BiciRace.com :: News :: October 2005

News :: October 2005

14 October 2005

What the heck? Ferretti Loses SonyEricsson

Just when we were ready to have a new Italian mega-squadra on our hands, the bad news comes through. Giancarlo Ferretti does not have SonyEricsson on board for a sponsor. The wise Italian was duped, he was dealing with an agent that was not an official representative of the Swedish company.

Oh man, this sucks! Ferretti is highly valued in the cycling world, he is long-time manager of great cycling teams and cares deeply for the sport. It is also bad news for the number of riders who had joined Ferretti: Gilberto Simoni, Salvatore Commesso, Carlos García Quesada, Sergiy Matveyev, Cristian Moreni, Andrea Tonti, Stuart O'Grady, Matthew White and Paolo Valoti. They all are left to look for new contracts late in the game.

Ferretti is now scrabbling to make matters right. He is in Sweden talking with true representatives for SonyEricsson, as well as contacting back-up sponsors. Gilberto Simoni, Ferretti's first key signing, could be headed for Naturino-Sapore di Mare. The 2X Giro d'Italia champion will wait till after this Saturday's Giro di Lombardia before making any decisions.

Read:
Simoni Will Race With Ferretti, 21 September
Time Running out for Simoni and Ferretti, 8 September
Ferretti and Simoni Join Forces, 1 September
Simoni Joins Quick-Step, 20 August
Lampre-Caffita Break-up The Band, 10 August
Simoni to Quick-Step or Cofidis, 3 August
Simoni Looks to Quick-Step, 2 August
Fassa Bortolo to Merge with Lampre-Caffita, 16 July

Fischer Scores Piemonte and Eyes Lombardia

Fischer In Great Form, photo: Naturino-Sapore di Mare

Murilo Fischer (Naturino-Sapore di Mare) scored a fine victory yesterday by winning the 92nd Giro del Piemonte. The Brazilian out-sprinted Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) and Paride Grillo (Panaria-Navigare). Fischer is on fine form: fifth in the World Championships, first in the Memorial Cimurri, first in GP Beghelli (over Paolo Bettini) and now a first in Piemonte.

"It is a pity that we are at the end of the season," said Fischer after the race. "I am tired but I want to keep on going. It will be interesting to see how I go in Lombardia. I know the course is very hard. I don't know the Ghisallo, but I will go and have a look tomorrow [today]. I know this is a key point, and if I am not dropped then ... " The Giro di Lombardia would be a long-shot for Fischer, but the favorites will want to make sure he is not around after they top Ghisallo.

Next year Fischer will continue to ride for Naturino-Sapore di Mare. His goals are Milano-Sanremo and stages in the Giro d'Italia, assuming his team receives a wildcard entry. Fisher is also hoping the team gets an invitation to the northern classics: Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de Flanders. BiciRace.com wishes good luck to Fisher this weekend in Lombardia.

Read: Bettini and Fischer in GP Beghelli, 10 October

Odds for Giro di Lombardia

It is colder now in Italy and Paolo is getting a little slower with his odds. After a chat about yesterday's Giro del Piemonte over a cappuccino, were able to warm up Paolo and hear some odds for the 99th Giro di Lombardia. Simoni tops the list, he will be REALLY hungry for a win. The deal with Giancarlo Ferretti fell through and he needs a new contract.

We pressed Paolo on the Piccolo Americano, Saul Raisin. He thought for a while, and then he gave Raisin better odds than Juan Antonio Flecha! Below are all of the odds. BiciRace.com encourages you to gather around with your buddies and place bets.

Paolo's Odds:
Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) 1-4
Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) 1-5
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) 1-5
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) 1-10
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) 1-15
Murilo Fischer (Naturino-Sapore di Mare) 1-20
Fränk Schleck (Team CSC) 1-20
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) 1-20
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) 1-20
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) 1-30
Saul Raisin (Crédit Agricole) 1-45
Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) 1-50
Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) 1-50
Michele Scarponi (Liberty Seguros-Würth) 1-50

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

13 October News ...