BiciRace.com :: News :: August 2005

News :: August 2005

25 August 2005

117 Days and Cunego Is Back

Cunego at GP Nobili, photo: Lampre-Caffita

Finally Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) is back to his winning ways. Yesterday, under the Italian warm sunlight, the Piccolo Principe won the GP Nobili for a second year in a row. For the winner of the 2004 Giro d'Italia it has been 117 days since his last win in the 2005 Tour de Romandie. Since that win he has battled through mononucleosis.

"At the end of the Giro d'Italia I was going well," recalled Cunego. "I felt strong and convinced. But even before the Giro, after the Romandie win, I was hindered. Mononucleosis ... a rotten sickness, that cancels your force, that takes all of your energy. You stop, let the months pass and then restart, 'piano, piano'"

"My first race back was horrible, I did not go well and I was not the same. I felt tired. Maybe because I was accustomed to going well, it came easy for me. Before, when I would attack I was always able to drop everyone, but then I returned to the ground." Cunego is on the rise again, coming close in the Giro del Veneto last weekend. "And this time, finally, the legs are responding."

Levi Moves up in ProTour

Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) is on the upward move in the latest ProTour classifications. Two days ago Leipheimer won the Deutschland Tour, along with one stage win, and gained ProTour points along the way. These points put the American 5th overall in the classification.

The Killer, Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi), still leads the ProTour overall. His lead is largely thanks to his spring cleaning of race wins, followed by success in the Giro d'Italia. Realistically the only rider capable of coming close to pushing The Killer out of the lead is Alexander Vinokourov (T-Mobile). Vino has the ability to make a fall sweep of race wins, but this may be asking a lot of a rider who has his thoughts on starting 2006 with a new team.

Overall Standings:
1 Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) - 184
2 Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) - 139
2 Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) - 139
4 Alexander Vinokourov (T-Mobile) - 136
5 Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) - 131
6 Bobby Julich (Team CSC) - 130
7 Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) - 120
8 Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) - 111

Phonak Is Power-Packed for Vuelta

The Vuelta a España will have one fearsome team on its hands: Phonak. In the ranks are such names as No-Fuss Floyd Landis, Santiago Botero and Victor Hugo Peña. These riders will certainly be a factor, given the Spanish race boosts three TT's! Perhaps Botero will find the same form that took him to a Tour de Romandie win early this season. Or, maybe Landis will take the golden jersey in the opening prologue, and not let it loose for the entire three weeks. Anything is possible and Phonak is desperate for good news and success.

Here is the full Phonak line-up: Victor Hugo Peña, Santiago Botero, Santos Gonzalez, Martin Elmiger, Ignacio Gutierrez, José Enrique Gutierrez, Floyd Landis, Miguel Angel Perdiguero, Oscar Pereiro (See the complete 60th Vuelta a España Startlist.)

Built for Blue, T-Mobile

T-Mobile is going to the Vuelta a España to help Erik Zabel win his 4th blue sprinter's jersey. Zabel maybe leaving the team next year, but T-Mobile will bring a squadra fully devoted to the German and his quest for another sprinter's jersey. The T-Mobile fast-man is capable of delivering the goods, but he will have to go head-to-head with Alessandro Petacchi all three weeks. Both of the sprinters are using this tour as a lead-up to the World Championships, which takes place a week after the Vuelta ends.

Two T-Mobile freshmen will be backing Zabel, Burghardt and Kohl. The German and Austrian will obtain plenty of experience riding alongside a great like Zabel. Here is the full T-Mobile roster: Rolf Aldag, Marcus Burghardt, Andreas Klier, André Korff, Bernhard Kohl, Daniele Nardello, Francisco Lara, Oscar Sevilla, Erik Zabel. Dai Zabel!

60th Vuelta a España:
Startlist
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

O'Grady Misses Vuelta

Stuart Out of Vuelta, photo: BiciRace.com

Stuart O'Grady, Cofidis man of speed, has decided to not start the Vuelta a España. The race starts in Granada on Saturday but the Aussie sprinter will not be able to take place due to tendonitis in his left quadriceps. O'Grady's spot will be taken by Hervé Duclos-Lassalle, yes, he is the son of 2X Paris-Roubaix winner Gilbert. (See the complete 60th Vuelta a España Startlist.)

24 August News ...