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13 June 2006

14 June News ...

Raisin Hell in Georgia

BiciRace.com spoke with Saul Raisin (Crédit Agricole) yesterday. Raisin is at home in Dalton, Georgia, where he is recovering from his crash in stage one of the Circuit de la Sarthe (4 April).

The American crashed with two kilometers to go and then was immediately taken to hospital in Angers (France) to be treated for head injuries. Raisin faced emergency surgery two days later to remove pressure to his brain caused by an erupted hematoma. Since recovering, in and out of a coma, he is back in his home state of Georgia.

Raisin was extra excited yesterday because he had a day off of therapy, which he attends all day, Monday through Friday, to meet with a neurosurgeon to discuss increased exercise. Currently the 23 year-old is limited to the amount of physical effort because doctors are worried about Raisin increasing his blood pressure. Raisin, who has already ridden for short periods on the trainer, is hoping for an "OK" to lengthen his efforts, and to perhaps include the open road.

"It is strange going from being so physically fit to not having the strength to lift your head," said Raisin. "It was all a big shock; coming from France and now being back home in Georgia. I am determined to race again. ... To come back from all of this stronger than before."

We talked briefly about the cool "Raisin Hell" bracelets that were produced with the help of Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta. Raisin explained that the first 1000 were quickly sold out and there are plans to produce more. The green and white "Raisin Hell" bracelets are not only fashionable but support a good cause, all the proceeds go to the Shepherd Center to aid in brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation and care.

Read:
Raisin Inside Scoop: Full Time Rehab in Georgia, 10 June
Raisin on the Trainer, 1 June
Raisin Out of Coma and Breathing, 14 April
Improvements for Saul Raisin, 12 April
Saul Raisin Update: Coma but Living, 8 April
Saul Raisin is in Stable Condition, 6 April
Crash-Fest in Sarthe: Raisin, Lancaster, Dominguez and Farrar, 5 April

Ullrich Erases Uncertainties

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) appears to be on target for this coming Tour de France. The 32 year-old German, now racing in the Tour de Suisse, had a slow lead-up to the start of his season. Many tifosi were uncertain of his form but were satisfied that he was taking part in the three-week Giro d'Italia, where he wound up with a stage win in the Pontedera time trial and plenty of solid mountain training.

"After the Giro it was a lot of physical therapy to work on my knee, which had caused me some back pains," said Ullrich. "After a week I was back to hard training, six to seven hours, with five behind the motorbike. But the real rhythm that is needed comes from racing."

Ullrich was in the racing rhythm in yesterday's stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse, attacking with Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) to eventually setup the escape for his younger teammate, Linus Gerdemann. The efforts were more of a test for the coming Suisse mountain stages and then the Tour de France. The 1997 Tour winner prefers the Swiss racing to that of the French roads used in the Dauphiné Libéré.

"This race is very hard," explained Ullrich in his decision not to race the Dauphiné. "There are many more meters of climbing here, and I believe it is the best way for me to arrive at the Tour. I am already familiar with all of the mountains in France. ... I like the Tour de Suisse. It is one of my preferred races."

Ullrich's training and racing formula has erased the tifosi's uncertainties. The Swiss mountains should further enforce his climbing legs that were built at the Giro d'Italia, producing one monstrous Ullrich for the Tour de France.

Nuyens: Suisse Stage, GC and Contract

Nick Nuyens (Quick-Step) out-sprinted his escape companions in stage 3 of the Tour de Suisse to take the victory and the overall race lead. The Belgian was part of a four-man escape that formed on the descent of the day's final climb. The 26 year-old took the GC lead from overnight leader, Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital), and will wear the yellow jersey in today's stage 4. (Stage 4 profile.)

"I knew that Tom Boonen was in the group behind us and that in our group of four I was the fastest," described Nuyens of his win-win situation.

Still his break-away companions presented the 2006 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne winner with some concern: "When Gil [Koldo Gil (Saunier Duval-Prodir)] attacked a kilometer to go, then it started to become dangerous. I brought him back and then tried to recover some of my strength. I thought that maybe I had gone too early but in the end I was able to out-sprint Linus Gerdemann."

Nuyens has often been in the position of serving teammate and World Champion, Tom Boonen, and he is rumored to be transferring to another team for 2007. Before yesterday's stage win, Quick-Step had offered him a 200,000€ annual contract, one that was supposedly doubled by French-based Cofidis. We can only assume that now his value has gone up considerably. Stay tuned.

Caucchioli Leads Green Machine at Tour

Pietro Caucchioli (31) will be the team leader for Crédit Agricole at the Tour de France. The Italian, ninth overall in the Dauphiné Libéré, is proving to be building fine form for July.

"The Dauphiné proved to be a hard ProTour test but it will be good for the Tour, where I will race for the classification," said Caucchioli, who finished 36th in last year's Tour."

In the 2002 Giro d'Italia il Veronese finished third, taking a stage along the way, but this year he skipped his home race to focus more on the French Grand Tour. Last year, his first in the green colors of Crédit Agricole, he came close to winning the stage to Saint-Lary Soulan (Pla d'Adet), but was defeated by a flying George Hincapie. This year our Italian friend will focus on the classification while keeping an eye on stage win opportunities.

In bocca al lupo Pietro!

2006 Tour de Suisse, 10 - 18 June
Main, Overall Map, Photos, Startlist

12 June News ...