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27 May 2006

28 May News ...

San Pellegrino to Garate

Juan Manuel Gárate (Quick-Step) won one of the toughest stages in cycling, perhaps one of the toughest races in this year of cycling: stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, from Pordenone to Passo di San Pellegrino.

The Spanish National Champion was joined by German, Jens Voigt (Team CSC), in the final kilometers and the duo then rode free. After some mysterious discussions with the team car, Voigt, returned to Garate for the final kilometer. When Garate launched his sprint there was no response from the German hard-man. Garate explains: "When we hit the hard kilometers of San Pellegrino, we dropped the two Lampre riders... Only Voigt and I were left."

"I knew that he is a grand champion and one that I had to watch. Voigt saw the work of our team, with Bettini and Engels... He saw it all. He is a great champion and a grand person. In a situation like this it was very good of him. ... If there was another hard section in the finale then who knows, the race could have been different."

Many times in professional cycling situations like this occur: teams helping teams for a win, knowing that their day of payback will come. Voigt, and his CSC squadra, have a hard day ahead with stage 20 and they might have to call on the help of Quick-Step.

"Voigt demonstrated that cycling is something more than other sports... These actions make cycling such a bella sport," continued the 30 year-old. "Maybe someday it will be paid back. I know I will never forget this. It is always like this in cycling. Beautiful. ... This time I won, but next time..."

Garate continued, trying to explain what Voigt discussed with his Team DS, Riis: "We spent seven hours together today. Voigt saw all we had to do today to win the stage. Our team worked hard, he saw that. I don't know what he said to Riis."

Many questions are being asked of the Spanish riders here at the Giro d'Italia about the situation unfolding in their home country. Manolo Saiz, and his Liberty Seguros-Würth team, have been involved in a doping affair that is rocking the cycling world. "It is a delicate situation," said Garate. "Here in Italy the news is a little unclear, and in Spain it is a mess. Sure I am the champion of Spain, but I don't know how to value the situation in this moment. I just won a great win and I don't want it clouded with this news from Spain. ... In Spain there are not the hard laws of France and Italy, but it is changing."

Garate, like Ivan Basso, is celebrating the news of a new child. Earlier in the Giro d'Italia he received news that his wife is pregnant with their first child. "This morning I gave congratulations to Ivan because I heard that he became a dad. One week ago I had good news too and I wanted to win a stage to celebrate."

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

Basso: Blue for Boy and Rosa for Giro

Ivan Basso has passed one of his biggest tests left in the 89th Giro d'Italia: Stage 19 from Pordenone to San Pellegrino. The Italian Stallion defended himself against numerous attacks from Gilberto Simoni to protect his Maglia Rosa. The day was also important because early in the morning the news came from his wife in Varese that their second child, Santiago, was born.

"I am very emotional today because I had the news of a new baby at 7.15," said the 28 year-old after the San Pellegrino stage finish. "I looked over to see light on the telephone, telling me I had a message. It was a message from my wife that said 'I can't wait till Monday,' she was in the hospital... Then at 9.10, while on the team bus, I found out that my baby arrived."

Basso never gave any thought of going home, he and his wife had planned this birth for the end of the Giro but his new boy came a little early. "I have learned to adapt to going on riding with many issues. I always said to everyone that cycling can be applied in everyday life. When things don't go well you can go on your bike, or when there is good news you can ride..."

"The Giro is still not done, I hope for more good news here at the Giro," said Basso. The Italian will travel home to Varese Sunday night to see his wife and child. "It would be great for my new child to win the Giro, but I have to continue going calm ... My squad is united and strong... I have to keep my feet on the ground. ... I will certainly not see my baby tonight because of tomorrow's tough stage. My friends have sent me photos on the telephone and computer. Fortunately, I have a wife that understands. It is clear that it is tough for dad but clearly I have to stay here and finish."

Babies and love aside, there were some hard punches thrown at Ivan Basso in stage 19. Simoni and his Saunier Duval-Prodir teammate, Piepoli, fired off round after round of ammunition towards the CSC captain but could not knock the GC leader down. "I expect tomorrow [stage 20] it will be more of the same. I am expecting the worst here and I am prepared. My teammates make a pace in the mountains which is good for my abilities. But in the last six kilometers if Simoni changes rhythm, with high pace, then it hurts."

Finally, shifting focus to July and Basso's main Tour de France rival, Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile), retired yesterday on the slopes of San Pellegrino. The German, unlike Basso, was at the Giro only for training, and his withdrawal should not seem as a big negative sign. Basso did not know if Ullrich abandoned until after the stage, "I only now knew that he retired. I knew that he was going well. Honestly, I don't think so much of other riders, this jersey uses a lot of my energy, and I need to do the race always in the first 15 riders. I cannot think of other riders like this. You will lose a lot of energy."

Fuentes Spends Night in Jail, Others Free

In the doping charges against Eufemiano Fuentes and José Luis Merino prosecutors requested bail to be set at 300,000 euros (approximately $382,000 USD). The investigating judge, Pedro Antonio Dominguez Morales, however, opted to set bail at 120,000 euros.

Merino was able to raise the funds necessary to guarantee his freedom. Fuentes, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. He spent the night in jail and will probably be released sometime today.

The other three accused in the case: Manolo Saíz, José Ignacio Labarta and Alberto Leon are all free, but are ordered to not leave the country and to remain available for further questioning.
- Paco

26 May News ...