BiciRace.com :: News :: February 2006

News :: February 2006

28 February 2006

RCS Sport Announces 22 Teams for Giro d'Italia

2006 Il Giro d'Italia, photo: RCS Sport

RCS Sport, organizers of the Giro d'Italia, has announced the teams that will take part in the 89th edition of the Corsa Rosa. From the partenza in Seraing (Belgium) on 6 May there will be 22 teams racing for three weeks, finishing in Milano on 28 May. All 20 ProTour teams were invited plus two Professional Teams: Panaria-Navigare and Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni.

Panaria proved strong last year with Brett Lancaster, wearer of the Maglia Rosa, and Paride Grillo. While Selle Italia rocked the boot of Italy with Ivan Parra, now with Cofidis, and José Rujano, whose participation is in doubt.

22 Teams for the 2006 Giro d'Italia:
Ag2R Prévoyance (FRA)
Bouygues Telecom (FRA)
Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears (SPA)
Cofidis (FRA)
Crédit Agricole (FRA)
Davitamon-Lotto (BEL)
Discovery Channel (USA)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (SPA)
Française Des Jeux (FRA)
Gerolsteiner (GER)
Lampre-Fondital (ITA)
Liberty Seguros-Würth (SPA)
Liquigas (ITA)
Milram (ITA)
Panaria-Navigare (IRL)
Phonak (SWI)
Quick-Step (BEL)
Rabobank (HOL)
Saunier Duval-Prodir (SPA)
Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni (COL)
T-Mobile (GER)
Team CSC (DAN)

Spanish TT Time for Cunego

Yesterday in Spain Damiano Cunego tested his time trial bike for two and a half hours. The Lampre-Fondital rider was trying the new Wilier Triestina frame that he will use in Friday's crono stage of the Vuelta a Murcia. The frame is a size 'extra small' for il Piccolo Principe, who is 1.69m tall. Wilier will soon provide Cunego the same sized model but in all-carbon, using a stamp that cost €60,000.

The crono development is all for the season's major goal: il Giro d'Italia. Cunego knows he has to improve his form to beat a rider like Ivan Basso (Team CSC) if he wants to win. "He is a rider who has an advantage in the crono and is hard to drop in the mountains," confirmed Cunego. "But he has four years on me. With my stature and weight I will never be a cronoman, but I am able to become better with the years. ... I just tried the new frame and the crono in Murcia will be the first race test."

Read:
A Good Start for Cunego, 27 February
Time Trial Work for Cunego, 3 December
Wilier have Two-Year Deal with Lampre and Cunego, 2 December
Terme Time for Lampre-Fondital, 1 December

Ondrej Sosenka Injured

Ondrej Sosenka (Acqua & Sapone), current Hour Record holder, was hit while training by a car. The big Czech is fine, but fractured his ring-finger and it required three stitches. There was concern about him missing the upcoming Tirreno-Adriatico but his team has confirmed that he will be able to race.

Tenax-Salmilano Down for Flanders

Baldato for RVV, photo: BiciRace.com

Tenax-Salmilano has been invited to the 90th Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). Fabio Bordonali, Team Manager, will take the team to Belgium captained by Roberto Petito and Fabio Baldato. Petito finished fifth last year and Baldato has twice finished second.

Mayo Back in Murcia

Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) will start his 2006 season tomorrow in stage 1 of the Vuelta a Murcia (1-5 March). The Basque will be backed by Anton Luengo, Beñat Albizuri, Unai Uribarri, Rubén Pérez, Joseba Zubeldia, Igor Antón and Aketza Peña.

Read:
Mayo and Astarloa hang with Nys, 11 December

27 February News ...