animated breakaways and sits in 23rd overall, 23 minutes behind Simoni after stage 16. Casar rode his first Tour de France in 2002, and will be looking for more success on the roads of France this year. FDJeux.com Sprinter Jimmy Casper found his legs in Monday's rush to the line, finishing second behind Petacchi, and Austrian Bernard Eisel has consistently been in the hunt for high places in the bunch sprints. Galdeano still wants Tour By João Cravo Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE-Eroski) must know that he will not be able to ride this year's Tour de France, yet the Spaniard, fifth overall last year, has not given up all hope. Suspended by CLPD for a positive drug test from the 2002 Tour, Galdeano is prohibited from competing in France for a period of six months, which includes the Tour. The UCI did not consider Galdeano's test result from last year's Tour to qualify as a positive result, however it has no power to overrule the CPLD's decision. "I hope that something could happen before July 4." Galdeano commented. "My training program is still set on the Tour. Everyday I mount my bike thinking that my efforts will be reward by my presence in the Tour. If I'm not allowed to ride the Tour, it will be bad for me, for my team and for cycling, but I will find a away to sleep every night." Through it all, Galdeano maintains his innocence in the affair. "I don't cheat," he said firmly. "I never failed a drug test, actually. Unfortunately I've been an asthmatic since I was kid; I only take the medications that are demanded by my asthma." Igor Galdeano de Gonzalez is strong and clever. His strength helps him to still believe in a way out of this labyrinth. His intelligence keeps him grounded. "I can't deny I'm affected by all of this," he confesses, "but I can assure you that no one could ever make my career fall apart." (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)

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