BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

31 October 2005

1 November News ...

Wladimir Belli to Selle Italia-Colombia, Not Portalupi Salumi

Team Manager of Selle Italia-Colombia, Gianni Savio, made a coup with the signing of Wladimir Belli. Savio has an excellent track record of getting solid talent on his non-ProTour team. Belli (35) was ready to sign with Portalupi Salumi, but instead chose the more experienced team outfit of Savio.

Selle Italia-Colombia is almost certainly guaranteed a ride in the 2006 Giro d'Italia thanks to the strong performance of José Rujano in the 2005 version. Savio hired Belli to support the Venezuelan, Rujano, in winning the 2006 Giro. Belli, currently with Domina Vacanze, and Savio agreed on a one year contract (2006).

Read: Portalupi Salumi Builds with Belli, 27 October

Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears Team Update

The Spanish squadra of José Miguel Echavarri (Team Manager) and Eusebio Unzúe (Director Sportivo) will undergo a couple of major changes in 2006. The first big change is the name: the main sponsor will change from Illes Balears to Caisse d'Epargne. Currently Caisse d'Epargne is the secondary sponsor, and they will take the primary place of Illes Balears, who will leave the sport at the end of 2006.

The other changes are the riders. There is a lot of incoming and outgoing activity amongst the Spanish squadra. The biggest loss to the team is Francisco Mancebo, the Spaniard will be going to Ag2R Prévoyance. The team still has the talented, and young, Alejandro Valverde. Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears will go to the 2006 Tour de France with Valverde as the leader. To strengthen up the squadra the team has signed a number of riders. Two important signings have come courtesy of Saunier Duval-Prodir: Constantino Zaballa and Joaquím Rodríguez. The complete list of riders joining, and leaving, the Spanish squadra are presented below.

Joining the Multi-Colored Squadra:
Aitor Pérez Arrieta (from Spiuk)
Constantino Zaballa (from Saunier Duval-Prodir)
Eric Berthou (from R.A.G.T. Semences)
Florent Brard (from Agritubel)
Francisco Pérez (from Milaneza Maia)
Joaquím Rodríguez (from Saunier Duval-Prodir)
Marco Fertonani (from Domina Vacanze)
Nicolas Portal (from Ag2R Prévoyance)
Oscar Pereiro (from Phonak)

Leaving:
Aitor Osa (to Liberty Seguros-Würth)
Antonio Tauler (to ??)
Daniel Becke (to Milram)
David Navas (to Ag2R Prévoyance)
Francisco Mancebo (to Ag2R Prévoyance)
Jonathan Gonzalez (to Retire)
José Luis Arrieta (to Ag2R Prévoyance)
Sergio Escobar (to ??)
Unai Osa (to Liberty Seguros-Würth)

Current Riders:
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears)
Antonio Colom (Illes Balears)
David Arroyo (Illes Balears)
Iker Leonet (Illes Balears)
Imanol Erviti (Illes Balears)
Isaac Galvez (Illes Balears)
Iván Gutiérrez (Illes Balears)
Joan Horrach (Illes Balears)
José Cayetano Julià (Illes Balears)
José Luis Carrasco (Illes Balears)
José Vicente Garcia (Illes Balears)
Mikel Pradera (Illes Balears)
Pablo Lastras (Illes Balears)
Vicente Reynes (Illes Balears)
Vladimir Karpets (Illes Balears)
Xabier Zandio (Illes Balears)

Read:
Transfer Mania, 4 October
Pérez Reinforces Illes Balears, 27 August
Mancebo Fortifies Ag2R Prévoyance, 7 August

30 October News ...