BiciRace.com

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

1 May 2006

2 May News ...

Five Days Until il Giro

There are only five more days until the start of the 2006 Giro d'Italia, which starts Saturday in Belgium with an opening time trial of 6200 meters. In total, there are 94.2 crono kilometers in this year's Corsa Rosa. Stick with BiciRace.com during the Giro d'Italia. We will be following all the Italian stages of this year's event... taking the headquarters on the road.

89th Giro d'Italia, 6 - 28 May
Main, Startlist, Classifications
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
2005 Giro d'Italia

Evans Scorches Last 5K

A surprise ending to the 60th Tour de Romandie: Aussie Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) swooped-in and stole the show while all eyes were on the expected Spanish duel between Contador and Valverde. The 29 year-old added to the success of his Belgian squadra, who accounted for three stages and the final overall in Romandie.

The Aussie stormed the stage 5 20.4K parcours around Lausanne, overtaking Valverde and Contador on GC in only the final kilometers. Evans was 6" back on Contador with -5K, and 28" back on Hoste for the stage win, but the Aussie made up 50" on the Belgian to take the stage and easily took the overall GC from the Spaniard.

"I know the parcours well," said Evans who lives in Switzerland when away from his home country. "I had already won here five years ago in A Travers de Lausanne." Back in 2001 Evans won both time trials of the Swiss event, beating such riders as Armstrong, Rubiera and Moos.

Bravo Cadel! See you at le Tour!

Ullrich Confident for Giro

Jan Ulrich (T-Mobile), the 1997 Tour de France champion lost over two minutes on his former teammate, Evans, in yesterday's 20.4K TT of the Tour de Romandie. Ulle (32) was one of the first riders off yesterday afternoon due to his poor performances in the previous mountain stages. The 32 year-old German is known for his TT abilities and posted a solid time, 28'47". But Ullrich's time was beaten by 68 other riders, making his 2006 Tour de France preparations look rather grim.

"I am very content," said Ullrich after the stage. "At the start I was a little frightened but I have passed the test. I have finished tired, but not destroyed.... Wednesday I will depart for the Giro d'Italia. See you there."

Jan Ullrich will line up with his pink posse in the 89th Giro d'Italia, where he will build form for July's Tour de France. "I am happy that the Giro starts out with not so many difficulties, and that the hardest stages come in the last week. I will be more competitive, but taking the Giro day by day. Then, in the last week, I will try to finish in the front."

Savoldelli Rides Again

Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) is not in the best of health to defend his 2005 Giro d'Italia title. Il Falco Bergamasco abandoned the Tour de Romandie due to an intestinal virus, and has yet to refind his strength. Today Savoldelli will take to his Trek machine for the first time after Romandie's abandon, hoping to refind the form that won him the opening prologue in the Swiss race in light of the start of the 2006 Giro on Saturday.

Read:
Savoldelli out of Yellow, 28 April
Savoldelli Arrives in Romandie, 26 April

The 2004 Cunego is Back

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) is showing the brilliance that won him the 2004 Giro d'Italia, taking his sixth 2006 win in Saturday's GP Industria & Artigianato. Il Veronese, after suffering from mononucleosis last year, looks on form to challenge for the 2006 Maglia Rosa.

"I feel like I have returned to the rider that I was when I won the Giro in 2004," explained Cunego. "But this year the Giro is going to be very challenging, with lots of rivals. I think Ivan Basso looks very good: He can climb well, has a strong team and will be the best in the time trials."

"Then there is also Gilberto Simoni, with tons of experience. Another level down is Di Luca, who lacks the experience and is not equipped to handle all the climbing. ... I will watch [José] Rujano in the mountains, but this year I think his preparations have not gone too smooth. But on the big mountains he could possibly create some problems."

Cunego and his Italian Lampre-Fondital Giro Squadra:
Damiano Cunego (Ita), Marzio Bruseghin (Ita), Paolo Fornaciari (Ita), Paolo Tiralongo (Ita), Evgeni Petrov (Rus), Gorazd Stangelj (Slo), Tadej Valjavec (Slo), Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) and Patxi Vila (Spa).

Read:
Shortened Corones Reconnaissance for Cunego, 28 April
Cunego on Corones, 26 April
Captain Cunego and Crew for la Corsa Rosa, 25 April

Grillo No-Go for Giro

Our Como friend, Paride Grillo (Panaria-Navigare), will not start in this year's Giro d'Italia. The Italian, who was to be a threat to Petacchi and McEwen, is forced to miss his home race due to bronchitis.

"The Giro was one of main objectives for this year, and it is a major disappointment to miss the race," said Grillo (24). "Unfortunately I have bronchitis, which I think originated from an allergy. The other day I went out training for two hours and I felt like fainting... My dad then came to pick me up."

"I will have to stop for five days, with antibiotics, and then I hope to start again with the Tour of Belgium [24 - 28 May]." BiciRace.com wishes Grillo the best of luck in his recovery.

Rebellin and Petacchi for Henninger Turm

Two Italians, Davide Rebellin and Alessandro Petacchi, are fine tuning their form for il Giro d'Italia in today's Rund um den Henninger Turm. The two are pleasing their German sponsors and putting the kilometers in their legs before the start of the Giro: Tin-Tin Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) is coming back from a cracked rib injury, while Ale-Jet Petacchi (Milram) is going through his normal preparations.

In the Giro Rebellin will vie for le maglie, specifically the Maglia Rosa, in the opening stages, and then the Maglia Ciclamino. Petacchi will want to take every sprint stage on offer, and to stamp his sprint dominance on yet another Grand Tour.

Read:
Tin-Tin Rebellin for Giro, 25 April
Rebellin Rambles on with Fractured Rib, 13 April
Races for Giro-Bound Petacchi, 13 April

29 April News ...