Pereiro leads Tour team

By Antonio J. Salmerón

According to the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia, Oscar Pereiro, possible winner of the 2006 Tour of France, answered, "it will have two leaders," when asked who will lead Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears in next year's Tour. "Valverde and me, and while if I will have options to win the Tour, I will not work for anybody. I hope to be among the best riders and be a protagonist. I will also try to participate in the Vuelta, since it will start in my region, Galicia."

Regarding the Tour of France, Pereiro added, "I don't like that it continues vacant, but I believe that it [the winner] is already determined. The organization has said that the winner will be Landis or Pereiro. Therefore, I am waiting. Until they disqualify Landis, I cannot give an opinion. And if so [disqualification from the Tour], I believe that would be a sufficient punishment ..."