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2 October 2006

3 October News ...

Champion of Zurich: Samuel Sánchez

Samuel Sánchez, the same rider that you saw in the white/red/yellow Spanish kit last Sunday, won the 2006 Züri Metzgete for his trade team Euskaltel-Euskadi. Last week it was Sánchez who was so strong in the finale of the World Championships, leading out the final 800 meters for Spanish teammate Valverde, but yesterday he was racing for himself and Euskaltel-Euskadi.

Under heavy down pour, the 28 year-old Spaniard soloed into Zurich with 14 seconds over his companions. Sánchez dropped the hammer on Michael Boogerd (Rabobank), Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and CSC duo O'Grady and Cancellara. Hand on his heart and tears in his eyes; It was an emotional win dedicated to the memory of Sánchez's mother, Anpero, who died in 2000 after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Surely after the race came a phone call from Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears). The Murciano, leader of the ProTour, did not take part in Zurich but he would be happy for his compatriot. It was the work of Sánchez who put Valverde on the podium in Salzburg and so it was a pleasure to see Sanchez win. Bravo Samuel!

Züri Metzgete, 1 October, 240.9K, World Champ Race Debut
Main Page, Overall Map, Profile, Startlist
Report and Results, Photos
2005 Results

First Classic Win for Euskaltel-Euskadi

Yesterday in the 93rd Züri Metzgete, Samuel Sánchez scored the first big one-day Classic win for Basque squadra Euskaltel-Euskadi. The team, formed in 1993, is mostly made up of little mountain men but, just like with the Spanish cyclists in general, they are diversifying into one-day races.

The orange-colored team invokes emotions every time they race, and this can be best seen when the Tour de France passes the Pyrenees. You know, those crazy tifosi dressed in all yellow, waving the flags of the Basque country. The only catch is that Sánchez is not Basque; he comes from the principality of Asturias.

The 2006 Basque squadra:

Aitor Hernández, Aketza Peña, Alan Pérez, Andoni Aranaga, Anton Luengo, Beñat Albizuri, David Herrero, David López García, Gorka González, Gorka Verdugo, Haimar Zubeldia, Iban Iriondo, Iban Mayo, Igor Antón, Iker Camaño, Iker Flores, Iñaki Flores, Iñigo Landaluze, Ivan Mayoz, Joseba Albizu, Joseba Zubeldia, Josu Silloniz, Koldo Fernández, Markel Irizar, Roberto Laiseka, Rubén Pérez, Samuel Sánchez, Unai Etxebarria and Unai Uribarri.

Bettini Displays Rainbow in Rainy Zurich

Paolo Bettini made his debut as 2006 World Champion yesterday in the 93rd Züri Metzgete. The 32 year-old is a two-time winner in Zurich (2001 and 2005) but found yesterday's cold rain overpowering for his new rainbow colors. Or, maybe it was the week long festivities?

"I did not train well, I was cold and my mind was not at its best. This week there was many things that I did off the bike, I rode very little. This race was a good reentry and will help me in programming the finale of my season," said Bettini after pulling out of the Championship of Zurich with the final loop of 41.5K to go.

On tap for Bettini's season finale are four races. He will race Thursday in the Coppa Sabatini, Saturday in the Giro dell'Emilia and Sunday in GP Beghelli. One week later, Bettini hopes to make a grand exit in the Giro di Lombardia (14 October).

"I was in Zurich because I still want to leave my mark on this season," said Bettini, who wants to end the season with a win in his rainbow jersey. (Recall Italian Giuseppe Saronni in the 1982 Giro di Lombardia.) "I suffered a lot here because of the rain, but my muscles are not finished."

The 2006 World Champion found his new kit Saturday in Zurich. Waiting for him was a complete range of clothing from Vermarc and bicycle from Time, all in white with rainbows. Plus his Lazer helmet and Sidi shoes, both supporting gold for his 2004 Olympic conquest, red-white-green for this year's Italian Championship and a rainbow for his Worlds victory in Salzburg.

After Sabatini, Bettini will be on the Monti di Padova track with Italian Track DS Sandro Callari to study the possibility of track racing. This winter Bettini already has scheduled two Six Day events but he would like to try his hand at a World Cup. Maybe the Toscano should call Bergamasco Marco Pinotti.

Read:
Paolo Bettini Writes His Thoughts, 28 September
Long Night for World Champion Bettini, 26 September
Bettini Completes Circle with World Championship, 25 September

Gasparotto Takes Memorial Cimurri

Saturday, 2005 Italian National Champion, Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas) won the 2nd Memorial Cimurri. Suffering earlier this season with mononucleosis, it was great to see the 24 year-old back to winning, his first win since the 2005 Tricolore win.

"Finally, after my sickness and a crash, I have done it," said Il Friulano after the 199.5K event. "I was held back for a year."

The race is organized by Giorgio Cimurri in honor of his dad Giannetto, the masseur of Fausto Coppi.

30 September News ...