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16 November 2005

17 November News ...

ProTour Council Says No to Semi-Stages (and Ghisallo)

The last day of the 2006 Giro d'Italia may not be as exciting as RCS Sport wanted. The UCI ProTour Council (UPTC) at a meeting in Bruxelles formally rejected the idea of a split stage by RCS Sport, the Giro d'Italia organizers. Prior to the Giro's route presentation the UPTC had issued a threat of refusal, and now they have followed through.

Angelo Zomegnan, director of cycling at RCS Sport and head of the Giro, presented the 2006 route last Saturday in Milano. At the presentation it was revealed that the final day (28 May) would be a split stage: Canzo - Ghisallo TT (11K) and Lecco - Milano (116K). Zomegnan wanted to honor Madonna del Ghisallo with the first ever stage finish on her hallowed grounds, followed by the afternoon semi-stage to Milano.

The Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco also had their traditional split stage finale rejected. The Basque race, which normally ends with two semi-stages, will have to rework their final stages to allow for the new ruling. This year's stage 5a was won by Jens Voigt (Team CSC), followed by a win in the afternoon's time trial (stage 5b) by Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros-Würth).

The UPTC does not approve of the semi-stages out of concern for the rider's health. Even though it is called a "semi" stage the riders have to prepare just the same, with double warm-ups, showers, etc. It is also an extra strain on the team staff, who has to prepare items, like food and bikes, twice.

So the two famed races will head to the drawing board to come up with alternate finishes. The Giro organizers promise to still honor Ghisallo but hold true to the final sprint stage. Details of the altered finale will be known soon, stay tuned to BiciRace.com

Read:
UPTC says End of Year for Grand Tour Organizers, 15 November
2006 Giro d'Italia Route Unfolded, 12 November

Rabobank Keep A Strong Tradition

When you are at a race and see a bunch of tifosi dressed in orange do not assume they are supporters of Euskaltel-Euskadi. It is most likely the original orange tifosi are from Holland, who are nuts for their home team of Rabobank. Go and introduce yourself to them. Before you have finished the beer that they put in your hand you will have learned more about cycling than you ever thought was possible.

The same sprinted tradition (minus the all the beer) carries through with the country's largest cycling team, Rabobank. They have been a cycling force since they first appeared in 1996, and they have a contract to continue through 2008. Rabobank is always present in the spring classics and usually come up with something special in the Tour de France.

The 2006 Tour was a success for Erik Breukink (Team Manager) and Theo De Rooij (DS), their boys Weening and Rasmussen came up with the goods. Pieter Weening (24) won stage 8 (Pforzheim to Gérardmer) in a tight sprint, after being in the escape all day. Also in that escape was Weening's Danish teammate, Michael Rasmussen. Early in the stage Rasmussen (31) gained enough points for the Polka-dot jersey, which he defended all the way to Paris. The Dane soloed to win the following day's Stage 9 to Mulhouse, making two stage wins and the climber's jersey for Rabobank in the 92nd Tour.

In addition to promoting two young guns from their continental squadra, Rabobank has hired two established pros. Joining the team in 2006 will be Juan Antonio Flecha (28) and Graeme Brown (26). The Spaniard will search for glory in the northern races of Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, where he finished 12th and 3rd in 2005. The Aussie is a sprint force, taking out five stages in the 2005 Tour de Langkawi, but he will have to prove himself on the ProTour scene.

Rabobank is keeping some important names on the squadra for 2006. One very powerful up-and-comer is Thomas Dekker (21). In 2005 the young Dutchman won a stage in the Critérium International, the national TT title, and the final mountain TT in the Tour de Pologne. Also in the ranks is the 3X World Champion, Oscar Freire. The Spaniard (29) had a great start to 2005, but had to sit out the final half of the year due to injury. It is hard to believe that 2006 will be his fourth year at Rabobank.

Rabobank also continues their tradition with Colnago (frame supplier) and Shimano (gruppo supplier). Both of the Italian and Japanese companies have been with the Dutch squadra since their beginning in 1996. Colnago year after year have supplied the orange team with the best quality frames from their headquarters in Milano.

 

New riders on the Dutch Squadra:
Graeme Brown (from Panaria-Navigare)
Juan Antonio Flecha (from Fassa Bortolo)
Kai Reus (from Rabobank Continental in June 2006)
Marc de Maar (from Rabobank Continental)

Leaving the Squadra:
Karsten Kroon (to Team CSC)
Maarten Den Bakker (to Milram)
Remmert Wielinga (to Quick-Step)
Ronald Mutsaars (to ??)
Steven De Jongh (to Quick-Step)

Returning Riders:
Alexandr Kolobnev
Bram De Groot
Denis Menchov
Erik Dekker
Gerben Löwik
Grischa Niermann
Jan Boven
Joost Posthuma
Jukka Vastaranta
Marc Wauters
Mathew Hayman
Michael Boogerd
Michael Rasmussen
Niels Scheuneman
Oscar Freire
Pedro Horrillo
Pieter Weening
Rory Sutherland
Roy Sentjens
Theo Eltink
Thomas Dekker
Thorwald Veneberg

Read:
Polka-dot Man (Rasmussen) Continues with Rabobank, 18 October
EICMA Show Goodies, Rasmussen's Colnago, 17 September
A Good Race for Menchov, 12 September
Karsten Kroon to Team CSC, 12 August
Dekker Tops Rabobank at HEW-Cyclassics, 2 August
Erik Dekker Is Seeing Red, 6 July

15 November News ...