BiciRace.com :: News :: August 2005

News :: August 2005

19 August 2005

Levi Kicks-it Into Overdrive

Team Work, photo: Deutschland Tour

Yesterday in Stage 4 of the Deutschland Tour Levi Leipheimer and Georg Totschnig pulled off a Gerolsteiner 1-2. Their teamwork delivered a win for Levi on the steep Rettenbachferner climb (2670m), and put in a blow to rival German team, T-Mobile. Jan Ullrich held his own, but lost time to the duo on at the finish line.

Leipheimer was impressed with the severity of the climb, "It was harder than any climb in the Tour de France. Behind I could hear Jan breathing quite heavily." The American won the stiff stage and took the yellow jersey, leaving Ulle suffering in his wake. "I felt a little guilty because I know Georg wanted to win this one ... Maybe I can repay him in the next couple of days," continued Leipheimer. Now it is more likely that Georg will be working to help his mate defend the jersey. Good luck Gerolsteiner.

Ulle Has More to Deliver

Ulle Climbs, photo: Deutschland Tour

"What a hell of a stage this was!", those were the words of T-Mobile captain after the tough Stage 4 of the Deutschland Tour. "I ask myself: Who on earth builds such steep roads? I knew the climb to the Rettenbach glacier already, but I only went up there by car, when I was skiing. And I remembered having to use the first or second gear only," continued Ulle via T-Mobile.

It was a hard day out for all the riders in the peloton. T-Mobile is riding to impress in their home tour, and the team has to be a little upset that Gerolsteiner stole the show. Ulle is suffering from a cold though, and the first few days were brutal, with bad weather. Thankfully, the weather was nice for the riders in stage 4, and the German is recovering. "I can be very satisfied with my third place just the same. After all, the cold last week was a little setback for me and my nose is still stuffed. However, I keep feeling better. ... If it goes on like this, I can launch an all-out attack on the Feldberg and the time trial."

Saiz Weighs-In on the Rettenbachferner

Manolo Saiz, head DS at Liberty Seguros-Würth, was amazed at the finishing climb in stage 4 of the Deutschland Tour. The riders raced up the super-high Rettenbachferner while Saiz watched the carnage from behind the steering wheel. "It's similar to The Marmolada, in Italy, and certainly it is one of the hardest climbs that I know. My riders were going with 39x25, but even they could have used more gearing."

Saiz's highest placed rider was Jörg Jaksche, 5th at 1'24", but all day long the team worked their tails off. "The best part of the stage was the team's work, with Paulinho and Barredo in the breaks, and Jaksche's fight ... on a climb that was not suited to his characteristics." You can bet the Liberty boys will be gunning down the road again, they seem very motivated to get another ProTour win.

Deutschland Tour, 15 - 23 August
Main, Startlist, Overall Map, Photos

Danilo Napolitano wins Coppa Bernocchi

Danilo Napolitano, pro since 2004, won the 87th Coppa Bernocchi yesterday in Legnano, Italy. It was a huge coup for the Team LPR rider, he beat out some top class competition: Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas-Bianchi) and Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo). Next year Napolitano (24) will ride for the ProTour team of Lampre, and will have more opportunities to test his sprinting.

"I have not forgot that Petacchi came to this race after some misfortunes, I know it is very hard," said Napolitano after his win. "But I have searched for this success and I prepared well in the days past. So far this has been a good season, but it is not over with yet. From here I am going to France and I will try to confirm my result."

Ale-Jet Still On the Mend

Ale-Jet On the Mend, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com

"My legs were not there, but I went well and I tried," said Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) after finishing fourth in the 87th Coppa Bernocchi. Yesterday the race was fast, with an average of 44 K/hr. Ale-Jet's blue and white cement team did excellent work and delivered their leader appropriately in Legnano. "The train worked well, like always, only I missed out in the decisive moment."

The World Championships are fast approaching and Ale-Jet's form seems to be on target. Petacchi will line up with the Squadra Azzurra in Madrid on 25 September, but before then he will compete in the Vuelta a España. "I know that I am still missing something. I have a great base of training, and I will better myself from here to the Vuelta. And then I will find my legs in the Spanish stages."

Piil Stays With Team CSC

Danish rider Jakob Piil renewed his contract with Team CSC for the 2006 season. Piil has previously stormed to a stage win in the 2003 Tour de France (Marseille), and the autumn classic, Paris-Tours (2002). This year has seen Piil (32) hampered by injuries, but Head DS, Bjarne Riis, has faith in his countryman.

18 August News ...