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23 February 2006

24 February News ...

Difficult says Bruyneel

Discovery Channel DS, Johan Bruyneel, believes it will be 'difficult' to take the gold jersey back. In stage 3 of the Tour of California Floyd Landis (Phonak) fired his missile and exploded Disco George Hincapie.

After Hincapie crossed the line BiciRace.com spoke briefly with Bruyneel and asked if Disco had designs on taking the jersey back or shifting the focus to training kilometers and stage wins. "Getting the jersey back will be very difficult, we will have to see how the race goes," said Bruyneel. "It is not so easy, and there will not be many places to take time."

2006 Tour of California, 19 - 26 February
Main, Overall Map, Photos

Hincapie is Geared Up

BiciRace.com spoke with George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) as he was warming up. We took time to ask him about his gear selection for the yesterday's TT parcours. "56-44 up front and 11 on the back," said Hincapie.

Coming over the finishing riser, with about 1K to go, big George was one of the few riders of the heads of state to be pushing it out of the saddle. His efforts kept him close to the new overall winner, he now sits fourth at 45" behind Landis.

Flash back to the day before and Hincapie was the King of San Jose, winning the brutal stage 2. When asked after the race about how the legs felt on the climbs, George replied "This is the first time I've gone into the red since... Well since San Francisco and you never know how the body will respond. I'm still about 6 pounds [2.7Kg] heavier than I will be this summer, so after I drop a little more weight I'll be climbing a little easier. I had phenomenal support from the team today though. Michael Barry and Tom [Danielson] were incredible today. They did a lot of work to bring me to the finish, I just had to kick in the final 200 meters."

Hincapie then started to think how his days in gold would be limited. "Making predictions on a race finish is something that's not very easy to do, but based on the form we seen from Levi... I'd have to say he's the favorite along with Bobby [Julich] and Floyd [Landis]."

When asked about what his goals were coming into the Tour of California and how they tied into his season objectives, Hincapie said "Normally this time of year we're riding at the back of the bunch, just getting the legs turning without being recognized by the public. But, here everyone knows who you are and people expect more of you. I'm going to be aiming for the classics... Roubaix... I'll be riding Milan-Sanremo, Flanders and Roubaix."

BiciRace.com pressed him a bit further to find out his thoughts on his evolution of beginning known as a one-day rider to somebody who can win in all disciplines, and the possibility of aiming for the Tour de France. "I don't limit myself anymore," said Hincapie. "I go into races with the team having confidence in me, that gives me confidence to be a leader. After the classics, the Tour is definitely an objective, not just stages."

Roubaix on Hoj's Mind

The amiable Gerolsteiner Dane, Frank Hoj, was comparing notes with Bjarne Riis prior to the start of yesterday's stage 3 time trial. CSC Team Manager Riis, a noted time trialist in his day and still looks quite fit, was giving Hoj tips on his position.

"I'm having a great time here in California. Yeah, it's really nice," said Hoj to BiciRace.com after the TT. We then asked him of what is his main goal for the season and he looked us square in the eyes, saying "Paris-Roubaix".

DS Joxean Matxin on Simoni's Bikes

Prodir-Saunier Duval DS, Joxean Matxin, spoke with BiciRace.com about what it's like to bring a top level Euro squadra and their equipment to the United States. "Logistically, it's very difficult," said Matxin. "Everything has to be flown over from Spain. Back home we have a tour bus where the riders hang out before and after the races. Here, it's not so easy. All the cars are rented."

Gilberto Simoni lost a minute before starting the stage 3 TT, his Scott Plasma crono frame was too light. UCI officials held back the 2X Giro d'Italia champion and forced him to switch bikes, a process that lost him time. "At the big euro races, the team favorites have five bikes each, but with the travel involved here, we only bring three bikes for Simoni," confirmed Matxin. "At the beginning of the season, a team leader the level of Gilberto Simoni is given nine bikes."

Pinotti Will Return to the USA

Marco Pinotti (Prodir-Saunier Duval) is in California to find form, a wise move considering the current Italian weather. BiciRace.com asked if we would see him at the Tour of Georgia again this year. "Yes, hopefully I will see you in Georgia with better form," said Pinotti.

"Also, I will be at the Giro riding with Simoni," continued the Bergamasco. Pinotti take pride in riding for Gilberto Simoni and will make it his goal to assist in Simoni's third Giro d'Italia victory.

Mountain Man Bernhard Kohl

BiciRace.com asked Bernhard Kohl (T-Mobile) what his intentions were when he showed up to race the Tour of California. The young Austrian pro said he basically had pretty good form coming into the race and fully intended to go for the mountains competition, which he continues to lead after stage 3. Kohl specifically targeted the points on offer in the prologue. He reminded BiciRace.com that coming from Austria, he's no stranger to hilly terrain and feels very comfortable riding in the mountains.

Horner on Dodgy Stage 2 Descent

Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) had to confess that he doesn't really have the form to finish in the top ten overall. "The only reason I was able to finish second today [stage 2] was because I was able to catch on the work of Discovery who did a lot to pull back the break. I just couldn't get around George at the finish," said Horner.

The riders were clocked at about 90kph on stage 2's final descent. "I was basically trusting that Discovery had been there before and knew the course," said Horner about the dodgy descent. "When you're going at that speed the bike doesn't really handle the way it does on the flats... You just follow wheels and hope they're familiar with the course."

About 4K from the finish we saw Chris take a dig off the front, BiciRace.com asked him what his tactics were at that particular point of the race. "I was going off the front in hopes that the other three guys who had a slight gap on the main group would follow me, but I looked back and nobody was coming with me so I sat up," said the American.

Horner finished by talking briefly about why the American presence in the peloton has increased, not only in numbers but quality of the field. "Again, it comes back to sponsorship dollars coming into the sport," said Horner. "A lot of sponsorship dollars come in and more media coverage comes with that. When I was at Saunier Duval last year they were always asking me what Americans they can bring into the team, this year they have Aaron Olson and Charles Dionne with them."

Graham Watson on the USA and the Locals

BiciRace.com bumped into world famous photographer Graham Watson in California. If anybody knows a good race it would be Watson. With all the action that is going on in Europe in this part of the season, we were curious how he thought the California race compared to its counterparts.

"It's been great," confirmed Watson. "It is much nicer than in Europe in a lot of ways. The organizers and the police... Everybody is very helpful and courteous. They're trying to put on a show and get everyone to come back again. Most people think of California as nothing more than an enormous freeway, but there really are some beautiful roads and some great racing happening here."

Who does the Brit tip for the overall? "I think it's going to be Leipheimer or Landis," said Watson before the stage 3 Time Trial, which Landis won. A local boy, eh? "Well they're all local boys, aren't they?"

Petacchi Takes Valenciana Stage

Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) took stage 2 of the Vuelta Comunidad Valenciana yesterday in Spain. The sprint master over-powered Danilo Napolitano (Lampre-Fondital) and Spaniard Francisco José Ventoso (Saunier Duval-Prodir).

In stage 1 the 32 year-old was caught off guard by an early escape that his Milram boys were unable to control. But in yesterday's stage he put matters to right, making win number four for 2006.

"Today my squadra took control and did great work," said Petacchi after the stage. "After the climb, with 70 kilometers left the team took over, first to capture the escape and then to prepare for the sprint. Napolitano went early, anticipating the sprint, and I took his wheel immediately. Then at 180 meters I went clear... It was a great win, but more importantly my form is getting better and better."

22 February News ...