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2 May 2006

3 May News ...

Italian Garzelli Shows Grit by Blasting Germans

Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas) won the 45th Rund um den Henninger Turm in a sprint finish. Il Varesino (32) out-sprinted some of the best sprinters in the game to win the German Classic. Following in Garzelli's wake, with morales shattered, were German Champion Gerald Ciolek (Wiesenhof-Akud), Danilo Hondo (Team Lamonta) and Erik Zabel (Milram). It was a huge coup for the 2000 Giro d'Italia champion, who has been on flying form since his Milano-Torino debut, but had yet to come up with the top podium spot until yesterday's 1 May win.

It was a strange, yet joyous sight to see the typical mountain-man gun down the high-caliber sprinters. "My desire to win was huge," said Garzelli, who will now take a break before rebuilding for the Tour de France, skipping the Giro. "It was a very hard course, and maybe without the contribution of Calcagni and Mugerli, plus my other Liquigas teammates, at the head of the gruppo then we might not have had the win."

The finish was on a slight incline, which favored Zabel, but the 2000 Giro Champ was able to profit from the work of the German's teammate, Alessandro Petacchi. Petacchi, who thought he was leading out Zabel, instead took Garzelli and Hondo to the line, and the following loss was a huge disappointment for the German Milram squadra on home soil. "Petacchi pulled off with 250 meters and then I gave it everything I had. I blasted Ciolek... It was a stroke of brilliance."

"The work I had done gave me great form but unfortunately, until today, no victories. In fact, this is the last race before a month of 'stop', where I will relax and start building for the Tour," continued il Varesino. The Liquigas rider will return to racing at the end of May with the Tour de Luxembourg (31 May - 4 June), followed by the Tour de Suisse and then La Grand Boucle. Go Garzelli!

Basso's Squadra CSC for Il Giro

Following the Tour de Romandie, Bjarne Riis, Team Manager of CSC, has named the riders who will support Ivan Basso in his quest for Giro d'Italia glory. Backing up the Italian Stallion will be Carlos Sastre (Spa), Bobby Julich (USA), Jens Voigt (Ger), Volodimir Gustov (Rus), Giovanni Lombardi (Ita), Iñigo Cuesta (Spa), Michael Blaudzun (Dan) and Nicki Sørensen (Dan).

The nine-man team has lots of talent: Voigt and Julich are a duo of destruction, Lombardi is an on the bike Team DS and Sastre can shepherd Basso through the mountains. However, BiciRace.com is a little disappointed we won't see our amico, Vande Velde, at the partenza.

"I don't feel like I am the 'man to beat'," said Basso, who excels in climbing and time trialing, and is considered by many to be the favorite. "I have a lot of respect for my rivals, and I believe they have respect for me, and also more experience at the Giro. I know I am one of the principle players for this Giro... I won't race watching anyone in particular, but rather do my own race."

The Giro departs on Saturday from Seraing, Belgium with an opening time trial of 6.2 kilometers. From there the riders will face three more Belgian stages before coming to Italy. BiciRace will follow the 89th Giro d'Italia, on the road, to give you blow-by-blow details... Stay tuned.

Read:
Basso in Belgium Racing and Reconnoitering, 18 April
Ivan Basso on Saltara, 17 March
Basso Previews Saltara and Piacenza TTT, 15 March
Basso Checks Passo Lanciano after Tirreno Stage 3, 11 March
Basso Scouts Giro TT in Pontedera, 5 January

Experienced Gibo for Giro

Gilberto Simoni, two-time Giro Champion, will start this year's Corsa Rosa in familiar surroundings. Directing his Saunier Duval-Prodir squadra is Pietro Algeri, who guided il Trentino to his first Giro success, in 2001.

"I have more experience this year, and around me I have people like Pietro Algeri, and this gives me great sensations," explained the 34 year-old climber from Palù di Giovo. "The race means a lot to me, I have watched it on TV since I was child. ... The Giro is first and foremost in my mind, my schedule is free until the end of June... I am willing to race the Tour de France, but for now I am only thinking of the Corsa Rosa."

"This year will be a tough race, and there are a lot of variants to take into consideration. ... I know that I will be looked upon as the favorite, but there are many others, and you have to consider the race is three weeks long," finished Simoni.

BiciRace.com wishes Gibo and Saunier Duval-Prodir the best of luck.

Read:
Gilberto Simoni Interview, 23 March
Simoni Tries BiciRace.com, 18 March

Belgian Davitamon-Lotto for Italian Tour

The Belgian Davitamon-Lotto squadra for the 89th Giro d'Italia will back Aussie Robbie McEwen in the sprints and Belgian Wim Van Huffel for the GC battle. McJet is the largest threat to Alessandro Petacchi's Treno Milram: the aggressive Aussie has proven himself to be able to wedge his way into any bunch gallop and launch for victory.

The official Davitamon-Lotto squadra: Belgians Christophe Brandt, Jan Kuyckx, Bert Roesems, Preben Van Hecke and Wim Van Huffel, Australians Nick Gates, Robbie McEwen and Henk Vogels and Spaniard Josep Jufré.

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

1 May News ...