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8 June 2006

9 June News ...

Basso Joins Peace Talks

The Simoni-Basso cold war is being resolved through peace talks in Roma. Yesterday in Roma, Ivan Basso had his turn to talk with FCI attorney Armando Forgione regarding the final mountain stage of this year's Giro d'Italia, stage 20 to Aprica, and the claim that Basso requested money to let Gilberto Simoni win.

The FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana) called for the two super-powers to travel to Roma: Simoni had 80 minutes with Forgione on Monday and Basso 30 minutes yesterday. Simoni, who has since denounced his earlier claims against Basso, is now subject to fines for his false post-stage comments. The 2006 Giro champion was questioned for thirty minutes and then released with best wishes for his upcoming Tour de France campaign.

"Everything is fine," said Basso afterwards. "I confirmed what I had already said at the end of the Giro. And now I have put in my last word on this matter, a matter which I never wanted to start. Over the last days I have had much more on my mind. The Giro victory and the birth of my new son, they are the things that a person dreams of. It was beautiful to start the Giro in three and finish in four. Unfortunately, now there is a lot of work to do."

The Tour de France is on the horizon for il Varesino. After leaving Roma he joined his teammates for a training camp in the French Alps, which will last through Sunday. Bjarne Riis, Team CSC Manager, will take the boys over some of the key Tour stages, including Alpe d'Huez, Morzine and la Toussuire.

"I will have a lot of time to think about the Giro victory this winter. I will return Monday to Toscana for another mini-camp where we will focus specifically on time trialing," confirmed Basso. The Tour de France packs over 100 kilometers of time trialing and if Basso is to have a chance at winning he has to record some thunderous rides. Jan Ullrich will be public enemy number one for the Italian. The German is a proven crono-gun and will use this advantage to exploit Basso's possible weakness.

Ivan Basso's only planned race between the Giro and the Tour is the Eindhoven Team TT, although there are still discussions of him competing in the Italian national TT championships. After the Team TT in Holland, Basso will travel with his mates to London for a brief visit to a European convention held by the company that pays the team's bills: CSC.

The CSC squadra continues to prove strong in the month of June. Basso has taken note of his teammates: Vande Velde's win in the Tour de Luxembourg and Zabriskie's domination of the time trails in the Dauphiné Libéré. While winning some big races the Americans are providing their worth to be selected for the CSC Tour de France squadra.

Basso continued, "The teammates for the Tour de France will for the most part be the same as the ones I had at my side for the Giro. It will change a little, but it will remain a group that has proven themselves strong and there are no motives for modification."

There will be a need for fresh legs in the Tour de France. Three riders are likely to do the Giro-Tour double with Basso: Lombardi, Julich and Voigt. Sastre might be saved for the Vuelta while polished guns are brought-in to reinforce the CSC stronghold. The adversaries will launch every missile they have at the Danish squadra, hoping to crack their solid structure. Basso adding, "I fear Ullrich, Vinokourov and Landis."

It's the Tour, Baby! "... Now my head is only with the Tour. The Giro has given me lots of energy to go forward to the Tour. I am convinced that I can ride a great race, and I am convinced I can win."

Read:
Simoni-Basso Peace Talks, 6 June
Salò: The Cold War Continues, 1 June
Di Rocco with Hard Words for Simoni, 1 June
Basso Faces Spanish and Simoni, 31 May
Simoni Attacks Basso, 28 May
Beautiful Day for Non-Alien Basso, 28 May

Zabriskie Tops an All-American Front

Dave Zabriskie (CSC) cleaned house by following-up his prologue win with a storming time trial run in Dauphiné Libéré stage 3. While Basso was in Roma, the 27 year-old Utah rider led an All-American top four in France: followed by Landis (Phonak) and Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) both from California, and Hincapie (Discovery) from North Carolina. Finishing less than three minutes back, Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) did enough to preserve his yellow GC leader's jersey.

CSC and Zabriskie are very proud of their win and will be thinking about capturing the overall in the following mountain stages. L'Americano now stands 2'47" behind Belgian, Gilbert, with another American, Floyd Landis (Phonak) a further minute back in third. Up for grabs is a prestigious French race, but La Grand Boucle is in July, where Zabriskie will hope to continue his winning ways.

"Certainly I'm happy to win again, but I'm even more curious about how far I can take it when we start climbing. I never climbed some of these mountains, I know that will be very difficult for me. I will do what I can, but it's true that it is always difficult to keep pace with some of the better climbers on the mountains. Honestly I haven't been preparing much for the time trials this season, because I more or less just went up and down the mountains during my training. ... But at least I now have a decent gap on my opponents," said Zabriskie after yesterday's win.

Is the American surprised by his and the domination of the USA riders? "I am not particularly surprised by the gaps. This is not the first stage in which I finished with such an advantage."

Today the riders face the Mont Ventoux. The 186K stage is mostly flat, before reaching Bédoin at kilometer 164.5, which will open the door to the feared, summit-finish of Mont Ventoux. (Stage Profile.)

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

7 June News ...