BiciRace.com :: News :: March 2006

News :: March 2006

28 March 2006

Freire Skips Flanders

Freire Saves for Amstel Gold Race, photo: BiciRace.com

Oscar Freire, winner Sunday in the Brabantse Pijl, will not race the Tour of Flanders. The three-time World Champion (yes, 3X!) has experienced new pains in his knee and has decided to give it a rest in light of the upcoming Amstel Gold Race, where he stands a better chance of victory.

The news of Freire's absence will come as a disappointment to Rabobank teammate Juan Antonio Flecha. The Spaniard was hoping for support from his compatriot after having helped Freire win the Brabantse Pijl. Flecha will still be backed by a strong Rabobank squadra, which includes: Marc Wauters, Erik Dekker and Mathew Hayman

We hope to see a fighting Freire back in the Dutch Amstel Gold Race.

Read:
Freire Doubles in Brabantse Pijl, 27 March
347 Days and Freire is Back, 11 March
Oscar Freire Stops in Vuelta a Mallorca, 7 February

Racing Continues for Pippo

It was only 10 days ago that Filippo Pozzato (24) snatched the grandest of Italian races, the Milano-Sanremo. Since that magical day Pippo has been fulfilling his duties to the public, and generally has been one busy man. Starting today there will return some normalcy into the Italian's life, he will line-up with his Quick-Step squadra in the 3 Days of De Panne.

"Ahead is an important week," said Pippo, thinking about De Panne and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. "In the last week it has been very busy with press requests, but I made sure to stick with my training program, which has included some long distance rides. ... I know the Belgian fans will want to see me as a contender. I face Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix, and I will remain rested and focused, then after Roubaix we can party."

The chances of Pippo in the north have increased after his victory on the Via Roma in Sanremo. The young Italian will face the Northern Classics more relaxed, knowing he has already scored an important victory for 2006. And, don't forget, racing on the same squadra as Pozzato are World Champion Tom Boonen and Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini, making Quick-Step a powerful force in the north.

"Tom is going strong. He has already won Flanders and then the other day he showed his strength by winning the E3-Prijs Harelbeke against Ballan. We have him and also Bettini for Flanders. I know that they are my two captains but I hope to have my occasions to attack, like I did in Sanremo," finished Pippo.

Read:
Pippo Repays Boonen and Bettini, 21 March
Pippo Heads North, 20 March
Pippo Holds and Wins a Grand Classic, 19 March

Hot Favorite Ballan

Ballan is the Favorite for Flanders, photo: Lampre-Fondital

Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital) is one hot favorite for the coming Northern classics. Today the Italian starts in the 3 Days of De Panne, second overall last year, after placing second to a mighty Tom Boonen in Saturday's E3-Prijs Harelbeke. From De Panne it is De Ronde, the Tour of Flanders, where Ballan placed sixth in 2005.

"It is a great feeling here in Belgium, there are a lot of fans that cheer for me," said Ballan before the start of De Panne. "I want to do better and better. Last year I finished second here and had a good result in Flanders. I know that Boonen is going strong, I saw that in Harelbeke, but I am not discouraged. I will look to have a super day on Sunday in Flanders."

Read:
Ballan's Poggio Blast, 19 March

Fit Andreas Klier for Flanders

Last year's Tour of Flanders runner-up Andreas Klier will once again lead T-Mobile over the 17 Muurs and Bergs. The 30-year-old German rode an aggressive race last Saturday in the E3-Prijs Harelbeke, and today starts the 3 Days of De Panne before the big one, the Ronde Van Vlaanderen.

"My fitness is as it should be. During the coming week, I'll try to keep my fitness at this same level," said Klier from Belgium. The German will want to come out of De Panne on smoking form to better his second place in De Ronde.

T-Mobile for De Ronde:
Lorenzo Bernucci, Marcus Burghardt, André Greipel, Sergey Ivanov, Andreas Klier, Bram Schmitz, Stephan Schreck and Steffen Wesemann.

Paolini Leads Gassy Green Team

Luca Paolini will be the main man to lead his green Liquigas team over the pavé of the north. Il Milanese, who finished third in Milano-Sanremo and seventh in E3-Prijs Harelbeke, will be escorted by his veteran teammate, Stefano Zanini, in the 3 Days of De Panne and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. The Italian squadra are hoping Paolini can deliver the goods, after receiving the crushing news that big Magnus Backstedt is out of action due to knee-pains.

Liquigas squadra for De Panne and Ronde:
Michael Albasini, Daniele Colli, Alberto Curtolo, Mauro Da Dalto, Marco Milesi, Luca Paolini, Marco Righetto and Stefano Zanini.

Boogerd Back in País Vasco

Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) will be ready for the Ardennes Classics, he will make his return to racing Monday in the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco (3 - 7 April). The Dutchman was setback by a broken bone in his foot, which has now healed enough to start the Basque race and build for his favorite races.

"For the Ardennes I want to be at my best, and the training has been going very well," said Boogerd (33). "Yesterday I rode for six hours, and I feel that I have not lost my condition that was there before my accident. In the next week I will race in Spain to regain my rhythm and refine my condition for Amstel, Flèche and Liège."

27 March News ...