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24 March 2006

25 March News ...

Coppi e Bartali: First Win of 2006 for Cunego

Yesterday Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) took a stage victory, the first of 2006, and the leader's jersey for in the Settimana Ciclistica di Coppi e Bartali. Il Piccolo Principe left his mark on the race, taking the sprint from a group of 15 in stage 3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), previous GC leader, was distanced in the finale and now Cunego sits on top of the overall classification. It will be difficult to dethrone the king of the 2004 Giro d'Italia: two short stages remain and he has a strong backing from his squadra.

"My teammates took me to the last curve and then I gave it all to shake everyone off my wheel," said Cunego (24) after yesterday's win. "I did not raise my arms because I was unsure how close the others were behind me, plus I still remember the stage into Pistoia in last year's Giro [10 months ago]. When I had thought I had won, threw my arms in the air, but Koldo Gil was up the road." [Read 2005 Giro stage 7 report.]

The win establishes the first of the season for Cunego, who capped-off 2005 by winning the Japan Cup last October. "I still have to work on building my top condition," continued il Veronese. "I need to lose a few kilos, find my racing rhythm and better myself on the long climbs."

One of Cunego's main rivals for the 2006 Giro d'Italia will be his former teammate, Gilberto Simoni, who lost 14'09" on yesterday's finish. "It is true he lost a lot of time but no one is deceived. Gilberto has returned to his 2003 preparation methods, when he did not show himself at the beginning of the season and then took out the Giro d'Italia."

Read:
Cunego Leaves Murcia with Good Form, 6 March

Riccò Rides On

Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) took fourth in stage 3 of yesterday's Settimana Ciclistica di Coppi e Bartali behind winner Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital). It was an impressive finish for the 22 year-old neo-pro, who Wednesday lost control on a wet bend and smashed through the rear window of T-Mobile's Audi. Riccò was able to continue the race with facial scrapes and a chipped tooth.

Read:
Riccò Has Legs, 14 March

Vino to Rock Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov (Liberty Seguros-Würth), who currently leads the Vuelta Castilla y León overall in Spain, has indicated that he will be back to race Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Vino won the Belgian race in 2005 while riding in the pink colors of T-Mobile and will take to the 2006 start line with the number one on the back of his Liberty jersey.

The change, and early rise of form, is somewhat contrary to Vino's winter plans for racing and training, which previously included the Tour of Georgia. The Kazakh had indicated a very slow spring, and then only coming on form for one objective, the Tour de France. Vino joined forces with Manolo Saiz, Team Manager of Liberty, over the winter to achieve his goal of the top podium step in Paris. After a taste of victory in the Spanish race, he is excited to go to Liège to help his teammate and perhaps have a chance of a repeat victory.

Read:
Vino Down with Spanish Crew, 15 December

Giampaolo Caruso Inspects Giro Stage 7

Last Monday Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty Seguros-Würth) inspected the final sections of stage 7 of the 2006 Giro d'Italia. The stage, from Cesena to Saltara, will be the longest of the Giro at 230K. Many consider it to be the first true mountain test of this year's Corsa Rosa, containing the Monte Catria and the Monte delle Cesane. [stage profile]

Caruso made his inspection after the Milan-Sanremo, marking the first of many stages to inspect for the Italian. The Liberty rider, like Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval-Prodir) last week, was impressed with the stage. "I could not do the last few kilometers of the Monte Catria in bicycle because it was covered with snow, but I covered it with a car," said Caruso. "The steepest point is in the first few kilometers, with gradients from 16 to 18%, it will be decisive, because those who fall back will not be able to recover."

"After the Monte Catria, which has a very narrow road and finishes off on a dirt path, there are another two passes," continued Caruso, who finished the stage by bike. "The Monte Cesane, around 6K on a 12% gradient, and a final climb of 3K on a 15% gradient, the summit of which is at only 4K to go. There is not one single meter that will allow you to recover and as the stage is so long, if it starts off fast, there will be some major time differences."

Read:
Pinotti: Giro Reconnaissance, Stages 7 & 8, 19 March

Astarloa to Critérium International

Igor Astarloa will be the leader of Barloworld for this weekend's Critérium International. The two-day, three-stage, race will be a great venue for the former World Champion to apply his good form. Barloworld will back Astarloa with the following riders: Giosuè Bonomi, Diego Caccia, Mads Christensen, Enrico Degano, Alexander Efimkin, Hugo Sabido and Tom Southam.

Read:
Amstel Gold Race Confirms Barloworld and Astarloa, 8 March

Klöden on Rollers Soon

Yesterday, the day after crashing and dislocating his shoulder, Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile) underwent surgery. "The shoulder operation on Wednesday went well. I will be able to train again on the rollers very soon," says the 30 year-old.

Klöden took a spill on wet roads while training in Switzerland on Tuesday afternoon. The result was torn ligaments in his right shoulder, surgery and time off bike. The German's spirits are high, and he should soon be back on the road training for July's Tour de France. "Jan [Ullrich] has been in touch from his training camp in Toscana. That gives me a lift," finished Klöden.

Read:
Andreas Klöden Crashes in Training, 22 March

Marco Zanotti Down

Marco Zanotti (Unibet.com) crashed in Wednesday's GP Waregem, resulting in a fractured collarbone. The Bresciano (32), winner of the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve last month, will be forced to stop for four weeks while recovering.

22 March News ...