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17 January 2006

18 January News ...

Il Varesino Michael Rogers al Giro d'Italia

Michael Rogers, 3X time trial World Champion, will race the 2006 Giro d'Italia. "I have discussed the decision with all the team directors and decided to insert the Corsa Rosa in my program for 2006," explained the Aussie TT god.

Over the winter Rogers joined the pink German T-Mobile machine and is expected to be one of the key supporters for Jan Ullrich in his 2006 Tour de France bid. "I will not only be using the Giro for preparing for the Tour ... The prologue in Seraing and the time trail stage in Pontedera [stage 11] are very much suited for my style," continued Rogers.

The crono man is based in Varese and married to an Italian, so the Corsa Rosa is almost a home race. "... There are also some medium mountain stages ... I am able to aim for some interesting exploits in the classification even though the last week has a very hard profile."

The TT champion of 2003, 2004 and 2005 speaks of the Giro with the passion of a true Italiano. Who knows, we might even see Ulle doing some of the leg work for Mick in the mountains! BiciRace.com wishes the Varesino the best of luck for 2006.

Read:
Young Rogers is a Big Winner, 23 September

Luca Paolini Makes Liquigas Debut Down Under

Happy Birthday to new Liquigas signing, Luca Paolini. The 29 year-old will captain the Liquigas squadra at the 2006 Tour Down Under starting today in Australia.

Roberto Amadio, Team Manager of Liquigas, hired the Milanese rider after six years together with Paolo Bettini. Paolini learned his trade from the Olympic champion, first together at Mapei and then Quick-Step. The transfer of Paolini is a metamorphosis of a gregario into a full fledged team leader. For 2006 the 29 year-old will be given full Liquigas leadership and responsibility in some of his favorite classics.

Read:
Liquigas Starts Down Under, 10 January
13 Italiani Down Under, 9 January

Tour Down Under, 17 - 22 January
Main, Startlist, Overall Map, Photos

Lampre-Fondital in Terracina

From 16 to 24 January the Lampre-Fondital squadra will be in Terracina (Lazio) for a mini training camp. The boys will be guided by Giuseppe Martinelli e Fabrizio Bontempi over the eight days in southern Italy.

Damiano Cunego and five other teammates have just come off their own training camp in Siracusa (Sicilia). Cunego spent 11 days on the island seeking kilometers and warm weather in his build up to the 2006 Giro d'Italia.

During the Terracina camp there will be 13 of the blue-pink riders who will be divided into two groups. The first group will be Cunego, and five companions, all who are aiming for the late spring stage races and Giro. In the second group will be Daniele Bennati and the rest of the Lampre riders. This group will be gunning for the early spring classics and working with greater intensity. Also joining the second gruppo will be the son of Giuseppe Martinelli, Carlo, who in 2005 raced at the under-23 level.

The official 2006 camp for Lampre-Fondital will be from 30 January to 4 February in Montecatini (Toscana). The Montecatini camp will be the last chance for the blue-pink squadra to gather before the 2006 season starts in full speed.

Read:
Last Day in Sicilia for Cunego, 12 January
Time Trial Work for Cunego, 3 December
Terme Time for Lampre-Fondital, 1 December
Damiano Cunego and Lampre Schedules, 2 November

Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen AKA Johan Museeuw Classic

The Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen will be renamed the Johan Museeuw Classic in honor of the retired Belgian cycling hero. The organizers of the three-day race in Flanders asked Museeuw, a past winner, for permission to use his name. "I believe in this race and would like to see grow and flourish," said the former World Champion.

For 2006 Museeuw will help with selecting the participating teams and various organizational aspects of the three-day Flemish race. The Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen had to be cancelled in 2005 due to heavy snow in Belgium. Occurring in early March (3 - 5), Museeuw hopes for favorable weather in this year's event.

16 January News ...