BiciRace.com :: News :: April 2005

News :: April 2005

5 April 2005

Garzelli: "Un Giro bellissimo!"

After Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas-Bianchi) had previewed four of the key stages of the 88th Giro d'Italia he had this to say, "Un Giro bellissimo!". Garzelli was joined by Dario Cioni, and at times by Vladimir Miholjevic and Andrea Noè. Here are his thoughts on the stages...

Stage 11, Zoldo Alto: "I believe that Zoldo Alto will be one of the surprises of the Giro... the Cereda Pass is approachable but the Passo Duran [1601 m] is very demanding, about 13 kilometers, to be taken with the 21 or the 23 [gear]. There is a hard and technical descent, then a final nearing 10%. [Finishing on the Zoldo Alto]"
Stage 13, Ortisei: "It is very difficult and very long. Of the five climbs in the stage the most difficult will be the Passo delle Erbe."
Stage 17, Limone Piemonte: "From the stages inspected in these days this is the least demanding, also we have to reckon with the hard wrenching of Colletto del Moro [3.9K, ave 8.9%]"
Stage 19, Sestriere: "I am shocked, in particular, from the Colle delle Finestre. I believe this to be the hardest climb of the Giro. There are forbidding gradients touching 14%, bad roads and dealing with gravel. Then, to complete the stage, the final ascent towards Sestrière."
From: Liquigas-Bianchi

Di Luca wins, Sastre Breaks

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) is on the way up again and showed the cycling world by winning the first stage of the Pais Vasco. There were some top riders he beat in the sprint finale, Perdiguero, Valverde, Cunego, Etxebarria, Boogerd.

Bad news for Carlos Sastre (Team CSC), Sastre took a bad fall and broke his right elbow. Sastre and Basso were involved in a crash in Monday's stage one, Basso came out clean.

Jan Ullrich Will Reappear In The Circuit Cycliste Sarthe

Jan Ullrich will return to competition in France at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, which takes place April 5-8. Ullrich is on his way back from illnesses and will not fight for the general classification, since his main objective is again the Tour de France, in July. And if you wondering about the Belgian Frank Vandenboucke, he will non be able to take part in the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, on account of a food infection.

4 April News ...