Two victories in four days are helping David Zabriskie secure a return ticket to the 2006 Tour de France.

Last year, Zabriskie won the opening stage in his Tour debut to become just the third American to wear the yellow jersey, but the 27-year-old finds himself on the Tour bubble because of the depth of talent on Team CSC.

CSC manager Bjarne Riis is mulling which eight riders will support Ivan Basso in pursuit of July’s crown as the Italian aims to become the first rider since 1998 to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour in the same season.

Zabriskie’s impressive victory in Wednesday’s 43km time trial at the Dauphiné Libéré and his win in the opening prologue Sunday could be just what he needs to tip the balance in his favor.

“It’s not my place to say this guy is doing the Tour de France. I’m not here to announce that Dave Zabriskie is doing it,” Zabriskie said. “This is Bjarne Riis’s team. He’ll announce it when the time is right.”

Tristan Hoffman, Team CSC sport director at the Dauphiné Libéré, joked that the team is so deep in talent it could field two nine-man squads for the July 1 start in Strasbourg.

“There are probably four or five riders secure, but Bjarne is still considering the other places,” Hoffman said Thursday morning. “There are so many guys on this team strong enough to ride the Tour, but it’s obvious now David is very strong.”

Several riders from Basso’s Giro-winning team are expected to line-up again in July, including Giovanni Lombardi, Carlos Sastre, Jens Voigt and Bobby Julich.

Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Stuart O’Grady and Nicki Sorensen are other Tour candidates currently racing at the Dauphiné Libéré while Frank Schleck and Fabian Cancellara are expected to start the Tour de Suisse.

As Christian Vande Velde, another rider on the Tour bubble, told VeloNews earlier this week, “There will be some seriously talented riders left at home in July.”

Zabriskie is doing all he can to make sure he’s not one of them.

Horner to race Vuelta
Just like everyone else at the Dauphiné Libéré, Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) is thinking about the Tour de France, but he’ll also race the Vuelta a Espana later this season.

Horner said he’ll take a break after the Tour and then reload for the Vuelta and likely a run at the world championships in Austria. Until then, it’s everything for the Tour.

“I have three priorities for the Tour,” Horner told VeloNews before Thursday’s start. “First, to help Robbie (McEwen) in the first week in the sprints, then help Cadel (Evans) as much as I can, and then finally watch out for myself, in that order.”

Horner will be back for his second Tour start, but he comes into this year’s race with a secure spot on the Davitamon-Lotto team. He’s known since the beginning of the season he’s Tour-bound.

“Last year, I was racing in Philly week and then the Tour de Suisse without knowing if I was going to the Tour,” Horner said. “It makes preparation a lot easier when you know that you’re going to the Tour, it’s a lot less stressful.”

Bruyneel satisfied with TT
Discovery Channel boss Johan Bruyneel expressed satisfaction that after five riders punched into the top 20 in Wednesday’s time trial.

George Hincapie led the way with fourth, with Vladimir Gusev seventh, Yaroslav Popovych eighth, Egoi Martinez 13th and Jose Azevedo 19th. All five are expected to start July’s Tour de France.

“It’s good to see everyone riding well ahead of the Tour,” Bruyneel said. “George had a very good time trial and that’s good to see for next month.”

Bruyneel said the final nine-man Tour team will likely be announced next week.