Out of Lance's Shadow

Discovery Channel's Tom Danielson Tries to Make It Two

Ever since he was signed to the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team last year, Tom Danielson has had to live up to the expectation that he was "the next Lance Armstrong." For the 28-year-old blond cyclist who calls Durango, Colorado his American base, the accolade has been as much a source of inspiration as it's been a weight on his shoulders. Still, Danielson proved adept at dealing with the comparison to America's greatest cyclist by replying that as much of an honor as it was, the only goal he had in mind was to instead focus on being "the first Tom Danielson."

Rolling into the 2006 Tour of Georgia as the defending champion, Tom Danielson knows that people are anxious to see how he performs now that Lance is not there to help guide him to victory.

"I think I'm ready," said Tom as he arrived in Georgia from his adopted hometown of Girona, Spain, where he lives during the season. "I've been putting in plenty of miles training and racing. I think we've got the best bike in the peloton, and I want to prove that I can win without Lance. The Tour of Georgia is an important race for the Discovery Channel team. The fans are great and winning it will give me good confidence for the Tour of Italy that follows."

As with the rest of his team, Tom will be riding a blue and silver Trek Madone SL 5.9 -- a bike that has already won both the Tour de France and Tour of Italy. Each team bike is handcrafted at the Trek factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin and is virtually identical to the production versions sold at local Trek dealers.

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