2004 Team SAECO THE SIMONI QUESTION MARK Despite his victories in the Giro d’Italia, Gilberto Simoni has yet to figure out the Tour or the Vuelta. He has won stages in all three grand tours, but can he put together an all-around challenge on French soil? Assuming he can roll into the Tour with his best Giro form, Simoni could be a huge danger on a course that favors his climbing skills. He won’t have his precocious young teammate Damiano Cunego at the Tour, but Saeco has some of the best support riders, including Gorazd Stangelj, Evgueni Petrov, Gerrit Glomser and Mirko Celestino. And that’s not counting Danilo Di Luca — if he’s back from the injured list in time. TEAM Sponsors: Coffee machine manufacturer Web site: www.team.saeco.com 2004 budget: $5.2 million Manager: Claudio Corti Directeur sportif: Giuseppe Martinelli Assistants: Guido Bontempi, Flavio Miozzo, Bruno Vicino Team created (with current name): 1995 2003 wins: 33 Past Tours: 7th year participating; 12 stage wins EQUIPMENT Bike: Cannondale Components: Campagnolo-Cannondale Wheels: Mavic Apparel: Kappa-Cannondale   OTHER TEAMS: Ag2R - AB - BLB - COF - CA - CSC - DV - EE - FB - FDJ - GERO - IBB - LS - LOTO - PHO - QSD - RABO - RAGT - SAE - TMO - USPS