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15 August 2006

16 August News ...

Ballerini Characterizes Worlds Squadra

The big day of one-day racing is arriving; The 2006 World Championships in Salzburg, Austria. Three days before is the crono but most of the attention will be turned to 24 September, 41 days from today, for the road race. Italy's team, La Squadra Azzurra, has to be ready. The Italians have a long history of winning the Worlds (16-times) but they also have a history of dramatically missing out.

Putting the Madrid mishaps behind him, Franco Ballerini, Italian national DS, hopes to win number 17 for the Squadra Azzurra in Salzburg. Ballerini, two-time Paris-Roubaix winner, is tasked with selecting the nine men (and two reserves) that he will guide in late September. The names of those riders will be announced by Ballerini 15 September during Italy's fall bike show, EICMA.

It is early August but already the possible Squadra Azzurra riders' names are rolling off Ballerini's lips. The definitive selection for the Italian squadra is Paolo Bettini; he is the current Olympic Champion and rising perfectly for the fall appointment in Mozart land. Riders who are nearly guaranteed of donning the maglia Azzurra are Marzio Bruseghin, Danilo Di Luca, Giuliano Figueras, Cristian Moreni, Luca Paolini, Andrea Tonti and Matteo Tosatto. But we should not overlook Alessandro Ballan, Paolo Bossoni, Mirko Celestino, Salvatore Commesso, Damiano Cunego, Stefano Garzelli, Filippo Pozzato and Davide Rebellin.

Ballerini will be a busy man between now and 15 September; studying and thinking about all the possible scenarios in Salzburg and the riders that would be needed to win in those situations. "The first thing is that the parcours demands a squadra that is heavy, strong, decisive and able to offer the guarantee of freshness and experience," reflected Ballerini who previewed the course last month with Di Luca and Bettini.

"In Madrid there was a tactical error. In the important escape there was only one of our men," said the Italian DS, referring to Bettini's presence in a late-race escape. "This time there has to be a least two."

"Bettini will not be the leader of the national team, at least not in the traditional sense, where a rider would have to enter the action in the last 30 to 40 kilometers to try for the podium" hinted Ballerini on the formation of the Squadra Azzurra. "Paolo is a leader due to his human qualities. It is this aspect that gives so much even when he is not in form. He is a champion that was born as gregario."

"There will be no sprinters; they would suffer too much on this type of course. Racers that understand how to gamble for the win, men that are able to support but save something for a result. ... I will continue observing with the Trittico Lombardo and other Italian races, also a light trip to Spain to observe some stages of the Vuelta a España."

Read:
Ballerini Keeps an Eye on Due Giorni Marchigiana, 8 August
Paolini Satisfies Ballerini, 4 August
Ballerini's Squadra Azzurra List, 3 August

The Trittico Lombardo

The Trittico Lombardo starts today with three historical days of racing in Lombardia: Tre Valli Varesine, Coppa Agostoni and Coppa Bernocchi.

The 86th Tre Valli Varesine kicks off the Trittico Lombardo. The riders will take in three circuits of the 2008 Worlds course and then the race will head towards Lago Maggiore (Luino). The key points will be the climb of Dumenza (five-times) and the arrival, after 200K, to Campione d'Italia with the last 2.5K averaging 7% gradient. The favorite will be Stefano Garzelli (Liquigas), winner in 2005 and 2nd in Saturday's Clásica San Sebastián.

Wednesday will be the 60th Coppa Ugo Agostoni. The course, starting and ending in Lissone, just north of Milano, takes the riders over 199K. The riders will enter the famed zone Monticello Brianza, where they will then do 21.5K circuit 5-times. Each time they will climb the brutal Lissolo, it has slopes at 18%, and is always a key point in the Coppa Agostoni. From the final circuit is a matter of 50K to the finish. Last year the winner was Paolo Valoti (Team LPR), and past winners include Merckx, Moser, De Vlaeminck, Bugno, Tafi and Jalabert.

Finally, the Trittico will be concluded Thursday with the 88th the Coppa Bernocchi; a 199K race, starting and ending in Legnano. The main difficulties will come mid-race: five ascents of the Morazzone (410m). From the last climb of Morazzone to the finish, it is 50K of downhill and flat roads. Recent winners are Vainsteins (2000), Valoti (2001), Nardello (2002), Barbero (2003), Furlan (2004), and Napolitano (2005).

Simoni and Bugno with Moser

Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir) will be putting his post-Tour de France form to good use; this Sunday in Trento (Palù di Giovo) is the 18th edition of a non-competitive ride with Francesco Moser.

The ride is a chance for fans, pros and former pros to ride together with Moser for 85K. Joining the big names of Moser and Simoni, who is married to Moser's niece, will be Gianni Bugno and Renato Di Rocco (President of the FCI).

Paco Antequera Returns

Paco Antequera will continue to direct the Spanish armada for the World Championships. After patching up his differences with the RFEC (Spanish Cycling Federation), which led him to leave his post after last years Worlds in Madrid, Antequera will return to direct Spain's national squadra for Salzburg.

Since becoming national DS in 1997, The 42 year-old Spaniard has led the squadra to 11 medals with five gold medals, which include Oscar Freire (1999, 2001 and 2004) and Igor Astarloa (2003).

Antequera has been observing the Spanish talent and he is expected to build a team around Oscar Freire and Alejandro Valverde. Like in years past, the Spanish squadra should prove to be a united and strong force.

Millar Leads Saunier Duval-Prodir for Vuelta

David Millar, who returned to racing in the Tour de France, will lead Saunier Duval-Prodir in the 2006 Vuelta a España. The Scot performed very well in the Tour de France considering it was only his first race back after a two-year ban due to doping. Expect a strong backing for Millar from Saunier Duval-Prodir; the squadra is likely to also include Aaron Olson, Koldo Gil and José Angel Gomez Marchante.

93rd Tour de France - presented by , 1 - 23 July

14 August News ...