BiciRace.com :: News :: December 2005

News :: December 2005

19 December 2005

Belgium's Sportsman (and Personality) of the Year: Tom Boonen

Boonen Wins Worlds, photo: Quick-Step

Tom Boonen (25) doubled up on some big awards yesterday when he was named Belgium's Sportsman of the Year and Belgium's Sports Personality of the Year. The World Champion was up against Stefan Everts and Sven Nys for the title of Sportsman of the Year, but it was Boonen took the top honors.

"I won the most important sports trophies in Belgium," said Boonen at the event. The Quick-Step rider pointed out that winning the Personality award was meaningful as well because it indicates he is perceived well by the Belgian public.

Boonen is currently relocating to a new home in Monte Carlo to escape some of the Belgian press requests. He will need to make sure there is an extra room for all the end of season trophies that he has collected. In addition to yesterday's honors he was recently awarded the Mendrisio d'Oro, Velo d'Or, Belgium's Sports Merit Trophy and the Flandrien Trophy.

Read:
Tom Boonen Wins the 2005 Mendrisio d'Oro, 2 December
Velo d'Or for Tom Boonen, 30 November
Sports Merit Award for Tom Boonen, 18 November
First Race Win for New World Champion, 7 November
The King and Boonen Meet, 27 September

Bruyneel Believes in ProTour

Discovery Channel Director Sportif, Johann Bruyneel, backs the riders and the ProTour. The Belgian was key in helping win two of the three Grand Tours last year with Paolo Savoldelli at the Giro d'Italia and Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France. Bruyneel said that he will be aiming for continued success in the Grand Tours for 2006, "We will go with Savoldelli at the Giro, and with Paolo and Popovych at the Tour."

The recent departure from the ProTour by the Grand Tour organizers has left many wondering if the ProTour concept is worthwhile. "The ProTour project is in the position to change the distribution rights of the television images," explained the Disco DS. "To keep the image rights only to the organizers is not fair to the cyclists, who are the true protagonists of the race."

Read:
UCI Knew of Unhappiness Says Zomegnan, 15 December
Grand Tour Organizers vs ProTour Update, 13 December
Zomegnan: Grand Tours with UCI, not ProTour, 12 December
Lefevere Blasts Grand Tour Organizers, 11 December
Grand Tour Organizers Say "Ciao" to ProTour, 10 December
Grand Tour Organizers Press Release, 10 December
UPTC says End of Year for Grand Tour Organizers, 15 November

400 Tifosi Party with Cunego

Yesterday in Noventa Vicentina (Vicenza) there were 400 tifosi who came to celebrate the 2nd annual Cunego Fan Club Day. Representatives from all 18 of Cunego's clubs were there to party with il Piccolo Principe. The fan that traveled the furthest was from Barcelona, and he was awarded a special prize.

The 2004 Giro d'Italia winner has not only been enjoying the parties, he has been training. Today there is the presentation of the 1st Granfondo Damiano Cunego then, after the holidays, Cunego will travel to Sicilia. In southern Italy he will join his two new Lampre-Fondital teammate, Paolo Tiralongo and Danilo Napolitano, for some warm training conditions.

Read:
Second Annual Cunego Fan Club Day, 16 December
Time Trial Work for Cunego, 3 December
Wilier have Two-Year Deal with Lampre and Cunego, 2 December
Terme Time for Lampre-Fondital, 1 December
Damiano Cunego and Lampre Schedules, 2 November

Ondrej Sosenka and Acqua & Sapone Update

Sosenka Before an Hour Ride, photo: Acqua & Sapone

Acqua & Sapone have concluded their first team meeting in Pescara (Abruzzo). Continuing to ride for the team in 2006 will be current hour record holder, Ondrej Sosenka. The Czech (30) topped Chris Boardman's old record earlier this year by going 49.700K in one hour, compared to the Brit's old distance of 49.441K. "This year I will have another go because we all are convinced that I can reach the 50K mark," said Sosenka.

What will change in Sosenka's new hour record attempt is the bike. The team has recently switched from Moser to De Rosa frames. This new collaboration was made possible by the help of Giancarlo Ferretti, Acqua & Sapone's new logistical advisor. Francisco Moser's son, Leonardo (21), will continue to race for the team but not on his dad's bikes.

Read:
Andrea Tonti Confirms with Acqua & Sapone, 17 December
Acqua & Sapone Race with De Rosa, 6 December
Kanstantsin Siutsou to Acqua & Sapone, 14 November
Acqua & Sapone Builds with Fassa Bortolo Help, 3 November
Ondrej Sosenka Breaks Boardman's Hour Record, 20 July

17 December News ...