BiciRace.com :: News :: March 2006

News :: March 2006

21 March 2006

Coppi e Bartali: Ullrich, Bettini, Cunego and Simoni

Ulle Still Training, photo: T-Mobile

The Settimana Ciclistica di Coppi e Bartali starts today and will run for the next five days, containing six stages. Amongst the favorites lining up will be Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) and Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir). The Olympic Champion is considered a favorite for the short and punchy stage race, while il Veronese and il Trentino are building form for their Giro d'Italia meeting in May.

One rider who was rumored to start is Jan Ullrich of T-Mobile. The German will not race, and his season debut has still not been officially announced. T-Mobile will send their 'Tour de France squadra', minus Ulle, to the Italian race: Scott Davis, Giuseppe Guerini, Serhiy Honchar, Matthias Kessler, André Korff, Olaf Pollack, Michael Rogers and Oscar Sevilla.

Saunier Duval-Prodir team will be: Gilberto Simoni, Riccardo Riccò, Guido Trentin, Marco Pinotti, Rubens Bertogliati, Ángel Gómez Gómez, Oliver Zaugg and Nicolas Fritsch. The squadra is very similar to the one that Gibo will have at the Giro d'Italia.

Read:
Coppi e Bartali Confirms 25 Teams and 200 Cyclists, 27 January
Teams for 2006 Coppi e Bartali, 13 January

Pippo Repays Boonen and Bettini

After winning the Milano-Sanremo three days ago, it has been non-stop press and attention for Filippo Pozzato. "From my win last Saturday I had to turn off my mobile phone. It started ringing continuously," explained the 24 year-old. "For the next week my objective is to concentrate on the races ahead and continue. I don't want to lose my head."

Pozzato will travel to Belgium and France, where he will be considered amongst the favorites, to compete with his strong Quick-Step squadra. "I would like to win another grand classic. If there would be an opportunity at Flanders, Gent or Roubaix I will try," continued Pippo. "But I will go to repay the favors of Boonen and Bettini. ... It made me very happy to see Boonen with his hands in the air when he crossed the line."

Tom Boonen, who won both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix last year, would like to repeat this feat in his new World Championship jersey. Paolo Bettini, who is feeling better after his Tirreno-Adriatico crash, has indicated he would dearly love to add the Ronde Van Vlaanderen to his stunning palmarès. For sure the races will be spectacular, and that Quick-Step will be the squadra to beat.

Read:
Pippo Heads North, 20 March
Pippo Holds and Wins a Grand Classic, 19 March

Lampre-Fondital for North

Ballan Attacks on Poggio, photo: Lampre-Fondital

Lampre-Fondital will travel to the Tour of Flanders (2 April) and Paris-Roubaix (9 April) a strong squadra led by Alessandro Ballan. The 26 year-old Italian formed the winning escape in last weekend's Milano-Sanremo, and will search for a victory on the pavé of Belgium and France.

One rider that will be missed by Lampre-Fondital is Daniele Bennati. The 25 year-old wanted to put in a good performance in this year's Flanders but is troubled by undetermined health problems.

Team for Flanders:
Alessandro Ballan, Enrico Franzoi, Paolo Fornaciari, Daniele Righi, David Loosli, Claudio Corioni, Matteo Carrara and Matteo Bono.
Team for Roubaix:
Alessandro Ballan, Enrico Franzoi, Paolo Fornaciari, Daniele Righi, David Loosli, Claudio Corioni and Matteo Bono.

Sanremo Problems for Backstedt

When BiciRace.com spoke with Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas) at the partenza for the Milan-Sanremo he was in good spirits, but during the race he suffered knee pains. "For the first 185K I was cruising, pedaling along nicely and doing the job for the boys. Within 5 pedal strokes my knee locked up and I was in total agony," explained the Swede after the race.

Backstedt is now undergoing diagnosis to find out the root cause of the injury. "I've consulted various experts in the field and will have an MRI scan and from that result there will be a possible treatment this week," continued the Swede. "My main focus is to get back on my bike and back to competition as soon as possible. I still have a window to get back in shape and be fully competitive for the classics, but day by day this window is getting smaller."

BiciRace.com wishes Magnus Backstedt the best of luck in his treatment.

Read:
Backstedt Continues to Build, 20 March

Menchov Takes Vuelta's Maillot Oro

Thursday in Madrid Denis Menchov (Rabobank) will receive the golden jersey in recognition for winning the 2005 Vuelta a España. The 28 year-old Russian was finished second last September to Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros-Würth), but the Spaniard was then disqualified for testing positive for EPO usage. Last month the RFEC (Spanish Cycling Federation) suspended Heras for two years for his positive test that was taken on 17 September in Stage 20.

Read:
Dos Años for Roberto Heras, 9 February
Roberto Heras Update, 28 December
Saiz Buys Remaining Shares of Active Bay, 24 December
Manuel Piñera Resigns from Liberty, 14 December
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Liberty Goes On, 28 November
Roberto Heras in Trouble for EPO Use, 26 November

20 March News ...