BiciRace.com :: News :: February 2006

News :: February 2006

18 February 2006

Bayliss on Training Partner Raisin

Bayliss with Bianchi, photo: BiciRace.com

The Tour of California starts tomorrow in San Francisco and it will be the young American, Saul Raisin, leading the historic French squadra, Crédit Agricole. Raisin does not take this leadership because he is the only American on the squadra but because he has proven himself in some big races. Last year he had a magnificent Deutschland Tour and this year he has already won a mega-mountain stage of the Tour de Langkawi.

BiciRace.com was at Bianchi headquarters the other day for the announcement of the Accordo Bianchi - Ducati when we caught up with Raisin's training partner, Troy Bayliss. The Superbike racer is based in Monaco where he regularly trains on the bike and often with some of cycling's big names. "Saul is great, I think he will win some important races," said Bayliss when we mentioned Raisin, who lives in the area. "I sent him a message the other day to congratulate him after he won the Langkawi stage."

The rider from Georgia will lead the green team in California before returning to Europe continue his season. Tifosi will be disappointed to know that Raisin will not be competing in his home race, the Tour of Georgia, this year but will instead focus on races in Europe. BiciRace.com wishes Saul good luck in the Tour of California.

Read:
Raisin Rocks the Cameron Highlands, 6 February

25 Teams Start Milano-Sanremo and Tirreno-Adriatico

25 teams of eight riders will start in the 97th Milano-Sanremo on 18 March. RCS Sport, organizers of La Classicissima, has chosen 22 ProTour teams and three Professional teams. The same teams will also start in the Tirreno-Adriatico, the seven-day stage race (8 - 14 March) just prior to Milano-Sanremo.

Teams:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Ag2R Prévoyance (FRA)
Barloworld (Gbr)
Bouygues Telecom (FRA)
Cofidis (FRA)
Crédit Agricole (FRA)
Davitamon-Lotto (BEL)
Discovery Channel (USA)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (Esp)
Française Des Jeux (FRA)
Gerolsteiner (GER)
Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne (Esp)
Lampre-Fondital (ITA)
Liberty Seguros-Würth (Esp)
Liquigas (ITA)
Milram Team (ITA)
Naturino-Sapore di Mare (ITA)
Panaria-Navigare (IRL)
Phonak (Swi)
Quick-Step (BEL)
Rabobank (Hol)
Saunier Duval-Prodir (Esp)
T-Mobile (GER)
Team CSC (DEN)
Team LPR (Swi)

Milano-Torino and Giro di Lucca Teams

19 teams of ten riders will take to the start line 4 March for the 91st Milano-Torino. The oldest of the Italian races, first run in 1876, will host teams from seven nations, and a total of 20 different rider nationalities.

Milano-Torino Teams:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Ag2R Prévoyance (FRA)
Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi (ITA)
Barloworld (GBR)
Ceramica Flaminia (ITA)
Cofidis (FRA)
Lampre-Fondital (ITA)
Liquigas (ITA)
Miche (ITA)
Milram (ITA)
Naturino-Sapore di Mare (ITA)
OTC Doors-Lauretana (ITA)
Panaria-Navigare (IRL) Phonak (Swi)
Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni (COL)
Team CSC (Den)
Team LPR (Swi)
Tenax-Salmilano (IRL)
Universal Caffè-CB Immobiliare (ITA)

Two days after the Milano-Torino will be the 8th Giro della Provincia di Lucca. There will be 20 teams of ten riders for the start of the Toscana race.

Giro della Provincia di Lucca Teams:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Ag2R Prévoyance (FRA)
Amore & Vita-McDonald's (POL)
Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi (ITA)
Barloworld (GBR)
Ceramica Flaminia (ITA)
Lampre-Fondital (ITA)
Liquigas (ITA)
Miche (ITA)
Milram (ITA)
Naturino-Sapore di Mare (ITA)
OTC Doors-Lauretana (ITA)
Panaria-Navigare (IRL) Phonak (Swi)
Quick-Step (BEL)
Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni (COL)
Team CSC (Den)
Team LPR (Swi)
Tenax-Salmilano (IRL)
Universal Caffè-CB Immobiliare (ITA)

Liberty Seguros-Würth Presented

Vino with Liberty, photo: Liberty Seguros-Würth

Liberty Seguros-Würth have yet to begin racing on European soil but yesterday the public got a taste of the Spanish squadra at the presentation in Madrid. Team Manager Manolo Saiz presented the 2006 roster of 28 riders. Most of the riders are Spanish but one rider is clearly not, Alexander Vinokourov.

The Kazakh, who sticks out from the crowd in his national champion's kit, will be the team's main gun come July for the Tour de France. "Vinokourov comes to Liberty Seguros-Würth with the ambition to fulfill the dream of the entire team, rise to the highest step of the podium in Paris, and to do this we shall work as a team from the very first day," explained Saiz.

After spending the last week of training in Estepona (Málaga, Southern Spain) the team is now ready to depart on their 2006 European campaign. Saiz will send a crew of Liberty riders to the Vuelta Comunidad Valenciana, which starts Tuesday, 21 February.

Read:
Liberty Seguros-Würth trains in south of Spain, 2 February
Liberty Seguros-Würth Gears Up, 12 January
Vino Down with Spanish Crew, 15 December
Liberty Seguros-Würth in Puente Viesgo, 14 December

Eros Bortolami Arrives

Just days after announcing his retirement, Gianluca Bortolami now has his hands full with a new baby. Yesterday Gianluca and his partner, Michèle, welcomed their newborn son, Eros. Born in Michèle's homeland of Ieper, Belgium, he weighs 3.22Kg and is 49cm tall. Tanti Auguri from BiciRace.com!

Read:
Gianluca Bortolami Retires after 16 Years, 14 February

17 February News ...