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1 March 2006

2 March News ...

Director Sportivo Cipollini

Yesterday Mario Cipollini, who is still battling back from a bad ski accident, was on-hand for the presentation of the 2006 Giro della Provincia di Lucca. "I am still recovering from the operation to my knee after the ski incident over Christmas," said the retired sprint king.

The Toscano surprised many with his future career plans: "Cycling is all of my life and my idea is that I would like to direct a second-level squadra. I think I have enough experience in this world for the role as a director." BiciRace.com is excited for Cipollini's possible return to the sport and we think he is easily qualified for the position.

Read:
Tomorrow Cipollini Goes Home, 28 December
Cipo Chills in Lucca Hospital, 27 December
Mario Cipollini Suffers in Ski Crash, 26 December

Basso Starts Milano-Torino but no Sanremo

The oldest classic on the Italian calendar (started in 1876), the 91st Milano-Torino, welcomes the debut of two of cycling's biggest stars: Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) and Ivan Basso (Team CSC). The Killer returned last Friday after a month of training in Toluca (Mexico) and he will use the race as a build-up to the Giro d'Italia. Il Varesino, Basso, will be going for the Giro-Tour double this season and, like 2005, start his season off in Milano.

Basso has announced that he will not be using the Milano-Sanremo (18 March) for his season preparations. "I had to make an evaluation and at the moment I am not in the condition, Sanremo is a course that deserves to be honored," said il Varesino. After Milano-Torino Basso will race in the Tirreno-Adriatico (8 - 14 March), "the time trial has been reintroduced and it will be a very useful test for the Giro."

Mark your calendar for the Milano-Torino this Saturday, starting in Novate Milanese at 11.15 and finishing in Torino on Corso Casale around 16.00 after 199K. Stay with BiciRace.com for the coverage.

A Hard-man for Lucca

One night in Bangkok may make a hard-man crumble, but a day on the roads in Lucca might prove just as tough. This Monday will be the 8th Giro della Provincia di Lucca and Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) could be the hard-man to make the others crumble. The Toscano, winner in 1999, handed out a thrashing in the GP di Lugano last weekend and will be difficult to overcome in Lucca.

Other big names to the start line will be Alessandro Petacchi (Milram), Erik Zabel (Milram), Ivan Basso (Team CSC), Paride Grillo (Panaria-Navigare), Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital), Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas), Luca Paolini (Liquigas) and former World Champion Igor Astarloa (Barloworld). Most of these riders will make their way to Tivoli two days later for the start of the Tirreno-Adriatico.

Read:
Milano-Torino and Giro di Lucca Teams, 18 February
Giro della Provincia di Lucca, 8 February

After Almeria Cunego on Meds

The dreary conditions of last weekend's Clasica de Almeria has caused a bit of sore throat for 2004 Giro d'Italia champion Damiano Cunego. The Lampre-Fondital man is popping antibiotics to help clear the problem and it should not alter his plans in the start of today's Vuelta a Murcia. Other big names for the Spanish race will be Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears), Alexander Vinokourov (Liberty Seguros-Würth), Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Frank Vandenbroucke (Unibet.com), Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) and the likeable Emanuele Sella (Panaria-Navigare)

Read:
Spanish TT Time for Cunego, 28 February
A Good Start for Cunego, 27 February

Ulle: Sì to the Giro d'Italia

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) has officially announced that he will take to the start line of the 2006 Giro d'Italia. Unfortunately for the tifosi, the powerful German will be using the Corsa Rosa strictly as training kilometers for the upcoming Tour de France. The 1997 Tour de France winner, currently based in Toscana, has yet to initiate his season but is likely to debut with the Settimana Ciclistica di Coppi e Bartali (21 - 25 March).

Read:
To Toscana for Ullrich, 22 February
Ulle All for Tour and Partly Giro, 16 January
Ulle to Race Giro with Eye on Tour, 25 November
Ulle Tuned-In for Giro Presentation, 14 November
2006 Giro d'Italia Welcomes Jan Ullrich, 13 October

28 February News ...