BiciRace.com :: News :: November 2005

News :: November 2005

21 November 2005

Trentin and Millar Close to Saunier Duval-Prodir

Guido Trentin (29) and David Millar (28) are edging closer and closer to Saunier Duval-Prodir. The Spanish-Swiss squadra have been engaged with the British rider for some time, but there are complications due to his pending EPO suspension. Millar is currently serving a suspension for EPO use that ends in June, which would allow him to return in the Tour de France. Trentin (from Como) is Millar's old Buddy from the Cofidis days, and he is set to rejoin forces with the Brit in the yellow Saunier colors.

Read:
Saunier Duval-Prodir Team Update for 2006, 18 October
Read: Saunier and David Millar in 2006, 27 September

Big Plans for Astarloa

Igor Astarloa (29) has big plans for his return to a top level team. The former World Champion has spent the last year with Barloworld-Valsir, but will soon be riding in the Lampre-Fondital colors. Yesterday in Milano the Basque rider, who is almost always based in Brescia (Italy), outlined his plans for the 2006 season.

"In order to make a grand return in the UCI rankings I want to immediately win an important victory," said Astarloa. "I have always wanted Milano-Sanremo, and now that I have the certainly to compete with a grand team I will diligently prepare." The Spaniard was uncertain about which, if any, grand tours he might race.

Read: Igor Astarloa closer to Lampre-Fondital, 17 November

Only a Torn Ligament for Voigt

Voigt at Tour, photo: Team CSC

Hard-man, Jens Voigt, took a fall yesterday while training for a cyclocross race in his hometown of Dassow. After a visit to the Berlin hospital it was determined that the German had torn three ligaments in his right shoulder.

Voigt was trying to jump a tree trunk but did not have sufficient speed. The Team CSC rider was upset with the injury, but has promised it will not change his preparations in the upcoming 2006 season. BiciRace.com thinks that the German would continue to win in 2006, even if he had lost his arm in the accident. All joking aside, we wish Voigt a speedy recovery.

Read: End of a Great Season for Voigt, 4 October

Comunidad Valenciana has ProTour Strength

Carlos García Quesada Wins, photo: © Unipublic

The team of Vicente Belda, Comunidad Valenciana, will continue with a strong line-up in 2006. Belda has guided this team for many years and knows how to produce results. Though the team will remain a "Professional" team (one level below the ProTour teams), they should be a factor in many Spanish races.

Take a look at this year's Vuelta a España results and you can see that the green and blue machine were a strong force. Comunidad Valenciana scored in stage 14 to Lagos de Covadonga (Eladio Jiménez), stage 17 to La Granja de San Ildefonso (Carlos García Quesada) and stage 19 (Rubén Plaza). Plaza (25), who won the final TT in Alcalá de Henares, will be the designated team captain for 2006.

Joining the Spanish squadra for 2006 will be two promising riders that have had trouble finding their way in foreign teams. José Antonio Pecharroman (27) will come over to Comunidad Valenciana after spending two years with the Belgian squadra, Quick-Step. Julián Sánchez (25) will also join after spending his first two pro years with Giancarlo Ferretti at Fassa Bortolo.

Below is the complete list of changes in Comunidad Valenciana for the 2006 season.

Joining CV:
Claudio Casas (neo-pro)
Ezequiel Mosquera (from Kaiku)
José Antonio Pecharroman (from Quick-Step)
Julián Sánchez (from Fassa Bortolo)
Oleg Chuzdha (neo-pro)
Vicente Peiró (neo-pro)

Going away from CV:
Adolfo García Quesada (to ??)
Agustin Alonso (to ??)
Angel Casero (Retire)
Carlos García Quesada (to Unibet)
Carlos Zarate (to ??)
Francisco Cabello (to ??)

Staying with CV:
Antonio Olmo
David Bernabeu
David Blanco
David Latasa
David Muñoz
Eladio Jiménez
Javier Cherro
Javier Pascual Rodríguez
José Bonilla
José Luis Martínez
Juan Gomis
Manuel Lloret
Rubén Plaza
Vicente Ballester

Read: The End for Angel Casero, 14 November

19 November News ...