BiciRace.com :: News :: September 2006

News :: September 2006

18 September 2006

Zabel Finishes Vuelta on High

Erik Zabel , photo: © Unipublic

The 61st Vuelta a España came to an exciting end yesterday in Madrid. Veteran sprinter, Erik Zabel (Milram), took stage 21 after 142K of racing and some handy work by his Treno Italiano.

The 36 year-old German explained: "I have never seen anyone give such a great lead out like this. There was an attack by Horrillo in the finale, which was tough, but Ongarato, Sacchi and Velo kept the pace high. I was not able to lose."

Zabel, who is often viewed as the nearly-man, came away from the Vuelta with two stage wins. Early on he won stage 4 in a tight lunge to the line and then yesterday's stage, the final stage on the streets of Madrid, where he had time to celebrate in style.

"It was a particular victory because it came after eight times finishing second on the last stage of a Grand Tour," explained a happy Zabel yesterday in Madrid. "Five times second in Paris, two in Madrid and one in Milano."

La Vuelta: Valverde Second Overall

Valverde, photo: © Unipublic

Alexander Vinokourov (Astaná) won the 2006 Vuelta a España, but in second, and equally as impressive, was Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears). The 26 year-old from Murcia, still in the ProTour lead, spent eight days in the leader's maillot oro.

The gold came the way of Valverde after stage nine, but was due in large part to the emphatic performance on the slopes of Alto de El Morredero in stage 7. The Spaniard held tight to the leader's kit until stage 17 in Granada. The Astaná crew, with constant attacks from Vinokourov and Kashechkin, were getting way too hot for Valverde to handle.

Valverde, second overall at 1'12", can walk away from this Vuelta a España with a vast amount of experience. We can expect to see him re-appear at the World Championships this Sunday in Salzburg as a possible winner, and then next year, vying for more classics and the Tour de France.

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

Italians Successful in Vuelta Thanks to Worlds

The Italians had a great run at the Vuelta a España. The successes were mostly thanks to timing. Ballerini was searching to make the final Squadra Azzurra selection. Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step), Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) and Luca Paolini (Liquigas) all solidified their spots for the World Championships thanks to stage wins.

Il Grillo Livornese rocketed to a win early on, in stage 2 to Córdoba, The Killer struck on the uphill run to Béjar, and Milanese Paolini in Guadalajara from an escape group. All three wins will give the Italians the morale support they will need for Sunday's World Championships. The Squadra Azzurra comes together today in Varese to train and work on tactics.

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

Liquigas Announces - Pippo, Cipo and Specialized

Tomorrow will be a big day for the Italian Liquigas squadra. Team Manager, Roberto Amadio, will sign two important contracts; one contract to bring in 2006 Milano-Sanremo winner, Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step), and the other to confirm their new bike supplier, Specialized.

The American bike company will replace Italian frame company, Bianchi. Specialized will probably supply the helmets, replacing LAS, while working with Liquigas' new technical advisor, Mario Cipollini. Il Re Leone knows a few things about Specialized; after working over the winter with the American supplier, he won the 2002 Milano-Sanremo and Worlds on their bikes.

Specialized and Amadio are also dreaming of signing 2006 Giro d'Italia winner, Ivan Basso. Il Varesino is tied up in the legal wranglings of Operación Puerto and continues to have a contract with Bjarne Riis' Team CSC. Basso will know his fate on 29 September via CONI (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano) and it is likely that Riis, who is not on best of terms with the Giro winner, will agree to terminate the contract.

Benna Doubles Italian Weekend

Daniele Bennati, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

What a weekend for Benna. Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital) doubled up this last weekend as sort of an "in your face" performance. Il Toscano was not selected by Franco Ballerini for the Squadra Azzurra last Friday but he chose to respond in the best way possible, by winning.

The 25 year-old from Arezzo won Saturday's GP Misano in wet conditions and came back 24 hours later with a win in the GP Prato.

"I am not able to hide it, I am disappointed for not being selected for the national team," said Benna after Sunday's race, his eighth win of the season. "I was convinced that I merited a spot on the team. I believe that on the course I would have been able to use my experience; I am fast, but not only a sprinter. I showed well today, a course that was not just flat, but selective."

Like most tifosi worldwide, Bennati will spend Sunday watching the race on television. "Naturally I will support Italy," finished Benna.

VDB Racing with the Professionals

Vandenbroucke, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

After being caught racing with a fake license in an amateur race, Frank Vandenbroucke signed a contract with Acqua & Sapone and this last weekend, returned to racing.

Vandenbroucke finished 19th in Saturday's GP Misano and yesterday, in the second part of the GP Prato, he abandoned with 97 others. Both Italian races will give the Belgian, who is based near Milano, the distance and speed to develop his legs for victories.

The Belgian continues with the Italian calendar, the next race will be the Memorial Cimurri (30 September). In bocca al lupo Frank!

Read:
Vandenbroucke Debuts 16 September, 29 August
VDB is Back! Naturino-Sapore di Mare Offers Spot, 26 August
VDB is Back as Boonen, 25 August

16 September News ...