BiciRace.com :: News :: January 2006

News :: January 2006

30 January 2006

Eddy Merckx Backs Jan Ullrich for 2006

Cycling god, Eddy Merckx, has predicted that the 2006 Tour de France will be won by Jan Ullrich. "This will be the year of Jan Ullrich, especially at the Tour de France," said the Cannibal from Doha (Qatar).

The Belgian, who is currently assisting with the Tour of Qatar, thinks that now that Armstrong is out of the picture it will be a clear win for the German. "Jan has decided to race the Giro before this year's Tour and I think that this will allow him to arrive for France in the best condition. It is an excellent choice to race a full stage race before the Tour ... It would be a mistake to only concentrate on the Tour, a rider like Ullrich needs more races to arrive in top form for July."

Eddy Merckx is the second big name to come out in support of the German. Just over a week ago Lance Armstrong placed his money on the German, "This year will be the year of Jan Ullrich. He will win the Tour de France, maybe with 4 or 5 minutes advantage." The absence of the newly retired 7X winner will make the 2006 Tour one of the most exciting Tours in years, and Ulle will have the pressure on his shoulders to repeat his 1997 win.

Read:
T-Mobile Narrows Tour Pink Posse, 24 January
Armstrong on Cancer and Ullrich, 19 January

Liquigas Presentation Emits Italian Warmth

Reflecting Elegance, photo: BiciRace.com

The recent monstrous snow storm in Milano did not stop Liquigas from throwing a classy presentation. The day before the 28 riders were to be presented all of Northern Italy was hammered with 50cm of snow, however, the warm reception of Liquigas seemed to melt it all away and signal the start of the racing season.

The classy presentation (28 January) would have made last year's Liquigas star, Mario Cipollini, proud. The boys wore Italian suits with Liquigas-green ties for the event held at one of the swankiest jazz bars in Milano.

Liquigas is one of the three Italian teams in the ProTour and one of the most complete. The squadra has Di Luca for the Giro and Ardennes, Garzelli for the Tour, Paolini and Pellizotti for the one-day races and Backstedt for the pavé. There are also the young stars, like Gasparotto, Nibali, Colli, Capecchi and Kreuziger that will learn from the experienced riders, like Noè, Zanini, Cioni, Andriotto. "The ProTour made us realize that we have to have more of a complete presence for the whole season, and not only one cyclist for all races," said Roberto Amadio, Team Manager.

Read entire Liquigas Presentation Emits Italian Warmth

Qatar Kicks Off Today

The five stage Tour of Qatar kicks off today on the hot and windy Mid-East peninsula of Qatar. Stage 1 takes the riders 141K from Khalifa Stadium to Al Khor Corniche and should provide another sprint showdown.

The teams were out over the weekend training on the roads along the coastline. Most of the riders spent their time tucked behind the team cars to avoid the excessive wind and sand. If last Friday's Doha International GP is anything to go by then we should see a dominate Tom Boonen in the sprints. But also Erik Zabel, the German is looking strong and seems to have his new Milram squadra well drilled. Then there is a hope for Robert Hunter, the South African was 2nd Friday behind the Belgian and winner of the 2004 Tour of Qatar.

Tour of Qatar, 30 January - 3 February
Preview and Photos

Lampre-Fondital in Montecatini

From today through 4 February Lampre-Fondital will be adding coals to the fire in Montecatini (Toscana). This is the official training camp for the Italian squadra and the boys are continuing to add on the base kilometers for the 2006 season.

The large squadra of 25 riders will be divided into two groups for the Toscana camp:
Daniele Bennati, Danilo Napolitano, Claudio Corioni and the other boys who are already 'further along' will work to prepare for the first races of the season. On the horizon for this crew will be the GP Costa degli Etruschi (4 February), Tour Méditerranéen (8 - 12 February), Trofeo Laigueglia (14 February) and Vuelta Ciclista a la Comunidad Valenciana (21 - 25 February).

While Damiano Cunego will have the possibility to work for the first time with some of his new companions, such as Marzio Bruseghin, Paolo Tiralongo, Tadej Valjavec, Sylvester Szmyd. These are the core group of blue and pink boys that will back il Piccolo Principe through the season. They will be training a little slower and aiming for the late spring stage races and Giro d'Italia. After the camp il Piccolo Principe will train on his home Verona roads and then he will make his debut in the Clasica de Almeria (26 February).

Read:
Lampre-Fondital Ends in Terracina with TTT Win, 26 January
TTT Training for Lampre-Fondital, 19 January
Lampre-Fondital in Terracina, 17 January
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

Massimo Giunti to Naturino-Sapore di Mare

Massimo Giunti in Fassa Colors, photo: Bart Hazen

Massimo Giunti (31) has signed for Naturino-Sapore di Mare for the 2006 season. The former Fassa Bortolo man will ride this season in the yellow colors of the Italian, UCI Professional, squadra of Vincenzino Santoni. Giunti has been a professional for eight years but has yet to put a win on the scoreboard. His services will be a great asset for the team's sprinting sensation Murilo Fischer.

Read:
Italians without Contracts, 6 January
Naturino-Sapore di Mare in Napoli, 1 December

28 January News ...