BiciRace.com :: News :: September 2006

News :: September 2006

4 September 2006

Vino Dominates Vuelta Weekend

Alexander Vinokourov, photo: © Unipublic

Alexander Vinokourov of Astaná dominated the weekend's racing in the Vuelta a España. The 32 year-old Kazakh started Saturday's stage 8 with a vendetta: Payback for the wrongs that were committed on Friday's stage up the Alto de El Morredero, where he was caught with 250 meters to the line. Vino, proving his versatility, scored the sprint finish on Saturday, and then Sunday dominated the final six kilometers up the Alto de La Cobertoria for the mountain win.

"The first was an unexpected victory. This one is dedicated to all of my country," said the Kazakh after Sunday's win. The Kazakhstan Prime Minister, Daniyal Akhmetov, traveled to the Asturias region of Spain this last weekend to see his country's team in action. Saturday night, after Vino's first win, Akhmetov partied with the squadra; feeding the boys caviar and Spanish wine.

The food combo worked. While the PM followed the race in the car of Astaná Team DS Herminio Díaz Zabala his country's two biggest stars went to work. Vinokourov attacked and was quickly joined by Andrey Kashechkin, and the duo set about destroying the competition. In the final kilometer, Valverde was able to make contact with Kash but Vino had already flown the coop to score a Vuelta twofer.

"I wanted to take Kash all the way, delivering him to the [golden] jersey. Then I thought that it was only possible for the stage," said Vino, who will turn 33 years-old on 16 September, the day of the last crono.

We don't know how the boys celebrated Sunday's victory, but with today being a rest day, we can only assume the PM Akhmetov ensured his Astaná team was well rewarded.

The Golden Bullet - Valverde

Alejandro Valverde, photo: © Unipublic

In Vuelta a España stage 9, while Alexander Vinokourov was pleasing the Kazakhstan Prime Minister, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) put on a display of force that garnered him the leader's golden jersey.

The Golden Bullet (AKA, The Green Bullet or The White Bullet) was left chasing with Sastre, Gomez Marchante and Di Luca after Andrey Kashechkin and Vinokourov went up the road. Valverde's race overall was in danger; Kazakh Kash moved into the virtual leader's jersey and was gaining precious time on the Spaniard. Valverde fought back.

"Only Di Luca was pulling. Sastre always remained in the wheels and I had to drop them," explained Valverde, who attacked several times without success. Then, before one kilometer to go, the Murciano put in an attack that enabled him to ride free. Out of the saddle, he closed the gap to Kash and move into the race overall.

Valverde pulled on his first maillot oro in his five years of racing. It is likely he will easily maintain his golden position until the Vuelta's next serious challenge, the 33.2K time trial in Cuenca on 9 September. In the TT, Valverde will be forced to contend with Kash, 27" back on GC, Carlos Sastre, 44", and José Angel Gomez Marchante, 56".

"For the remainder of the race, these two Kazakhs will be the most dangerous rivals," Valverde noted after stage 9. "I attack hard from the small group because I wanted the stage win, but I saw I couldn't catch Vinokourov, so I went for the overall lead instead."

"This stage, it was one of the toughest stages I have ever ridden," reflected Valverde on the six-climb, 207K run. "There were over 4,000 meters of climbing, and it was as hard as any Tour de France stage."

An Unstoppable Grillo

Paolo Bettini, photo: © Unipublic

Yesterday in Vuelta a España stage 9, Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) made his presence felt. The Italian Champion, on a parcours not suited to his style, was in an early morning escape and then had another dig in the afternoon.

Bettini was part of an escape that formed in the early kilometers after leaving Fonsagrada. Il Grillo Livornese lasted for about 60 kilometers with the escape before being forced to return to the peloton. After a "rest", while covering three more categorized climbs, Bettini made another appearance with 18 kilometers remaining.

Struggling up the Alto de La Cobertoria, Il Grillo stayed clear for 12 kilometers before being swept up by Vinokourov on his way to a stage win.

"I did this last dig just for training purposes," confirmed Bettini after the stage. "I am thinking of the Worlds."

No doubt about it, Il Grillo is on hot form. The Vuelta recommences tomorrow, and any number of the coming weekday stages could suit Bettini's style. BiciRace.com tips Bettini for Wednesday's stage 11 to Burgos and Friday's stage 13 to Cuenca.

World Championships, Salzburg (Austria), 24 & 24 September
Worlds Preview
Time Trial, Profile, Overall Map, TT Startlist
Road Race, Profile, Overall Map, RR Startlist

Boonen Shows in London

World Champion Tom Boonen ended the Tour of Britain in style, flying to a sprint victory in London. Yesterday, the Belgian ended the English stage race on a high note, after crashing on stage 3 and being involved in a nasty protest regarding safety conditions on Saturday.

In front of Buckingham Palace, the Belgian superstar out sprinted England's Roger Hammond (Discovery Channel) and Mark Cavendish (T-Mobile) to score the team's third stage victory of the tour. Adding to the win by the 25 year-old World Champion were wins by Filippo Pozzato and Francesco Chicchi.

"I have well recovered from the crash suffered during the 3rd stage," said Boonen after the win. "I'm happy for my victory. The program that I have scheduled for the World Championships is going well."

Starting from Greenwich Park, the 82K parcours served as test runs for both next year's visit of the Tour de France and the 2012 Olympic Games.

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

Tour de Pologne Starts

The Tour de Pologne starts today in Poults (70K north of Warsaw), with a 214K stage to Olsztyn. The 2006 edition will include 1221.5 kilometers of racing over seven stages, in which three are mountain stages.

The race will start with 184 riders from 23 teams. Principle riders are 2005 winner Kim Kirchen (T-Mobile), Fränk Schleck and Jens Voigt (Team CSC), Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Alessandro Ballan and Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital), Stefano Garzelli and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas), Marco Pinotti and Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval-Prodir), Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) and Alberto Contador (Astaná).

We will be pulling for Americano Olson, who is rumored to be switching to T-Mobile for 2007.

2 September News ...