BiciRace.com :: News :: February 2006

News :: February 2006

27 February 2006

Paolo Bettini Goes Long

Bettini Controls GP di Lugano, photo: Quick-Step

Just like in the 2005 Züri Metzgete Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) made a winning solo long before the arrivo of the GP di Lugano. Yesterday the Italian put in his bid for victory 28K from Lugano on the 6K climb of Carona. "Arriving solo has its beauty," said Bettini on his winning ways. "In my first eight years I always won by a hair, in the last two years I have become fond of the solitude."

"I did not know the climb, but my teammates told me that the first section contained the hardest gradient, and that is where I attacked," said the Olympic Champion. He had 40" at the top of the Carona and then continued to hammer down the descent. "I also did not know the descent," continued the Livornese. "A few of the curves I took blindly, a little risky, and I had to contend with the motorcycles that were trying to keep up with me."

Il Livornese then explained the mysterious 22. "With 22 I raced my first Giro and conquered the maglia verde, with 22 I won Liège and Sanremo ... 22 February 2002 at the Giro di Liguria I won my 22nd victory," said Bettini, who won the GP di Lugano with the number 22 on his back. "Yes, and at the Worlds in Madrid I had 21, and yesterday [GP Chiasso] I had 11."

Belgian Nuyens Adds Another

Nick Nuyens Launches, photo: Quick-Step

Nick Nuyens (25) has been steadily adding to his palmarès under the shadow of Quick-Step superstar, Tom Boonen. In 2004 the Belgian won Paris-Bruxelles, 2005 he won Het Volk and yesterday he added Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

Quick-Step perfectly played their numbers in the finale with Boonen and Kevin Van Impe, but it was Nuyens who broke clear after two back-to-back attacks. "I dedicate this victory to Tom because, even with his superb condition, he sacrificed himself and made the win possible for me," said a happy Nuyens.

"We are a united team," added Boonen. "Everyone works for each other... At Sanremo Nick will pay it back on the Poggio."

A Good Start for Cunego

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) finished eighth in his 2006 season debut yesterday in the Clasica de Almeria. "I am still missing a little rhythm," said Cunego after the Spanish race. "I am comfortable and feel only a small amount of fatigue, and in the race I felt good sensations."

The race was won by Francisco Pérez (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) after a escape of 135K with Ricardo Serrano (Kaiku) and Adolfo García Quesada (Andalucia-Paul Versan). Behind the escape trio Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros-Würth) won the sprint for fourth.

"I don't like that there were so many crashes amongst teammates," continued Cunego. Three of Cunego's teammates went down in Sunday's race: Paolo Tiralongo, Marco Marzano and Marzio Bruseghin. All of the riders are fine and will start in the Vuelta a Murcia on Wednesday with Cunego.

Zajicek Finishes California on Ground

Back luck for Phil Zajicek (Navigators) in yesterday's final stage of the 2006 Tour of California. He was looking forward to finishing the Tour as the highest placed non-ProTour American rider but then came a stupid pothole.

Zajicek was scraped up in the crash and had bandages on his abdomen and hands after the race. He was disappointed to leave the Tour of California in this manner, especially after riding so well throughout the week. The crash was an unfortunate incident when another rider hit a pothole in front of Zajicek.

The American said it happened fast, and that he was picking himself up off the ground in an instant, nearly unaware that he had gone down in the first place. After x-rays the reports are that Zajicek is fine, just upset with the entire incident.

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

Arenberg is Officially Back

The Cobbles, photo: Frank Heinrich

Organizers of the Paris-Roubaix, ASO, have announced that the 2.4K stretch of hell (err, cobblestones) through Arenberg forest will be back in the 2006 edition. The sector, one of the most famed roads in cycling, had been excluded from last year's itinerary because it was deemed too risky.

The local community of Porte du Hainaut, the area in which the Arenberg Forest is located, and the ASO shared the cost of work to restore the pavé. Race director, Jean-Francois Pescheux, said that the forest has not been changed to a superstrada and is still a tricky stretch of pavé. The Hell of the North will take place 9 April 2006 and cover 27 pavé sectors for a total of 52.7K.

Read:
Arenberg Returns to Paris-Roubaix, 3 December

26 February News ...