BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

31 August 2006

1 September News ...

The Killer Returns - Vuelta Stage and Oro

I have returned. - The Killer

The captain of Liquigas has returned to "The Killer" that dominated 2005, including wins in the Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and the Giro d'Italia. In fact, it had been since the Giro, 12 May 2005, that The Killer last struck, but yesterday in the Vuelta a España matters were corrected.

Stage 5, On the 18K final climb leading to the finish in Béjar, L'Abruzzese, 30 years-old, let Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears control affairs. The work of the Spanish team for Alejandro Valverde was followed by a two strong attacks from José Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval-Prodir), leading to an assault by The Killer. Slovenian Janez Brajkovic (Discovery Channel) was the only rider capable of staying with the pounding rhythm of Di Luca, opening up at 3K remaining and not stopping until the white line, where he won the stage, took the leader's Maillot Oro and sealed his place on the Squadra Azzurra.

"This one is dedicated to my wife, Valentina," confirmed The Killer, showing a sweet side after unleashing a pounding on competition like John Bonham on the skins of a drum kit. "It was more than a year since I have last won [the Giro's 12th stage to L'Aquila]. I went through some difficult moments. When the things go well, everything is easy. It is in the difficulties that you note the differences. A strange season. I wanted to do a great Giro but had teeth problems that started in the Tirreno-Adriatico. I wanted to do something at the Tour, where I arrived with great condition, but there I had health problems too."

Di Luca will start stage six dressed in gold, but does not think of going for the final overall win. His objective was to come to the Vuelta to prepare for the World Championships, 24 September in Salzburg. Di Luca realized his first goal, which was to win a stage to prove to Franco Ballerini, Italian national DS, that he is deserving of a spot on the Squadra Azzurra, maybe even as a co-captain.

"Ballerini wanted to see me do something. Now he has seen me," said The Killer with a slight smile. "If Bettini will be the captain, I am able to be an alternative. ... My objective is this Vuelta is to exit with the best condition for the Worlds. Valverde and Sastre are not yet at their top, but they remain my favorites for the final overall. Their form will rise, especially in the third week."

So, The Killer will not fight or the Maillot Oro? "I did not say I would give the jersey away. But I did not come here prepared to fight for the classification."

Vuelta Facts

New Vuelta a España leader, Danilo Di Luca, covered the last nine kilometers of La Covatilla in 26'20" at an average of 20.5 K/hr. The fast time moved Di Luca into the gold leader's jersey, the first Italian to don the top since Fabrizio Guidi in the stage to Murcia, 9 September 1998. Although Di Luca does not have his sights set on the overall victory in Madrid, Italy could use the win, the last Italian winner was Marco Giovannetti in 1990.

Liquigas Wins but Loses Wegelius

Yesterday, the Vuelta a España lost Il Varesino, err Brit Charles Wegelius of Liquigas. Wegelius hit the deck twice, after the second deciding to abandon the race due to numerous painful abrasions on his left side.

Wegelius will be happy that his team leader, Danilo Di Luca, went on to win the stage 5 and take the Maillot Oro, but will be disappointed not to be there and help defend the race lead.

Throughout the three-week race, you can refer to BiciRace.com's Vuelta startlist for a complete list of riders who are time cut or abandon from the race. The riders names will be crossed out, like 138 Charles Wegelius.

Kash Rises to Third in Vuelta

Andrey Kashechkin (Astaná), third in Vuelta a España stage 5 after Di Luca and Brajkovic, also ascended to the third place in the general classification, at only 18 seconds to the golden jersey of Di Luca. It was not a matter of sitting on wheels to the finish, Kash successfully held off Sastre, Gomez Marchante and Valverde, gaining precious time in the process

Kash explained the upward movement after the stage: "[Today] I stopped working because Valverde and Sastre had more responsibility. Then I attacked just at the end, to try to catch Di Luca."

"[It is] very different from the stages of the Tour de France. It has been very hot, and there has been a lot of selection," said 26 year-old Kash after the stage.

The Kazakh then agreed with the comments of stage winner, Di Luca, saying, "There are many teams that come here to fight for the general. We have only passed the first mountain, and I believe that Valverde and Sastre are going to improve a lot in the third week, they continue to be the favorites."

And what about that young, skinny Slovenian, Janez Brajkovic? "I don't know him," said Kash, seemingly surprised by the 22 year-old's performance. "I think he is still very young." And Gomez Marchante? "Marchante. Yes. I saw him attacking very hard."

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

Vandenbroucke Debuts 16 September

Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke will make his race debut with Palmiro Masciarelli's Acqua & Sapone squadra in two weeks. VDB, signed four days ago by Masciarelli, will race Saturday 16 September in the Misano Adriatico, followed by the GP Prato the next day and the remainder of the Italian racing calendar.

"I am happy," said the 31 year-old. "I have been training seriously to return at a high level. Many will se a Vandenbroucke that they have never known."

Moser Mixes Words

In a RAI television broadcast in Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige), Francesco Moser, president of the CPA (Association of Professional Cyclists), indicated a preference for no dope testing in cycling.

"If we could come out with a method to put everyone on the same level," said Moser. "It is good to make the checks, otherwise in professional cycling the end result would probably be this way."

Of the broadcast, Moser said later in the day: "It was a provocation. Certainly if it was like this we could not go forward. The riders submit to the checks, but then they are mistreated in investigations and disqualified. I ask if it would not be better to turn to the past when there were no controls."

Again, Moser IS the President of the Association of Professional Cyclists, and this "provocation" is not what we would expect to from someone of the Italian's caliber. Moser must know that cycling needs to continue on its path of battling the doping problem with tests and controls; continuing to lead the way in professional sports world wide.

Aussie Goss Signs with Team CSC

Team CSC announced this morning that they have signed one of the youngest, most talented riders in cycling, 19 year-old Tasmanian Matthew Goss. Australian Goss, currently leading the Tour of Britain, will be riding for the team for the next three years.

30 August News ...