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3 June 2005

4 June News ...

Il Falco Flies?

Still wondering why Paolo Savoldelli is called "Il Falco"? The name means falcon or eagle in Italian and Savoldelli lives up to the name. The 2005 Giro d'Italia winner in no fool in the descent, he says "That it is a natural gift." He is relaxed in the descent which enables him to fly, once recording a speed just under 70mph, "Once, on the Val d'Aosta, I reached 112 K/Hr. The say I am crazy, but I have never crashed in descending."

The next big race for Savoldelli is the new TTT in Holland. The Eindhoven Team Time Trial is on 19 June and is considered a strong test for the Tour de France teams. It will also be a test for Il Falco, he is now considered a strong possibility for Disco's Tour de France team.

Cycling is More Dynamic, Says Indurain

At a sporting awards ceremony in Spain, five time Tour de France champion, Miguel Indurain, has declared that "cycling today is more dynamic and attractive for the fans", than the era when he rode, "even though all the riders don't always benefit from that."

Indurain says the core of that dynamism is due to shorter stages that are more action packed. Indurain sees cycling as slowly evolving "not only for the riders and the teams, but also in the style of riding."

Are you a fan of Spanish cycling greats? Read the BiciRace.com interview with Pedro Delgado.
- Paco

Lotz Admits to EPO Usage

Dutch rider, Marc Lotz of Quick Step, tested positive for EPO. Lotz fully admitted to using EPO with the intent of preparing for the Tour de France. The new UCI Pro Tour code of ethics is such that Lotz will not be able to ride for another Pro Tour team for at least 4 years and could face an additional 2 year ban. This is tantamount to a retirement since Lotz is currently 31 years old and would be past his prime when the ban would be lifted.

Unlike many of his pro counterparts Lotz admitted full guilt for the positive test. "The fear of letting down my team was such that I decided to risk my health in this way. I'm aware that this is unacceptable," said Lotz. In a press release Lotz went on to condemn his behavior saying, "I want to assume full responsibility and for that reason I have proposed my immediate dismissal. I hope this will help my team to avoid any problems."

Quick Step boss, Patrick Lefevre, declared in another press release that due to the new UCI Pro Tour anti-doping laws he had no choice but to dismiss the Dutch rider.
- Paco

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré Startlist

Sunday is the start of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and the team's are starting to head for France. We caught up with Saunier Duval - Prodir to find out what riders will be taking part. DS Pietro Algeri is taking a team of riders that is aiming for the Tour de France. In the team is: Angel Gomez Marchante, Constantino Zaballa, Nicolas Fritsch, Manuel Quinziato, Angel Edo, David Canada, Rafael Casero.

Of course all eyes will be on the Disco-Floor, Team Discovery Channel-Barry Floors. Lance Armstrong is one of his last races for the lead-up to the Tour de France. It will be chance for Lance Armstrong fans to get a glimpse of their favorite rider before he retires after the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong is bring his henchmen to tash it up. The henchmen: José Azevedo, Manuel Beltrán, George Hincapie, Leif Hoste, Benjamin Noval, Yaroslav Popovych, José Luis Rubiera

Team CSC is packing heat with a line-up of guys capable of winning the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. Fresh from the Giro d'Italia, will be the American boys of Dave Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde. Carlos Sastre is one that should be watched, he will be backed by: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Manuel Calvente, Jakob Piil, Luke Roberts, Niki Sorensen, Christian Vande Velde, David Zabriskie

Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré: Overall Map, Startlist, Main Page

Di Luca's Steed, All White Bianchi

Danilo Di Luca parked his Liquigas-Bianchi bike for the BiciRace.com photographers to take some photos. Bianchi prepared a special paint scheme for Di Luca's Giro d'Italia bike. The frame is in all white to match Di Luca's ProTour Jersey. The combo worked out nice for The Killer, finishing fourth overall in the Giro, winning stages and wearing the maglia rosa.

Di Luca prefers an all aluminum frame and asked Bianchi to produce one specifically for him. Bianchi could not resist when Di Luca paid a special visit to the factory to for his request. The Killer has had good luck with all aluminum frames in the past. He has ridden on De Rosa (with Riso Scotti), Olmo and Cannondale.

Other components of note on the machine are a Campagnolo groupset, Campagnolo wheels, ITM bars and stem, and Time pedals. For more photos of Di Luca's bike see our stage 20 photo section.

Garzelli Goes Tour

When we sat down with Stefano Garzelli back in early May he was facing a tough three week Giro d'Italia. Due to an unfortunate crash on stage 7 in Pistoia, Garzelli's Giro was finished. "After the TT and the stage to Duran I was not able to continue," the tough Liquigas-Bianchi rider explained. Now he looks to the Tour de France and is thankful that the true difficult stages don't come until after 9 days. His goal, "To win a stage and play with the possibilities of a good classification." BiciRace.com sends Stefano Garzelli well wishes and we hope to see him winning stages in the Tour.

Tour of Luxembourg

German Eric Baumann, of T-Mobile, won the first stage of the Tour of Luxembourg. Baumann won the stage in a sprint after 176K from Luxembourg to Mondorf. The race continues today and finishes on 5 June.

Simoni and Cunego Split

Damiano Cunego was recently offered a new 3-year contract by Lampre-Caffita, but teammate Gilberto Simoni seems to be on the out. After finishing 2nd in the Giro d'Italia it appears that Simoni might find his way to Domina Vacanze, or another team, in 2006. Simoni was really unhappy with Cunego's support in his push for the maglia rosa. Cunego is not pleased with his teammates comments and has been expressing himself in the press. Now the young rider from Verona heads to the Tour de France to learn from Lance Armstrong.

2 June News ...