BiciRace.com :: News :: January 2006

News :: January 2006

14 January 2006

Grand Tour Organizers Request UCI Authorization

The Grand Tour organizers have sent a letter (dated 13 January) to the UCI requesting permission to move forward with their proposed Grand Tour Trophy. The organizers, RCS Sport (Giro d'Italia), ASO (Tour de France) and Unipublic (Vuelta a España), have planned their own separate competition outside of the ProTour calendar.

The Grand Tour organizers, who withdrew from the ProTour on 9 December, are building up their races to entice teams to attend. A new competition will be geared for team participation in all three races, the Giro, Tour and Vuelta. The best team of the tours will be rewarded a share of the overall prize, valued at €2 million. For 2006 the Grand Tour organizers have agreed to invite all ProTour teams, as in 2005, but for 2007 they will only ensure entry of the top 14 ProTour teams.

Read:
AIGCP and Lefevere Reject Grand Tour Split, 7 January
Grand Tour Organizers: Team Prize and New Circuit, 21 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

Pinotti to Los Angeles

Time Trial at Critérium International photo: Graham Watson

The Italian track team will depart from Malpensa (Milano) airport and travel for Los Angeles. The Squadra Azzurra will compete in the third round of the track World Cup (20 - 22 January). BiciRace.com's Inside Scoop contributor, Marco Pinotti, will be racing with the squadra before the start of his 2006 road campaign.

Edoardo Salvoldi, Director Sportivo for the Italian Track squadra, led the group of riders in Valencia (Spain) on a week long training program. All day, from 7 - 14 January, the squadra was either on the indoor Velodrome Luis Puig or outside on the Spanish roads. "We have done specific workouts, twice a day, both on the road and on the track," said the Bergamasco, Pinotti. "I am surprised how many workouts we have done. Some days it began with a road ride at 8.30, then track until 13.00, then in the afternoon track again for 2h30' until 19.30."

BiciRace.com wishes the entire squadra the best of luck in LA.

Read:
Marco Pinotti ... Valencia to Los Angeles, 13 January
Marco Pinotti ... Christmas and Track Racing, 5 January
Azzurra to Valencia with Pinotti, 4 January

No Trofeo Luis Puig

Alessandro Petacchi was planning on having another go at the Trofeo Luis Puig (19 February), a race he won in 2005, but the organizers have cancelled the 2006 event. The organizers of the Spanish classic were forced to announce the cancellation of the event from the UCI calendar because of financial problems. Manolo Pérez, race head, said: "The Vuelta Ciclista a la Comunidad Valenciana [21 - 25 February] is going to occur, but the Luis Puig will not be held because is a classic that costs a lot money and we can't meet the demands ... I prefer to suspend it."

The Trofeo Luis Puig is traditionally a sprinter's race and has seen the glory of who's who in bunch gallops. Petacchi is a two-time winner, also winning in 2003, but the other sprinting greats include: Oscar Freire (2004), Erik Zabel (1997, 2000, 2001) and Mario Cipollini (1995, 1999).

McEwen and Merckx Down for Ronde

Both Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) and Axel Merckx (Phonak) have announced their participation in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (2 April). For the first time in years the Aussie will take to the start of the Belgian classic (Tour of Flanders). His last participation was in 1998 and in 2006 he will take to the line for his mate, Peter Van Petegem. "I don't dream of winning, but I want to be there and do well for Van Petegem," said the Aussie.

McEwen's former teammate, Axel Merckx, will also be on the start line for Ronde for the first time since 1997. Merckx, who is now with the green-yellow squadra of Phonak, will use the Ronde Van Vlaanderen as a build up for Liège (23 April). "Liège-Bastogne-Liège remains my only goal. Certainly because of the disappointment in last years running," said Merckx

Read:
Bettini Plans Early Season for Flanders, 1 December

Quick-Step Equipment Numbers

2006 Squadra, photo: Quick-Step

Last Tuesday was the Quick-Step team presentation in Belgium. The riders all were presented on stage and looked rather odd in their cycling kits without their Time bicycles.

While all the glitz of the team presentation was going on, the mechanics and masseurs were busy preparing the team's materials for the year. It takes a lot of food and bikes to keep a super squadra rolling. Quick-Step has such star riders as Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini and Filippo Pozzato to feed and kit.

Technical:
120 Road bikes
29 TT bikes
180 pairs of wheels
60 pairs of wheels for cobbles

Kit:
8,000 cycling caps
500 jerseys
350 pairs of shorts
450 pairs of socks
500 gloves

Food:
22,000 drink bottles
5,000 musettes
500L of olive oil
120Kg parmesan cheese
1,000Kg of pasta

13 January News ...