The organizers have not given me a present. The climbs are not very useful. Tourmalet, for example, and Aubisque are both 100 kms before the finish. Jan Ullrich didn't seem to be happy with the route which should fit him well. I get nervous with this talk that this Tour is easier or more difficult than another.
All editions require a high intensity effort throughout three weeks.
Frenchman Christophe Rinero, who was 4th in 1998 and winner of the Mountain's jersey was happy with the route. And I've made progress in the time trials and 110 km seems to me a good distance. What bothers me most are the two rest days because I tend to relax too much and, in fact, that tires me more than anything. No decisions will be made until early next year, since it has to be analyzed by our whole team and all parties have to be consulted - the teams, the strategic organisation and the like. The other candidate for the start of the Tour 2000 is the German city of Frankfurt.