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24 June 2006

26 June News ...

Di Luca Adds to Alpe d'Huez Slug-Fest

Adding to the growing list of Italian riders, Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) has stated that one of his Tour de France goals is to win stage 15, finishing on Alpe d'Huez. "Alpe d'Huez is the most appealing stage to me, along with stage three to Cauberg and taking the final Maillot Blanc à Pois Rouges," said The Killer regarding his list of July objectives.

Di Luca will join the Italian slug-fest on the famed Alpe d'Huez; Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Fondital) have already stated the famed climb as their preferred stage to win. Cunego: "I will be content to be a protagonist in some of the beautiful mountain stages, like the stage to Alpe d'Huez." Simoni: "I will go to the Tour for the Alpe d'Huez stage and to help Millar."

The tifosi will be out in droves to catch a glimpse of the Italians fighting for top honors on l'Alpe. The summit-finish to the Alpe d'Huez ski station used to be the territory of the Dutch riders but the power shifted to the Italians starting in the 1990s with Gianni Bugno, followed by wins from compatriots Roberto Conti, Marco Pantani and Giuseppe Guerini.

Tomorrow Di Luca will race in the Italian Nationals as preparations for the Tour de France. The course ends with eight circuits of San Floriano del Collio; an up and down affair that should suit The Killer. "The Tricolore should be a good test for the Tour," Di Luca (30) explained. "I don't remember the climbs exactly but I do know they are suited to my style. But I suspect Bettini will be the favorite."

Riders Protest 2006 Giro d'Italia

In a report submitted on the behalf of numerous riders who participated in the 2006 Giro d'Italia, José Luis Rubiera (Discovery Channel), a delegate of the CPA (Association of Professional Cyclists), condemned the conditions which the riders faced during the three-week race.

The CPA noted the two long transfers: from Belgium to Italy and from the south to the north of Italy. "The late arrivals in hotels for the many teams, an obvious consequence of those long transfers, prevented on several occasions the riders having the massage they deserved and needed. The rest days were wrongly scheduled (the first one after only four days) without forgetting the fact that they the days were spent in traveling."

"The courses were excessively difficult, proved by the use of gear ratios which are usually not used in races, 34x25 and 36x27.... The finish in Sestri Levante [stage 12] was a true danger to the riders' safety and to be avoided in the future."

BiciRace.com agrees with the CPA regarding the transfers. Those were some long hauls in our souped-up Fiat Punto.

Ullrich Plans Wedding

BiciRace.com is happy to hear there are wedding plans for the German champion, Jan Ullrich. The 32 year-old T-Mobile rider is planning on marrying his girlfriend, Sara Steinhauser, at the end of the 2006 season.

"I'm so happy that she accepted my proposal and that we're getting married," said 1997 Tour de France champion to German daily Bild. "Sara is the most wonderful woman in the world. I'm totally in love with her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

The bride-to-be, is the sister of Ullrich's former teammate, Tobias Steinhauser. The German has been dating 28 year-old Sara ever since splitting from long-time girlfriend Gaby Weis last year, the two have a daughter, Sarah.

Gianni Savio: Colombia to Venezuela

Did you know that Gianni Savio, Team Manager of Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni, was also the Director Sportif for the Colombia National team? Savio held the post for Colombia over the last five years, from 2001 to 2005, during which he conquered the time trial World Championships with Santiago Botero. Now the outspoken Savio will switch countries, providing his services to Venezuela.

Savio signed a three year deal with the Venezuelan cycling federation president, Artemio Leonett, to serve from the World Championships in Salzburg to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Leonett will also arrange for a Venezuelan secondary sponsor to join Selle Italia in 2007.

Michele Olmo Passes

Michele Olmo (92) passed away yesterday. Michele and his brother, Giuseppe, founded the bicycle firm "Olmo" in 1939. The firm gained lots of publicity thanks to the victories of "Gepin" (Giuseppe), who, among other victories, conquered the Hour Record, won Milano-Sanremo twice and 16 stages of the Giro d'Italia. Also, thanks to Olmo frames, many riders have ridden to victory, like Oscar Freire in the 1999 World Championships.

Michele will be missed by the cycling world. He leaves behind his wife and brother Paolo, who is the manager of bicycle firm.

93rd Tour de France - presented by , 1 - 23 July
Main, Startlist, Classifications, Tour Favorites, Team CSC versus T-Mobile
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Simoni and Saunier Duval-Prodir Updates
2005 Results

23 June News ...