BiciRace.com :: News :: December 2005

News :: December 2005

24 December 2005

Disco Beltrán for Vuelta and Giro

Beltrán Crashes in Tour, photo: Discovery Channel

Manuel Beltrán (34) will be in full power mode for two races in 2006: il Giro d'Italia and la Vuelta a España. For the Giro the Spaniard will be act as a super domestique for his Discovery Channel teammate, and 2005 winner, Paolo Savoldelli. For the Iberian race in September it is likely that Triki will be the team captain.

Disco will be without their recently retired star, Lance Armstrong, but should still have plenty of cards to play in the tours and one-day races. You have your hard hitters, who can shine stages and one day races: George Hincapie, Max Van Heeswijk and Stijn Devolder. Then you have your delicate tour riders, who have all learned a few of Armstrong's secrets: Paolo Savoldelli, Tom Danielson, Yaroslav Popovych and José Azevedo.

Read:
Discovery Channel Builds After Armstrong, 4 November
Triki Beltrán Calls it a Day, 10 September
Armstrong Continues On, Minus Beltrán, 15 July

Saiz Buys Remaining Shares of Active Bay

Ten days ago Manuel Piñera resigned from his position as president of the Liberty Seguros-Würth squadra. The Madrid businessman was the maximum shareholder of Active Bay, the management company for the Spanish squadra, and left shares up for sale. Manolo Saiz (Team Manager) has bought all of Piñera's shares, and became the maximum shareholder. Saiz, along Pablo Antón (Team DS and co-shareholder), will now have more say in the business affairs of Active Bay.

The decision was made by Piñera to step down after a season of bad publicity for the team, stemming from the doping cases of Nuno Ribeiro, Isidro Nozal, and above all, Roberto Heras. The Spaniard was key in bringing the American based insurance firm, Liberty, onboard as a sponsor in 2004 after the departure of ONCE.

Read:
Manuel Piñera Resigns from Liberty, 14 December
Roberto Heras in Trouble for EPO Use, 26 November
Isidro Nozal Latest Doping Casualty, 7 June
Ribeiro Dismissed by Liberty Management, 8 May

Ballerini Reviews 2005 Highs and Lows

Ballerini Comments, photo: BiciRace.com

Franco Ballerini reflected on the 2005 season for Italy while at a FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana) meeting yesterday in Milano. The Italian national DS believes that his country has the riders for Grand Tours and single day racing. "Ivan Basso can win the Tour next year ... [and Paolo Savoldelli] was the author of a masterpiece at this year's Giro," said Ballerini.

The country suffered some low-points by not delivering in Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and of course, the World Championships. Ballerini took a lot of heat for missing opportunities in Madrid with Alessandro Petacchi and Paolo Bettini. "It was undoubtedly the off-key of the season but these frustrations are a part of life, and we must better appreciate our other successes," said Ballerini.

Some of those other successes came thanks to the Toscano, Bettini. The Quick-Step rider had a spectacular season that included wins in the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, Züri Metzgete and the Giro di Lombardia. For 2006 Ballerini is already hearing pleads from Bettini to lead the Squadra Azzurra at the Worlds in Salzburg.

Read:
Franco Ballerini Back from Salzburg, 14 December
Ballerini Continues as Italian DS, 25 October
Il Campione Italiano: Paolo Bettini, 20 October
A Collection Of Classics For Bettini, 17 October
Some Explanation from Ballerini, 27 September

Phonak Pros Straight Out of Military Camp

Phonak's first official start of training is marked on the calendar for 9 January 2006, when the Swiss squadra will gather on Mallorca for a 10-day training camp. Most all of the riders will already have plenty of kilometers in their legs by the ninth, but some will also have military marching.

For two weeks (12 - 23 December) six of the Swiss members of Phonak served their required military duty. Gregory Rast, Aurélien Clerc, Martin Elmiger, Steve Morabito, Steve Zampieri, Urweider reported for military duty, but they were all quickly able to trade their camouflage for track suits.

Thanks to a pilot project, the Phonak boys reported for duty at the elite sport recruit school in Magglingen, where they were able to combine their winter training with military service. In recent years over 500 of Switzerland’s top athletes have been able to profit from the sport-friendly conditions in the Swiss Army.

"It's a great advantage for us that the build-up training isn't interrupted by military service", said a happy Sascha Urweider. The athletes must nevertheless observe military guidelines during their stay, including joint meals and military marching. "We are hoping for a positive response in the form of PR," said Franz Fischer, head of the elite sport military school. "For example, after a sporting success an athlete will mention the contribution made by the army."

Read: Phonak signs Morabito and Team Update, 5 October

23 December News ...