BiciRace.com :: News :: September 2005

News :: September 2005

30 September 2005

The 89th Giro d'Italia Takes Shape

In a little over a month the route of the 2006 Giro d'Italia will be known. 12 November in Milano the 89th edition of the Giro will become public. Already it is known the first three days will take place in Belgium before the route makes its way south to Italy.

The race departs Seraing on Saturday 6 May with a 6K Prologue. Sunday's stage will be from Charleroi to Marcinelle, covering 193K. The stage finish in the mining area of Marcinelle will pay tribute to the mining tragedy of 1956. The incident caused the loss of 262 worker's lives, of those 136 were Italian.

Monday's stage 2 will take the riders from Perwez a Namur. The final 2K of the 204K stage will be uphill, and this should cause the first serious splits in the GC. Tuesday the Giro will depart from Wanze heading to one of Belgium's neighboring countries. The race will then enter Italy before the end of the first week, via Venezia (Venice). The final stage will be in Milano, 28 May. Stay tuned to BiciRace.com for more route details.

Read:
Palermo for the 90th Giro d'Italia, 5 August
2006 Giro d'Italia to Start in Belgium, 20 July

Di Luca Closer to ProTour Overall After Vino Stops

Vino Is Finished, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com

It maybe a little early to crown Danilo Di Luca as the first ever ProTour winner, but there are few competitors to match him this autumn. News just came to BiciRace.com headquarters late last night that Kazakh, Alexander Vinokourov, finished his season Wednesday. The rider that sparked the end of the World Championships rode his last race in T-Mobile colors two days ago, it was a circuit race in his home country.

Now The Killer is almost unapproachable in the ProTour final standings. He and his Liquigas-Bianchi crew will not think about the standings on Sunday in Zurich. They will line-up for the start of Züri Metzgete with the aim of putting Di Luca on the top of the Zurich podium. If The Killer was to win the race then the inaugural ProTour would be locked up.

Read:
ProTour Over for 2005?, 29 September
The Killer In Switzerland, 29 September
Di Luca Keeps Strong in ProTour, 19 September
Vinokourov Inks Deal with Liberty Seguros - Würth, 26 July

Zurich To Ease Bettini's Post-World Woes

This Sunday Paolo Bettini will line-up with his Quick-Step boys in Zurich for the Züri Metzgete. Bettini is looking for redemption after he and his team Italia missed out in last Sunday's Worlds. The Olympic champion showed smoking form in Madrid, and he will continue to be a threat through the end of the year.

"At Zurich I have always finished with the top riders," said the Bettini, winner in 20001 and 2nd in 2004. The Italian then went on to give his rivals the chills: "I feel fresh, and I dearly want to re-win this race. Here in Zurich and at Lombardia I will make a point to win."

Tutto OK for World Champion Boonen

Tutto OK for Boonen, photo: Quick-Step

Newly crowned World Champion, Tom Boonen, underwent an operation on Wednesday morning in Mol, Belgium. The operation on his intestine was scheduled for some time. After a thirty minute procedure and additional evaluations the 2005 World Champion was released. "The operation went well. Now I will rest for two weeks, and remain cautious not go gain weight," said Boonen. The Belgian had a stellar season, winning the Tour de Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, stages of the Tour de France, and last Sunday's Worlds. "This is a period of forced rest that will serve me well so I can recover after an intense season."

Chicchi Signs With Boonen at Quick-Step

Alessandro Petacchi's old buddy, Francesco Chicchi, has signed up with the Quick-Step squadra for 2006. Yesterday Chicchi (24) signed a one year deal that will have him at the service of new world champion, Tom Boonen. Chicchi knows what it is like to wear the rainbow stripes, he was the U23 champion in 2002 at Zolder.

29 September News ...