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8 June 2005

9 June News ...

Samuel Dumoulin, A Home-Town Hero

Yesterday Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R) took the yellow GC jersey from Disco Hincapie at the end of stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. It was a very emotional win for Dumoulin, he won on his home streets, in front of a home crowd in Chauffailles. After being away all day in the hot French sun, Dumoulin out-sprinted his break-away companions.

It was truly a fight for the sprint win, there were no favors for the home-town boy. After the line the young French rider was greeted by his parents who had come to see their son win. The AG2R staff were ecstatic for their young-gun, a huge ProTour win for the small French outfit.

"At first, we had some good laughs", said Dumoulin post-stage. "Frédéric Bessy even suggested to us to stop for a cafe," Bessy knows the area, he is a native of the region. Dumoulin adding, "Then, with the tension of the race, we spoke less. We [in the break] were buddies but everyone defends his interests in those moments". Dumoulin will have other occasions to show off his aggressiveness in the upcoming Tour of France since pro-continental team, AG2R, was selected for la Grande Boucle.

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

Most Beautiful Day

Most tifosi tuning into yesterday's stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré might have thought, 'This will never work.' You turn on the TV and see a four man move trying to hold off a charging peloton and think, 'No way.' This scenario is common-place, a big gap builds, small teams get their TV time and then poof, the gap tumbles down. It is a scenario seen over and over in cycling, but in stage 2 it worked. Yes, the little guys stayed away, but barely. After the stage Dumoulin, who made his beginnings in BMX, said "This is the most beautiful day of my life." Finishing first in an important stage and in your home-town, that does not happen often.

The 69th Tour de Suisse Starts Saturday

The 69th Tour de Suisse starts Saturday and is the last stop for many Tour de France contenders. It is a race that is often used for Tour build up, but also a prestigious race that is worthy in its own right. This year with the ProTour scheduling the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and Tour de Suisse overlap by two days, forcing some favorites, like Lance Armstrong, to decide between the two. The list of winners in the Tour de Suisse is a who's-who among cycling greats, of course there is Eddy Merckx, but also names like Saronni, Hampsten, Kelly, Tonkov, Garzelli, Armstrong, Zülle, Vinokourov and last year's winner, Jan Ullrich.

This year will test the rider's legs over 8 road stages and a TT. The Tour de Suisse foregoes any parade-like prologue and gets directly down to business. Stay tuned to see just how it all unfolds from Stage 1 to 9, here on BiciRace.com.
Read the full Tour de Suisse preview. (Overall Map, Startlist)

Simoni to Suisse

Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) will make a return to the Tour de Suisse this Saturday. After finishing a strong 2nd in the Giro d'Italia, Simoni has taken a few days off on vacation in Marco Pantani's old stomping ground. He was in Cesenatico with wife, Arianna , and daughter, Sofia. Simoni confirmed the vacation was short, "two or three days maximum, then I need some mountains that are high." A true man of the mountains.

Simoni loved the last edition of the Giro d'Italia ... "The Stelvio, and also the Colle delle Finestre: the switch-backs, the thin air, the views, the people. When we went to try the Colle delle Finestre, we did an average pace of 15kph. In racing we went 18-20. It is the fans that force us on with 'alè' and 'dai', then 'Simo' and 'Gibo', it pushes you on."

But be warned, Simoni will not lay down his guns. He will be back next year with a strong squad. Current rumor is that he will ride for Domina Vacanze. Simoni added, "the Giro has restored in me a certainty: Next year I will win. With two revisions: Race a little less before and not accept an unclear situation ... Race with only one captain, with a squad that will do only what I say." Which translates in to time to break up the band and go solo. Yes, for Simoni and Cunego, This is the End.

Mr. Mojo Risin'

VDB is BACK! Well, sort of. After an on-and-off spring, Frank Vandenbroucke will make a reappearance in Brussel-Ingooigem on June 22. VDB had a small crash on 13 May in the Tour de Picardie that was a slight setback. You might know Vandenbroucke from his legal battles or from his 52 wins as a pro, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Gent-Wevelgem. BiciRace.com wishes VDB the best of luck.

Stage 4: Mont-Ventoux on the Horizon

Tomorrow, stage 4 of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, is not a day for Roadhouse Blues. No, it is a day to seek shelter by positioning yourself well in the peloton. Because at the end of the stage is the 1909 meter climb of Mont-Ventoux. (Stage Profile) The stage, from Tournon-sur-Rhône to Mont-Ventoux, is flat, except for the final 30K. Mont-Ventoux will knock the air out of the peloton as the leaders gun for an historic mountain win. Look out for Lance Armstrong, he would love to win on this mountain once before retiring in July.

7 June News ...