Six! Six Tours de France!! In six successive years!!! So is the Lance Armstrong’s balance. Twenty individual stage wins, altogether over 60 days in yellow. Now the question is clear: Is seven on the cards?

Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain. The famous four well-known for winning five editions of the world’s biggest bike race. These four were joined by an American, Lance Armstrong. The Texan, however, didn’t care for a lifetime membership in this particular club of five-timers.

Twelve months ago the fabulous group was strengthened and for exactly 365 days it lasted as the five most successful cyclists (in terms of winning the TdF) of all time. But then the Tourminator for the sixth consecutive time stole the glory to leave the club and become THE cyclist.

“Don’t compare incomparable,” warns Hinault, nevertheless. “If Eddy Merckx rode just the Tour de France (as Armstrong does) he would win it fifteen times.” And so in the eyes of cycling world it stands further on — Lance Armstrong won the most Tours, but after all the best remains Eddy “Cannibal” Merckx.

With Jan Ullrich possibly too old and Ivan Basso unclear in terms of his time-trialing future (and also no leveret), Armstrong sees no real contender for his record. However, the only former yellow — barring Lance — in the business is the German, two years younger than Austin-born record holder. But his yellow jersey has been covered by a heavy ply of dust, for its last revelation being done way back in 1997.

Remember this yellow jersey was won by a youngster, 23-year-old 1996 runner-up to Bjarne Riis. Since his kudos on the Champs-Elysées, Ullrich was the runner-up to Marco Pantani in 1998 and in 2000, 2001 and 2003 to Armstrong, as well. Three things speak to his credit. Experience and hunger for yet another victory. And a big team.

Having four Paris-cheered cyclists in 2005, T-Mobile Team will have their biggest chance ever for winning the yellow outfit.
Jan Ullrich — 1997 winner, five times runner-up, three times white jersey winner, 2004 oh-so-close to the podium; multiple world and Olympic champion; great mountain-climber and time-trialist — stands above them all.
Andreas Klöden — 2004 runner-up, Ullrich’s main domestique, great climber and time-trialist — is a new hope for the Germans, though 29 years of age.
Alexandre Vinokourov — 2003 third; former main domestique for both Jan Ullrich and Erik Zabel — is expected to show wonders after his last great Tour.
And Santiago Botero — former King of the mountains while Richard Virenque was in the business, 2002 fourth in Paris, former time-trial world champion — are the great names to apply for the ultimate prize in cycling.
And let’s not forget Giuseppe Guerini — honored domestique and famous Alpe-d’Huez stage winner — and Erik Zabel — six times in a row green jersey wearer, 12 TdF stage wins.
T-Mobiles — winners of the team competition in 2004 — mean it seriously for the 2005 campaign.

Is seven on the cards? Lance Armstrong (this year having indisputably better team than T-Mobile) maybe takes part of the next Tour, maybe not. If he does, will he still be the main favorite for the glory? Will he be going for further record? Or is it finally Jan Ullrich who’s going to show some masterpiece? Or even somebody else? We shall wait and see…