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21 September 2006

22 September News ...

Basso Rides Four Hours with Squadra Azzurra

2006 Giro d'Italia Champion and one of the riders at the center of the Spanish blood doping investigations, Ivan Basso, rode for four hours yesterday with the Squadra Azzurra. For the last two days the 11 members of the 2006 Squadra Azzurra made their base in Gazzada, near Ivan Basso's town of Cassano Magnago (Varese, Lombardia).

Yesterday, Basso met Italy's national team in Gavirate and accompanied the squadra on one of their last training runs before departing for Salzburg, Austria and the World Championships. Il Varese guided the squadra on many of the roads that he uses for training, including the climbs of Nasca, San Michele, Monte Grino, Grantola, l'Alpe Tedesco, Ardena and Bedero Valcuvia.

Tuesday night, Basso returned to his home after two days of work with his lawyer, Massimo Martelli, preparing for their meeting with Franco Cosenza, anti-doping lawyer of CONI (Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano). The two will meet with the CONI lawyer in Roma on 29 September, where it is looking likely that the rider who was linked in documents and blood bags found by the Guardia Civil will escape by the skin of his teeth.

Read:
Basso Likely to Escape - New Squadra, 19 September

Italia Cronomen: Nibali and Pinotti

21 year-old Vincenzo Nibali and 30 year-old Marco Pinotti will depart today on their World Championship run; a 50.83 kilometer time trial. The young Siciliano, Nibali, departs at 14.56, four minutes before Americano Zabriskie and eight minutes after compatriot Pinotti.

The 50.83K test will be the longest ever encountered by Nibali, who is only in his second season as a professional. Based in Mastromarco (near Pistoia, Toscana), Nibali has ridden his first two seasons for Liquigas, and this year, specifically late summer, he has really made himself known. Winning the GP Plouay was a coup of coups for the second year pro, moving him into 17th in the ProTour rankings, in addition he also achieved two second placings in time trial events, Eneco Tour (16K) and Tour of Austria (31K).

"This will be the longest crono for me," confirmed Nibali. "The parcours are very hard, and there are hardly any flat sections ... I will need to dose my efforts."

Nibali will be guided by Italy's top cronoman, Bergamasco Pinotti. The 2005 Italian TT Champion has been with Nibali as the two reconnoitred the course over the past few days. Pino, third in the Giro's Pontedera TT, behind Ullrich and Basso, will no doubt supply Nibali with the needed confidence.

The two will face some serious adversaries. David Zabriskie, departing shortly after the Italians, stands a good chance of bringing home gold for the USA, but following the Americano are Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary, 15.04), David Millar (Britain, 15.06), Vuelta winner Alexander Vinokourov (Kazakhstan, 15.08), Iván Gutiérrez (Spain, 15.10), Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland, 15.12) and 3X Champion Michael Rogers (Australia, 15.14).

Read:
Crono World Championships, 19 September

Paolini Leaves Italian Camp - House Searched

Yesterday, Luca Paolini left the Squadra Azzurra training camp to drive home and meet with four Carabinieri who were searching his home. The 29 year-old was at the Italian camp in Gazzada (Varese) when he received a call on his mobile from his wife, explaining that there were Italian police searching their home. Paolini left the camp in his Porsche to drive the short distance to his home in Falloppio (Como).

"They were very nice and gentile," explained Paolini of the four Carabinieri, including two from NAS (Anti-Narcotics Group). "They conducted their search with respect, which was appreciated because my daughter, Gaia, was there, and she is only 6 years-old. ... I was worried when my wife called, her grandmother is ill and I thought the worst."

The search, part of 36 locations that were searched Wednesday morning, came at the request of Bergamo anti-doping lawyer Cristina Rota. Rota is carrying out an investigation, dubbed Operazione Athena, that is loosely connected to the investigation started in Spain, Operación Puerto, four months ago.

Operazione Athena has resulted in 100,000 vials of doping products being secuestered. The connection of the vials to Paolini is the gym he frequents for training. Investigators have linked some of the vials to Pauline’s gym and thus, carried out the search on his home, where they found no evidence of wrong-doing. The investigation also involves other athletes and gyms in the provinces of Milano and Como.

Italian National DS, Franco Ballerini, was not pleased with the timing. He was guiding the 2006 national team on their last training run before departing for Salzburg (last night) when Paolini was interrupted. The 29 year-old cyclist did not have to go home, but choose to be there for the comfort of his wife and daughter.

"In the end this all looks negative," said Ballerini of the news that makes more headlines in Italy than the actual World Championships. "It bothers me that these investigations always come on the eve of big events. In 2004, before the Worlds in Verona, Bettini was called to testify in the Armstrong-Simeoni case."

Investigators have assured the FCI (Federazione Ciclistica Italiana) and Ballerini that Paolini does not figure in Operazione Athena.

Belgian Team Reshaped after Crash Involving Van Summeren and Wauters

While compatriot Dominique Cornu was winning gold in the Men's U23 World TT Championships, Marc Wauters and Johan Van Summeren crashed. The two Belgians, who were training for the Road Championships this Sunday, will have to be replaced by the national team.

Van Summeren insured his left shoulder and will have to rest for six weeks while the ligaments heal. Wauters came off much worse, especially considering the timing. The Belgian, who had already announced 2006 would be his last year racing, will be forced to stop racing on a bitter note.

Belgian National DS, Carlo Bomans, will announce the two reserves soon. Reserves are Geert Verheyen, Kevin Van Impe (Quick-Step), Björn Leukemans (Davitamon-Lotto), Thierry Marichal (Cofidis) and Frederik Willems (Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen).

Bianchi FG Lite "Forza Azzurri" for Paolini and Di Luca

Bianchi has supplied Danilo Di Luca and Luca Paolini, who will take part in the World Championship road race on Sunday in Salzburg, with a special version of their FG Lite frame in azzurro. Bianchi created the light blue colored frame in honor of their riders, both race for Liquigas, being selected as members in Italy's Squadra Azzurra.

Tifosi who want to share the same passion as The Killer and Paolini, will be happy to know that Bianchi will sell a special limited edition of FG Lite bicycle in the colors of the Squadra Azzurra.

Vandenbroucke Fun Ride

Not content with reading about VDB? Why not join the Belgian on a fun ride near his home in Italy. Frank Vandenbroucke, newly signed with Acqua & Sapone, will be present at a ride organized by local amateur cyclist in Gerenzago (Pavia, Lombardia).

The return of VDB into the professional peloton has sparked such interest that locals have decided to hold a ride in the Belgian’s honor. The ride will depart Sunday, 15 October. Contact BiciRace.com for more details.

World Championships, Salzburg (Austria), 24 & 24 September
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20 September News ...