BiciRace.com :: News :: April 2006

News :: April 2006

7 April 2006

Hincapie and the Disco Machines

Hincapie Not Too Soft, photo: Gent-Wevelgem/ Dries Verhauwaert

The Discovery Channel boys will be lining up on special rear suspension Treks for Sunday's Paris-Roubaix. "It is a new technical addition from our supplier, Trek", said Team DS Dirk Demol. "The heavy shocks from the cobbles will be minimized, which is important for Roubaix."

The team will line up with red-hot Hoste and Hincapie as the captains. L'Americnao, Hincapie, is ready and confident: "First of all I am a team player, but I have the capacities to be the team leader. I am much calmer than Lance [Armstrong], and having anger against my competitors is not my style. Lance would often say that I am too soft, and that you have to be harder in cycling. But, with my characteristics I know I can win this race."

Paolo Gives Odds for Hell

The Parcours, photo: ASO

BiciRace.com talked with our odds-maker, Paolo, today over a caffè about the upcoming Paris-Roubaix. The Italian was a little bummed from the cloudy skies and the recent Boonen domination, jokingly saying "I give Boonen 1-2 and the field 1-50, è merda!"

We explained to Paolo that our readers are dependent on his odds-making skills to bet against their friends, and Sunday's race is a big one. Paolo agreed, and gave us his numbers for the Queen of the Classics. He still pointed towards Boonen, but gave good odds on Ballan, Pozzato, Hoste, Hincapie and the Norwegian.

Paolo's Odds:
Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) 1-3
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) 1-6
Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel) 1-8
Peter Van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) 1-10
Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) 1-10
Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) 1-10
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital) 1-15
Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) 1-15
Erik Zabel (Milram) 1-20
Andreas Klier (T-Mobile)
Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step) 1-20
Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) 1-30
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) 1-30
Bernhard Eisel (Française Des Jeux) 1-30
Serguei Ivanov (T-Mobile) 1-40
Leon Van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto) 1-40
Enrico Franzoi (Lampre-Fondital) 1-50

Paris-Roubaix, 9 April, 259.5K, A Sunday in Hell
Main Page, Overall Map, Cobbled Sections, Startlist
Report and Results, Photos
2005 Results

Bartoli on Northern Petacchi

Remember that it was retired classics star, Michele Bartoli, who helped Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) train for his Northern campaign. Bartoli bestowed in his fellow Toscano the tricks of the Northern trade: how to face the bergs (i muri), how to position yourself amongst the Belgians and how not to lose your bottle on the Kemmel.

Petacchi is now back in Italy after an abandon in the Tour of Flanders and third in Gent-Wevelgem, nothing like the palmarès of il Gatto but the experience counts. "Right, with more experience I still think he can do well on the pavé," explained Bartoli, former teammate at Fassa Bortolo in 2002 to 2004. "Look, third in Gent is not bad... Sure, Flanders is another story. You have to approach Flanders like Sanremo: with the same mental preparation and attention leading to the race."

Il Gatto notes the physical demands of Flanders: "They are different, one race requires 30 minutes of lactic acid in the legs, and the other three hours. Given that it was his first time in Flanders with the race as an 'objective', he did well, the first time is never easy. If Petacchi wants to try again next year then I will guide him on how to race."

Bartoli (35), retired and driving his Ferrari around Toscana, stomped the northern terra in the late 1990's with 2 wins in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1997, 1998) and one in the Tour of Flanders (1996).

Read:
Delusional Petacchi, 6 April
Petacchi's Last Northern Stop, 5 April
Let Down for Petacchi, 3 April
The Northern Classics for Petacchi, 27 October

Freire Fires Back

Freire Lets the Bubbly Flow, photo: País Vasco

After narrowly missing out in the opening stage of the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, Oscar Freire (Rabobank) shot back by winning yesterday's stage 4 to Vitoria-Gasteiz. The victory was an important confirmation for Freire, who left the cold Belgian land, to use the Spanish race as a preparation for the upcoming Ardennes Classics.

"When I decided to race the Vuelta al País Vasco instead of the Tour of Flanders, I did not know if I had made the right decision. Now I know that I did not make a mistake," stated the three-time World Champion. "I will arrive strong for the Ardennes Classics, above all for the Amstel Gold Race and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Flèche Wallonne remains very hard for me."

"Today I have to say thanks to Euskaltel for bringing the gap down on the escapees. I was without a team in the finale because it was a hard stage for us. But in the end I was able to salvage the day with a nice win."

The Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco continues today with a 178K stage, followed by tomorrow's final stage, a 24K TT in Zalla.

Read:
Valverde and Freire - Head to Head, 4 April
Freire Skips Flanders, 28 March
Freire Doubles in Brabantse Pijl, 27 March
347 Days and Freire is Back, 11 March

Form Continues for Garzelli

Garzelli Looks Strong, photo: País Vasco

Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas) continues to show his fine form, after his seventh place in Milano-Sanremo. Yesterday he finished fifth in stage four of the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco. The day was a strong indicator that Garzelli will be one to watch in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and la Flèche Wallonne.

"All day I was feeling good and looking for the right break," confirmed il Varesino after the stage finish. "I lost a lot of energy in the wind, but here, and at the GP Miguel Indurain [4th], I have felt great. I have confidence going to the Ardennes, and I will try to be at my maximum."

Garzelli (32) usually is up front in the Ardennes, finishing second to Mapei teammate Bettini in 2002, and this year he will find greater motivation for Liège and Flèche, since he is skipping the Giro d'Italia to allow Danilo Di Luca greater freedom.

Read:
Liquigas with Paolini and Garzelli, 19 March
Second Race and Garzelli Happy, 9 March
Partenza Milano-Torino, 4 March

Rasmussen for Giro d'Italia

Dane Michael Rasmussen has confirmed that he will line up for the 2006 Giro d'Italia. The Rabobank rider will use the Italian race, like in 2005, to prepare for another run at the Tour de France, where last year he won the mountain's jersey and a stage.

"My aim has not been changed, my season will be dominated by the Tour de France," said Rasmussen. "Last year my program leading to the Tour was very successful. Therefore there is no reason to take this year any differently."

The full Rabobank squadra for the Giro will be announced soon. The three-week tour starts in Belgium on 6 May with four stages before traveling to Italy for the remainder.

6 April News ...