BiciRace.com :: News :: October 2005

News :: October 2005

12 October 2005

The White Warrior: Di Luca to Lombardia

Saturday the White Warrior, Danilo Di Luca, will take to the start line of the 99th Giro di Lombardia. Di Luca has been confirmed by his squadra, Liquigas-Bianchi, as a starter in the final ProTour race of the season. Last Sunday he had to pull out of the Paris-Tours due to pain in his right knee, and he has since been taking it easy. Yesterday the White Warrior spent two hours training on his Bianchi machine, and the rest of his time with his personal masseur. All the glitches in his knee have been worked out, and he is ready to tackle Lombardia.

Di Luca will not start tomorrow's 92nd Giro del Piemonte, instead Charly Wegelius will take his place. This will allow Di Luca more time to rest before Saturday. Saturday evening the UCI will host a ProTour party in Como for the White Warrior and the other ProTour contenders.

Liquigas-Bianchi Squadra for Lombardia:
Danilo Di Luca
Patrick Calcagni
Enrico Gasparotto
Mauro Gerosa
Nicola Loda
Devis Miorin
Vladimir Miholjevic
Andrea Noè

T-Mobile With Sevilla For Lombardia

Sevilla For Lombarida, photo: © Unipublic

Oscar Sevilla (29) will head a T-Mobile charge in Saturday's Giro di Lombardia. The little Spanish ace is riding well after the Vuelta a España and should provide a serious threat on the Lombardia hills. "Oscar is still carrying good form from the Vuelta, and he is the man in the team with the freshest legs for the challenge," said Team DS, Valerio Piva.

The German squadra will start with two Italians: Giuseppe Guerini and Daniele Nardello. Nardello knows the course particularly well, he is from Varese and trains regularly on the roads around Lake Como. "I live in the area and often train in the mountains around here," said Nardello, who last year finished 5th in the winning escape. "I am always extra motivated to do well at big races in my own backyard."

T-Mobile for Giro del Piemonte and Giro di Lombardia:
Rolf Aldag
Eric Baumann
Bas Giling
Giuseppe Guerini
Torsten Hiekmann
Bernhard Kohl
Daniele Nardello
Oscar Sevilla

Como Is End Of Career For Aldag

T-Mobile super-domestique, Rolf Aldag, will be stopping for good in Como with the finish of the Giro di Lombardia. The 37 year-old is putting an end to a 15 year career (13 with Telekom/T-Mobile) this Saturday. Aldag is a former German Champion on the road (2000), but his biggest victories have come with helping his teammates succeed. The German is always the man for chasing breakaways or whatever is in the best interests of the his squadra. BiciRace.com wishes Rolf the best of luck in the future.

Mirko Celestino Motors Lombardia

Celestino 3rd at Emilia, photo: Giro dell Emilia

Do not count out Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) this Saturday in the Giro di Lombardia. Today the 31 year-old was out motor-pacing the course in preparation for Saturday's race of the falling leaves. Celestino was seen hammering along the sunny shores of Lake Como behind an oversized scooter. Tomorrow he will head south for the 92nd Giro del Piemonte.

One of his advantages for Saturday will be that he is a past winner (1999), allowing him to take more gambles. However, it has been a dry season for Mirko. He has had some solid placings but never a win in 2005: 2nd in Milano-Torino, 3rd in the Amstel Gold Race and recently, 3rd in Giro dell'Emilia. Emilia proved his form on target, so keep an eye open for Celestino motoring to victory.

Domina Vacanze for Lombardia:
Alessandro Bertolini
Mirko Celestino
Marco Fertonani
Sergio Ghisalberti
Andriy Grivko
Luca Solari
Paolo Valoti
Giovanni Visconti

Read: Mirko Celestino Races for New Baby, 14 August

99th Giro di Lombardia:
Main Page
Overall Map, Profile
Startlist
Photos
Report and Results

Dream Ending for Zabel

Last Sunday was special for Erik Zabel. The German speedster gunned it across the line first in Tours, capturing his third Paris-Tours win. In the process he also presented T-Mobile with a fine farewell present. Next year Zabel leaves to join Alessandro Petacchi at the new Milram team.

"I thought winning here [in Tours] would be a great wrap-up. But there were two breakaways, Stijn Devolder and Philippe Gilbert, ahead of the peloton. So it almost was another battle for third place in the end," said Zabel after the race, via team T-Mobile.

The teams of the sprinters were able to nail back the duo just before the line. Zabel was in perfect position for his third win in the fall classic. "I was completely calm, since I already won two times in Tours and placed third another two times. So I knew how to perform the sprint. The fact that it really worked out, was terrific. It's a dream come true." Bravo Zabel!

Read:
Signor Consistent: Erik Zabel, 10 October
Last Race for Zabel with T-Mobile, 9 October
Transfer Mania, 4 October
Zabel and Domina Vacanze-Nordmilch, 23 August

11 October News ...