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9 September 2006

11 September News ...

Ballerini Visits Spain to Observe Vuelta

Franco Ballerini traveled to the Iberian Peninsula yesterday to catch a few Vuelta a España stages. Though arriving late, missing the finish of stage 13, the Italian National DS was able to comment on the Squadra Azzurra selection.

This Friday in Milano, il Toscano is slated to release the names of the cyclists that will form the nine-man Italian team that will vie for the rainbow jersey 24 September in Salzburg. Almost every Italian rider wants to be selected to ride in the maglia azzurra for the World Championships but at this movement only two riders are guaranteed positions: Paolo Bettini and Luca Paolini. The other riders are still campaigning with their race results.

"I have been very happy to see the rise of Paolini," said Ballerini regarding the 29 year-old Milanese. "The win shows he is rising and he continues to rise, he just needs to race, and so I am content that he is here at the Vuelta. For him it is a question of focusing because physically he is able to do even more."

Luca Paolini snatched stage victory from a day-long escape in stage 12, eight days after his teammate, Danilo Di Luca scored on the La Covatilla. Di Luca is not yet guaranteed a post in the Squadra Azzurra but BiciRace.com insiders have him as a sure bet. (And yes, we have been talking to Paolo the odds-maker.)

"We have seen the true Di Luca here at the Vuelta. It is great to see him again amongst the top riders," Ballerini continued.

Pozzato? "Well... He is not here at the Vuelta. He did well in England but we will have to wait for the next races," an unenthusiastic Ballerini commented. Pippo will race today in the Paris-Bruxelles.

Prior to Ballerini visiting the Vuelta he was in Italy observing a fistful of Italian races. The races gave Ballerini a good indicator but he was hoping for something more testing to determine the candidates' abilities for the 265K of the World Championships.

"The racing in Italy is more controlled and too short," said the DS regarding his home races. "The indicators need to come in longer races, around 230 to 240 kilometers, and harder, so we would truly be able to see the rider's valor. The worlds are 260 kilometers, so it is also a question of attrition. For the races that I went and observed in Italy the results only interested me only to a certain point. As an analogy, if you look at football... "

Ballerini lost us on this bit about calcio (err, football), but we gathered from his points that he was ready and willing to make some tough calls for the Squadra Azzurra selection. As he indicated, some of the winners of those smaller Italian races of last month will not necessarily be guaranteed a coveted maglia azzurra.

Read:
Worlds: Bettini, Paolini, Petacchi and Ballerini, 28 August
Two of Nine Auzzurri: Paolini and Bettini, 19 August
Ballerini: Paolini on the Azzurra Track, 18 August
Paolini Satisfies Ballerini, 4 August
Franco Ballerini Back from Salzburg, 14 December

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

Augé, Benna and Olson in Poland

After an escape of 180 kilometers in Tour de Pologne stage 5, American Aaron Olson (Saunier Duval-Prodir) was unable to respond to a from-behind attack by Frenchman Stéphane Augé (Cofidis). For Olson's day-long efforts, topping the day's climbs first, he was awarded the green mountain jersey.

"I am very happy," said the 31 year-old Frenchman after finishing only 21" in front of the chasing peloton. "The stage was demanding in the rain and wind; we were often afraid of not making it."

Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital) is still in control of the race leader's yellow jersey. The 25 year-old Italian wanted more, and was upset his Italian squadra could not reel in the French-American combo so that he could have a crack at the sprint win.

"It is too bad we did not catch them; the stage was not so hard," Benna reckoned. "I have the yellow, but from here on our captain is [Alessandro] Ballan."

Today the riders will cover 162.4K from Szczawno Zdrój to Karpacz, which contains seven climbs. The riders will hit the Kowarska pass and five times up the Karpacz Górny before arriving on the uphill finish in Orlinek.

Read:
Benna Does Poland, Twice, 8 September

Landis' Lawyers Cry Foul

Howard Jacobs, attorney representing Floyd Landis, who finished the Tour de France first on 23 July, announced yesterday that he will request the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) dismiss the case against his client.

"In our review of the documents detailing the tests on both the A and B sample, we have found evidence that supports our request for USADA to drop the doping charges against Landis," claimed Jacobs. "While I cannot comment on the full details of our findings, we now have the foundation for a very strong defense should the case proceed to arbitration."

After reviewing 370 pages of documentation provided by the LNDD laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry, Jacobs, with the help of his scientific experts have come up with possible inconsistencies in a testing protocol; the same protocol that is viewed by most other scientific experts outside of Jacobs' office as bulletproof. Nevertheless, Jacobs threatens to file an appeal on Monday, 11 September if the USADA proceeds.

Making the results of two independently tested samples and appearances on major USA network television shows even more interesting, Jacobs promised to take advantage of rules that USADA doping hearings be made open to the public. Pay attention, this one could become interesting.

Read:
Landis' Father-in-Law Commits Suicide, 18 August
Landis' B is Illin', 5 August
Tour Positive is Landis, 27 July
Tour de France Positive, 27 July

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

8 September News ...