Slipstream's Danielson at Crossroads at 2008 Tour of Georgia

Danielson hopes his next big result is right on the horizon

Slipstream's Tom Danielson signed with the team for 2008 with much anticipation and prognostication. Viewed as the most talented stage race style rider on the team, both fans and team representatives saw Danielson as a stage racing force to be reckoned with under the tutelage of Jonathan Vaughters.

But the early season saw Danielson's season schedule drastically changed. He was slated to ride in all of the early season European races, but instead returned home after the Etoille des Besseges race in France in January. From there, he raced the Tour of California, but was dropped on the toughest stage over Sierra Road, and then withdrew citing a back problem. Danielson hasn't been seen since. After taking an extensive break to address his chronic back problems, he has returned to competition at the Tour of Georgia with hopes of a high GC win.

As a neo-pro with the Fassa Bortolo team, Danielson was viewed as the next big American

Danielson hasn't been seen since. After taking an extensive break to address his chronic back problems, he has returned to competition at the Tour of Georgia with hopes of a high GC win. And he had better do just that. Danielson's time is running out as an elite rider. Already 30 years old, he hasn't much to show for himself in the victory category.

Sure, he took the win two years in a row at the Brass Town Bald stage of the Tour of Georgia, but the only other significant International result he has garnered was an excellent 6th overall and a stage win at the 2006 Vuelta Espana. 2008 is a swing year for Danielson. By the end of 2008, he'll either be firmly established as the undisputed stage race leader of Slipstream, or he'll be looked at as a veteran who can support the younger riders on the team in 2009.

It's Danielson's head, not his legs, that have been questioned over the years

Tom Danielson heads into this weekend's Brass Town Bald stage needing the win more than ever. If he can manage to outclass American road race champion Levi Leipheimer ad take the leader's jersey, Danielson will have proven that he can climb with the world's best. If however he is dropped, serious doubts will be raised about his ability to win big time stage races.