Horner in the dark as regards his form

American Chris Horner was in his customary good mood prior to the start of stage two, and said that the next few days would tell him much about where his condition is at. "I don't know how I am going," he admitted. "Yesterday was a simple day, it wasn't much of an effort to put out as it was just seven kilometres. So it is hard to tell where the form is.

"After the Tour I just went home and did a couple of criteriums in the States, in Chicago. Then I came back here. I don't know what I will be aiming for here, it depends on my condition…but we will see soon enough how it is! Basically, the fifth stage will probably tell me where the form is, maybe sooner. I probably won't know until then."

When asked what the Davitamon-Lotto team's goal is, Horner said they had a clear one in mind. "Robbie McEwen, for sure. He is going to stay for the whole first part, the first nine days or something. Then he is scheduled to stop it there, he is not trying to do the whole thing.

"As for me, I will do the World's after this race, then Zurich. After that, I will ride some cyclo-cross races on the East coast and then head back to Europe for Lombardy. I haven't seen the World's course yet, just looked at the profile. It looks hard there. That's better for me, I don't want anything that is flat. That is for sure!"