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13 August 2005

14 August News ...

The Killer in Spain

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) is ready to tackle the next ProTour event, the Clásica San Sebastián. His aim is to finish high and gain more points towards the ProTour lead. Between him and the finish is the mighty Jaizkibel, 31K from the finish. Liquigas-Bianchi have sent a squadra of strong riders to support The Killer over the Basque mountains. Stefano Garzelli and Franco Pellizotti will be the super domestiques, along with the other five: Patrick Calcagni, Kjell Carlström, Andrea Noè, Charles Wegelius, Vladimir Miholjevic.

The Killer revealed his chances Friday at the press conference. "I really like the Jaizkibel, and is a climb that is made for me. In the last days I have not felt great ... I hope that I have recovered ... Tuesday, in the first day of the Due Giorni Marchigiana I had good feelings."

Cunego Wants to Test

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) will be back in the Clásica San Sebastián and fighting to regain his supper form of 2004. For the Piccolo Principe it will be a day of testing himself against the top competition. Many at BiciRace.com are pulling for Cunego. Other contenders may not watch Cunego very close, enabling him to pull out a surprise victory.

This is his first major race back since the Giro d'Italia in May. "The time has passed and I am ready to make a return," said Cunego. "I have seen progress, and the signals are positive. I have to be strong in the head and press on, I have in front of me August, September, and October to salvage my season. This course will help me make a point, and with the other top riders here I can compare myself to see how much I am lacking. On the Jaizkibel I will not be with the first contenders, but I would like to be right behind."

Winning Pozzato for San Sebastián

The winning Italian at the moment is Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step). Pippo pulled off a huge win in the HEW-Cyclassics, then followed that up with a win at the Italian one-day classic, Giro del Lazio. Due to his recent successes the Quick-Step rider will be a marked man in today's Clásica San Sebastián.

This is a classic that suits the Italians well, they won here 6 times over the past years. "I am convinced that I will go well," said Pippo yesterday at the press conference. "This morning I went and tried all of the finale starting from the Jaizkibel ... I am honest, I remembered that it is very hard."

Over in Bassano del Grappa Pippo has a new home, and now the payments need to be made. The pressure is on for the young Italian to come through, but it should be easier with Paolo Bettini at his side. The winner in 2003, pledged his support to his teammate ... "like Museeuw or Tafi did for me," added Bettini.

Rujano to Quick-Step in Mid-2006

There has been an agreement of sorts between the manager of Quick-Step, Patrick Lefevere, and José Rujano. The Venezuelan is still under contract with Selle Italia-Colombia, and the team needs him for their wild-card entry into the 2006 Giro d'Italia. Therefore Lefevere wants Rujano just after next year's Giro, helping Quick-Step with the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. The agreement is close to being made but has yet to be signed. (read: José Rujano Thinks Quick (Step), 11 August)

Liberty Seguros-Würth for the Vuelta

Liberty Seguros-Würth has sent the Vuelta a España organizers their provisional team line-up. The team is not for certain, but looks to be a Spanish power-house of riders. 3X winner, Heras, is the top favorite and backed by a list of stars. Beloki perhaps will find his way back to the top at the Vuelta, adding strong support to Heras. Galdeano and Nozal will ride as super domestiques with Beloki.

Provisional riders: Dariusz Baranowski, Joseba Beloki, Giampaolo Caruso, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Roberto Heras, Isidro Nozal, Michele Scarponi, Marcos Serrano and Ángel Vicioso. René Andrle, Carlos Barredo, Jan Hruska and Sergio Paulinho are substitutes.

12 August News ...