BiciRace.com :: News :: September 2005

News :: September 2005

15 September 2005

Ballerini Announces Squadra Tomorrow

Petacchi Hangs, photo: BiciRace.com

Tomorrow, at the Milano bike show, Franco Ballerini will announce the full Italian squadra for the upcoming World Championships. The national DS has a difficult job, to pick nine riders out of a country overflowing with talent. The team will be headed by Petacchi and Bettini, with most supporting riders picked to form a lead-out train, a Treno Azzurro.

The Likely Nine Riders:
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step)
Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo)
Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo)
Lorenzo Bernucci (Fassa Bortolo)
Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Caffita)
Giovanni Lombardi (Team CSC)
Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step)
Davide Bramati (Quick-Step)
(read: Franco Ballerini Selects Squadra (13 September), World Championships in 17 Days (8 September))

Bettini Says 'Ciao' to Vuelta

Paolo Bettini, winner of stage 16 of the Vuelta a España, will not take the start line today. The Quick-Step rider said 'Ciao' to his teammates and to the Vuelta, now focusing on the World Championships. Joining Bettini in the exodus is Matteo Tosatto of Fassa Bortolo. Tosatto, like Bettini, will want the extra days of concentration before the Worlds in 10 days.

"I leave the Vuelta with a lot of satisfaction," explained Bettini. "After the year I have had, the success at Valladolid arrived at a perfect moment. I don't like to abandon a grand tour, it is not a thing that I am accustomed to, but a decision had to be taken in light of something very important, the Worlds. To benefit from the work I have done, I have to stop here." The Olympic champion, along with Alessandro Petacchi, will head the Squadra Azzurra in Madrid.

Quesada Praises Team

Carlos García Quesada Alone, photo: © Unipublic

The persistence of Carlos García Quesada (Comunidad Valenciana) finally paid off with a win on stage 17. The Spaniard gave it full gas after escaping on the penultimate climb. Then on the final ascent to La Granja de San Ildefonso he turned it up yet another notch. Quesada reasoned, "because I am not good on the flat ground."

Comunidad Valenciana had the numbers to play with in the day's final escape. When Aitor González (Euskaltel-Euskadi) attacked with 32K to go, it was two of the Comunidad riders that covered the move. From there Quesada countered, then went on solo to take the stage. After the stage he praised the work of his non-ProTour team, who have now won two stages in this year's Vuelta.

Quesada dedicated the win to his brother 'Fito', who is also on the Spanish team. The two are contemplating a change in teams at the end of the year. After the stage victory it should be easier to find a ProTour team to ride for. But Quesada added, "Comunidad has treated us very well, and we would like to continue. We are not so sure, but if I do leave it will be with my brother."

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

Liberty Seguros-Würth In Control

Liberty Control, photo: © Unipublic

Roberto Heras and Manolo Saiz, of Liberty Seguros-Würth, did a lot of controlling in the stage to La Granja de San Ildefonso. With the help of team DS, Manolo Saiz, the Liberty boys controlled all the attacks on one of the last mountainous days.

"After one day more, and my team will deserve a 10," said Heras after stage 17. "My teammates have been sensational, and I felt good. The stage was very fast, with a lot of attacks, but we controlled them without any problems." After today's stage 18, the last of the mountain stages, Heras should be on his way to an unequaled 4th Vuelta a España victory.

Manolo Saiz was also happy with the team work on such a difficult stage. "It was not an easy stage, because there were a lot of escapes that took place, but we controlled the situation with a lot of order at the critical moments ... This gives the impression that we are more relaxed," said Saiz. "Quesada and Mancebo made some smart attacks, with power, but if they take a minute it isn't a problem for us."

"Scarponi didn't have a great day today, although he has worked very hard the last days, but this time he couldn't be present at the end of the stage," continued Saiz after stage 17. The Liberty boys have been working with extreme precision to keep Heras in gold, so it is expected that after three weeks they may be a little tired. "The key is that Heras always has a teammate at his side. Tomorrow, the same things of today will repeat themselves, they [other teams] are riding mindlessly, and it looks like the escapes won't avail."

Read The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap for Stage 17, What We Saw Mancebo Do Today.