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10 June 2005

11 June News ...

Vino Is Legend

Alexandre Vinokourov has become legend, winning on top of the famed Mont-Ventoux in stage 4 of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. After winning at Liège-Bastogne-Liège earlier this year, Vino has now added another legendary victory to his palmarès.

It was a strange day for 6X Tour champion, yo-yo'ing off the back of his group going up the slopes. BiciRace.com thinks he is on form, but did not have the legs to finally get his Mont-Ventoux win. It was also a strange day for Santiago Botero. He had been talking up his chances, but when push came to shove, it was out the big back door, finishing 3 minutes down. But his Phonak bro, No-Fuss Floyd, kept pace with the Texan and LL, to finish 37" back. Nice job Floyd!
Read the entire stage 4 report.

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

Vino Dominates, LL Acknowledges

Vino made history yesterday, adding his name to the elite list of winners on Mont-Ventoux. Vino seemed to understand his accomplishment, "When one wins on Ventoux, one goes down in history." Seemingly emotionless on the slopes of the famed French climb, Vino took control with 5K to go. "When I feel well, my style is to attack. Today [stage 4], this was the case", added Vino. Surely a man that was not going to be stopped.

One rider who wanted to keep Vino in-check was LL, Levi Leipheimer of Gerolsteiner. LL kept Vino in sight and maintained his overall lead, but he lost some seconds. LL acknowledged Vino's dominance and his strength, "As early as the beginning of the climb, there was a lot of attacks. But the most important one was the one of Vinokourov, he seems to be in form. I was ready to remain with him, but I did not want to push my limits beyond reason, in anticipation of the stages to come. But Alexandre is a big champion and a beautiful winner, he proved it today."

Marco Pinotti: Back from Philly ... On to Suisse

Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval - Prodir) is back from the USPRO in Philadelphia, USA. However, Marco has been given a small surprise by the team, he is going to do the Tour de Suisse. Yes, starting tomorrow, Marco will be tackling the roads of Switzerland. Read BiciRace.com's Inside Scoop from Marco to find out more.

 

The 69th Tour de Suisse Starts Tomorrow

The 69th Tour de Suisse starts tomorrow and is the last stop for many Tour de France contenders. 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)

Lance Armstrong on Ventoux and the Tour

Lance Armstrong now is second overall behind fellow American, Levi Leipheimer. It is a good position for the remainder of the stages of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. After a difficult stage 4 Armstrong commented, "I have learned not to be impatient. It was difficult today, but the real test is a month away, and I will stay on schedule. I'm trying to gain some condition here, some race rhythm and to focus on the big objective. Everybody is calm and collected ..." The Texan is putting his focus to the Tour de France and remaining calm.

Armstrong missed his last chance to score a victory on the famed Mont-Ventoux. Yesterday was a day when he showed himself not to be in peak form, "I would not say it was great, I would not even say it was good. I wasn't good enough today, I suffered a lot and I'm a little bit disappointed. Maybe I am still a little bit heavy for a climb like that by a few pounds." Again, the Texan warned that the big objective is France's 3-week race in July, "You often see riders do well in the Dauphiné Libéré and a month later they are not strong." No names are mentioned, but it is a call out to Euskaltel-Euskadi's Iban Mayo.

Dauphiné Libéré Stage 6, Saturday

Saturday's stage 6 of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré takes the riders from Albertville to Morzine-Avoriaz, totaling 155K. Taking in three cat 1 climbs, before the Hors Category climb of Col de Joux-Plane. The riders face abut 1000 meters of climbing on this beast of a Col before dropping down to the finish in Morzine. (See Stage Profile) A GC battle will occure and there are sure to be plenty of causalities. Giving the viewers a good idea of who is on form for July.

Tour de Suisse Stage 1, Saturday

Also on Saturday is the start of the Tour de Suisse. The race foregoes any parade-like prologue and gets directly down to business. The first stage of 170K to Weinfelden, should be a chance for the sprinters to shine. (Stage Profile) The TT masters will be seen at the back of the peloton, readying their legs for the following day's TT.

Contador Test New Corima Wheel

French-based Corima hooked up Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth) with a new front wheel to try in stage 3's TT of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. The big difference in this new wheel from his old one was that there are only three arms versus four on the old version.

This prototype is made by a new type of carbon with better structure, that allows to eliminate one of the arms without any problems. Compared to the old model, this wheel is more rigid, more light and more aerodynamic. Team Liberty Seguros-Würth DS, Manolo Saiz remarked, we have "improved response and speed thanks to the employment of this new carbon, which also will allow us in the near future to improve the output of our normal wheels."

The prototype tested by Contador will be the base of a new model that Corima plans to release in the Tour de France.
(Images: Old wheel, New wheel, New Carbon weave up close)

Pantani and the Piadina

Marco Pantani's name lives on with the piadina stand. Marco's parents, Tonina and Paolo, used to own a piadineria stand where Marco would sometimes work. Marco always preferred his piadina with Nutella, and so do the writers at BiciRace.com.

The stand, in Cesenatico, has been bought by two super tifosi. No longer will Paolo and Tonina work behind the bar, that will be up to the new owners. The two new owners bought the stand as an investment but also to pay tribute to their favorite rider. So when you are in Cesenatico stop by and buy a piadina!

What is a piadina? It is a simple bread of flour, salt and water is flat like a pancake but soft and crispy at the same time. A piadina is delicious with salami, bresaola, cheese or Nutella.

9 June News ...