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23 August 2005

24 August News ...

Zabel and Domina Vacanze-Nordmilch

Erik Zabel (currently with T-Mobile) is prepared to join the Italian formation of Domina Vacanze, along with Alessandro Petacchi, for 2006. The German could be bring along a German co-sponsor, Nordmilch. Nordmilch is a German dairy company that has sales of 2 billion euro per year. The dairy firm is seeking a new way to promote their Milram brand, and they have found the perfect way.

Gianluigi Stanga, Domina Vacanze team boss, will be in Germany for the next days to define the terms of the new contract. Stanga wants the new Italian-German squadra to remain mostly Italian, and will sign the riders accordingly. This year Nordmilch is affiliated with Team Wiesenhof, a German continental team, and it is expected that some of the Wiesenhof riders might join the new team in 2006.

Zabel has been keeping cool and preparing for the Vuelta and the following World Championships in Madrid. Currently he is preparing in Spain for the Vuelta a España, where he will go head-to-head with future teammate, Alessandro Petacchi. Zabel has not yet signed any contract for the new team, but he is expected to sign soon, after Stanga returns from Germany.

Ulle in TT Win

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) came powering home yesterday in Weinheim, stage 8 of the Deutschland Tour. The German was the winner of a 31.1K TT, barely ousting Bobby Julich (Team CSC) but shattering the rest of the field. "This win is very import for me and the team, it is a great success," explained Ulle. "I was sick all week and finally there are good temperatures. At the end I did not overtake Levi Leipheimer in the general classification, but still I am very happy."

Ulle just missed out on taking the overall lead, by 31 seconds, but he did come away with a fine stage win. The T-Mobile man lost too much time to Leipheimer in the mountains to be a threat in yesterday's TT. "The TT was my last chance for taking the yellow jersey. Here I gave my all but it was not enough. If I consider my sickness, the rain, the cold and the retirement of my teammates, Vinokourov and Schreck, I am not able to hold back my satisfaction."

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

No Ulle at Worlds in Madrid

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) will not take part in the upcoming TT World Championships in Madrid. Even though Ulle powered to victory yesterday in Germany, he does not want to race in Spain for a third world championship title. "I am not sure if I can spend enough time to prepare for this event," said Ulle.

The German aims to end his season with the one day classic, Züri Metzgete (Championship of Zurich). The race is 10 days after the TT championships, 2 October. "Looking at next season, it is important that I don't finish this season too soon." Presumably Ulle would have to spend much more time training for the Worlds TT than for the Swiss one day race.

Simoni Leads Lampre-Caffita at Vuelta

Gilberto Simoni will in fact race the Vuelta a España. The Lampre-Caffita rider had indicated that he was not going to race, but he has changed his mind. This Saturday the Vuelta will start in Granada, it will mark Gibo's fourth participation. He heads a strong team of blue and pink racers: Giuliano Figueras, Giosuè Bonomi, Juan Fuentes, Gerrit Glomser, Marco Marzano, Andreas Matzbacher, Sylvester Szmyd and Patxi Vila. The team will arrive in Granada on Wednesday for some light training before the race begins.

"The Vuelta is a race very particular, the stages are short, nervous and very lively," explained the 2X Giro d'Italia champion. "Usually the competition is very high for the climbers like me because the Spanish are all born climbers and ride well at home. In the first week I want to see how I am and understand who are my opponents. After that I hope to do well ... we will see." This will be Gibo's last grand tour with Lampre-Caffita, next year he moves over to Quick-Step.

22 August News ...