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23 August 2006

24 August News ...

Garzelli in Nobili then Worlds

Today, Stefano Garzelli of Liquigas will contest the 9th GP Nobili in Arona (Lombardia, on Lago di Maggiore). The challenging parcours consists of 11 circuits of 16.8K for a total of 184.8K before the finish on Corso della Repubblica.

"The condition is there," explained the 33 year-old Varesino, who won the Tre Valli Varesine last week. "In the last days I have been training in Mendrisio and I have recovered well. The GP Nobili is hard enough, and fits well to my characteristics. The proof is that last year Cunego won... I am ready to win... I want to continue to take advantage of the moment."

By winning, or at least having a brilliant performance, Garzelli would lock his spot in the Squadra Azzurra for the 2006 World Championships, 24 September in Salzburg. Franco Ballerini, Italian national DS, will be watching to see if Garzelli can confirm his form.

Garzelli, whose only other Squadra Azzurra selection was in 2004 (Verona), has scheduled three more races leading up to Salzburg (24 September): This Sunday's GP Ouest France, the Trofeo Melinda (31 August) and the Tour de Pologne (4 - 10 September).

Read:
Garzelli Bis in Campione - Worlds Next, 17 August

Riis Foresees Basso's End with CSC

2006 Giro d'Italia Champion, Ivan Basso, will likely never race again in the colors of Team CSC. Yesterday, CSC Team Manager, Bjarne Riis, explained to a Danish newspaper that he believes that even if his former charge is allowed to race again there still would remain a broken bond between the two.

"It is not all about the law," said the Dane. "Basso must prove his innocence in the court and he must also prove it to us. It is difficult for me to imagine that he will remain in our squadra."

Just prior to the start of the Tour de France, Basso (28) was linked to the Operación Puerto Spanish investigation. His squadra, CSC, after a rushed meeting with all the ProTour team representatives, excluded il Varesino (30 June) from starting the Tour according to the ProTour's ethical codes.

The CSC bridges look burned for our Ivan Basso. Riis continued with the hard truth, "At least he has to prove that he did not have any contact with [Doctor Eufemiano] Fuentes. If he has had any contact with him, I want to say that he has purposely deceived all of his teammates and the values in which we defend, and he will have nothing more to do with CSC."

Read:
Di Rocco Continues to Support Basso, 21 August
A Damning Fuentes Fax, 18 August
Vuelta Unlikely as Basso's Case Moves Forward, 5 August
Basso Case Arrives in Italy, 4 August
Di Rocco on Basso, 27 July
Operación Puerto: National Federations Receive Names, 26 July
Basso Comments on Spanish Case, 3 July
Bam! Tour Shaken and Basso Gone, 30 June
Basso, Ullrich and Others Asked to Leave Tour, 30 June

Eki Stops after 17 Years

Russian Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery Channel) is ending his professional cycling career after 17 years. Sunday's GP Ouest France will mark Eki's last day in the professional peloton, after which the 40 year-old will become a Director Sportif for Discovery Channel, the team he rode with for the last five years.

Way back in 1990, a little Eki started his professional life with the Dutch squadra, Panasonic. In those years, Eki grew within the team while they changed sponsors; Novemail, WordPerfect, Novell and Rabobank. In 1997 he made his first contact with US Postal but then left the American squadra after two years for a year-stint with Italian-based Amica Chips. In 2000 Eki came back to Postal and lent his support to Lance Armstrong's bid to rule the Tour de France.

Last fall the Russian had said he would continue through the 2008 Olympics (read: No Stop For Eki Until Beijing) but he had a change of mind during the 2006 season. Ekimov, a Time Trial Olympic gold medalist, looked a little lost this year in the Tour de France without his old mate Armstrong, but hey, the years were catching up with him. His 17 years as a professional, including an astonishing 15 Tours, will be a huge asset when he takes over as a Disco team DS.

Ekimov's Teams: Panasonic (1990-1992), Novemail (1993), WordPerfect (1994), Novell (1995), Rabobank (1996), USPS (1997-1998), Amica Chip (1999), USPS (2000-2004) and Discovery Channel (2005-2006)

Saunier Duval-Prodir for Vuelta

Saunier Duval-Prodir has announced their squadra for the 2006 Vuelta a España. The Spanish-Swiss formation will be based on youth and aggressiveness.

José Angel Gomez Marchante and Koldo Gil will lead the team in the GC battle. Gomez Marchante, a little off beat in the Tour de France, is ready to stomp the tierra in his home tour. Team officials report the Spaniard is "in good shape and highly motivated to fight for the Vuelta". While Koldo Gil, with good mid-season results, including a stage victory and second overall in the Tour de Suisse, is returning fresh after a forced rest due to various injuries.

David Millar will be starting in his second Grand Tour this season after being away from professional cycling for two years. Leonardo Piepoli will be the team's climbing ace. This year the Italian rocked the house in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta should offer more of the same winning opportunities.

The other five Saunier Duval-Prodir riders will be Francisco José Ventoso, David Cañada, Ángel Gómez Gómez, Juan José Cobo and David De La Fuente, the most aggressive rider at the 2006 Tour de France.

Read:
Millar Leads Saunier Duval-Prodir for Vuelta, 15 August

61st Vuelta a España, 26 August - 17 September
Main, Startlist
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
Photos, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
2005 Results

22 August News ...