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3 July 2006

4 July News ...

Cunego Says Cheaters Need to Pay

Damiano Cunego of Lampre-Fondital rode the opening prologue with a time that was respectable, 41 seconds back on winner Hushovd. Il Piccolo Principe, winner of the 2004 Giro d'Italia, reminded us why he is here, "I am happy just to start in the Tour and gain experience; I am here to ride and I don't want to try for the podium."

BiciRace.com saw a very determined Cunego warming up for the prologue and racing on the course. We stopped by the team bus before his run to see him; Il Piccolo Principe was giving it full gas on his trainer to make sure his legs were ready for the short, explosive 7.1K run through Strasbourg. Even though Cunego gets pushed around by the big crono-guns we complement him for trying to improve in the crono discipline.

When Cunego responded to the ongoing Spanish investigation which involves 2006 Giro Champion, Ivan Basso of CSC, he was stern in his response. "Who ever has done wrong needs to pay," said Cunego after his prologue run. "It is up to the others what to decide to do about this situation."

Di Luca Feels Pain

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) is feeling a tremendous amount of pain and is pushing just to keep continuing in the 2006 Tour de France. BiciRace.com spoke with the rider from Abruzzo, who was not in the best of spirits, before and after stage 1.

"Yesterday, in the prologue, it went all right," said Di Luca riding to the start line of stage 1. You are feeling a bit of pain? "Yes. I have pain coming from my prostate area... Hai capito?"

We understood, Di Luca was not doing so well and it is likely he won't continue. It is a shame since he had problems in the Giro d'Italia, and he was looking forward to setting matters right in the Tour de France.

"I am taking some antibiotics for the problem and we will see, but I don't feel so good," Di Luca finished.

Di Luca was gapped off of the peloton in the closing kilometers of stage 1, an obvious sign that his condition is not getting any better. A long hot day in the saddle left l'Abruzzese tired and in pain.

We checked-in with Di Luca after the stage... You were dropped near the end. Was the pain bad? "Yes. If tomorrow is still like this then I will go home," said Di Luca. "It was painful all day. It is too bad because I came here to do a good Tour."

Millar Back in Pack

David Millar has made his successful return to professional cycling. After serving a two-year doping ban, the Scot of Saunier Duval-Prodir turned out a solid Prologue performance and then completed stage 1, his first day back in the pack.

BiciRace.com had a chance to catch David outside of the team bus, under the shady cover provided by some tall trees, to ask him about his prologue. How was it taking the start ramp yesterday? "Oh... Yesterday [in the prologue] my emotions were really getting to me on the start ramp but it was a positive comeback. ... Man. What emotions!"

Compared to years past, David Millar seems much more grounded and approachable. He is an open cyclist, available for our questioning and excited to answer.

So are you excited to start stage 1, your first road race in two years? "Now, just to be back in the peloton is nice," continued Millar. What are your plans for the remainder of the Tour? "I will see how I feel and what I should do in the race. I just want to get out there today and be in the pack again."

Welcome back David.

Tour: Hincapie in Yellow

George Hincapie has done it. The American put himself in the Maillot Jaune of the Tour de France, an honor very much deserved after serving so many years as faithful domestique to Lance Armstrong. Hincapie snatched some time in the last intermediate sprint in stage 1, finishing third to take two seconds, enough to give him the yellow by stage end.

"I was disappointed to come so close yesterday and lose," said Hincapie after stage 1 in his new yellow kit. "Today, when we caught the break, I knew I had a chance to take the overall lead by sprinting for the points; it was an opportunity I could not miss."

Hincapie came close to taking the Maillot Jaune in 1998, barely missing out in a sprint with Stuart O'Grady. "1998 was close with O'Grady but he got me in the sprint." Eight years ago he was a sprinter but today he has transformed himself to an all-rounder, who, if all goes right, will be in contention for the Maillot Jaune when the race reaches Paris. For now the American is happy just to have the Maillot Jaune in the world's biggest bicycle race.

"It is a big accomplishment," continued Hincapie. "I would love to keep the jersey for a long time. The decision is really up to Johan [Bruyneel]. And plus I don't have that much time over the others and I can't sprint like I used to. I can't sprint against guys like Boonen. I have been working hard on my time trialing and climbing, so we will see."

Hincapie hopes for full support from his Discovery Channel squadra in his quest for the overall race win. The former domestique of Lance Armstrong will have to prove his strength; on his team are Paolo Savoldelli and Yaroslav Popovych, both of whom could challenge for the overall lead. Hincapie will have to fight for his spot as team captain, riding a good time trial and proving himself in the first mountain stage.

"I have shown I can look after myself," Hincapie commented. "In races like Flanders and Paris-Roubaix I am able to fight for position with ease. If after the first mountain stage I am in good position then I will have the full support of the team. Everyone here wants to know who the next replacement for Lance is but it is not me. But I hope to ride well."

Hincapie had a great Paris-Roubaix this year, until his steerer snapped and left him out of the action. "It was a big shock and disappointment. I was lucky to only have minor injuries and to be able to start my 11th Tour in good health."

Bruyneel will most likely order Hincapie to lose the Maillot Jaune so that the American does not waste too much energy, energy which will be called upon for the 100+ kilometers of time trialing and mountains ahead.

King of the Sprinters: Casper

Jimmy Casper (Cofidis) stuck it to some of the world's finest sprint-guns to finish stage 1 of the 2006 Tour de France as a winner. Tom Boonen, Erik Zabel and Robbie McEwen were all left weeping in the Frenchman's wake. The win was a powerful move by a rider in his home tour and on the heels of France's victory, and advancement in the World Cup football tournament.

"I was able to watch the first part of the match in the hotel bar," said Casper of France's win over Brazil. "Then I went to my room to watch the second half. When I knew France was going to win I joined my teammate, Moncoutié, and we celebrated."

The day after, Casper had reasons of his own to celebrate: pulling off a Tour de France win. The Frenchman is not one of the top-tier sprinters in the world of cycling but proved that he is capable of battling the big sprint-guns.

"It was really a strange sprint, with no one team doing the lead out," said Casper, who used the chaotic conditions to his advantage. "It was good for me and I was able to beat the best of the champions."

"I have worked a lot to be ready for this Tour. I feel a lot more strength in my head. This season I have greater mental confidence and that has helped me with today's win."

Basso Comments on Spanish Case

Ivan Basso is back at home in Italy after being excluded with eight other riders from the Tour de France for his suspicion in the ongoing Operación Puerto case. The winner of the 2006 Giro d'Italia is with his family in Varese, including new baby boy, Santiago.

What a difference a month makes. Last month at this time Il Varesino was celebrating his Giro victory and looking forward to the Tour, where he wanted to pull of a very rare Giro-Tour double. But now Basso is back at home with the Tour de France going forward without him.

"I am calm inside, but it is not a beautiful thing," said Basso. "There is no official summons, but the first thing I thought was that I would not be able to continue and vie for Tour victory."

The news came as a surprise to his Team CSC, who suspended the rider after his name was found on with a long list of other clients of Eufemiano Fuentes, the Spanish doctor who is accused of facilitating blood doping.

Würth Pulls the Plug

German co-sponsor of Astaná-Würth has announced that it will be ceasing their sponsorship deal with the team effective immediately.

This comes as little surprise since the company warned that if the team was kept from competing at the Tour due to their involvement in Operación Puerto the company would pull the plug.

Paco

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

2 July News ...