THE RACE LIVE

Johan Bruynnel: "Just like every year"

The team built around Lance Armstrong has gone through a few changes...

For the most part, it’s the same team as last year, with riders who’ve got lots of Tour experience. Two guys aren’t here, though: Landis, who’s left us, and Ekimov, who’s injured. But we’ve replaced them with Popovych et Savoldelli, who are both great riders and at least as good. So we’ve got a really solid team together and we’re ready to start the Tour.

How have his preparations gone?

What I saw in the Dauphiné was very good and the same goes for the period after that. He feels he’s in great shape. We started off reconnoitring the stages in the Pyrenees, then the Alps, and after that we had a look at the time trial in Saint-Etienne before finishing in La Vendée. We’ve studied all the key stages, just like we do every year.

Ullrich says he’s in the best form of his career. Will this be their closest-ever duel?

I think it will certainly be a great contest because Ullrich’s team is very strong as well. But we mustn’t forget Basso, who’s also got a great team on his side. Add Vinokourov into the mix and I think those four will be the ones competing for victory in this Tour.

Does the fact he has announced his retirement make his task all the harder?

That changes nothing for the moment, neither for him nor for the team. As soon as he decided to prepare for and take part in the Tour de France, his goal has been to win it and he’s really fired up. I can’t see any difference between this year and all the others. As for the emotional side, I don’t think we’ll see that until the last day. Right now, we’re here to win and everyone is focused on the race. Just like every year.

The team

Lance Armstrong (USA), Jose Azevedo (POR), Manuel Beltran (ESP), George Hincapie (USA), Benjamin Noval (ESP), Pavel Padrnos (CZE), Jose Luis Rubiera (ESP), Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Paolo Savoldelli (ITA)

Jean-René Bernaudeau : "No regrets in Paris"

Are you preparing another surprise for the 2005 Tour after Voeckler’s heroics last year?

We’re one of the biggest French teams involved in the Tour, so we owe it to ourselves to try and do something special. The Voeckler story last year was an exception, though. I don’t think we can achieve anything quite as big again, but we might come up with something all the same. It will just be different.

What is your strategy going to be?

The team has no leader going into the race, so the key will be to seize every opportunity. After that, the field is open to write a new story and start again. In any case, this team’s only real goal is to improvise because that’s the spirit it was founded on. And to make sure we don’t let any chances go begging, we’ll have to be opportunistic, concentrated and rigorous. The most important thing of all is that we don’t arrive in Paris with regrets, because we’re not The Discovery Channel or T-Mobile, or even Crédit Agricole and FDJ, who can challenge for the green jersey with Hushovd and Cooke. Our team set-up is totally different and we’ll have to grab chances as they arise.

A stage in La Vendéé, your own part of the world, could be a great opportunity...

I like the Challans – Les Essarts stage a lot, but it’s tailor-made for the sprinters. We’ll be the local team, but the reality of the Tour is sure to prevail. The stages in the east of France are far more suited to us, because our team members are all very similar and they’ve all got the talent to do something. We’ll make the Tour risky and exciting, but Bouygues Telecom won’t be changing the course of the race. We don’t have a leader, our jersey is our leader, so we hope to entertain all those people who love attacking cycling.

The team

Walter Bénéteau (FRA), Laurent Brochard (FRA), Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA), Anthony Geslin (FRA), Laurent Lefèvre (FRA), Jérôme Pineau (FRA), Didier Rous (FRA), Matthieu Sprick (FRA), Thomas Voeckler (FRA)

Marc Sergeant: "The route doesn’t favour pure sprinters"

The team’s objective is the green jersey...

That’s the goal because McEwen is the current holder of the green jersey, but if we’re going to win it again we have to start with a victory in one of the stages. He’s showed he’s still capable of that, especially during the Giro, but the difference this year is that the route doesn’t favour pure sprinters. There are less stages for them so it will be harder, even though I’m convinced he’s one of the three fastest men in the pack.

Do you see Tom Boonnen as the man to beat?

Yes, he’s the man everyone’s waiting for because what he’s achieved in the classics this year shows without doubt that he’s progressed. But the Tour is going to be very different, and I remember that Pettachi began last year’s Tour as the sprint favourite and didn’t win a single stage. So it’s hard to make predictions even among the sprinters.

What will the team’s strategy be after the first week?

There’s a lot of stages on the cards for the aggressive riders. Perhaps someone like Axel Merckx or Leon Van Bon, and why not even Johan Van Summeren, will get their chance to shine. As for the overall standings, we’re counting on Cadel Evans, who has a huge potential in the big races after wearing the pink jersey for two days at the end of the 2002 Giro. Unfortunately, his preparation has been hampered by a broken collarbone he picked up while we were on reconnaissance in the Pyrenees. But he’s a lot better now and in the mountains he’ll be helped out by Axel. I imagine he’ll finish in the top 10, in fact, I’m really hoping he’ll finish closer to fifth than tenth.

The team

Mario Aerts (BEL), Christophe Brandt (BEL), Cadel Evans (AUS), Robbie McEwen (AUS), Axel Merckx (BEL), Fred Rodriguez (USA), Leon Van Bon (HOL), Wim Vansevenant (BEL), Johan Van Summeren (BEL)

Pietro Algeri: "You’ll see our jersey a lot"

You have an ideal candidate for the white jersey… That’s definitely the goal for Jose Angel Gomez Marchante, who’s a talented youngster full of promise and who’s got everything it takes to finish the Tour as best young rider. He’s also Spanish champion and had a good Giro this year, so why not start aiming for a Top 10 finish in the Tour?

Your team boasts a few sturdy climbers...

I think you’ll see our jersey a lot in the mountains. We’ll be doing our best to figure in the breakaways because in addition to Gomez Marchante we’ve also got Fritch, who’s a real competitor whenever the temperature rises, and Piepoli, an experienced climber who’s in his element in the really steep climbs. I think the American Chris Horner could surprise a few people as well, as he won the very difficult mountain stage in the last Tour of Switzerland. In general, though, we don’t know what’s going to happen. We can’t challenge over the whole race, that’s for sure, but we can take advantage of circumstances to achieve as much as we can.

The team

Davis Canada (ESP), Inigo Cuesta (ESP), Nicolas Fritsch (FRA), Juan Manuel Garate (ESP), Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (ESP), Chris Horner (USA), Leonardo Piepoli (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Constantino Zaballa (ESP).

Giuseppe Martinelli: "This could be a chance for all the guys"

Your team has been hit by two major withdrawals… It’s true that it’s hard to start the Tour de France without Damiano Cunego and Gilberto Simoni, two riders of real quality who each could have played an important role and would have motivated the whole team. But Damiano has been struck down by glandular fever and Gilberto was so disappointed with his performance in the Giro that he needs more time to prepare for a big race. His goal now is the Vuelta. So, naturally, we don’t harbour any real ambitions as far as the general classification goes. The difficulty for us will be finding a way of figuring among the race leaders each day.

Who could you send out in front?

Eddy Mazzoleni is riding very well. He had a knee problem at the start of the season but he’s recovered well since then and so he’ll be the team leader for this Tour. Otherwise, Commesso’s capable of winning a stage and Bortolami could try something in the flat stages. And perhaps this will be Evgueni Petrov’s chance to have a go. Last year he played a back-up role to Simoni and Cunego, but this time he’ll be free to prove what he can do. In fact, this could be a good chance for all the guys. Personally, I just hope there’ll be a few surprises.

The team

GianLuca Bortolami (ITA), Salvatore Commesso (ITA), Gerrit Glomser (AUT), David Loosli (SWI), Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA), Evgueni Petrov (RUS), Daniele Righi (ITA), Alessandro Spezialetti (ITA), Gorazd Stangelj (SLV)

Vincent Lavenu: “We have to measure up”

The advent of the Tour de France holds particular significance for AG2R this year...

The Tour de France is the number one objective of all the teams, but as the only invited team, we have certain points to prove, the first of which is that the organisers were right to put their faith in us. We have to repay their confidence and we are capable of doing so. The Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré was a good test in this respect: Thierry Cazeneuve’s initiative was the same as that of A.S.O. and by winning a stage and wearing the yellow jersey for a day, we showed that we have the sporting attributes required. In several other respects, such as the history of the team, its structures, respect for ethics and also the training of youngsters, we are also up there with the elite. AG2R also represents 14 years’ hitch-free management of a professional team.

In practical terms, what stages have you ticked off on the programme?

We have a week where the sprinters can express themselves and Jean-Patrick Nazon has the ability to impose himself, although he has suffered some setbacks this year. We are aware that the competition is tough in this area and that Tom Boonen in particular is the man to beat, but in the sprint, it is not always the same person who wins. The tactical battle enters the equation and in this respect, Samuel Dumoulin possesses both the physical qualities and the right temperament to act as a guide for Jean-Patrick.

And after this first week?

We have a few real battlers who will give it their best shot. Lads like Turpin, Dessel and Portal have already won races with breakaways, so they are capable of doing it again. As regards the overall ranking, we can realistically expect Goubert or Astarloza to make the Top 20. We are also going to pay attention to the team rankings in order to prove that we can make it to around 10th place. The foundations of the team are strong.

Probable team

Mikel Astarloza (ESP), Samuel Dumoulin (FRA), Stéphane Goubert (FRA), Yuriy Krivtsov (UKR), Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA), Nicolas Portal (FRA), Ludovic Turpin (FRA), Sylvain Calzati (FRA), Simon Gerrans (AUS)

Walter Godefroot: "Ullrich best placed to go after Armstrong"

Team T-Mobile have never seemed more capable of beating Armstrong...

Potentially it is all in our hands. Rudy Pevenage, who knows him best, says Jan has never looked so strong; even compared to 2003, the year he really challenged Armstrong. Having teammates with the sheer power of Vinokourov and Kloden will be a huge strategic bonus, not to mention the experience and support of Guerini, Nardello, and Sevilla, whose form is better than the year he narrowly missed out on the Vuelta. Sevilla’s teamwork is exemplary. In the Dauphiné, he rode into the wind all day to take Vinokourov to the foot of the Ventoux. While we have three trump cards, it is ultimately Ullrich who has the most talent and the most strength. He’s the one who is best placed to go after Armstrong.

Armstrong also says this is best team yet...

And he’s right. Popovych is set to replace Floyd Landis. He’s a rider I know well; we were very interested in him ourselves last year. He’s great. Savoldelli won the Giro and he’s another quality rider, despite the two years he struggled with injuries and falls. The rest of the team, Azevedo, Rubiera and Beltran, as we well know, are first-class team riders.

So we can all look forward to a great Armstrong-Ullrich tussle...

I hope so. Armstrong was looking good during the Dauphiné. And I expect he’ll still progress. Between June and the Tour’s mountain stages, riders’ performances can improve by 10%. The same applies to Armstrong as it does to Ullrich.

The Team

Giuseppe Guerini (ITA), Matthias Kessler (GER), Andreas Kloden (GER), Daniele Nardello (ITA), Stephan Schreck (GER), Tobias Steinhauser (GER), Jan Ullrich (GER), Oscar Sevilla (SPA), Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ)

Alain Gallopin: “Ivan is raring to go”

The group starting the Tour seems very tightly knitted around Basso...

In reality, our selection was made at the start of the year. When you’ve got riders like Basso, Sastre, Julich, Voigt, Aversen and Piil, it’s clear they’re going to be up for it and you build a highly precise programme for each of them. For example, Voigt and Julich have made a major start to the season, whereas Sastre, who is targeting both the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain, has begun more gently, the aim being for each one to be ready for targets they have set for themselves. On the Tour, the joint aim is of course to get Ivan Basso up onto the podium like last year, higher, if possible. His recent progress under the stopwatch suggests he can play to win.

Despite the disappointment of the Tour of Italy...

We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that the favourite for the Tour is not Ivan Basso, but Lance Armstrong. As regards the Giro, we went there to win it. That may not have happened, but Ivan still showed that when he’s on form, he is the strongest over the mountains. After that, his being affected by a virus was down to pure bad luck. What we retain from this adventure is that the entire team stayed closely knit around him, and that he managed to remain professional and get back to work with the same motivation, or even a little bit extra. Ivan is raring to go.

For a team that contains one of the contenders for the title, you also have a surprising objective...

For us, the team rankings are a real priority. This is in keeping with the spirit within the team, the way we work and the wishes of our sponsor, which gives decisive importance to this ranking. From this perspective, therefore, the time trials by team between Tours and Blois will be crucial for us.

The team

Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR), Ivan Basso (ITA), Bobby Julich (USA), Carlos Sastre (ESP), Nicki Sörensen (DAN), Jens Voigt (ALL), Giovanni Lombardi (ITA), David Zabriskie (USA), Luke Roberts (AUS).

Gorka Guerrikagoitia: “There is no plan B”

Iban Mayo will be out for revenge at this Tour. What have you changed this year with a view to July?

The team’s preparation has stayed pretty much the same as last year, except for Iban Mayo, whose programme has been modified. In 2004, we saw that he was strong as an ox in June when he won the Dauphiné, and then his fitness deteriorated after the start of the Tour. So this time, we’ve opted to create a much quieter pre-Tour calendar for him, at least where competition is concerned. That’s why he has only been involved in the Tour of Switzerland. After that, he reconnoitred the stages in the Alps and then the Pyrenees.

What is the back-up solution in the event of a repeat of the 2004 failure?

The entire team will work for Mayo. There is no plan B, at least not for the main objective of the overall ranking. Because, for the stage victories, once the road really rises, almost all our riders are capable of coming to the fore. Inigo Landaluze proved it in the Dauphiné, and Aitor Gonzalez in the Tour of Switzerland. The others will be there too.

So the team will be keeping very calm during the regular stages...

The first week is never that easy, as the peloton is always very edgy… remember what happened to us just before the finish on the paved section of Paris-Roubaix (Editor’s note: caught up in a fall, Mayo lost over four minutes on Armstrong). It’s consequently a very dangerous race where you have to stay alert, an extra effort that uses up energy itself.

Probable team

Iker Camano (ESP), Unai Etxebarria (VEN), Iker Flores (ESP), Inigo Landaluze (ESP), Egoi Martinez (ESP), Iban Mayo (ESP), Haimar Zubeldia (ESP), David Herrero (ESP), Mikel Artetxe (ESP)

Francis Van Landersele: “I have an attacking approach”

What is the Cofidis target at this Tour?

This group has enabled us to have several objectives. I’ve already asked Sylvain Chavanel to attack from the start in order to win a stage that suits his style, namely mid-mountain, which ticks several boxes on the programme. However, I don’t want to set him an objective for the overall ranking, as I consider that a bit premature. I don’t think we currently have a rider in France capable of getting into the top 10 this year.

Is he still your team leader?

We have three leaders, in fact. David Moncoutié can realistically target stage victories but can also aim for a decent general ranking if he has a good first week. He’s a rider who has smoothed his rough edges in terms of amateurism, quite simply because he loves to ride. Stuart is of course also a candidate for stage victories, as he’s an accomplished rider. What’s more, his ability to limit the damage on the mountains will also allow him to look for points towards the green jersey. Boonen will be the man to beat for the sprinters, but an eye will also need to be kept on Hushovd and McEwen.

What about the rest?

The team is based on attack, which is very much my approach. You just have to go for it. Cédric Vasseur, for example, has real ambition. As he’s approaching the end of his career, he wants to go out on a high. Also, he will make a very good road captain capable of guiding the others on a good course.

Probable team

Frédéric Bessy (FRA), David Moncoutié (FRA), Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Janek Tombak (EST), Cédric Vasseur (FRA), Matthew White (AUS), Stéphane Augé (FRA), Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Thierry Marichal (BEL)

Stefano Zanatta: “Garzelli has something to prove”

You have a target right from the first stage of the Tour...

Magnus Backstedt has worked very hard for this Tour de France, especially the time trials. He is very powerful and he could do something on this first stage course. After that, he has all week to try to make a good breakaway. As he’s a good roller, he can stay the distance. However, once the road starts to rise a bit too much, he has great difficulty staying up with the pace as he’s pretty heavy.

So that will be the moment for the climbers to take over the leadership of the team...

Yes, as we have several riders who are strong in this respect, especially Stefano Garzelli, who is actually a former winner of the Tour of Italy. He took a fall in the Giro this year and he’s absolutely desperate to make up for it in the Tour de France. He’s an experienced and classy rider, so if he runs into the kind of form we’re hoping for, he could pull off a major coup on a mountain stage. It’s theoretically our best chance, but we also have Pellizotti and Cioni who could spring a surprise over the mountains.

Cippolini’s loss is sure to be heavily felt by the team...

In more ways than one. For sporting reasons, as he would have livened up the first week, and also because he is a real character. But he has made a choice and we know his heart is still with the team. As for the sprints, we now have a Brazilian, Luciano Pagliarini, who may not have the same qualities but he has come second twice, once behind Tom Boonen and once behind Petacchi. Who knows, he might even win it one day.

The team

Michael Albasini (SUI), Magnus Backstedt (SUE), Kjell Karlström (FIN), Dario Cioni (ITA), Stefano Garzelli (ITA), Mauro Gerosa (ITA), Marcus Ljungvist (SUE), Luciano Pagliarini (BRE), Franco Pellizotti (ITA)

John Lelangue: "Never had a leader and never will have."

This year’s sweet surprise: the return of Santiago Botero...

I’ve always believed in Botero. I knew his form would come back at some point. He spent the winter working hard and during January training in Majorca he was already looking good. Competitions came and went and I knew he’d been training hard at home. It was clear that he wanted to make a real comeback. When he signed for us, he’d had two practically blank years with T-Mobile, mainly for health reasons but now that’s all behind him. I think he has found a team that he totally fits into; there’s an international feel here and less pressure. He knows that he has a role to play and this boosts his confidence. He’s also been stepping up a gear lately, which is interesting. The signs were good at the Fleche Wallonne and better in his first major outing in the Dauphiné Libéré, where he finished 2nd.

Does his revival make him team leader?

We’ve never had a leader and never will have. We have three very good riders, Landis, Botero and Pereiro, who’ll be well protected by a very solid team with huge experience of the Tour. The idea is to push ourselves into the best position possible before the mountains. We’ll play things by ear from there so that we have one rider high up in the GC on the Champs Elysées. Our aim is the Top 5, for any one of the three I mentioned.

Considering the make-up of your team, what other ambitions do you have?

The polka dot jersey, maybe, for Botero, depending how the race goes. Jalabert, Grabsch or Guttierez could grab their moment of glory. Hunter is no out-and-out sprinter but he doesn’t need to be lead and in the time-trials he really knows how to hug the bike. The team classification personally means a lot to me but our priority is naturally with the GC.

The Team

Santiago Botero (COL), Bert Grabsch (GER), Jose Enrique Gutierrez (SPA), Robert Hunter (RSA), Nicolas Jalabert (FRA), Floyd Landis (USA), Alexandre Moos (SWI), Oscar Pereiro Sio (SPA), Tadej Valjavec (SLO)

Giancarlo Ferretti: "We have no leader"

What are Fassa Bortolo’s objectives this year?

All teams set their sights on 5 stages and the yellow jersey. We have to be more realistic, and modest. Fassa Bortolo doesn’t have an all-round Tour winner, but we do have riders capable of winning a stage. With Cancellara, Kirchen and Flecha, there’s always a chance something will happen, even if we have no leader. In a team with no rider pushing to win the GC, there’s no point.

Fabian Cancellara was very impressive in last year’s prologue. What progress has he made?

It’s difficult to know where he is exactly compared to last year. In the individual time trials at the Swiss Tour, he didn’t impress (4th). He hasn’t competed in a major Tour this year, so we’ll only get to see his progress in France. I hope, like all young riders, he’s improving gradually each year.

Team

Marzio Bruseghin (ITA), Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Juan-Antonio Flecha (ESP), Dario Frigo (ITA) , Kim Kirchen (LUX), Massimo Giunti (ITA), Lorenzo Bernucci (ITA), Paolo Bossoni (ITA), Claudio Corioni (ITA)

Roger Legeay: “We have the right riders”

As France’s top performer in the Tour last year, presumably Christophe Moreau will be team leader again...

Christophe will start with the overall ranking as his target, as he has regularly achieved good results in the Tour. It will be him therefore who assumes the mantle of leader, at least where the general ranking is concerned. His current form is encouraging, as he came 3rd in the ‘4 days of Dunkerque’ and his performance in the Dauphiné was generally good. He will have to be able to stay with the best right from the first mountain stages. He should be able to rely on the support of Caucchioli, who is also a good climber, and the others too. We have the right right riders around him, just as we have around Hushovd.

So Hushovd will be targeting the green jersey...

That’s the team’s other main objective and is a realistic ambition since he came second in the points ranking in 2004. And of course, in order to go for the green jersey, he will have to be there for the stage victories, particularly during the first week.

And who will be the group’s real warriors?

The important thing will be to retain the spirit of the Crédit Agricole team, which has always been enterprising. You have to allow the opportunities to come and then take them. On the stages in the east of France or on the “return” path, for example, certain riders will have their hands free to try a few things.

Probable team

Thor Hushovd (NOR), Christophe Moreau (FRA), Laszlo Bodrogi (HON), Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ), Patrice Halgand (FRA), Sébastien Hinault (FRA), Pietro Caucchioli (ITA), Jan Kirsipuu (EST), Sébastien Joly (FRA)

Eusebio Unzue: "The Galibier had a big effect on Valverde"

Great hopes are being placed in Valverde. What can we expect?

We’re going to see what he’s capable of. This will be his first experience of the Tour, so he’ll be in there to learn. No one can really expect him to reproduce his exploits in Spain. He has to work on his climbing and time trials if he wants to hope for bigger things. During reconnaissance in the Alps, he met the really big peaks for the first time and the Galibier had a big effect on him. There’s no pressure on him to shine in the General Classification of the Tour, but he could be in for a stage victory.

What are Iles Baleares’ other targets?

We’ll be paying close attention to Karpets, who was last year’s Best Young Rider and who rode well in the Giro this year (7th). He’s worth watching in the time trials, where he usually shines. In the mountains, we’ll be counting on Mancebo and Arroyo, who are two very good climbers, while Francisco will take the lead in the General Classification. Overall, the group is well balanced, with good support from riders like Garcia Acosta and Mancebo, who’ll be riding his ninth Tour.

Likely team

Daniel Becke (ALL), Isaac Galvez (ESP), Jose-Vicente Garcia Acosta (ESP), Vladimir Karpets (RUS), Francisco Mancebo (ESP), David Arroyo (ESP), Alejandro Valverde (ESP), Jose Luis Arrieta (ESP), Xabier Zandio (ESP)

Patrick Lefévère: “Pettachi’s absence is a setback”

Tom Boonen seems to be everyone’s favourite for the green jersey...

We shall see very quickly how Tom feels on this Tour. If he’s on form, he’ll pick up stage wins rapidly and will automatically become a serious candidate for the green jersey. But it really is a setback for us that Pettachi won’t be there: Fassa Bortolo is a team that takes its responsibility when it comes to leading the peleton to launch breakaways. They are good companions on the road. This year, however, I’m afraid we will be forced to work alone and it will be very hard to control the race if the others don’t play ball.

For Quickstep, this Tour will be all about the first week then...

It’s not our sole objective, as Michael Rogers has ambitions of his own. He is the reigning time trials world champion and he intends to show that he deserves that title. The first stage should suit him well, as 19 km is the right distance for specialists like him. What’s more, he showed on the Tour of Switzerland that he could perform on several types of terrain. He’s a rider who can be very consistent and he has a role to stick to in this Tour de France.

Will Rogers also lead the team over the mountains?

Him and Patrick Sinkewitz, who himself won the Tour of Germany last year, which was a very tough race. He’s a young rider with bags of ambition who likes to attack. Sometimes he maybe bites off more than he can chew, but that’s better than being the other way.

Probable team

Tom Boonen (BEL), Wilfried Cretskens (BEL), Kevin Hulsmans (BEL), Servais Knaven (HOL), Michael Rogers (AUS), Patrick Sinkewitz (ALL), Bram Tankink (HOL), Stefano Zanini (ITA), Guido Trenti (USA)

Marc Madiot: “Not everyone can win a stage”

What is your main objective at this Tour?

A stage. More often than not, when you take part in the Tour, you don’t win one. We know very well that not everyone can win one. It’s a rare event, so a win would be highly satisfactory. I don’t really care which one; just let it be as soon as possible. Experience has taught me that at the finish in Paris, the disappointed riders will outnumber those celebrating. And I’ve been among the disappointed ones many times, which is why I’m not making any foolish predictions about our chances. Out of eight Tours, I’ve only really been satisfied with three of them.

Who will be the team leader?

Logic dictates that it will be Bradley McGee, but there’s also Baden Cooke for the sprints, or even Sandy Casar… there are numerous different options. One thing’s for certain: I expect the entire team to perform and the individual results that we hope for are always the fruit of our work together.

Your ambitions seem fairly modest...

We are not a big team like Armstrong’s, so we’re not really in a position to organise a battle plan. Without hope, you can’t get anywhere, especially in this profession, but I’m not going to give in to fantasy. We have to remain realistic.

Probable team

Sandy Casar (FRA), Baden Cooke (AUS), Carlos Da Cruz (FRA), Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Thomas Lövkvist (SUE), Bradley McGee (AUS), Christophe Mengin (FRA), Francis Mourey (FRA)

Gianluigi Stanga: “Putting our trust in youth”

What are your team’s ambitions at this Tour?

We don’t have strength in depth but, like all the teams, we still want to have a good Tour de France. To this end, we are putting our trust in our leader Serhiy Honchar, who is capable of getting into the Top 10 of the overall ranking. He has already ridden in the Tour of Italy this season, where he came in 6th, so we have to hope he has the mental strength and motivation to stay in the overall rankings right to the end. It will be tough, but I think he can do it, especially as the whole team will be riding for him.

Your team doesn’t really have a star rider. What role will you play in the peleton?

It’s basically a team of youngsters who are here to learn and get a first taste of the Tour de France. Consequently, they will have a free hand to take part in breakaways. Given that we started our recruitment very late last year and without great resources, we are in a situation where it is difficult to compete with the big teams, so we’re putting our trust in youth.

Do you feel this strategy will bear fruit?

We actually had a decent Tour of Italy with a fourth place in the team ranking, and Mirko Celestino had a good season in the classics. But this is first and foremost a year of transition, so I’m going to hope for a nice surprise at the Tour from one of our three improving youngsters, namely Grivko, Vanotti and Iglinskiy. After that, we’ll be strengthening the group.

Probable team

Serhiy Honchar (UKR), Alessandro Vanotti (ITA), Wladimir Belli (ITA), Angelo Furlan (ITA), Andriy Grivko (UKR), Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ), Jörg Ludewig (ALL), Alessandro Bertolini (ITA), Sergio Ghisalberti (ITA)

Manuel Saiz: “The first week is really exhausting for the climbers"

You’re banking mainly on the potential of Roberto Heras... He’s the natural leader. As a triple-winner of the Tour of Spain and with his ability as a climber, it’s logical that everyone’s working for him. He’ s one of the best in the world, but in order to win the Tour de France, a large number of factors need to come together at once. One of the key points for Roberto will be managing to conserve his strength during the first week, which is really exhausting for the climbers. He will have to remain well protected if he is to arrive at the foot of the mountains in good shape.

What’s the latest on Beloki?

Things are still uncertain, but if he succeeds in reaching a level close to that which has taken him onto the podium three times, he could be the team’s No.2. The start he’s made to the season has not been satisfactory, but we need to see if he is capable of getting back to his best for the start of the Tour, and who knows, even compete for the top places again. He has had a blank year, but the same thing has happened to Botero, and he’s rediscovering top form, not to mention Paolo Savoldelli, who won the Tour of Italy.

What will be Contador and Jaksche’s roles?

Contador is only taking part in his 2nd Tour, so there’s no pressure on his shoulders. He’s still learning and remains at a physiological disadvantage compared with someone like Roberto, for example. He will have a free hand to develop his experience. Jaksche is first and foremost an excellent team player, who is more than capable of striking a blow at any moment. He perfectly complements the group, which will be very coherent. If the riders reach 100% of their potential, they will do very well. I’m not making any predictions, however, as last year’s Tour has taught me to err on the side of caution.

Probable team

Roberto Heras (ESP), Alberto Contador (ESP), Allan Davis (AUS), Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ESP), Jörg Jacksche (ALL), Angel Vicioso (ESP), Luis Sanchez (ESP), Marcos Serrano (ESP), Joseba Beloki (ESP)

Erik Breukink: “Menchov can aim for the Top 5”

How well can the Rabobank team do in this Tour? Our leader for the overall ranking is Denis Menchov. In 2003, he was the Tour’s best young rider and while he may not have finished last year, the whole season was a bit of a non-starter for him. I feel that with the qualities and maturity he has acquired, he’s now capable of laying claim to a place in the Top 5. That’s how good he is.

Who are the other cornerstones of your team? It’s a shame that Freire can’t be there as he had started to get back to a good level before having to go under the surgeon’s knife. He could have played an interesting role during the sprint finishes in the first week, but that can’t be helped. For the intermediate stages, where the breakaways can sometimes lead all the way to the finish, we have several possibilities in the shape of Erik Dekker and Karsten, for example, who are old hands at the Tour. The other option over the mountains will be to let Michael Rasmussen take any opportunities that present themselves, as he is truly a good climber.

The team

Michael Boogerd (HOL), Erik Dekker (HOL), Karsten Kroon (HOL), Gerben Löwik (HOL), Joost Posthuma (HOL), Pieter Weening (HOL), Denis Menchov (RUS), Michael Rasmussen (DAN), Marc WAuters (BEL)

Christian Henn: “One of two in the top 5”

Which rider is carrying your team’s hopes for the Tour?

Levi Leipheimer and Georg Totschnig will be the two team leaders, but neither of them will be the other’s senior. Last year, they finished 9th and 7th respectively, so we know that they’re both cut out for this event and at a similar level. Levi did particularly well in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (editor’s note: 3rd in the overall ranking), so he’s definitely got it in him to do well in the mountain stages. In order to do so, he will need to break away very early, as he’s not the type who can pull away from a group over the last few kilometres. If all goes well, one of the two could finish in the top 5.

What about your secondary targets?

Robert Förster will be our main hope during the opening week for the sprints, where he will take on the specialists. However, he is still a touch off the pace in relation to the big guns like McEwen, Boonen, O’Grady and Hushovd, so he won’t be in the chase for green jersey points. Michael Rich, meanwhile, will try his luck in the time trials, as he is German champion and world runner-up in the discipline.

Have you noted the major difficulties of this Tour?

We spent a week reconnoitring in the Pyrenees before the Dauphiné with Totschnig, Leipheimer and Wrolich. But in any case, the most difficult aspect of the Tour is not the ascents but the other riders. Everyone wants to win. Whatever happens, the final week will be tough, including the Saint-Etienne time trials, where we have visited to get our bearings.

The team

Levi Leipheimer (USA), Georg Totschnig (AUT), Michael Rich (ALL), Sebastian Lang, Fabian Wegmann, Robert Förster, Ronny Scholz (all ALL), Beat Zberg (SUI), Peter Wrolich (AUT)