BiciRace.com :: News :: December 2005

News :: December 2005

29 December 2005

UCI Announces 2006 ProTour Teams, 26 December ...
2 January News ...

Boonen, With a Little Help from His Quick-Step Friends

Boonen In Rainbow Jersey, photo: Quick-Step

Tom Boonen (25) has been the on the receiving end of many prestigious awards this winter, and justifiably so after the season which included monumental wins in Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, and the World Championship. He is the recognizable tall Belgian on the grey and blue Quick-Step squadra, but even more so for 2006 when he will be wearing the rainbow jersey. It will be a heavy weight for the young Boonen to carry but he is supported by a strong crew of riders.

The goals for Boonen in 2006 are simple: Milano-Sanremo and the Green Jersey in the Tour de France. For the Italian classic he will have a support crew that will include his teammate, and 2003 winner, Paolo Bettini. The 31 year-old Toscano reckons that he has already one La Classicissima and he wants to focus his strength on helping his younger teammate.

What is on the mind of il Grillo is a win in the Tour of Flanders, a Classic that is missing from his impressive palmarès. It will be Boonen who will take to the line in Flanders with number 1 on his back (as last year's winner) in front of a home crowd. Hopefully the flooring boys will work in harmony and not have break-down like in the scorching heat of this years Vuelta stage. The result of that stage 5 was a Thor Hushovd win and a closed door meeting of Boonen, Bettini and the team management to solve the differences.

Boonen's rise to the top started with his professional debut on the American US Postal team in 2002. He scored one victory that season before moving to the strong classics team of Patrick Lefevere. The Quick-Step boys, including retired Johan Museeuw, helped him progress to the rider he is today. He only won one victory in 2003, but then rocketed to 20 victories in 2004, including Gent-Wevelgem, and 16 in 2005. The kid from Mol has a proven squadra and the strength to honorably carry the rainbow jersey.

Read:
2nd Oscar Gazzetta to Boonen, 28 December
Sanremo and Green for Boonen, 26 December
Quick-Step Train in Bari, 10 December
First Race Win for New World Champion, 7 November
Retirement Plans for Boonen, 7 November
In The 2006 Quick-Step Mix, 22 October

Sig. Tre Pini d'Oro, Roberto Cortesi, Passes

After a brief illness, Tuesday night Roberto Cortesi has passed away at the age of 69. The Italian always had a passion for cycling, and that led him to the creation of the Tre Pini d'Oro award. Over the years this trophy was awarded to some of the biggest names in cycling, like Lance Armstrong and Miguel Indurain.

Cortesi was born in Toscana before relocating to Milano where he was a restaurateur. Every year he would award the Tre Pini d'Oro on the day before the Milano-Sanremo, usually at one of his restaurants. Services for our friend of cycling will be held tomorrow in Milano at 11.00.

Carlos Abellán is Number 28 for Liberty

Carlos Abellán has become the 28th rider for the 2006 Liberty Seguros-Würth squadra. Team Manager, Manolo Saiz, has promoted the young Spaniard from Under 23 squadra to the ProTour team for the new season. Abellán is the fourth rider to be selected from Liberty's Under 23 squadra, the others were: Eladio Sánchez and José Antonio Redondo and José Joaquín Rojas.

Liberty Seguros-Würth 2006:
Aaron Kemps
Aitor Osa
Alberto Contador
Alexander Vinokourov
Allan Davis
Andrey Kashechkin
Ángel Vicioso
Carlos Abellán
Carlos Barredo
Daniel Navarro
Dariusz Baranowski
David Etxebarria
Eladio Sánchez
Giampaolo Caruso
Isidro Nozal
Ivan Santos
Javier Ramírez
Jörg Jaksche
José Antonio Redondo
José Joaquín Rojas
Joseba Beloki
Koen De Kort
Luis León Sánchez
Marcos Serrano
Michele Scarponi
Sergio Paulinho
Serguei Yakovlev
Unai Osa

Read:
Liberty Seguros-Würth in Puente Viesgo, 14 December
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Liberty Goes On, 28 November
Liberty Seguros-Würth Team Update, 1 November

Phonak Joins with iShares

Phonak has joined forces with a new cosponsor, iShares, which is a brand of the Barclays Global Investors. The Swiss-based squadra announced the deal is for one year but would not confirm the financial agreements. "With iShares we are getting a partner who is renowned as a global player and one who is committed to the sponsorship of professional cycling. These are the best prerequisites for an ideal, long-term partnership", said ARcycling owner, Andy Rihs.

The deal will probably see iShares take over as a head sponsor in 2007 when the Phonak sponsorship deal is scheduled to end. "We believe that a partnership with one of the world's best cycling teams is an ideal multiplier for our message, and that it will help to increase the name recognition of the iShares brand world wide," said iShares spokesman, Lee Kranefuss.

Facts about iShares:
iShares is the brand name for one of the world's largest ranges of exchange traded funds (ETFs), which is marketed and managed by Barclays Global Investors (BGI). iShares manages over 129 funds listed globally, totaling over $150 billion. iShares funds are available to institutional investors and private investors.

Read: Phonak signs Morabito and Team Update, 5 October

Milram debuts at Tour Down Under

Tour Down Under Map

The Italian/German squadra, Milram, will make their debut in Australia at the 8th Tour Down Under. The newly formed ProTour team Milram will display their team colors in racing for the first time in Australia's six-day stage race (17 - 22 January).

The predominantly Italian line up will also include Sydney Olympic Games champion Daniel Becke of Germany. Becke (27) was a member of the German quartet that won gold in the team pursuit at the 2000 Olympic Games, and in the process became the first team to crack the magic four minute barrier for the four kilometer distance.

Joining Becke is Italian Simone Cadamuro who won stage two of the 2005 Eneco Tour, and young gun Giovanni Visconti, who finished fourth overall in the Austria's 2005 UNIQA classic. Below is the full team roster that will head south for some sunny January racing.

Milram for Down Under:
Daniel Becke (Ger)
Giovanni Visconti (Ita)
Fabio Sabatini (Ita)
Dennis Haueisen (Ger)
Simone Cadamuro (Ita)
Elia Rigotto (Ita)
Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita)
Michele Gobbi (Ita)
Team Manager: Vittorio Algeri

Read:
Tour Down Under Route Information
Navigators Down Under, 22 December
Milram Meets in Toscana, 11 December
Luis León Sánchez back Down Under, 15 December
Milram Meet and Greet, 1 December
2006 Milram Team Colors, 23 November
Luis León Sánchez Back in the Saddle, 28 April

Filippo to Carry Olympic Torch

First it was Paolo Bettini, and now Filippo Simeoni (Naturino-Sapore di Mare) will be the second professional cyclist to carry the 2006 Olympic touch. The torch is making its way through Italy to the final destination of the winter Olympics in Torino.

Simeoni (34) is scheduled to carry the touch on New Year's Day in Latina (Lazio). The Italian will carry the torch while riding his bike on a route in the city center between via Curtatone and via 28 Dicembre. "It is a unique emotion, I am happy with this important recognition ... For me it will be a huge honor to carry the Olympic torch," said Simeoni.

Read: Olympic Torch by Bettini, 10 December

28 December News ...