BiciRace.com :: News :: October 2005

News :: October 2005

24 October 2005

A Look at 2005 and 2006 for Stefano Garzelli

Garzelli Tops in Tre Valli, photo: Garzelli.com

Stefano Garzelli, like most riders, is in a period of complete rest. This year was the Italian's first year with the newly formed Liquigas-Bianchi squadra. Garzelli (32) did not achieve the big goal of winning the Giro d'Italia, but he did score one important victory, the 85th Tre Valli Varesine (16 August). The race finished on his mother's home roads, in Campione d'Italia.

"August was my best month, thanks to the form from the Tour de France," said Garzelli. "I was very competitive in all the races that I did: from the Giro del Lazio, to the Trofeo Melinda, passing to the Clásica San Sebastián, where I was fourth, and the victory in the Tre Valli Varesine. Certainly the results don't fully satisfy me, but they give me an indication of how to approach 2006."

The season started rough for Garzelli, he was expected to be co-Captain for the team in the Giro d'Italia (along with Dario Cioni). Unexpectedly, the Liquigas-Bianchi squadra found a new GC leader, Danilo Di Luca (who went on to finish fourth). "I had worked very hard, a trivial crash in the Giro d'Italia [stage 7] had prevented me from continuing in the race, for which I had worked for six months," continued the rider from Varese. "I am sure that I would have been a protagonist in the fundamental stages, but unfortunately I have no proof and now it is useless to say so, the results are all that count."

Next season might be radically different for Garzelli. He knows that the Liquigas-Bianchi squadra now have a greater confidence in Di Luca as an overall contender for the maglia rosa. It is likely that the 2000 Giro champion will go into the 2006 Giro as a co-captain with Di Luca. "For now the bicycle is on the metaphorical hook. Soon I will meet with the team and study the plans for 2006. Also in this time a new jersey will come about, it will be revealed in the next few days."

Read:
Garzelli Wins At Home, 17 August
Garzelli on Home Roads, 15 August
Garzelli Gone from the Giro, 21 May
Garzelli for the 92nd Tour de France, 11 June
BiciRace.com interview with Garzelli

Japan Cup Sees True Cunego

Cunego Relaxed, photo: CyclingTime.com

The Piccolo Principe, Damiano Cunego, ended his season with a superb win in Japan. The Lampre-Caffita rider out-gunned Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) in the Japan Cup. "I have closed in bliss, also I have found a little peace," said Cunego from Utsonomiya.

It was his forth victory of the season, after a stage in the Tour de Romandie, the GP Nobili and the Trofeo Melinda. "We wanted this success, because the morale was a little low," continued the Piccolo Principe. "It was a race that came down to the last three laps, and then the selection was made. On the ultimate climb was the decisive moment with Mancebo." Then Cunego reflected on his season: "I have not refound my former self completely, but I am on the right path. And now I have the motivation to head into 2006, aiming at the Giro d'Italia."

Cunego In Pack, photo: CyclingTime.com

The Lampre-Caffita Team DS, Giuseppe Martinelli, was excited to end on a high note. "When you end well, you can then start [the new season] better," said Martinelli. "I saw Damiano refind himself, and finally happy. He battled Mancebo, a grand protagonist of the season, and showed his character."

Now the longtime partners, Martinelli and Cunego, will head into the winter with some satisfaction. They will approach the 89th Giro with the Piccolo Principe as the sole leader of Lampre. Martinelli continued: "It will be a very tranquil winter, not a lot of parties, and then in 2006 we will once again see the true Cunego."

Read:
Japan Welcomes Cunego, 19 October
Cunego Wins the Trofeo Melinda, 2 September
117 Days and Cunego Is Back, 25 August

Unibet.com Builds with Serpellini

The Belgian team, Unibet.com (formerly MrBookmaker-Sports Tech), will welcome Marco Serpellini for 2006. The Italian, who road for Gerolsteiner for the past two seasons, will join he rapidly expanding team. The 33 year-old rider from Bergamo has nine wins as a professional, and in the last two seasons he was a key helper for Davide Rebellin.

Unibet.com is benefiting from the fallout of Giancarlo Ferretti and the subsequent availability of riders. The squadra did have contact with Gilberto Simoni, but he was snatched up by Saunier Duval-Prodir. So far their big signings have been: Carlos García Quesada (from Comunidad Valenciana), Juan Carlos Dominguez (from Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Marco Zanotti (from Liquigas-Bianchi). Stuart O'Grady is a rider who might join. The Aussie (from Cofidis) was left high and dry from the Ferretti deal.

UniBet.com for 2006:
Juan Carlos Dominguez (from Saunier Duval-Prodir)
Baden Cooke (from Française Des Jeux)
Carlos García Quesada (from Comunidad Valenciana)
Fabian Jeker (from Saunier Duval-Prodir)
Jonas Ljungblad (from Amore & Vita)
Luis Pasamontes (from Relax Fuenlabrada)
Marco Serpellini (from Gerolsteiner)
Laurens Ten Dam (from Shimano-Memory Corp)
Matthew Wilson (from Française Des Jeux)
Marco Zanotti (from Liquigas-Bianchi)

23 October News ...