BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

24 April 2006

25 April News ...

First Spaniard in Liège: Valverde

Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) has done what no other rider from the Iberian Peninsula has done before him, win the Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The 25 year-old Spaniard (26 tomorrow) out-gunned a handful of top rivals on the ascent to the finish, the Côte de Ans, to take the 92nd running of the Belgian Classic.

With his win last Wednesday in la Flèche Wallonne, El Imbatido has become the king of the Ardennes. The two Classics, combined with last year's Tour de France victory against Armstrong and second in the Worlds, makes Valverde one of cycling's elite riders, and dispels any myth that he is only a rider for Spanish races.

"I am the first Spaniard to win Liège, and this makes me even more satisfied. I have put my name in the history books," said Valverde after the win yesterday. "I knew that the biggest problem was the distance of this race, and after Amstel I made sure to train consistently. In the last few days I have experienced some great emotions and I don't have the words to describe my feelings."

Valverde travels from Belgium to Switzerland for tomorrow's start of the Tour de Romandie (25 - 30 April). After the Swiss stage race El Imbatido will take a break before a lead-up to the Tour de France, starting with the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (4 - 11 June).

Read:
Valverde Fires Wallonne Arrow, 20 April

Bettini Misses Out on Third

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) just missed out on a third victory in La Doyenne, suffering defeat at the hands of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde in yesterday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Il Grillo once again helped make the race, when he put in a strong attack with 14K to go on the Côte de Sart-Tilman and helped bring back the Boogerd-Rodríguez escape.

"I lost to some grand champions," said Bettini after finishing second to Valverde. "If I did not attack on the Côte de Sart-Tilman, Boogerd and Rodríguez would have not been seen again. ... Liège went well considering I did the last 40K practically solo, without teammates... I had to handle it all solo, just like the other successes of this year. ... At least I lost while fighting for the victory."

Bettini will start in the Giro d'Italia on 6 May, where he hopes to repeat his success of last year, which included a stage win and time in the Maglia Rosa.

Read:
A Spectacular Amstel Thanks to Bettini, 17 April

Third for Cunego in Second Liège

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital), fresh off of overall victory in the Giro del Trentino, finished third in his second try at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Il Piccolo Principe did not have the guns to come around Valverde or Bettini in the sprint, but the result was impressive, especially in light of his season objective: il Giro d'Italia.

"I studied my Giro rivals... It was good training for the Giro," said the 2004 Giro champion. "I am calm with my teammates. They were always taking me to the front. I am satisfied, and with a good morale for the Giro. I have such great trust in my teammates. The morale is great, especially after Giro del Trentino win."

"I thought for a bit that I could have a chance, but Bettini and Valverde are very fast. The race was a good signal. Simoni, Basso and Di Luca, all of the Giro contenders were there, but all seem at the same level."

"Liège went how it was expected, but next year I need to think about returning and winning," said the 24 year-old. "Basso? His team worked all day, he tried going long, and then in the sprint he was not so fast."

Cunego's next race will be the big one: il Giro d'Italia, running from 6 to 28 May. The 2004 victor, after suffering in 2005 due to mononucleosis, is the hot favorite to battle Simoni and Basso for the 2006 running.

CSC Strong with Basso

Team CSC rode a strong race in yesterday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège but failed to come up with the goods like they did in Roubaix and Amstel. Ivan Basso was the designated team leader but his attacks lacked fire. Il Varesino was forced to fight out the finale against riders who are betters sprinters, eventually finishing tenth.

"The team tried in every way to win," explained Basso. "Our only error was at the top of Côte de Sart-Tilman, when Bettini attacked and caught us all off guard. I was at the back and it took me by surprise."

"Liège was good test... I am content... I believe that the team went strong, it is too bad we did not win. I have good sensations before the Giro d'Italia. Liège was a good race for the Giro. Of the Giro favorites it was Cunego who appears in great form, but all of the other contenders were at the front. ... "

Basso, like Cunego, will continue training for the next two weeks leading to the start of la Corsa Rosa (6 May). Liège may have not provided us with a clear Giro favorite but it indicated that the three-week race will be a tight battle. Stay tuned!

Landis Takes Third GC Victory

Floyd Landis (Phonak), by winning the Tour of Georgia yesterday, has chalked up three stage race overall victories for 2006. The American won both of his home country's tours, with Georgia and the Tour of California, and in between flew to France to take out the prestigious Paris-Nice.

"It feels very good," No-Fuss said of his overall victory in Georgia. "I don't think it was any easier, or harder than the other races. They were all very difficult. Obviously, our team is one of the favorites when we come here to Georgia, so nobody made it easy on us. It was a very good race. It was close, but we pulled it off."

Landis, skipping the Giro d'Italia, will use the Dauphiné Libéré (4 - 11 June) as a lead-up to the Tour de France. The American's name is increasingly being mentioned as a possible winner of La Grand Boucle. Floyd has the squadra, legs and race-smarts to deliver the knock-out punch to both Basso and Ullrich. Could we see another American in yellow on the Champs-Élysées?

Read:
No Pink Floyd (Landis) at Giro, 27 March
Landis: Il Secondo Americano, 13 March
Landis in Yellow after the Gold Rush, 9 March

23 April News ...