An overweight Jan Ullrich is still a threat on a bike, as he proved by winning the individual time trial in last month’s Giro d’Italia. But an overweight Ullrich isn’t going to win a Tour de France.

Ullrich apprently started the Tour de Suisse “three kilos over his ideal racing weight of 72 kilos.” I have no earthly idea what a kilo is (I have the handicap of having learned measurements in America), so I don’t know if that means Der Kaiser will be at racing weight before the Tour de France begins or midway through.

I have to admit that I’m always a touch disappointed to see how much weight he’s prone to gaining in the off-season, even if he does still end up performing well in France. Imagine the possibilities, Jan, if you were a smidge more disciplined in January! (Says the girl sitting on her couch eating ice cream. So, yeah, I think I’ll shut up now.)