BiciRace.com :: News :: January 2006

News :: January 2006

24 January 2006

Head Strong for Kid Cunego

Cunego Trains in Terracina, photo: Lampre

The Damiano Cunego and Lampre-Fondital end their training in Terracina (Lazio) today. The camp was a small camp designed to help bond the core group of riders on the Italian squadra. Cunego has taken huge steps from when he won the Giro d'Italia in 2004: Il Piccolo Principe had an off 2005 with Mononucleosis but also welcomed the birth of his daughter, Ludovica.

To reinforce the mental drive of the Piccolo Principe the team has hired Omar Beltran. The owner of Mental Performance Research has also worked with other cyclists such as Mirko Celestino and Marco Pinotti. "It is a new experience for me, I have never had meetings with a motivator," said Cunego of Beltran. "He has come up with lessons to help explain the techniques of muscles relaxation and how to better use our mental strengths."

"In 2005 it was always a battle of the mind," continued the 2004 Giro champion. "To accept this was not easy for me, it consumed all of my thoughts and I was nervous. Now it is no longer this way. Ludovica is here with me, every night my wife sends a new photo of her via mobile phone ... Now I live well, I am able to think 100% about my work. I ride my bike with calmness and tranquility. I have to believe that I can return to how I was and win another Giro."

The official 2006 camp for Lampre-Fondital will be from 30 January to 4 February in Montecatini (Toscana). Cunego will make his debut at the Clasica de Almeria (26 February), then the Vuelta a Murcia (March 1 - 5), before returning to Italy for the Milano-Sanremo (18 March). The Italian will race for the first time in the Settimana Coppi e Bartali (21 - 25 March) but will probably not start Liège-Bastogne-Liège (23 April).

Read:
TTT Training for Lampre-Fondital, 19 January
Lampre-Fondital in Terracina, 17 January
Last Day in Sicilia for Cunego, 12 January
Cunego Kicks Off in Almeria, 6 January
Damiano Cunego and Lampre Schedules, 2 November

T-Mobile Narrows Tour Pink Posse

Ulle at Presentation, photo: T-Mobile

The German squadra, T-Mobile, have started narrowing their selections for the 2006 Tour de France. The objective will be to help Jan Ullrich win his second Tour title, after previously winning in 1997. Monday the German squadra announced that Serhiy Honchar, Andreas Klöden, Eddy Mazzoleni and Michael Rogers will definitely be part of the La Grand Boucle pink posse.

The riders named, along with Ulle, make five, leaving four more spots to be filled for the pink posse. T-Mobile reports that the four riders will come from the following group: Lorenzo Bernucci, Giuseppe Guerini, Serguei Ivanov, Oscar Sevilla, Matthias Kessler, Stephan Schreck and Patrik Sinkewitz.

Armstrong Off Bike, photo: DD

After nine years, 2006 looks like the year Ullrich could finally double in France. Recent years have seen an unbeatable Lance Armstrong stand in the way of Ulle and the top podium step. Now il Texano is retired and even has come out in support of Ulle in the last week. "This year will be the year of Jan Ullrich. He will win the Tour de France, maybe with 4 or 5 minutes advantage," said il Texano of his former rival.

Ulle will start his racing campaign soon but has still not settled on when and at which race. "I will start racing when I'm ready for it." Neither has he reached a definite decision on riding the Giro d'Italia. "But I will announce it, as soon as I know the details of my preparation. I know that many fans will be tracking my buildup ... and they have to make plans as well". The classy German gives the final shout out to his tifosi ... Bravo Ulle!

Read:
Armstrong on Cancer and Ullrich, 19 January
Ulle All for Tour and Partly Giro, 16 January
Ulle to Race Giro with Eye on Tour, 25 November
Ulle For the France-Deutschland Double, 18 November
Ulle Tuned-In for Giro Presentation, 14 November
2006 Giro d'Italia Welcomes Jan Ullrich, 13 October

T-Mobile to California with Rogers

The T-Mobile squadra will cross the Atlantic to compete in the inaugural Tour of California (February 19 - 26). The pink posse has yet to name the full lineup but did report that the 3X time trial World Champion, Michael Rogers, will take part. The Aussie/Italian will make his season debut in the Giro di Cali before returning to Europe for the remainder of the season.

The participation of Rogers in California is a great sign for the new stage race. The Tour of California is attracting many super teams who have sponsors with important marketing interests in the United States. And hey, riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles is not so bad!

Read:
Il Varesino Michael Rogers al Giro d'Italia, 17 January
Team CSC Train and Race in California, 12 January
Saunier Duval-Prodir to Cali and Wind Tunnel, 5 January

Gasparotto Shifts Start Back

Racing in the Tricolore, photo: Liquigas-Bianchi

Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas) is shifting his focus off of the Milano-Sanremo due to a slow recovery from mononucleosis. The Italian champion would have liked to start in Tirreno-Adriatico to build for Milano-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Gent-Wevelgem but this is no longer possible.

"The mononucleosis has not yet left my body," said Gasparotto. "I was only able to return to training at the start of January after two months of complete stop... I will have to skip all of the spring races and the Giro."

"To be champion is special and you can feel all of the eyes watching you ... I have received complements from my teammates, Garzelli and Di Luca, and also from Vandenbroucke, Van Heeswijk and Dekker when I raced at the Eneco Tour last August." It is possible that the first race back in Italy for Gasparotto will be the Italian championships on 25 June. The championships will be held near Gasparotto's home in Gorizia (Friuli-Venezia Giulia).

One of the consolations for the young Italian (23) sprinter is the possibility of shining in the Tour de France but maybe without the tricolore. For more information on Gasparotto, who likes to surf BiciRace.com, read our interview: Enrico Gasparotto, Il Campione Italiano.

Read:
Gasparotto Interview, Il Campione Italiano, 10 January
Gasparotto with Mononucleosis and Pellizotti with Fracture, 2 December
Enrico Gasparotto Looks Good in Tricolore, 28 July
Enrico Gasparotto Is The New Italian National Champion, 27 June

Pantani Monument on Mortirolo

A statue dedicated to the late Marco Pantani will be placed on the Passo del Mortirolo. The figure of il Pirata will be placed on one of the toughest corners of the 12.8K (10%) climb. In the 1994 Giro d'Italia he used this climb as a launch pad to win on the following climb to Aprica.

The project came about with the help of Bianchi, who was a bike sponsor for Pantani. A commission was formed with the help of the bike company and ACCPI (Association of Italian professional riders) to decide on the design of the statue and where it should be placed. Members of the commission included: Felice Gimondi, Gianni Bugno, Claudio Chiappucci and Marino Vigna. "It was not easy, but now we have selected a design," said Amedeo Colombo, president of ACCPI. "... And we will have the statue ready by 27 May, the day when the Giro will pass the Mortirolo." (2006 Giro Stage 20, Trento - Aprica Map)

Read:
1000 Euro for Last Pantani Jersey, 23 January
Pantani and the Piadina, 10 June

London Calling 2007 Tour

The 2007 Tour de France will start in London following an agreement by the city mayor Ken Livingstone and race organizers ASO. La Grand Boucle has never started in London, though it twice visited England, in 1974 and 1994. In 1998, the Tour started in Dublin before immediately taking the peloton back to France.

23 January News ...