What’s Wrong with T-Mobile?

Velo News analyzes why the powerhouse European cycling squad can’t seem to generate big wins from its star cyclists. Case in point is this year’s Giro d’Italia winner, Discovery rider Paolo Savoldelli, who was a great disappointment with T-Mobile, but proved his mettle by coming back to take maglia rosa this year. Further fueling speculation about mis-management at T-Mobile is that fact that the team may have three riders who could challenge Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France this year. Jan Ullrich, Armstrong’s closest rival, has yet to really race this year, though he is acknowledged to be the team’s leader for the race. However, Alexandre Vinokourov and Andreas Kl?den could challenge Ullrich’s position as leader. Kl?den finished on the podium last year when Ullrich faltered, and Vinokourov has performed well thus far this season, winning Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The lack of a clear leader for the Tour could hamper the chances of another rider preventing Armstrong from leaving the sport on top.