Doubts over Lance Armstrong’s form could either be put to rest or escalate further after Wednesday’s time trial at the Dauphine Libere.
Armstrong will attempt a seventh straight Tour de France win next month, and he is using the Dauphine Libere as a final tune-up following some below-par performances earlier in the season.
”It will most certainly be the biggest test for Lance before the tour,” Discovery Channel team director Johan Bruyneel said. ”He seems very well, but it is impossible to have a precise idea ahead of the race itself. We are optimistic, but we will see.”
Armstrong has yet to make a strong impact at a race this season.
Although he generally saves his best for the Tour de France, a leg-weary performance in the Paris-Nice race in March and a fifth-place finish at the Tour de Georgia in April have alerted rivals to a possible downturn in form.
He turns 34 in September, by which time he will have retired from cycling altogether, meaning rivals have one last shot at toppling him at the Tour de France.
At the Tour de Georgia, he was beaten soundly in the time trial, finishing nine places and almost two minutes behind winner and former teammate Floyd Landis.
Bruyneel said Wednesday’s race is crucial to assess the Texan’s form less than a month from the Tour. The showcase event starts on July 2.
”It is important because the time trial is where we have the most uncertainty,” Bruyneel said. ”Lance has been training more in the mountains, so it is a bit of a journey into the unknown. There are a lot of strong riders who can beat him.”
A strong performance in Wednesday’s 47km sprint around Roanne is useful not only for Armstrong’s physical conditioning but also for the message it sends out.
Armstrong crushed everyone in both time trials at last year’s Tour de France. He looked unbeatable as he sped up steep climbs at L’Alpe d’Huez and zoomed around the streets of Besancon.
However, an unconvincing showing on Wednesday will give his rivals renewed optimism.
”I don’t know if I can win. I’m cautiously optimistic,” Armstrong said. ”Fingers crossed. There’s some strong guys out there.
”I will hopefully get out and have a look in the morning,” he said. — Sapa-AP