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News :: June 2005

1 June 2005

2 June News ...

Inside Scoop with Saul Raisin: Back Early For Swiss

Saul Raisin Climbing photo: Tour of Georgia

Today Saul Raisin checked-in with BiciRace.com for an update. The Crédit Agricole rider has been training and preparing for the upcoming Tour de Suisse. It was a quick recovery for Saul from his crash in 4 Days of Dunkirk, he explains, "I am doing the Tour de Swiss... so I have been training on the road for a little over 2 weeks now." Read more ... Saul Raisin: Back Early For Swiss.

Other reading:
Inside Scoop from Juan Fuentes
Inside Scoop from Marco Pinotti
Matteo Algeri and BiciRace.com, Inside Scoop chat

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré Starts Sunday

2004 Winner, Iban Mayo, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com

The 57th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré starts Sunday and will be a 8-day slug-fest over French roads. Just like in past years, the 2005 Dauphiné Libéré is a great indicator for Tour de France form. Often riders who can excel at the Dauphiné Libéré go on to success in le Tour. Take a look at the past winners and you see champions names etched: Lance Armstrong, Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Luis Ocaña.

This year will test the riders legs over 6 road stages, a TT and the opening prologue. Stages 4 to 6 are going to be killers. Starting with 4, to the famed Mont-Ventoux. It will knock the air out of the cyclist as they gun for an historic mountain win. Look out for Lance Armstrong, he would love to win on this mountain once before retiring in July. Stay tuned from the prologue to stage 7, here on BiciRace.com. Read the full Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré preview. (Overall Map, Startlist)

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré Stages
June 05, Prologue, Aix-les-Bains - Aix-les-Bains, 7.9K
June 06, Stage 1, Aix-les-Bains - Givors, 224K
June 07, Stage 2, Givors - Chauffailles, 187K
June 08, Stage 3, Roanne - Roanne TT, 46.5K
June 09, Stage 4, Tournon-sur-Rhône - Mont-Ventoux, 182K
June 10, Stage 5, Vaison-la-Romaine - Grenoble, 219K
June 11, Stage 6, Albertville - Morzine-Avoriaz, 155K
June 12, Stage 7, Morzine-Avoriaz - Sallanches, 128K

No Petacchi for Le Grand Boucle

Alessandro Petacchi of Fassa Bortolo has announced that he will not be lining up in Vendee for the start of the Tour de France. Petacchi feels his time would be better spent resting at his home in the month of July so that he can rebuild for the World Championships in Madrid.

This year's Giro d'Italia has apparently taken its toll on the fast-man from La Spezia. "During the winter I worked very intensely to prepare for Milan-San Remo. After that I did the Vuelta a Aragón and the Tour of Romandie before the Giro which has been extremely difficult with long stages. I'm noticing that my legs are really tired."

Like Zolder in 2002, this year's World Championships should favor the sprinters. Rumor has it that the Italian coach, Franco Ballerini, is building his team much like he did in 2002 when the Italians last triumphed in the Worlds This should bode well for Petacchi since he has one of the most feared sprints in all of cycling and he gets over the hills better than last year.

What does this all mean for the Tour de France? Petacchi is undisputedly the best sprinter in cycling so the race will feel his absence, but there will still be some powerful sprinters with the likes of Freire, McEwen, Cooke, O'Grady ... duking it out for bragging rights. Stay tuned.
- Paco

Savoldelli and Berlusconi?

It seems that winning the Giro d'Italia will get you an invite to hang out with the Prime Minister of Italy. Silvio Berlusconi. Monday night there was a top-secret meeting where the 2005 Giro winner talked cycling and economy with Italy's leader. "A brilliant person. I liked Berlusconi," said Savoldelli after the meeting. Currently the Giro champion is on a post-race criterium schedule, making some extra money and meeting the fans.

31 May News ...