BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

16 July 2005

17 July News ...

Lance Armstrong to Become a Race Director?

"There are too many transfers in this Tour," said Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) after stage 13. Yesterday the 6X Tour de France champion complained of the excessive number of transfers from city to city in the race. "The race is a little strange, and even harder with many transfers. In these times, in which you want all to be perfect, this is not acceptable."

Tour de France race director, Jean-François Pescheux, replied, "It is impossible otherwise. There are 20 teams, each with around 30 to 40 people, and we can not find cities everywhere with the proper infrastructures." There has been much speculation as to what Armstrong will do when he retires, perhaps he is eyeing a position as a race director. Maybe getting his start in the Tour of California?

Davitamon-Lotto Work Tails Off For Winning McEwen

The Davitamon-Lotto boys did some amazing tempo in stage 13 of the 2005 Tour de France to reel back the 5-man escape. Their goal was to bring back the break and escort Robbie McEwen to the line. The team did their job and were rewarded with a 3rd sprint win by the Aussie. "I am capable of changing tactics in the last 500 meters, adjusting to the sprint and the sprinters," said McEwen regarding the finish. Then the Aussie went on to praise his team, "Resounding, they pulled all day, they brought me up, then Rodriguez launched me and he was able to sprint for third."

The team of Davitamon-Lotto also had some help from Discovery Channel. Disco rode on the front in the closing kilometers after McEwen's team looked shelled from pulling all day. Maybe Armstrong's team wanted to stay out of trouble, maybe Armstrong wanted to shut down Chris Horner's (Saunier Duval-Prodir) move or maybe it was payback to Davitamon-Lotto. Back in the Giro d'Italia it was Davitamon-Lotto who appeared from nowhere to help Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel). In stage 19 Il Falco was in a time of need and his saviors were Ardila and Van Huffel. The Davitamon-Lotto riders were key in helping Il Falco keep control on Gilberto Simoni and José Rujano.

92nd Tour de France:
Startlist, Classifications, Tour Challengers, Discovery Channel Profile
Key Stages, Key Stage Descriptions, Stages and Maps, Overall Map
Photos, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

Valverde Stops The Tour Pain and Reflects

The bad news of stage 13 was the abandon of Spanish sensation, Alejandro Valverde. The Illes Balears rider had been suffering from knee pains and could not continue. The pains originated from a bang on the handlebars during the team TT on 5 July. Valverde from the team bus said, "I was fifth in the Tour, won a stage, beat Armstrong and was in the white jersey. Now I have to look ahead to the future. I will come back to the Tour next year really motivated."

Valverde's departure came as a big disappointment to Illes Balears. Valverde and Mancebo had formed a duo to be reckoned with for il Americano, Lance Armstrong. It was their forces that challenged Armstrong in stage 10, when Valverde shot away for a stage win. "Paco" Mancebo now battles on without his buddy, and Valverde will be back next year in the 93rd Tour de France.

For more information on Valverde read The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap.

Fassa Bortolo to Merge with Lampre-Caffita

Giancarlo Ferretti, Team Manager of Fassa Bortolo, continues to try to find a new sponsor for his thinning formation. Time is running out for the Iron Sergeant to find a new backer. Ferretti wants to keep Alessandro Petacchi and his core group of fast men.

Lately Ferretti has been in talks with Claudio Corti, AKA Caffita (the old Saeco formation). A possible Fassa-Caffita may not be likely, since Corti is bound to Lampre and Giuseppe Saronni. Ferretti keeps searching, and perhaps the rumored deal with the Holland company will work out.

Alessandro Petacchi does have other options if Ferretti cannot find a new sponsor. Petacchi is still being courted by the Domina Vacanze and also T-Mobile. Other teams that are possible are Phonak and Liquigas-Bianchi. Liquigas is in talks with a new sponsor, which would help bring aboard Ale-Jet and his crew.

Older Fassa Bortolo / Ferretti Sponsorship News: 9 May (Alessandro Petacchi Goes Dutch?), 10 May (Rumors Run Wild!) and 4 July (Petacchi and Ferretti, Brothers Gonna Work it Out)

Tour Jerseys, White Out

White Jersey (young GC rider): Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) said 'Ciao' to the Tour de France. The Spaniard heads back home, and now the jersey is in the hands of the Ukrainian power-house, Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery Channel). It was a sad farewell for Valverde, who abandoned mid-stage 13 due to knee problems.

Green Jersey (sprinter's jersey): With the exit of Tom Boonen, the fight of for the green jersey is between two Aussies and one Norwegian. Currently the jersey in the hands of Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), but O'Grady (Cofidis) and McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) are breathing down his neck.

Polka Dot (climber's jersey): Thin man, Michael Rasmussen, is on the money mic. This guy is cool, showing up to the stage starts in all polka-dot from head to toe. The Rabobank rider looks set to take this jersey all the way to Paris. However, keep in mind that we have lost the clear green and white leaders due to abandons.

Yellow Jersey: Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) is the top man in GC. Look for possible changes in today or tomorrow's TOUGH stages. Armstrong will feel the heat from all quarters. Come Monday we will have a clear idea of who will win the 92nd Tour de France.
If you need to know more about the classifications, then read here: Tour de France Classifications

15 July News ...