BiciRace.com :: News :: August 2005

News :: August 2005

8 August 2005

Basso is King of Denmark

Ivan Basso (Team CSC) put his stamp on the Tour of Denmark (or Post Danmark Rundt). The Italian, from Varese, came away from the 6 stage tour with 4 stage wins, not to mention his overall GC win. It was a run of victories that the Danes won't soon forget.

"Reaching Copenhagen was a brilliant feeling and the perfect finish to a great week for me and my team. I've seen how popular we are here, and I must admit it's made a huge impression on me to meet the Danish people and seeing how much they love to watch cycling," said Basso via Team CSC.

Basso On Podium, photo: Giro d'Italia

Basso is more like a racer of the past, racing all year. He started his season 5 March (Milano-Torino), then he worked towards the Giro d'Italia, followed by the Tour de France. It was a rare Giro-Tour double by a 'favorite' that is not often seen in modern cycling. Basso did not head off to the beach after the Tour, instead he headed north for criteriums and the Tour of Denmark. Bravo Basso.

Next on Basso's schedule, is a day of rest at the home of Team CSC DS, Bjarne Riis, in Denmark. Then a day in Eindhoven, in Holland, for vacation/work, where he will be a star at a even more criteriums. After the criteriums he finally returns to home in Italy, to continue with training. At the beginning of September he travels to America (San Francisco) for the T-Mobile International (4 September).

2nd Win For Ballan In North

Ballan Wins Disorganized Stage, photo: Eneco Tour

The roads of Belgium suit Alessandro Ballan just fine. Ballan (Lampre-Caffita) scored his 2nd victory as a pro in stage 4 of the Eneco Tour. His first victory was also in Belgium, at the 3 Days of De Panne (stage 1, Middelkerke - Zottegem). Then in March, like yesterday, the win came under miserable and typical Belgian conditions. "When I was a young racer I almost always won in the rain," said a happy Ballan post-stage. "When there is heat I suffer, but in this stage we had cool temperatures."

It was a stage that was marred with incident and bad organization, however, the Italian (25) made the best of the situation. Ballan was in charge of looking after Daniele Bennati, and he marked the last minute move of Ivanov (T-Mobile). "Ivanov attacked before the last turn, I closed the gap to prepare the sprint for Bennati. This created a gap of around 10 meters, so I was given the freedom to sprint for the win."

Now the young Italian will finish the next two stages of the Eneco Tour before more stage racing. On tap for Ballan is a the Deutschland Tour and the Tour de Pologne. After those races Ballan will take a well deserved rest at his home near Treviso.

Verbrugghe: 50-50 for Eneco

Verbrugghe 50-50, photo: Eneco Tour

Rik Verbrugghe (Quick-Step) took charge in the Eneco stage 4 sprint to Verviers, finishing 2nd and preserving his race lead. "I have 50% chance to win the overall", estimated the Belgian after the finish. "Erik Dekker and Allan Davis have shown very smart in the intermediate sprints, and will provide a strong challenge in the remaining stages."

For Rik Verbrugghe (31) an overall win in the Eneco Tour would be a return to success. He has been fighting for the last two years to repeat his glories of the 2002 season. "I give myself a 50% chance to win the Eneco Tour. It will still be necessary to fight for each second during next days", stated Verbrugghe after stage 4.

Verbrugghe acted as a guide through the Belgian countryside after race organizers took the peloton off course in stage 4. "We were misled after the top of the Côte de Wanne. To make U-turn was impossible because of the cars behind us. I said we should continue. I know the area well and we finally returned on the proper course." Verbrugghe did not think that the misdirection played any part in the escape's chances. "It is perhaps unjust that the leaders had to stop, but we would have caught them regardless," concluded Verbrugghe.

Eneco Tour, 3 - 10 August
Main, Startlist, Map, Photos

Former Italian Champion Wins

Cristian Moreni (Quick-Step) won the first stage of the Tour de l'Ain. The 2004 Italian Champion attacked with a group of riders and stayed away for 120K of the 155K race. It was Moreni's first race win of the year.

7 August News ...