BiciRace.com :: News :: April 2006

News :: April 2006

1 April 2006

Boonen Trashes Petacchi's Probability

Boonen is Belgian, photo: BiciRace.com

Tom Boonen (25) knows how to win the Tour of Flanders. The odds are in the favor of the World Champion to repeat his 2005 victory and become the first twofer in 30 years, when Eric Leman took out the 1972 and 1973 editions.

There are many challengers in Boonen's war path, but one he does not consider a threat is Alessandro Petacchi (Milram). "He has no possibility to win," said the Belgian of the Italian.

Petacchi on holiday in Belgium?, photo: BiciRace.com

"Here you can't invent a victory without experience in your legs. You don't just land in Belgium, in a race like Flanders, thinking that you can come here and win. And I saw his relaxed attitude in the GP Waregem and also [E3-Prijs] Harelbeke, where he finished many minutes down. This is not the approach for winning Flanders," finished the World Champion

The Ronde Van Vlaanderen is tomorrow and all will soon be revealed. Stay tuned to BiciRace.com.

Read:
Quick-Step with Cards to Play in De Ronde, 31 March
Odds from Paolo for Flanders, 31 March
Tom Boonen's Northern Contenders, 28 March
Petacchi in Belgium, 22 March

Dirk Demol on Boonen

Team Manager of Discovery Channel, Dirk Demol, points to Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) as the biggest threat. Demol's Disco boys have strength and depth, and should be able to throw down the punches to match the Belgian Quick-Step squadra, but they lack a rider to go head-to-head with the World Champion.

"Boonen is for sure the strongest man of the peloton," say Demol. The Disco Manager has a few secrets he will use to topple Tornado Tom: "There is really only one way to nail him, that is to send off early attacks. In our group I count on [George] Hincapie and [Leif] Hoste."

What other riders does Demol see as a threat to Boonen? "Well, I would not write of [Peter] Van Petegem," continued Demol. "Also, in [E3-Prijs] Harelbeke I was impressed with Cancellara... But the biggest threat to Boonen will come from within his own team."

Demol has a point, Filippo Pozzato and Paolo Bettini might just stage an Italian coup. Of course, immediately after they crossed their Belgian teammate they would have to get the heck out of Flanders, or risk imminent danger. One more day until De Ronde!

Read:
Flemish Disco, 31 March

2004 Ronde Winner Wesemann Out

Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) will not start in tomorrow's Ronde Van Vlaanderen. The 2004 winner is knocked-out by a flu, which is causing him problems with breathing. André Korff will be brought in to replace the German stalwart for De Ronde.

"In his current conditions Steffen wouldn't be able to make any impact in the race's crucial moments. It would even be too risky to have him there just in a helper's role," confirmed T-Mobile DS, Valerio Piva. "So it's better to give him time and space to recover, so he can be back to full fitness in time for Paris-Roubaix."

Weather Forecast for Flanders

Koppenberg, photo: RVV

The weather in Belgium for tomorrow's Tour of Flanders does not look good for the riders. There is a good chance of rain showers, with temperatures in the crisp range of 7 - 13°C (44 - 55°F).

This means tifosi will be rubbing their hands together with the glee of spectacular racing over the muurs and bergs. The riders, well they won't be too thrilled at all. Most of the climbs are cobbled and become slick as snot when any precipitation is present.

Amateurs ride Koppenberg, photo: RVV

The berg which causes the most problems is number five, the Koppenberg [insert echo]. Appearing at 185K into affairs, it has a length of 600 meters and a maximum gradient of 22%! The cobbled berg caused the infamous Jesper Skibby incident in 1987, and was later 'renewed' in 2002. If wet, any rider not in the front 20 will be forced to dismount and take the Koppenberg go by foot.

Read: 17 Climbs of the Tour of Flanders

Dario Pieri Retires?

In the strangest of circumstances, Italian Dario Pieri has quit his role as 'Classics Man' for Team LPR. Yesterday the official announcement was made by the Swiss squadra, which signed Pieri last August for his strength in the Northern classics. "The decision was made with full responsibility, as [Pieri] was not able to honor the expectations that the team had of him," read a press statement from Team LPR.

In February the team was invited to race the Paris-Roubaix, largely based on his second place in the 2003 event. Then Dario Pieri said: "I am really happy to have another chance. I know the roads and what I am capable of in the French race. ... My teammates and I will honor the invitation."

Retirement seems to loom on the horizon for the 30 year-old Fiorentino. Pieri has been a professional since 1997 but the wins recently have been few and far. Back in 2002 saw a victory in the E3-Prijs Harelbeke, followed in 2003 with a 2nd place in the Paris-Roubaix.

Read:
Team LPR to Paris-Roubaix, 13 February
Team LPR and Pieri at Camp, 13 January
Pieri to LPR for 2005 remainder, 5 August

Beloki Debuts in Indurain

Joseba Beloki (Liberty Seguros-Würth) will make debut today in the GP Miguel Indurain, in Estella (Navarra). Beloki, second in the 2002 Tour de France, has delayed his 2006 start to concentrate on his preparation for July's Tour. The Basque's condition is solid, and he will support his Liberty mates for the Spanish race.

Along with Beloki in the GP Big Mig, will be Alberto Contador, David Etxebarria, Daniel Navarro, Isidro Nozal, Aitor Osa, Unai Osa, Sergio Paulinho and José Antonio Redondo. All of these riders, except the Redondo, will start in next week's Vuelta al País Vasco.

Note that the 2006 GP Miguel Indurain has been modified. The finish, moving from the flat center of Estella, to a 1K climb to the Basilica del Puy, which means greater possibilities of victory for Liberty riders like David Etxebarria, Aitor Osa or Alberto Contador.

Read:
Beloki and Saiz Continue, 11 October
Joseba Beloki Interview, From Tour de France Podium and Back, 25 April

31 March News ...