- Title: FRANCE: U.S. CYCLIST TYLER HAMILTON SPEAKS ON TOUR DE FRANCE CHANCES.
- Date: 3rd July 2003
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 3, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE SHOT TEAM 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TYLER HAMILTON SAYING: "I feel probably the strongest I've ever felt, just in general. For me the spring was a great confidence booster for myself and also for the team. I definitely feel like a different person now here at the start of the Tour de France, I'm a bit more calm. I know I've been training hard and I've done the work, the homework's been done and it's time to take the test and I believe I'm ready. I don't think you can ever be 100 per cent ready but I'm as ready as I'll ever be. "For me I'm looking forward to this tour because really it's my first time, I've done six tours but it's really my first time giving it a go at 100 per cent. I feel it's a great opportunity for me, I never thought I'd be in this position so I'm looking forward to it and I'm looking forward to the challenge." 3. JOURNALISTS 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TYLER HAMILTON SAYING: "Being on the list, some of the media are putting me high on the list here in the Tour de France is a nice compliment to me. I appreciate it but it's not going to put any extra pressure on me, my goals still going in are to be in the top ten, I've never been in the top ten of the Tour de France before. I've done it six times and I think that's a realistic goal for me. If I can do better I will but for the moment let's just set it at that." 5. JOURNALIST 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TYLER HAMILTON SAYING: "I think I'm a pretty well rounded rider and it's important to be in the thick of things through the Alps. The real race is in the Pyrenees, the first time trial before the start of the Pyrenees then four consecutive days in the mountains. I think the combination of those four stages with the time trial before, it's going to be very difficult. I believe that's where the race will be won or lost. Sure you have to be in there in the Alps, you can't lose any time there, but the Pyrenees is where the race will be won or lost so if the legs are strong I'll try and make a move there." 7. TEAM MEMBERS 8. WIDE SHOT TEAM Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th July 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVABYQU8VTRQL2YIZ23SY4PQEXB4
- Story Text: American cyclist Tyler Hamilton has said his main goal
in this year's Tour de France is to finish in the top 10.
Tour favourite Lance Armstrong named a number of
rivals who could spoil his dream of a historic fifth win,
including former teammate and compatriot Hamilton.
The 32-year-old Hamilton, who rides for the CSC team, has
ridden the Tour six times, finishing 13th in 1999 and 15th in
2002, is prepared for the tour.
"I know I've been training hard and I've done the work,
the homework's been done and it's time to take the test and I
believe I'm ready. I don't think you can ever be 100 per cent
ready but I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
The American made his first impression in time trials,
finishing second behind Jan Ullrich in Correze in 1998. He has
since shown potential in the mountains and was second in last
year's Giro.
Hamilton believes that the mountains will be where the
race will be decided.
"Sure you have to be in there in the Alps, you can't lose
any time there, but the Pyrenees is where the race will be won
or lost so if the legs are strong I'll try and make a move
there."
He left US Postal to join CSC and this will be his first
Tour leading a team.
Earlier this year, he became the first American to win
the one day classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege and also won the Tour
of Romandy. In total, he has 13 victories to his credit.
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