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U.S. Postal Team 2001 Introduction
by David Díaz Blanco
U.S. Postal team was introduced on Friday, January 26th
in Altea, Valencian Country, Spain. This year, the American team’s
changes are thought to improve what last season came out as one of the
best crews in the world.
Their main novelty is Roberto Heras, ‘2000 Vuelta
a España winner, who is pointed to be Armstrong’s heir in
the team. But the Texan guy will not leave his throne so soon, and he
aims at his third Tour de France. To reach that goal his season schedule
is as follows: Vuelta a Murcia, Setmana Catalana, Vuelta a Aragón,
a rally with the rest of the staff (probably in Altea again), Bicicleta
Vasca, Tour de Suisse and Tour de France.
Johan Bruyneel, Team’s Manager, thinks Armstrong is very hungry for
competition. This year he wants the crew to be at their highest level
right before French race, since in his opinion the last two years they
got their best shape too soon. He also wants stage or general victories
in Switzerland and Volta a Catalunya to improve team’s self-confidence.
The staff will also try to inspect Aitana, the mystery pass in Vuelta
a España, located not far from Altea. U.S. Postal follows sponsored
by Trek, Shimano and Nike. SRM trainers are being used for power and pulse
control. U.S. Postal’s 2001 staff.
Name
Country
D.O.B.
Lance Armstrong
USA
9-18-1971
Jamie Burrow
United Kingdom
1-23-1977
Dylan Casey
USA
4-13-1971
Julian Dean
New Zealand
1-28-1975
Vjatslav Ekimov
Russia
2-4-1966
Tyler Hamilton
USA
3-1-1971
George Hincapie
USA
6-29-1973
Joachim Benoit
Luxembourg
1-14-1976
Steffen Kjaergaari
Norway
5-24-1973
Levi Leipheimer
USA
10-24-1973
Christian Vandevelde
USA
5-22-1976
Cedric Vasseur
France
8-18-1970
S. Barthe*
France
12-5-1972
A. Cruz*
USA
10-31-1971
Roberto Heras*
Spain
2-21-1974
K. Labbe*
USA
9-18-1971
Héctor Peña*
Columbia
7-20-1974
José Luis Rubiera*
Spain
1-27-1973
R. Ventura*
USA
5-5-1971
M. White*
Australia
2-22-1971
D. Zabriski*
USA
1-12-1979
* New this year
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