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23 September 2006

25 September News ...

Franco Ballerini's Big Day - Worlds

Franco Ballerini's big day is coming tomorrow in the World Championships. The 41 year-old Toscano will direct the Italian national squadra, for the 7th time in his career, on the 266 kilometer parcours in, and around Salzburg, Austria. At stake is the rainbow jersey of World Champion and a whole lot of Italian pride.

"This is a delicate movement because here it is not only the race for victory. What we will try to do in this day of cycling is able to help everything [in Italian cycling]," explained Ballerini, who will follow the course Sunday in the team car driven by Marino Amadori.

"Every since 1927, when Binda won, everyone watches the national team... We have to benefit from the potential of our national team. We don't want to carry all of the weight; we will work with the other teams that have interests in attacking. It is a long course, seemingly easy, but there are many obstacles. Over the seven hours of difficult racing we will have to talk a lot."

Ballerini does not second guess his decision in making the Squadra Azzurra an attacking squadra, and leaving the sprinters home. Early on, the national DS was against having a sprinter like Alessandro Petacchi in the team (even though now it is not possible due to Petacchi injured hand). Belgium is banking on the race coming down to some sort of sprint; rallying their team around 2005 World Champion Tom Boonen. Is Ballerini worried?

"I don't think we are missing any type of rider," said Ballerini. "We don't have a true sprinter but we have men who after 260 kilometers become fast. We can't think to make an attacking race and then bring a sprinter, only to put him in difficulties."

One rider BiciRace.com was happy to see in the selection is the tall and likable Alessandro Ballan. The Veneto is normally seen working hard for friend and teammate Daniele Bennati but he is also capable of pulling off wins of his own. Perhaps Ballerini will send Ballan in a fuga (escape)?

"The parcours will likely produce an escape, and if we have a presence up in the escape then it is all the better. It will allow us to be a little more relaxed in the gruppo."

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

The Seventies - Squadra Azzurra

The World Championships come at the end of the season, leaving only big races like Lombardia and Paris-Tours to follow. Riders will start the World in Salzburg on Sunday with nearly a full season of racing in their legs, and it is no different for the Squadra Azzurra.

There is a seventies theme in the Squadra Azzurra. All of the rides have a similar amount of days spent on the bike in competition (from 70 to 78), with most serving in one or two Grand Tours, in addition to a fist full of one-day races.

Here is a list of the 2006 Squadra Azzurra followed by their racing days:
Alessandro Ballan - 70
Paolo Bettini - 71
Marzio Bruseghin - 72
Danilo Di Luca - 73
Rinaldo Nocentini - 74
Luca Paolini - 75
Filippo Pozzato - 76
Davide Rebellin - 77
Matteo Tosatto - 78

Boonen World Reign Closes

Tom Boonen is at the end of his World Championship reign. To cap off an amazing 2005 season, the Belgian kicked it up another notch to take the world stripes. Returning to start the 2006 season as World Champion, Boonen was under no curse, re-winning the Tour de Flanders, wearing the Maillot Jaune of the Tour and winning a fist full of other races (22 in total).

Sunday, Boonen will be backed by a Belgian squadra intent on keep keeping the king in his crown. The course is widely viewed a non-sprinters' course, but one never knows, and in the past Boonen has proved his staying power.

"I am ready," said Boonen yesterday in Salzburg, Austria. "I think that I am actually on better form than last year in Madrid. This year I did not race the Vuelta, but I have done races like Paris-Bruxelles, GP Wallonie and GP d'Isbergues. But I have yet to show my full force."

"The course will not be easy, if it was it would not be fun to win. The Worlds circuits are always difficult. ... I am the fastest here and it will be the problem of the other teams to get rid of me. If it happens it will be on the last lap, not before. And if they drop me for 15 to 20 seconds on the last climb, then I have all of the descent [9K] to recover. I am imagining the finale will be like last year."

The Belgian cycling god (25) believes that it would be wise for the Italian team to have a pure sprinter, but can we trust him? As of yesterday Boonen still had not seen the full course, only parts.

"I have yet to preview the entire course," said Boonen to our amazement. "Yesterday, late, i went to see the hard section starting at Tiefenbach, where I came across the Italians. I shared a joke with them, and Tosatto [Boonen's Quick-Step teammate]. It seems better to me to have a pure sprinter. Look at last year, where it all came down to a sprint."

Unless Boonen becomes the fifth World Champion to repeat, his reign will end. The time will come to hang the Worlds kit in the closet and put away the special white Time bike.

"It is great to be a symbol for cycling, and also in these difficult moments that we pass," Boonen added. "I won a lot of races this year, but also was witness to lots of scandals. Often I am asked my opinion but it is not easy to talk of other, in life and above all in cycling. I try to be clear and speak my mind, to better this world of cycling."

A Rainbow Double

Only four riders have ever one the World Championship title back to back. This year Tom Boonen, 2005 Champion, will line up with the Belgian squadra to try to become the fifth such rider.

You have to go back to 1992 to see the most recent double rocker, Gianni Bugno. Before Italian Bugno, it was a Belgian affair Van Looy (1960 and 1961), Van Steenbergen (1956 and 1957) and Ronnse (1928 - 1929).

If the Belgian repeats, how would he celebrate? "I am not able to reveal, but in my head I have a special idea."

Past Rainbow Warriors

The World Championship road race takes place tomorrow in Salzburg, Austria. Riders from all around the world will take to the start line in a bid to win the rainbow jersey, which they are able to wear for one year. Below is a list of recent winners of the world title. Oscar Freire has made this race his own, but the Spaniard will not be lining up this year. His compatriots have dominated the race in recent times, from Olano to Astarloa, and this year we will look to Alejandro Valverde.

Past World Champions (from 1960):

22 September News ...