BiciRace.com :: News :: August 2005

News :: August 2005

15 August 2005

Garzelli on Home Roads

Garzelli at Giro, photo: Garzelli.com

Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas-Bianchi) will be racing on home roads tomorrow in the 85th Tre Valli Varesine. The Tre Valli Varesine is a 192K race from Varese to Campione d'Italia (on the shore of Lake Lugano). Campione is the birth place of Garzelli's mother, and about 10K from his current residence in Mendrisio, Switzerland. His family and friends will be out in droves to cheer him on to victory.

Garzelli (32) showed he is on smoking form in the Clásica San Sebastián, and will be searching for redemption tomorrow. Principle difficulties are the three ascents of the Dumenza. The final ascent of Dumenza should provide a launch-pad for an escape into Campione. The run-up to Campione is a constant uphill, which should suit Garzelli fine. Yesterday he sampled the final 2.5K of the course to refamiliarize himself with the roads.

The Tre Valli Varesine is part of a three day race series. The Coppa Agostoni and the Coppa Bernocchi follow on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Italian national DS, Franco Ballerini, will be at all three races. He will be watching closely to determine the riders for the 2005 Italian world championships team. These races are typically considered an unofficial proving ground for selection.

Ulle at the Deutschland Tour

Ulle Ready, photo: T-Mobile

Today the Deutschland Tour starts in Altenburg. T-Mobile will be gunning for a strong race in their home base of Germany. Jan Ullrich will be eyed as one of the big contenders, even though he is suffering from a cold. "Unfortunately, I'm still plagued by a cold. That's why yesterday at the Rund um die Hainleite I only rode in the main field, in order to save my energy," said Ulle yesterday via T-Mobile. "But come tomorrow, I want to be back in full swing, or Thursday at the latest, at the stage to Sölden."

The team will be with out Andreas Klöden, but will have Alexander Vinokourov. Vino is switching over to Liberty Seguros-Würth at the end of the year, but will be fighting hard for a T-Mobile victory. Ulle has no doubts in his teammate's loyalty, "Vino is a great professional. As long as he rides in magenta, he will give it his all for the team."

José Luis Arrieta to Ag2R Prévoyance

José Luis Arrieta, currently with Illes Balears, will make the switch to Ag2R Prévoyance at the end of the year. The Spaniard has signed a two-year contract with the French squad. Arrieta adds to the Spanish migration from Illes Balears, teammates Francisco Mancebo and David Navas signed recently. Ag2R Prévoyance is looking to join the ProTour by bolstering their team line-up. (read: Mancebo Fortifies Ag2R Prévoyance, 7 August)

Scarponi Best at Clásica San Sebastián

Scarponi, photo: Liberty Seguros-Würth

Liberty Seguros-Würth's best placed rider in last Saturday's Clásica San Sebastián was Michele Scarponi (29th at 2'39"). The Italian, despite being in the head group, was unable to connect onto the winning move of seven. The team's young-gun, Allan Davis, reached Jaizkibel well placed, yet was unable to answer the oncoming attacks (124th at 11'08"). David Etxebarria took a spill on the descent of the Jaizkibel when trying to bridge with the first group. The Spaniard suffered a strong blow to his ribs and this put an end to his chances (131st at 11'15").

Team DS, Manolo Saiz, must have been disappointed with his team's poor performance on home soil. He will have a talk with his riders participating in the Deutschland Tour. You can bet these riders will be key in many attacks. A victory is needed for the Liberty boys, their last major win was from Allan Davis at the Eneco Tour.

The Killer Still Leads ProTour

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) still leads the ProTour competition after Constantino Zaballa's win in the Clásica San Sebastián. Di Luca has been in the lead since the early spring, when he went on a winning spree. Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) is in no mood to challenge, he is retired and probably drinking Shiner Bock. Alexander Vinokourov (T-Mobile) seems to be the only rider capable of making a run at the white ProTour jersey. Stay tuned.

ProTour Standings (top 30):
1 DI LUCA Danilo Liquigas-Bianchi 184
2 ARMSTRONG Lance Discovery Channel 139
3 VINOKOUROV Alexandre T-Mobile 136
4 JULICH Bobby Team CSC 130
5 BOONEN Tom Quick-Step 120
6 PETACCHI Alessandro Fassa Bortolo 111
7 REBELLIN Davide Gerolsteiner 101
8 ULLRICH Jan T-Mobile 98
9 BOTERO Santiago Phonak 95
10 FREIRE Oscar Rabobank 94
11 SAVOLDELLI Paolo Discovery Channel 92
12 HINCAPIE George Discovery Channel 89
13 BASSO Ivan Team CSC 86
14 BOOGERD Michael Rabobank 80
15 ROGERS Michael Quick-Step 80
16 LEIPHEIMER Levi Gerolsteiner 80
17 ZABALLA Constantino Saunier Duval-Prodir 75
18 VOIGT Jens Team CSC 73
19 EVANS Cadel Davitamon-Lotto 73
20 SIMONI Gilberto Lampre-Caffita 70
21 MONCOUTIÉ David Cofidis 70
22 FLECHA Juan Antonio Fassa Bortolo 68
23 CONTADOR Alberto Liberty Seguros-Würth 67
24 PEREIRO Oscar Phonak 66
25 POPOVYCH Yaroslav Discovery Channel 65
26 HUSHOVD Thor Crédit Agricole 60
27 OSA Aitor Illes Balears 60
28 CUNEGO Damiano Lampre-Caffita 58
29 MANCEBO Francisco Illes Balears 56
30 CANCELLARA Fabian Fassa Bortolo 52

14 August News ...