“Of course I would have liked to beat him but unfortunately I couldn't. It's not really relief because the Tour's going to change. There won't be a team like his who will control the race.”
“I have always said that a Tour victory is more valuable if Lance Armstrong is participating. I will do everything I can to beat him in his last appearance on the Tour.”
“[T-Mobile's Jan Ullrich and CSC's Ivan Basso, two the great contenders for next year's Tour de France, didn't mingle with the top ten of the race. Both came in with the peloton nearly one minute after the winner, and finished 45th and 59th respectively.] You start to feel that the power missing, ... The season has been long, and the legs start to get heavy.”
“It's a lot more open without Armstrong. I really have to be careful that I have everything in hand. Basso is always getting better, Heras has to bring his Vuelta performance to the Tour, and Vino has already announced his intentions.”
“I would prefer not to go and have to do all the preparations for Madrid, ... The thing is, if I prepare for the World's, I prepare for the road race. I have twice been World Champion in the time trial, so now the road race is my focus.”
