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7 September 2006

8 September News ...

Egoi Martínez Goes Solo

28 year-old Egoi Martínez (Discovery Channel) deserved the victory that was achieved in Vuelta a España stage 11. The Basque was out in front solo for the major part of the stage; not content on staying with his escape companions, but rather making his way alone. The last attack set him free with 14 kilometers to cover until victory celebrations in Burgos.

"I didn't stop trying it and today I got it, getting so much satisfaction, for me, and for the team, giving me so much motivation for this Vuelta," said Martínez after the stage.

Signed by Discovery Channel after four years of racing for Basque Euskaltel-Euskadi, Martínez made Team DS, Johann Bruyneel, proud; it was in the same city, 14 years past, that the Belgian took victory. Bruyneel "didn't stop cheering me on and he told me to keep going, that the escape wasn't good enough. Then, after both riders caught me, he gave me more motivation and fight, and that made me try it again". Martínez added that when attacked at -14K he used every last bit of strength and never looked behind.

Martínez, from Navarra, left the safety his home team, Euskaltel-Euskadi at the end of 2005 to join the American Disco. The Basque had a hard time his first days with the team in Solvang, California due to his weight and the language barrier, but thanks to teammates José Luis Rubiera and Benjamin Noval he found his way.

Valverde Is Not Indurain

Leader of the Vuelta a España, Alejandro Valverde, is not Miguel Indurain. Though the 26 year-old is Spain's most talented rider he has not won the Tour de France five times or the Giro d'Italia twice. However, Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) is the strong favorite to win the Vuelta, something Big Mig never accomplished.

Valverde could take some hints from Indurain for time trialing, especially for this Saturday, where he will face the Vuelta's first of two individual tests.

"I feel at ease," explained the rider from Murcia. "The time trial is not a long one, only 33 kilometers, and is undulating enough [with a cat. 3 climb]. But above all, I am at ease because I have improved a lot, like I demonstrated in the Vuelta al País Vasco, in the Dauphiné Libéré and the Tour prologue."

Valverde has the advantage of racing for Indurain's same team. Indurain finished his career with Banesto in 1996, essentially the same squadra that still exists today under the name of Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, with the same team management of José Miguel Echavarri and Eusebio Unzúe.

"We have bettered his position," explained Unzúe. "With Pinarello and Alessandro Mariano, a biomechanic, we did a lot of work. Raising and moving back the saddle, positioning his cleats and lowering the handlebars. Plus, once a week he trains on his crono bike for an hour or so."

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

Igor Astarloa Goes ProTour - To Milram

Italian-based Milram has signed 2003 World Champion, Igor Astarloa. The 30 year-old Basque, formerly with Claudio Corti's Barloworld, has signed a contract for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

The move will suit Astarloa well, enabling him to race in cycling top flight races. Earlier this year he won the Milano-Torino, showing the same class that garnered him the World Championships and Flèche Wallonne in 2003.

"We are very proud of our first new acquisitions. Astarloa will be a great asset to our team in the Classics and medium-hard mountain stretches", said Team Manager Gianluigi Stanga.

BiciRace.com is very happy to see Astarloa signed with a ProTour squadra. Last season he was in contract limbo until the end of the year. The early security will allow the Basque to have a proper winter rest before starting 2007 fresh. Vai Igor!

Astarloa's past teams:
Barloworld (2005-6), Cofidis/Lampre (2004), Saeco (2002-3), Mercatone Uno (2000-1) and Riso Scotti (1999).

Guidi Gains Poland Stage and Overall

Fabrizio Guidi (Phonak) topped the bunch sprint to take Tour de Pologne stage 3, after 225K of racing, finishing in Torun. Thanks to the time bonification, il Toscano swiped the leader’s jersey from the back of Belgian Wouter Weylandt (Quick-Step). Trailing behind Guidi was another Italiano, yesterday's winner Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital), who is now second on GC at 1".

"I am no longer so young," said Guidi, 34 years-old with 5 wins in 2006 and 42 in his career. "I still have a lot to give to this sport. With the passing of the years, the long stages seem to suit me better. It is since 1999 that I have not felt this well. When there is good health the results follow."

Guidi is part of the Phonak formation that is dismantling at the end of this year. You might think that Guidi, like most Italians, would be thinking about the World Championships but instead he is thinking of 2007.

"This victory is my first ProTour win," explained Guidi. "It has a special flavor, and it is very important for the future. I am still without a contract for next season, like most of my teammates. All of us at Phonak want to continue on to show that we are serious professionals."

Today's stage 4 is a 183K affair from Bydgoszcz to Poznan, where once again the riders will face a dead-flat parcours. The tifosi can expect another bunch sprint.

Menchov and Freire Abandon

Yesterday was not such a good day for the Rabobank squadra; the team saw two of their big stars drop out of races. In Spain, Denis Menchov did not start the 11th stage of the Vuelta España. The Russian cyclist, winner of the 2005 Vuelta, reported intestinal problems. While in Poland, three-time World Champion, Oscar Freire, reported neck pains as the cause for him not taking the start line in Wednesday's stage.

Freire, winner of the 1999, 2001 and 2004 World Championships will have to wait another year for an attempt at becoming the only four-time winner of the rainbow jersey. Like last year, problems due to a cyst, Freire is missing the Worlds because of injury. Throughout his career the Spaniard has been dogged by injuries but still manages to pop up and win big races, like this year's Hamburg Cyclassics.

Without Freire the Spanish squadra's approach to the World Championships will have to be altered. "Valverde be our only option", noted Francisco "Paco" Antequera, Spanish National DS. "I will try to build a team around him. ... My idea is to have a rider that can launch him, and thus not to have to depend on riders from other nations. I think that last year Boonen would not have won if we had someone there to lead out Valverde."

USA Worlds Road Team

Christian Vande Velde (Team CSC), Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) and Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto) will form the three riders of the Squadra Stars-n-Stripes for the World Championships. The trio have been confirmed by USA cycling for the road race on 24 September. With a little bit of ingenuity and luck, we could see Horner take the rainbow jersey, which has not been done since Lance Armstrong in 1993.

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

Serhiy Honchar with T-Mobile for 2007

Ukrainian Serhiy Honchar will continue with T-Mobile for 2007. The German squadra had every right to be pleased with Honchar (36) this season, wearing the leader's jerseys in both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. In France, the 2000 World TT Champion used his speed to win both individual tests.

6 September News ...