BiciRace.com

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

8 May 2006

9 May News ...

On the Giro d'Italia Podium: McEwen

"I am exactly where I want to be, on the podium." These were the words of the most dynamic sprinter in the peloton, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), after having won the second stage of the 89th Giro d'Italia. The Aussie successfully battled Alessandro Petacchi, and his entire Treno Milram, to emerge victorious. "Boonen is the stronger sprinter in the Classics, Petacchi in the races of huge speed and small hills, and I am for all the other occasions."

McJet is a man of sprint magic: he is able stick up front in any grand finale, jumping from wheel to wheel to take advantage of any situation. Lately he has won thanks to the work of Milram and Quick-Step, but in the past he would profit from the train of Mario Cipollini.

"This time the sprint was perfectly led-out. With less than 5K Milram took over, and I locked on the wheel of Petacchi," explained McJet. "There were many turns that facilitated my situation. We arrived with 200 meters and Petacchi was still waiting. Maybe he was trying to change tactics, because I was on his wheel, but he waited too long. Pollack was the first to go, and I was able to find my space to move through. There was only a small amount of time to recover and launch, but I was able to make my sprint."

The score of the big sprinters in the 2006 Giro d'Italia: McJet 1, Ale-Jet 2. "There are not many opportunities in this Giro. As I have said, the flat stages that are suited to me are the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th. I want also the 15th and the 21st. I don't know if I will arrive at the end. The last week will be very difficult, and I will have to see how I feel and how Milram are doing. I want to leave the Giro with some energy for the Tour de France."

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

Petacchi Not Happy with Speed

The Milram teammates of Alessandro Petacchi took their leader to the final 200 meters of stage 2 in a beautiful display of lead-out maneuvering. However, the speed was a little "slow" for Ale-Jet, enabling other sprinters to launch before he had a chance to rev-up his engine to full power.

Petacchi, who has not had a good year in Belgium, after the misfiring of Flanders, indicated team troubles after the stage: "Don't ask me anything about the train or the team. I will not talk of this subject. Period." Later he expanded his explanation of the finish into Charleroi: "It went bad. The others were able to do what they wanted in the sprint, anticipating my moves."

"[The team] had led-out the sprint with a speed that was too slow," continued Petacchi. "I looked at my computer with 500 meters and we were only going 50Kph. At 200 meters I hesitated because McEwen was on my wheel, and to depart like that is like doing a lead-out for the sprint. I preferred to wait another 20 meters, but the others went and I lost."

"I was not tired from the time trial on Saturday," explained Petacchi, who missed out on one of the few sprint opportunities in this year's Giro. "I had great sensations, but there are many factors that influence the results."

There is a lot of tension inside the German-Italian Milram squadra. Petacchi is not happy with some members of the formation. Stay tuned as this drama unfolds.

Cipo: Petacchi Missing Something

Mario Cipollini was watching the 2006 Giro d'Italia stage 2 finish, like other tifosi, with glee. The retired Italian has an expert eye for the sprints, and knows the protagonists well enough to give a valid opinion.

"The arrival yesterday, with all the turns and roundabouts, was not adapted to a sprinter like Petacchi," explained Super Mario. "It was more for an agile sprinter like McEwen, whose characteristics are perfect for launching easily. But I believe that Petacchi is missing something: when McEwen went behind Pollack, he [Petacchi] tried to follow, but he was not able to respond. I think that he suffered from the rain, which could have tightened his legs.

Bettini: Mission Impossible

Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) finished yesterday's stage 2 in third, behind McEwen and Pollack, and was happy with his "test": "I tried with two objectives. I wanted to win the stage, also for the 20 bonus seconds, and the second reason was to test myself on a long stage."

Third place only garnered il Grillo Livornese eight bonus seconds, which, even if he wins in stage 3, would be difficult for him to take the Maglia Rosa. "In the current situation [34" back in GC] I will think only of winning the stage. The Maglia Rosa is a mission impossible."

7 May News ...