BiciRace.com :: News :: December 2005

News :: December 2005

3 December 2005

Time Trial Work for Cunego

Damiano Cunego (24) was the star attraction at the Lampre-Fondital camp in Montecatini Terme (Toscana). The team is gathered for the week (30 November - 3 December) to organize the 2006 schedules and to have fun. The 2004 Giro d'Italia winner has still not returned to his bike, 10 days ago he had an operation on a cyst that was on a tendon of his right hand. Il Piccolo Principe has been keeping fit in the gym and running in the wilderness near his home in Cerro Veronese.

Cunego's team has gone through some changes for the new year. Gilberto Simoni is no longer in the squadra, the 2X Giro winner switched over to Saunier Duval-Prodir. The team name has changed from Lampre-Caffita to Lampre-Fondital, dropping the former association with Claudio Corti and Saeco. And Cunego's car has been upgraded from his old Skoda to a new BMW 330 XD. Franco Ballerini, who made a visit to the team camp, was seen ahhing over the new German sedan. Il Piccolo Principe still has his love for Italian cars, he also has a classic Fiat 500.

The Italian has been working intensively on his time trialing in view of the number of flat TT kilometers in the 2006 Giro (TTT of 38K and a TT of 50K). Cunego has already received his new TT machine from Wilier that he will start to use in his training. In the team's second camp, Terracina (16 - 24 January), the Lampre-Fondital boys will test their formation in mock team time trials. Finally, Giuseppe Martinelli has in the works a trip to the Manchester wind tunnel to further refine aerodynamics.

Read:
Wilier have Two-Year Deal with Lampre and Cunego, 2 December
Terme Time for Lampre-Fondital, 1 December
Camps Commence, 28 November
Lampre-Fondital Official, 12 November
2006 Giro d'Italia Route Unfolded, 12 November
Damiano Cunego and Lampre Schedules, 2 November
Lampre-(Caffita or Fondital) Changes, 2 November

Bennati for Sanremo and Tour

Bennati On Podium, photo: Capture-The -Peloton.com

Daniele Bennati (25) is Lampre-Fondital's fast-man. In 2006 the Toscano will aim for la Classicissima, Milano-Sanremo, and the Tour de France. "I have already started my preparations to be on top form for Sanremo. I am thin like at the end of the 2005 season, but I want to still lose another two kilograms," said Bennati. "La Classicissima is a dream of everyone and I believe I can win it."

Bennati seems to have found the right squadra for his success. In 2005 Bennati, who comes from the Mario Cipollini school, pulled off six sprint wins. Many of his successes where thanks to perfect lead-outs from his right hand man, Alessandro Ballan (26). "It is a great atmosphere in the team ... For the new season the climate has changed a lot, also for Cunego, who now is more settled in," finished Bennati.

Read:
Arezzo Party For Bennati, 18 November
Daniele Bennati Comes Close, 10 October
2005 Squadra Azzurra Profile, 20 September
Bennati On Track For Azzurra, 14 September

Corti and Christensen to Barloworld-Valsir

It is now official that Claudio Corti will be the new team manager of Barloworld-Valsir. The Bergamasco will leave the Lampre-Caffita team and head-up the British/Italian/South African team. Along with Corti will arrive the Dane, Mads Christensen (21), who made his professional debut with Quick-Step in 2005.

Read:
Claudio Corti to Head Barloworld-Valsir, 22 November
Lampre-Caffita Break-up The Band, 10 August

Ballerini Plans Inspection of Salzburg

2006 Worlds Profile

Franco Ballerini, Italian National DS, will travel to travel to Salzburg (Austria) on 10 and 11 December. The purpose of the visit is so that he can personally see the site of the 2006 World Championships. Ballerini will be concerned with the amount of climbing in the 22.2K circuit and where the final climbs are before the finish.

The Italian team came under lots of criticism after this year's World Championships in Madrid. The team's sprinter, Alessandro Petacchi, found Madrid to be too hard of a course for a sprint finish, and the team's ace, Paolo Bettini, had already blown his fuses on early escape attempts. For 2006 there are two names that keep surfacing: Danilo Di Luca and Paolo Bettini. Expect for more power struggles over the coming nine months.

2006 World Championships Road Map

Read:
Ballerini Continues as Italian DS, 25 October
Some Explanation from Ballerini, 27 September

Arenberg Returns to Paris-Roubaix

Soon a decision is expected on the possible return of the famous stretch of pavé in the Forest of Arenberg in the Paris-Roubaix. The section of pavé was absent in the 2005 edition of Paris-Roubaix because the conditions were deemed too dangerous for the racers, one of which was Mr. Lance Armstrong.

Currently there are issues on how to pay for the cost of repair and maintenance. There is a heavy financial burden on the community of Porte du Hainaut, the area in which the Arenberg Forest is located. A decision on the return is expected as early as mid-December.

2 December News ...