We always put a lot of pressure on ourselves; I mean we never go into a race looking to [do] anything other than win and this is no exception. We've been in the area, checking all the different climbs and hazards that may surprise some of the teams in the middle of the race. We'll be ready for this race.

There are 10-20 names that have the fitness to win the race, and Chris would have to be one of them. Chris is just a big engine, a locomotive, a diesel ... with long femurs and huge quadriceps who has the horsepower.

Every one of the (16) teams is stacked with talent. The teams that take the race seriously -- those who take the time and effort to check out each stage ahead of time -- will have the best success.

There is no real plan. We're more concerned with winning the race. This race is too difficult to say 'we're 100 percent working for this guy.' There are too many factors. If we can get the jersey, great. If we can win the bike race and not get the jersey, great. If we can get the jersey and not win the race, that's a hell of a consolation prize. We'd be happy with either scenario.

There are no pure, pure climber's stages, no 10-mile, 14-percent brutes. And there are no bone-flat sprinters' stages, either.

If you take cyclists, runners, cross-country skiers, swimmers and all kinds of endurance athletes across the board, the people who are abusing EPO might number in the lows 100s. Compare that to the thousands of people for whom the drug has been a lifesaving application.