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28 November 2005

Liquigas Signs Igor Astarloa for 2006, 28 November ...
29 November News ...

Giro Organizers Make Hand Gestures towards UPTC

Giro d'Italia organizers, RCS Sport, will continue to go forward with their 2006 race plans. Angelo Zomegnan, director of cycling at RCS Sport and head of the Giro, revealed at the 2006 race presentation that the final day (28 May) would be a split stage: Canzo - Ghisallo TT (11K) and Lecco - Milano (116K). Then, over 10 days ago, The UCI ProTour Council (UPTC) formally rejected the idea of any split stages.

Last week, at a meeting for the AIOCC (International Association of Cycle Race Organizers), Zomegnan said he will carry on with the proposed final day's semi-stages. Zomegnan does not intend on having his race entered into the ProTour calendar, and thus does not feel obligated to follow their rules. He has banned together with his French and Spanish buddies, ASO (Tour de France) and Unipublic (Vuelta a España), and they are excluding themselves from the ProTour. Expect much more ruckus, and hand gestures, in the coming months!

Read:
ProTour Council Says No to Semi-Stages (and Ghisallo), 16 November
UPTC says End of Year for Grand Tour Organizers, 15 November
2006 Giro d'Italia Route Unfolded, 12 November

Stefano Garzelli to Tour

Stefano Garzelli (32) will have an unusual season next year: he will skip the 2006 Giro d'Italia. For the first time, after nine years as a pro the Liquigas rider will not take part in his home tour. Instead, Garzelli will focus on the Tour de France, leaving the Giro team leadership to Danilo Di Luca. The rider from Varese feels saddened to miss the Giro (like any Italian), but he believes that it is justified the team rides for Di Luca.

The neopapà is intrigued by the idea of solely focusing on the 2006 Tour de France. He should have new motivation to ride well in 2006 after the birth of his first baby, Marco, just last week. In the 2005 Tour Stefano Garzelli finished 32nd, 1:04'49" down on race winner Lance Armstrong. For the 93rd Tour Garzelli will most likely aim for the mountain stages. The overall win would be too difficult in light of the number of TT kilometers on tap for 2006.

The neopapà ended his season on 20 September and commenced training 1 November. During November he was mostly at the gym, complemented with two to three hours riding to remind the legs of their function after one month of complete rest. This week (28 to 2 December) Garzelli will be with his Liquigas mates in Salsomaggiore (Emilia-Romagna) for the first team gathering.

Read:
Liquigas Gathers in Terme, 25 November
Little Marco Garzelli Is Born, 22 November
Liquigas Winter Training, 17 November
A Look at 2005 and 2006 for Stefano Garzelli, 24 October
2006 Liquigas-Bianchi Squadra, 21 October
Garzelli Wins At Home, 17 August
BiciRace.com interview with Garzelli, 13 May

Camps Commence

The first of the team camps/meetings are taking place all over Euro-land. The Liquigas squadra will meet today, ending Friday, in Salsomaggiore (Emilia-Romagna). The new team of Gilberto Simoni, Saunier Duval-Prodir, will meet tomorrow in Santander (Spain). The Lampre boys will meet in Montecatini Terme (Toscana) on Wednesday (30 November). Zabel and Petacchi are in Brema (Germany) for a half-week of meetings with their new squadra, Milram. Finally, this weekend will be the famed Bjarne Riis camp in the Danish woods. Basso, Zabriskie and the rest of the Team CSC boys will be ran through mental and physical tests that are similar to scenes of Apocalypse Now and Deer Hunter. Good luck boys!

Read:
Liquigas Gathers in Terme, 25 November
Camps: Simoni, Basso and Savoldelli, 17 November
Liquigas Winter Training, 17 November
Damiano Cunego and Lampre Schedules, 2 November

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Liberty Goes On

Manolo Saiz, Team Manager of Liberty Seguros-Würth, has planned for the first team gathering. The Spanish squadra will come together from 13 to 16 December at a location yet to be named. All the riders will be at the camp, except for the Aussies Allan Davis and Aaron Kemps, who will be in their home country over the holidays. "I want to be together with all my riders to start preparing and planning as soon as possible for 2006 season goals," said Saiz.

You might remember that Saiz, and Liberty, is in the middle of a hurricane after the Roberto Heras affair. Just a few days ago it was confirmed that the Spaniard had tested positive for EPO in the Vuelta a España. Saiz, like any dedicated cycling professional, is continuing on and working through any of his team's hardships. BiciRace.com wishes Liberty the best of luck with their 2006 season.

Read:
Roberto Heras in Trouble for EPO Use, 26 November
Liberty Seguros-Würth Team Update, 1 November

Thomas Lövkvist is Swedish Racer of the Year

Thomas Lövkvist (Française Des Jeux) has been named Swedish rider of the year. The 21 year-old had a solid season that included 4th overall in the Tour de Pologne, 5th in Tour Méditerranéen, 8th in Züri Metzgete, 12th in Paris-Nice and 14th overall in the Deutschland Tour. Bravo to the young Lövkvist.

Read: Française Des Jeux Rocks Steady, 8 November

26 November News ...