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7 June 2006

8 June News ...

Gilbert Turns the Screws

"I did not expect to do that," were the words of Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) after turning the screws on the 58th Edition of the Dauphiné Libéré. The 23 year-old Belgian broke-clear of the peloton early in stage two with two Frenchmen, and then went solo with 35K to go. He arrived in Saint-Galmier as the happiest man in France: Gilbert won the stage, took the race leader's yellow jersey from Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) and finished with enough buffer to possibly win the overall race, which finishes this Sunday.

The day was a huge coup for the French squadra. Team Manager, Marc Madiot, masterminded the day, putting two of his men in the three-man escape, thus giving them numbers for a possible stage win. Sébastien Joly and Gilbert worked-over their companion, Vasseur, setting up the day for Gilbert's solo ride through the Loire region. It was an outstanding win for FDJ, but Madiot did not count on his young Walloon charge, Gilbert, to arrive with such a time gap.

"That was good," quipped Madiot, a double Paris-Roubaix champion. "We were not thinking it would happen the way it did. It was a great result!"

"I wanted to wait for Sébastien, but I realized that it was too dangerous," said Gilbert, dressed in yellow after the stage win. "I was looking to take victory since my success in the Het Volk. The Ardennes Classics were my priority but they did not go how I wanted. A stomach virus knocked me out and made me change my objectives."

Objectives for a normal 23 year-old rider might be just to survive in the peloton, but Gilbert is proving to be one of the diamonds of our lovely sport. Gilbert wakes up today, with five minutes and change over Wegmann, to face a 42K time trial. To win the GC, the Belgian will want to limit his losses in the TT and then look to hold on through the following stages in the high mountains.

"It is a win I want to savor. After this long escape... I might have to pay for this ride in the mountains, where I am not a natural climber. ... For me it is the first time to have the leader's jersey in an important race. I will give it my all for the remainder of the race," Gilbert finished.

Keep an eye on Gilbert. The Belgian, since turning professional in 2003 with FDJ has obtained eleven victories, but more importantly he seems to have that star attraction. BiciRace.com has received lots of feedback from our female readers, who have noted more than his riding talents.

Dauphiné TT Guns Blaze

The time trial guns are going to blaze today in the Dauphiné Libéré: The riders face a rolling 42K test through the Drôme region. The short TT is not likely to make big differences in the Dauphiné's overall GC, but will be very important for the Tour de France riders. (Stage Profile.)

Riders like Zabriskie, Leipheimer, Landis, Hincapie, Popovych, Valverde and Vinokourov will be going full-gas to test their legs in view of July's big race. The Tour de France has two serious time trials, both over 50K in length, and whoever wants to win the three week race will need to be able to handle the lone, aero riding.

Two Tour de France hot-favorites who are not at the Dauphiné, Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, will definitely be tuning-in to find out how their rivals and teammates performed.

It will be interesting to see how Zabriskie's long game is coming along. He won the short opening time trial in the Dauphiné, and winning today will give his teammate, Basso, confidence, and maybe even some concern. Should the Italian Stallion falter in La Grand Boucle, look for Dave to step up.

There is an internal battle being waged at Discovery Channel : Popo and Hincapie are riding to confirm who deserves the blue backing for the Tour. Popo was a little off in Sunday's Dauphiné opener, and will want to show he is deserving of protection for July. Hincapie will want to confirm his good result of three days ago and lock-in his right as the Disco Captain.

2006 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, 4 - 11 June
Main, Overall Map, Photos, Startlist

Gavazzi: Father and Son Join Amore & Vita-McDonald's

Pierino Gavazzi and his son, Mattia, have joined the Amore & Vita-McDonald's squadra. Pierino, with some 100 victories to his name, including a win in Milano-Sanremo and three Italian national titles, will join the squadra as a Direttore Sportivo. While his 22 year-old son, Mattia, formerly with Team LPR, will help enforce the squadra's sprinting strength.

Quaranta Back on Road

Ivan Quaranta (Universal Caffè-CB Immobiliare), winner of six Giro d'Italia stages, has announced that he will be back on the road in July.

"A long series of problems had blocked me this season," said the 31 year-old Italian. "In the next month I hope to come back as a protagonist. I will start with the Brixia Tour and then I will travel with the team to Spain and France for some short stage races. I still believe in my capabilities.

Read:
Ivan Quaranta Keeps Realistic, 6 January

Hondo Back Again

Suspended German rider, Danilo Hondo (Lamonta), has again been cleared to compete as a cyclist. On the 17th of March, Hondo was cleared by a Swiss tribunal to return to competition, but was subsequently suspended again on the 25th of May by the World Anti Doping Agency at the second stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt.

6 June News ...