Tour of Georgia - CSC Team Profile
The Z-Man leads Bjarne Riis's # 1 Team in the world at the Tour of
Georgia. Lars Bak, Jakob Piil, Alan Johansen, Martin Pedersen, Christian Muller
among the mix to weigh in at the "Big Peach" today.
Paris-Roubaix, the Amstel Gold Race… and the Tour of Georgia? The way the
last few weeks have gone for Team CSC,
overall victory in America’s premier race is an even more distinct possibility.
The bulk of their team for the Tour of Georgia consists of Danes, acting as
support for David Zabriskie, who will be
gunning for glory on home turf.
CSC Roster
Johansen, Allan (DEN)
Vandborg, Brian (DEN)
Muller, Christian (GER)
Zabriskie, David (USA)
Piil, Jakob (DEN)
Klostergaard, Kasper (DEN)
Bak, Lars (DEN)
Pedersen, Martin (DEN)
With Grand Tour time-trial victories making him into a star and one of
America’s top riders effectively within a few months, Zabriskie is just another
rider who Bjarne Rijs has been able to bring the best out of.
Z-Man photo c. Mark Adkison & www.dailypeloton.com
Still only 27, the man from Salt Lake City was second at the Tour of
California and has posted two top six overall finishes in the past at Georgia.
We can certainly expect a strong showing in the stage three time-trial, where
Zabriskie will be one of the big favourites along with Landis and Danielson, but
his climbing ability could stop him from winning. Though certainly “DZ” can
perform well when the road pitches up, he is no bread-and-butter climber.
Two brutal mountain stages, particularly the finish on Brasstown Bald, could
put an end to his victory aspirations. That said, considering reports of
Zabriskie flying up Monte Serra, a testing ground for form, in Tuscany, we could
see a first display of his climbing ability. At any rate, the CSC man should
finish in the top five overall.
Team CSC started the year as top team in the Team G.C. at the
Tour of California and at the top of the UCI pro tour standings.
Zabriskie will be ably supported by Brian Vandborg,
who won a stage last year and has finished in the top ten overall in his first
year as a pro. Vandborg is another rider with a big engine, who will do well in
the long time-trial and who can climb competently. Backed by a solid
early-season, including third in the Circuit de la Sarthe, Vandborg could bag
another top ten finish for CSC.
Lars Bak, the Tour de l’Avenir winner and
Christian Muller are both riders who can
deliver good time-trials, while Bak has a fast finish to boot for the flatter
stages.
Paris-Tours winner Jakob Piil has been
plagued by injury in recent season, but the Dane should be back to his
aggressive best here, and could show the CSC jersey in a long-distance break or
two.
Allan Johansen has been a pro since 1998
and came to CSC from Bankgiroloterij team in 2005 and has racked up seven wins
in his career with minor teams. Johansen is one of the workhorses and hardmen of
CSC and often found in the thick of the battle supporting the CSC tactic and
team leader in their quest to win. Given a bit of a loose rein Johansen could be
a factor in early breaks or a stage victory in Georgia.
Neo-pro Martin Pedersen had a year to
remember with Team GLS in 2005, winning seven times. However, the young Dane has
found it considerably tougher having stepped up to the pro ranks. Still,
Pedersen – a winner of the U23 Liege-Bastogne-Liege - could get his first top
ten result with CSC in a bunch sprint here. Kasper
Klostegaard is another neo-pro learning the ropes this year.
No matter how you look at this team master tactician Bjarne Riis has pulled a
few rabbits out of his the CSC top hat this year and it has to leave you feeling
the anticipation of what the master has in store for us at the Tour of Georgia.
2006 Ford Tour of Georgia
Ford Tour de
Georgia 2006--Team Rosters and Profiles
Tour of
Georgia - Saunier Duval/Prodir Team Profile
Tour of
Georgia - Phonak Team Profile
Teams
Announced for 2006 Ford Tour de Georgia
Ford Tour de
Georgia 2006-Winner's Jerseys
Discovery
Channel Announces Team for California Tour
Ford Tour de
Georgia 2006--A Look at Stage Six
Ford Tour de
Georgia 2006--Stage by Stage Stage 1 & 2
Ford Tour de
Georgia--A Look at the Time Trial
Ford Tour de
Georgia 2006
| 
