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News :: September 2006

29 September 2006

Landis: New Hip, "Cheated"

Landis a cheater?, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Floyd Landis, top finisher in Paris for the Tour de France, has undergone successful surgery to repair his injured right hip, while Patrice Clerc, President of ASO, referenced the American a "cheater."

Landis, who injured his hip in late 2002 while training near his home, had the two-hour procedure performed in San Diego, California on Wednesday. Afterwards, Landis returned to his nearby home to immediately begin a six-week session of physical therapy, designed to strengthen his hip. Part of this therapy will include on-bike, low intensity training, beginning after two weeks.

It was not all good news for Landis. USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has recently rejected his lawyer's request of a dismissal of the doping charges brought on in the 2006 Tour de France. Landis tested positive for an excessively high T/E (Testosterone/Epitestosterone) ratio after his stunning stage 17 win, where he finished solo in Morzine.

Patrice Clerc, adding to the growing resentment of Landis, referred to Landis as a "cheater" in an interview recently published in French paper L'Equipe.

"For me, the sermon has been read. Landis did not win the Tour because he cheated," said the president of ASO, which owns the Tour de France. "[Landis] gravely affected the credibility of his sport."

Read:
Landis Files Dismissal to USADA, 12 September
Landis' Lawyers Cry Foul, 9 September
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
Landis Considers Hip Replacement, 11 July

Ballerini Reflects on Success

Franco Ballerini fresh off the success of his Italian squadra in the World Championships last Sunday, is spending some time relaxing before traveling to China next week. Il Toscano, who won the Worlds in Salzburg with Paolo Bettini, is back on his bike.

"Now I can restart on my bike," said Ballerini. "It keeps you going. If you don't pedal you fall and crash."

The 41 year-old took over as Italian Nation DS in 2001 and immediately suffered a low point in Lisbon 2001, before turning around the following year to win the Worlds in Zolder with Mario Cipollini. Similarly, in 2005, it all went haywire when there was a lack of cohesion amongst the Squadra Azzurra in Madrid, but again, Ballerini turned around to win the Worlds this year with Bettini.

"The night before the race was the best moment," recalled Ballerini. "Saturday night, we had a meeting, made sure everyone had their roles. I looked everyone in the face and no one looked down, but rather they were ready to take their roles. ... The day of the race we never lost trust in the boys, but there were unknown adversaries and course. We raced with serenity but as the race went on the tension became higher."

Italy had a presence in the early escape, with Tosatto and Nocentini, and then factored in the smaller moves in the finale of the race.

"The force of Ballan, the way he pulled, was impressive," recalled Ballerini of 26 year-old Alessandro Ballan, who was on the front in the final two laps for the first climb. "He dropped Vinokourov and Valverde, and convinced me that our plan was working. I saw Hushovd blown, and thought that neither Boonen nor McEwen can be feeling good. Bettini attacked, but when he did I told him to save a little something for the sprint."

It was a course well executed by the Squadra Azzurra. The boys knew of the past mistakes They knew they were the strongest team and knew they had to follow the direction of Ballerini to have a shot at the rainbow jersey.

"I always explained that the commands have to come from one source," Ballerini finished, obviously happy with the team's ability to stick to a plan by following the instructions of their director sportif.

Read:
Golden DS Franco Ballerini, 25 September

Züri Metzgete: Italians, No Valverde

The first outing for the 2006 World Champion; Paolo Bettini will line up in this Sunday's Züri Metzgete. Bettini, a past winner in 2001 and 2005, will be the big favorite again this year.

Another hot favorite will be Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step). Although with a strong chance of winning, Bettini will likely want to repay Pippo for his dedication in Salzburg. They will have to keep an eye on the Liquigas duo of Danilo Di Luca and Vincenzo Nibali, Davide Rebellin of Gerolsteiner and Alessandro Ballan of Lampre-Fondital; all performed superbly last week in the World Championships.

There will be some strong non-Italian contenders, among which include Spaniard Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Belgian Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel), Dutchman Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and World TT Champ, Swiss Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC).

The Championship of Zurich is the third to the last ProTour event but will not see its current leader racing. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) is taking a pause after another Worlds near-miss. "I'm planning on some relaxed training, without big pressures," said the White Bullet. "I will return for Lombardia and enjoy the ProTour party afterwards."

Züri Metzgete, 1 October, 240.9K, World Champ Race Debut
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