http://www.grahamwatson.com/gw/askgraham.nsf/AskGraham - Last Checked: May 21, 2012 5:38:31 AM - Added: Dec 1, 2004 5:26:38 PM
Alison of Cardiff - 10/23/2009:Graham, as always I have enjoyed your season's work - must have been strange having Lance back in your viewfinder again!? What do you think he is capable off in 2010 - better or worse than 2009? Also, how 'real' is his rivalry with Contador, or is it blown up by the media..? Alison.Hi Alison, I can assure you Lance's rivalry with Contador is for real - he cannot wait to get a second bite at the Spaniard in 2010! Contador is the best stage-racer in the world, but he's not the cleverest - he'd better watch out next July! I think Lance will be a lot stronger, more dynamic, in 2010, He learned a lot in his comeback year, was maybe a shade off the pace he expected to be, and will therefore work hard this winter to make amends. He'll have another season's racing under his belt by the time July comes around - that can only help. He'll lose a bit more muscle mass and be a bit quicker on the climbs - in accelerations, I mean... GW Richard espinosa - 10/23/2009:GW, we're bummed not to be receiving the TOC in San Diego next year - what are your feelings about the new route anyway? Seems a bit tame considering the publicity about moving to May, right..? Thanks for the great work this season!You are right, Richard - the route of TOC looks very tame. But remember, it is the riders that make the racing more than the route, and I'm sure there are a few surprises in store next May. I think it is wrong to have just one TT, and right near the end - a Prologue has always started TOC and the race takes part of its character from that day. Why would Cancellara come to TOC if all he's going to do is be training and waiting for the TT? He can do that in Europe a lot better... Gesink will be there because Rabobank is a sponsor, but I wonder what the other European 'Tour de France' stars' will make of the proposed route? The top teams will come, but not with the best riders... GW Simon C. - 10/23/2009:Graham, your thoughts on the recently announced Tour of Calif' route, please? Are you going to do the unthinkable and miss the Giro, or at least part of it..? Regards, Simon.Hi Simon, first impressions of the TOC route are not good - over here in Europe we were expecting something far more grand after all the hype about the change to May. It reeks of a lack of money by the state of Calif' or by the organisers, or of a lean organisation that has not got the time or inclination to find something different to 2009. After all, the Tour de France doesn't repeat the same stages each year, does it? Maybe the organisers are holding back some money to use on bringing the best riders they can from Europe? It will be nice to see the stage into Santa Rosa with sunshine instead of rain, and the bash down Highway One will always be enjoyed. But to only have an end-of-race TT is disappointing because the prologue always gets the fans fired up - the chance to see the stars' one by one instead of riding in a pack. Big Bear mountain? No-one has heard of it outside of the USA - better to have gone to Tahoe instead of Sacramento, then found Big Bear or a better-known climb near the end. This is no warm-up race for Tour riders, they can train on better terrain back-home and avoid the jet-lag/upheaval... That said, I'm planning on doing both Giro and TOC if flights allow... GW
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