BiciRace.com :: News :: April 2005

News :: April 2005

10 April 2005

Ballan the Outside Italian Hope

Young Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Caffita) could just be the man to win today's Paris-Roubaix. Ballan has been on top form lately, winning a stage in the 3 Days of De Panne. Ballan is backed by a solid squadra that can give him support when he needs it. In the Italian media Ballan is on everyone's lips. And you cannot walk into a bar in Italy with out hearing the words, "Ballan" or "Lui è forte". BiciRace.com will keep a close eye on this young-gun as he hammers his way to Roubaix and into the future.
Here is the Lampre-Caffita team for Sunday ... Alessandro Ballan, Daniele Bennati, Giosuè Bonomi, GianLuca Bortolami, Salvatore Commesso, Paolo Fornaciari, Enrico Franzoi, Samuele Marzoli.

Tom Boonen And Peter Van Petegem, The Top

Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) and Peter Van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) will be head-to-head on the roads and on the betting tables. Boonen may be the man on winning form, but do not discount a wise and wily Van Petegem. Van Petegem won Paris-Roubaix in 2003 and has the confidence to win again. And it is the young Boonen who has the burden of being the "strong favorite", which could be to Van Petegem's advantage. Van Petegem will be suffering on the cobbles with a painful saddle-sore, but he insists that "for Sunday I expect no problems. Pain will be everywhere."

The Odds For Today:
Boonen Tom (Bel - Qst) -- 3.25
Van Petegem Peter (Bel - Dvl) -- 3.25
Hincapie George (Usa - Dsc) -- 13.00
Backstedt Magnus (Swe - Liq) -- 14.00
Flecha G. Juan Antonio (Spa - Fas) -- 16.00
Hushovd Thor (Nor - C.A) -- 16.00
Zabel Erik (Ger - Tmo) -- 17.00
Cancellara Fabian (Zwit - Fas) -- 18.00
Hoste Leif (Bel - Dsc) -- 20.00
Mattan Nico (Bel - Dvl) -- 22.00
Wesemann Steffen (Ger - Tmo) -- 22.00
Tafi Andrea (Ita - Sdv) -- 25.00
Van Bon Leon (Ned - Dvl) -- 25.00
Devolder Stijn (Bel - Dsc) -- 30.00
Wauters Marc (Bel - Rab) -- 30.00
Steels Tom (Bel - Dvl) -- 35.00
Ivanov Serguei (Rus - Tmo) -- 40.00
O'Grady Stuart (Aus - Cof) -- 45.00
Ekimov Viatcheslav (Rus - Usp) -- 50.00
Pozzato Filippo (Ita - Qst) -- 50.00
Ballan Alessandro (Ita - Lam) -- 60.00
Hammond Roger (Gbr - Dsc) -- 60.00
Hoj Frank (Den - Gst) -- 60.00
Kirsipuu Jaan (Est - C.A) -- 60.00
Davis Allan (Aus - Lst) -- 100.00
Hunt Jeremy (Gbr - Mrb) -- 125.00

The Weather Holds, For Now

The latest weather for the start in Paris (Compiegne) is not so bad. The riders will be starting the Paris-Roubaix without any rain but there is rain predicted (11°) for this afternoon in Roubaix. It will make for an exciting finish on the television as the riders are pounding their way to Roubaix. Stay tuned for results on BiciRace.com

Vandenbroucke Out

Frank Vandenbroucke (MrBookmaker) will not start today in Paris-Roubaix, he has been taken to the hospital because of an allergy. Before this week he had food poisoning, and now it is believed that the medicine that he took for the food poisoning has caused an allergic reaction. The reaction further postpones Vandenbroucke's return to the classics.

9 April News ...