BiciRace.com :: News :: March 2006

News :: March 2006

26 March 2006

Riccò Introduces Himself

Riccò Wins First Pro Race, photo: Saunier Duval-Prodir

The fifth and final day of the Settimana Ciclistica di Coppi e Bartali went to 22 year-old Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir). The neo-pro blasted none other than Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) to take victory in Sassuolo, his home roads.

It was really no surprise to the BiciRace.com crew that this young-gun has fired his first winning bullet, after strong performances in the Tour of California and Tirreno-Adriatico. We had our worries when he missed Milano-Sanremo and then found himself in the rear of T-Mobile's Audi (via a broken window).

Riccò has introduced himself on the professional winning scene. And what an introduction il Modenese made: making the final selection on the Montegibbio and then battling Paolo Bettini to take the sprint. Further back, in the wake of the yellow bullet, were Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) and Rinaldo Nocentini (Acqua & Sapone).

Read:
Riccò Rides On, 24 March
Riccò Has Legs, 14 March
Saunier Duval-Prodir Add Riccò and Trentin, 24 November

Number 3 in E3-Prijs Harelbeke for Boonen

World Champion Tom Boonen has won the E3-Prijs Harelbeke for the third time in a row. The 25 year-old has repeated the record of Jan Raas, who 25 years ago completed a treble.

The day came down to a two-up sprint between the Belgian and Italian Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital). Boonen got the better of Ballan to the delight of a louder-than-hell home crowd. BiciRace.com's heart pulls for Ballan: The Italian has smoking form but keeps coming up shy since his last victory on Valentine's Day in the Trofeo Laigueglia.

Both Boonen, with 11 season victories, and Ballan come away from the E3-Prijs Harelbeke as heavy favorites for the Ronde Van Vlaanderen in seven days. The finish in Harelbeke also gave us a glimpse of form from Peter Van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto). The Belgian always times his season for one week, the seven days that contain Flanders and Roubaix.

Erik Dekker is Back

Erik Dekker Wins Stage 1, photo: ASO

Yesterday in stage 1 of the 2006 Critérium International Erik Dekker (Rabobank) stole the show from Ivan Basso, Andriy Grivko and Igor Astarloa. The Dutchman won the stage and took the leader's jersey in the process.

In the final 200 meters, Spaniard Igor Astarloa (Barloworld) went down on the wet pavement. Dekker narrowly avoided disaster before going on to win the stage. "It scared the hell out of me," said Dekker. "I don't know how I did but somehow I managed to survive."

"First I'm very happy to win this race. Paris-Tours my last success was one and a half years ago, so I'm very happy with this stage success," explained the 34 year-old after yesterday's win. Dekker will face some stiff competition going into today's final two stages, mainly from Ivan Basso. "The overall is very important as well. Next week is the Tour of Flanders and the other classics, and tomorrow morning the stage will be similar to a shorter Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I'll do my best for the overall. I believe I'm in proper shape."

Erik Dekker is nearing the end of his career, while young teammate, Thomas Dekker, is just starting. Thomas won the overall in Tirreno-Adriatico early this year, and also won a stage in the 2005 Critérium. "Yes, but I'm the new Dekker...," jokingly said Erik. "It's my last year in pro cycling and I want to have fun and act at the high level. This race is a big race."

2006 Critérium International, 25 - 26 March
Main, Overall Map, Photos

25 March News ...