BiciRace.com :: News :: October 2005

News :: October 2005

18 October 2005

Ivan Basso Comments on Worlds

Basso Thinks of Worlds, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com

Ivan Basso (Team CSC) commented on the Squadra Azzurra's lack of success in the World Championships. For Basso the Madrid Worlds seemed to be a repeat of the problem that was seen in Verona, the year before. "There are always many errors. Also in Verona there was a problem with communication. If we knew before that Bettini was not going well, then we could have made the race harder without waiting for the end."

In 2004 Basso was a part of the Squadra Azzurra, this year he was not selected because the course in Madrid was viewed as something for sprinters. The rider from Varese is now in vacation mode, while deciding on his upcoming season. He says that the 2006 Tour de France is the number one priority for him and the sponsors, although his heart is with the Giro d'Italia.

Saunier Duval-Prodir Team Update for 2006

Rodriguez and Zaballa to Illes, photo: Saunier Duval-Prodir

The Spanish-Swiss team Saunier Duval-Prodir continues to evolve since its formation in 2004. For the new 2006 season Mauro Gianetti, team manager, will see 11 riders of the 25-man squadra depart. Top departures include Chris Horner (stage winner in the Tour de Suisse), Juan Manuel Gárate (solid at the Giro d'Italia) and Constantino Zaballa (Clásica San Sebastián).

So far there have been two big signings for the yellow squadra: Koldo Gil (who we thought originally signed for Lampre-Caffita) and Luciano Pagliarini. The Spaniard, Gil, won a spectacular stage at this year's Giro, and the Brazilian is always up in the front for sprints. Added to them are the North American signings of Charles Dionne and Aaron Olson. Finally, there is the possibility of David Millar to join the squadra when his doping ban ends in June, prior to the Tour de France.

Departures from Saunier Duval-Prodir:
Rafael Casero (to ?)
Iñigo Cuesta (to Team CSC)
Juan Carlos Dominguez (to Unibet)
Angel Edo (to Andalucía-Paul Versan)
Juan Manuel Gárate (to Ag2R Prévoyance)
Joaquím Rodríguez (to Illes Balears)
Constantino Zaballa (to Illes Balears)
Chris Horner (to Davitamon-Lotto)
Fabian Jeker (to Unibet)
Manuel Quinziato (to Liquigas-Bianchi)
Ivan Ravaioli (to ?)

Joining the yellow squadra:
José Alberto Benítez (from Spiuk)
Carlos Zarate Fernández (from Comunidad Valenciana)
Koldo Gil (from Liberty Seguros-Würth)
Javier Mejías (from Saunier Duval amateur team)
Charles Dionne (from Webcor Builders)
Aaron Olson (from Colavita-Sutter Home)
Piotr Mazur (from Skil-Moser)
Luciano Pagliarini (from Liquigas-Bianchi)
Christophe Rinero (from R.A.G.T. Semences)
David Millar (from suspension)

Read:
Saunier and David Millar in 2006, 27 September
Rinero and Pagliarini to Saunier Duval-Prodir, 24 September
Gil, Valjavec and Astarloa to Lampre-Caffita, 20 August

ProTour and Renewal for Danilo Di Luca

Danilo Di Luca has signed a new contract that will allow him to continue for two more years (2006 and 2007) in the cool blue-green colors of Liquigas-Bianchi. For 2006 The Killer (29) is planning an assault on the Giro d'Italia GC. "At Liquigas-Bianchi I have found the ideal technical conditions and team," said Di Luca. "... Thanks to those aspects, this year, I have had the best season of my career. I will stay with this team, who will give me the support to conquer my new goals ... above all the Giro d'Italia."

Liquigas-Bianchi is thrilled with Di Luca's steady performance and his subsequent winning of the first annual ProTour. Di Luca laid the foundations for his ProTour lead in the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, followed by wins in the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne.

List of Di Luca's ProTour Performances:
Giro di Lombardia: DNF
Paris-Tours: DNF
Züri Metzgete: 4th
World Championships: DNS
Tour de Pologne: 5th overall, 2nd stage 7, 4th stages 5 and 6
GP Ouest France - Plouay: 12th
Vuelta a España: DNS
Deutschland Tour: DNS for stage 8
Clásica San Sebastián: 94th
Eneco Tour: DNS
HEW-Cyclassics: 52nd
Tour de France: DNS
Eindhoven Team TT: DNS
Tour de Suisse: DNS
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré: DNS
Giro d'Italia: 4th Overall, stages 3 and 5, 3rd stages 7 and 19, 4th stage 11, 5th stage 14
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya: DNS
Tour de Romandie: DNS
Liège-Bastogne-Liège: 27th
La Flèche Wallonne: 1st
Amstel Gold Race: 1st
Paris-Roubaix: DNS
Gent-Wevelgem: DNS
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco: stage 1 and overall, 2nd stage 4, 3rd stage 5a, 4th stage 5b, 5th stages 2 and 3
Tour of Flanders: DNS
Milano-Sanremo: 27th
Tirreno-Adriatico: 26th
Paris-Nice: DNS

Polka-dot Man (Rasmussen) Continues with Rabobank

Rasmussen Tour Stage 9, photo: CyclingTime.com

Michael Rasmussen, winner of the climber's jersey and stage 9 in the 2005 Tour de France, has renewed his contract with Rabobank. The orange Dutch squadra had the Dane sign for the next three years (2006-8). When Rasmussen (31) is not busy climbing the cols of the Tour he is training around his home in Italy (near Lake Garda). You may spot the former world champion mountain biker with his unusual training partner, ex-sprinter, Paolo Rosola.

17 October News ...