BiciRace.com :: News :: January 2006

News :: January 2006

18 January 2006

Basso Wanted for Worlds TT in Salzburg

Salzburg TT Route

Ivan Basso (Team CSC) is a wanted man for the World Championships in Salzburg (Austria). Sandro Callari and Alfredo Martini have been trying to pursued the Italian to race the time trial (21 September) for the Squadra Azzurra. Basso is in agreement with the FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana) members but is concerned of his fitness after trying to accomplish his two major goals, the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.

The Worlds time trial circuit is 50.8K in length and on rolling parcours (Salzburg TT Profile), which could be a perfect match for the former armature World road champion. For now Basso has left his options open but he has committed to racing the 2008 Olympic TT. The timing for the crono in Beijing is convenient, following two weeks after the Tour de France.

Read:
The Spring Program for Basso, 16 January

Di Luca for Mexico and Giro

Danilo Di Luca is currently with the rest of the hard working Liquigas crew in Cecina Mare (Toscana). The green gassy boys are gathered for their first big camp (12 - 21 January) of the year before 2006 starts in full swing.

Last year's ProTour winner, Di Luca, will continue training after the camp. He will be heading to Toluca (Mexico) for three weeks to seek out warmth and altitude while putting in the kilometers. It is a training location that he used last January before embarking on a season that saw him win the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne, plus two Giro d'Italia stages and the Maglia Rosa. This year the Abruzzese will travel (29 January) with Stefano Garzelli and Alessandro Spezialetti, and three other mates to Central America.

2006 will be the second year for the 30 year-old on the squadra of Roberto Amadio. Di Luca came off of a few dry years at Saeco where he was not allowed to develop his leadership among riders like Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego. "[Liquigas] is a group in which I have trust, that believe in me and are ready to do the maximum to win the Giro," said Di Luca.

Di Luca has his eyes on the Giro's Maglia Rosa after finishing a remarkable forth in 2005. The ride helped him secure his ProTour jersey but also gave him the confidence of a Grand Tour winner. "I was always convinced that I what I did 2005 was possible. My age, starting at 30 years, is right to win the Giro," finished Di Luca.

Read:
Fine Tuning of the TT Machine for Di Luca, 2 December
Liquigas Gathers in Terme, 25 November
Liquigas Winter Training, 17 November
Mexico and Training for Danilo Di Luca, 3 November
Danilo Di Luca Interview, 5 July

McEwen Shows Sprint Form

McEwen, a Street Fighting Man, photo: Davitamon-Lotto

Yesterday in the opening circuit race of the 2006 Tour Down Under saw Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) hold off Italians Daniele Colli (Liquigas) and Simone Cadamuro (Milram).

"It was the Italian from Milram, Cadamuro, who's a very fast guy and who took over the lead from the Crédit Agricole boys," said McEwen after the finish. "You saw [Thor] Hushovd pulling the sprint for Mark Renshaw, and I was in a bit of a battle with Allan Davis for the wheel of Cadamuro because we could see that was the place to be."

"I was able to out maneuver Alby [Davis] to get on the wheel then I waited for the moment ... And down the finish straight, slightly downhill, no wind, you just get up to enormous speeds down there," said McJet. "I had a look behind and no one caught my slipstream and I could just enjoy those last 25 meters."

The Aussie smartly stayed hidden in the peloton for most of the race, then appearing at the decisive moment to stamp his authority in the bunch sprint. "I think I've won four of the last five [races in Adelaide] - I love this little circuit, it's a great start to the week here in Adelaide," finished McEwen.

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

Levi Leipheimer Pushes for Tour

Tuesday in Germany was the presentation of the blue watery boys, Gerolsteiner. Attention was turned to il Americano, Levi Leipheimer, who hopes to be a serious threat in the 2006 Tour de France.

"The 2005 season has inspired me, I think I can win more of the bigger races in 2006, and the 2006 Tour could be my competition," said il Americano, who finished 6th in the 2005 Grand Boucle. "Ullrich and Basso are the favorites, but there is a place on the podium that lies within my reach."

Leipheimer also impressed in some of the other big stage races of 2005: Winning the overall and a stage of the Deutschland Tour, 2nd overall in the Tour of Georgia and 3rd in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. The number of time trialing stages and lack of mountain top finished could swing the 2006 Tour in favor of il Americano. Battling off a monster like Ullrich might be challenge but Leipheimer has built up the experience to handle himself.

Read:
Levi Takes Grand German Win, 24 August
BiciRace.com interview with Levi Leipheimer, 27 June

17 January News ...