A few tasty quotes from the peloton.

Tom Steels (Mapei): “Zabel seems faster than ever. He will win his stages, at least one, in this tour.”

Erik Zabel (Telekom): “There is only one reason why I’m losing: Steels is the fastest rider right now. I haven’t done anything wrong in the sprints.”

Frank Høj (Francaise des Jeux) in his diary at www.idol.dk: “And then there is this Millar. He really is worth that jersey. Not that I know him very well but the Britons, and all English speaking riders, have a different attitude to cycling. They are a bit half crazy all of them and that is why they get on so well with us Danes.”

David Millar (Cofidis) about the team time trial: “We are all good rouleurs in our team and with the yellow jersey we have one rider more than the others.”

Abraham Olano (ONCE) on the same subject: “The TTT will be about five teams: Credit Agricole, Cofidis, US Postal, Telekom and ONCE. There will be no huge differences between them.

Steffen Kjaergaard (USP) at his personal site Norcykling: “I wouldn’t be surprised if I am among those that are to be sacrificed among the first on the TTT. I will do the hard work early on before Lance and Co. put the speed up when I’m finished.”