BiciRace.com :: News :: February 2006

News :: February 2006

9 February 2006

Early Start for Napolitano

Napolitano Wins (Benna Happy), photo: Lampre-Fondital

Danilo Napolitano (25), professional since May 2004, has won in his second attempt of the 2006 season. The Siciliano was no match for Ale-Jet in last Saturday's GP Costa degli Etruschi but yesterday in the Tour Méditerranéen the Lampre-Fondital man came through with the win in front of the experienced Erik Zabel (Milram).

"I thought that I would start winning by April but instead I have won in February," said Napolitano, who bases himself in Brescia (Lombardia). "I am very content. This winter I trained with awareness and I was attentive at the table, not over exaggerating."

Today the Siciliano will surely lose his yellow leader's jersey. The riders face a double day, first a 112K stage that finishes on Mont Faron and then an afternoon team time trial of 18K. "I will not hold on. There is Mont Faron and it is a nightmare," finished Napolitano.

2006 Tour Méditerranéen, 8 - 12 February
Main, Startlist, Overall Map, Photos

Bettini Scores in Port de Sóller

Yesterday Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) won the fourth stage of the Vuelta a Mallorca finishing in Port de Sóller. It was the 48th career win for the Italian (31) and his first of the 2006 season. "I did not expect to go so strong, especially in the climbs," explained Bettini who won on parcours with four cat. 2 climbs. "The finale one was long, about 18K with a false flat, and I took the heads of three Spaniards who are in great condition."

Bettini, 2004 Olympic Champion, is having a great start to his season, compared to his rocky start of 2005. "Last year I was searching for form up until the Giro d'Italia, without ever really finding it. This winter I did not have any problems with my health, I said 'no' to many invitations and I put in 2000 kilometers on the bike. It was great to get a win so soon to break the ice... Now I have greater confidence for [Trofeo] Laigueglia this Tuesday, a course that I have always loved and I have never been able to win."

By winning and showing such form early on the Italian has reason to believe he can captain his Quick-Step squadra for the Milano-Sanremo, but there is also Tom Boonen. The Belgian has notched up five sprint wins in Qatar and also wants the full support of his Quick-Step mates. "Coexisting with a World Champion is not easily," continued Bettini. "At Sanremo you are able to win in two methods: attacking on the Poggio or waiting for the sprint. In the first case it will be my turn and in the second, if it comes to a sprint like last year, it will be a battle to beat Petacchi."

Bettini will make his way back to the boot of Italy for a date with the Trofeo Laigueglia (14 February). Then it will be a buildup to La Classicissima, Milano-Sanremo (18 March), using the week-long Tirreno-Adriatico (8 - 14 March).

Read:
Bettini Wants Trofeo Laigueglia, 6 February

Voigt Loses Skin in Mallorca

Everyone's favorite German, Jens Voigt, went down in yesterday's stage of the Vuelta a Mallorca. Team CSC reports that Voigt's crash was not that serious and it was mostly just rode rash for the German.

"I lost quite a bit of skin on the left side of my body and sustained some deep cuts in my hand and around my knee, but it wasn't any worse than the doctors were able to stitch it all back together," said Voigt. "Luckily I didn't hurt my shoulder but I'm now at the point where the only thing on my body which isn't hurting is my bad shoulder."

Voigt, who wont be starting in today's Trofeo Calvia (stage 5), but will continue training on the Spanish roads. His Danish based team is off to a slow start, compared to last years big bashing in Qatar, GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise and Tour Méditerranéen.

Read:
Surgery for Jens Voigt, 22 November
Only a Torn Ligament for Voigt, 21 November
End of a Great Season for Voigt, 4 October

Dos Años for Roberto Heras

The RFEC (Spanish Cycling Federation) has suspended Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros-Würth) for two years after the positive doping control that was taken on stage 20 of the 2005 Vuelta a España. Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank), who finished second last September, will now be recorded as 2005 Vuelta a España winner. Heras, without the 2005 win, still has three Vuelta victories to his now tarnished name: 2000, 2003 and 2004.

"We just did what we had to, to fulfill our commitment to apply the rules," Eugenio Bermúdez, of the RFEC. "It's not a positive event for the sport of cycling but we followed the current rules."

Now that the sanction has been handed down, Heras has the right to file an appeal to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport). His suspension will begin after he receives the letter from the RFEC and he signs for the receipt of that letter.

Heras (31) tested positive after finishing second in the 38.9K time trial to Alcalá de Henares, 17 September. It was six days earlier that the Spaniard blew apart the 60th Vuelta on the last two climbs of stage 15, the Alto de la Colladiella and Puerto de Pajares. He was able to gain a 4'30" advantage in the overall GC and seal his victory, until yesterday's verdict by the RFEC.

Read:
Roberto Heras Update, 28 December
Saiz Buys Remaining Shares of Active Bay, 24 December
Manuel Piñera Resigns from Liberty, 14 December
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Liberty Goes On, 28 November
Roberto Heras in Trouble for EPO Use, 26 November

8 February News ...