BiciRace.com :: News :: March 2006

News :: March 2006

13 March 2006

Cancellara TT and CSC Win

Cancellara Gives it the Juice, photo: RCS Sport

Fabian Cancellara (24) took victory in the 20K time trial of the Tirreno-Adriatico. The Swiss CSC rider was one of the first riders off and benefited from the mostly dry conditions.

"I gave it all to win today," said Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC). "I think today is very important for me: the win and also it gives me strength going into the next races. From here I will go to the Classics, and also other time trial races.

The victory was also huge for the Danish-based squadra, after a period of bad luck. "... The win is also important for the team. Team CSC was going through a black period and this win will help. It was the first win of 2006 for me and good for the team" finished Cancellara

Dekker Burns Bright and Tirreno Shortened

Dekker New Tirreno Leader, photo: Rabobank

Dutch young-gun, 21 year-old Thomas Dekker (Rabobank), finished third in yesterday's stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico. He gained enough time to move into the GC lead, 14" over Jörg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros-Würth) and 20" on Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital). He is really burning bright, his ride of 27'55" on wet roads was amazing. This might not have been enough for the Dutch rider to win the 41st Tirreno-Adriatico, but then the organizers announced the shortening of tomorrow's stage.

The finish of stage 6, at 1105 meters, to San Giacomo (Monti della Laga) was going to be the ball-buster of the Corsa dei Due Mari, instead it has been thwarted. The riders will ride the first 106K to Torricella Sicura and then complete five circuits, for a total of 179K. This is a classic circuit that has been used in many past editions and will avoid the bad weather of San Giacomo.

Hammer of the Ballan

An impressive ride was made by Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital) in yesterday's Tirreno TT, the Italian was seen throwing the hammer down on the soggy pavement around Servigliano. His strength kept him in the GC running, he is now third overall at 20".

"It was very cold today. I took the descent easy on the wet roads," said Ballan who finished in fifth at 38". "Even though I did not go as good as others my morale is high."

Will you still go for GC? "It is not impossible, I have not given up on the GC," continued Ballan. "... I will watch the others and see what happens. Tomorrow will be a good stage and the GC will be fought and decided."

Tin-Tin Shivering but Strong

"The crono was in bad weather... It was a very hard course today...," said a shivering Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) after his 20K in Sunday's Servigliano TT. "Really it was a parcours for the crono specialists."

Where will Tin-Tin go from here? "My form is still building for Sanremo, so we will see."

2006 Tirreno-Adriatico, 8 - 14 March
Main, Startlist, Overall Map, Photos

Landis: Il Secondo Americano

Bravo Landis, photo: ASO

Two years ago, no American had ever won Paris-Nice. Riders from the Wild West have now won the Race to the Sun two years in a row, after Julich in 2005 it is now No-Fuss Floyd Landis to win the historic race.

"It's really a great satisfaction but I must first of all thank my Phonak team-mates," said Landis after Sunday's win. "There was no big fight today but since the St Etienne stage ... they have worked hard every day. I was rather happy the team were able to take it easy today."

"I did not expect to be in such a shape so early in the season and to win here after the Tour of California," continued Landis who was happy to pick up where Julich left off. "But it's becoming a bit of an American race and I'm very proud to add my name to the winners list of such a prestigious event. ... From here I will rest and then I will work on a strategy and a preparation for the big race in July."

2006 Paris-Nice, 5 - 12 March
Main, Startlist, Overall Map, Photos

12 March News ...