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15 September 2006

16 September News ...

Ballerini Announces Squadra Azzurra

Italian National DS, Franco Ballerini, was in Milano today at the EICMA bicycle trade show to announce the nine men (and two reserves) to make up the 2006 Squadra Azzurra for the World Championships.

Italy's World Championship squadra is always the most anticipated of all the nations. Every year the Italians will fight tooth and nail just to be selected for the Squadra Azzurra, or perhaps even one of the two reserve spots. Some of the crafty Italians resort to American or Argentinean citizenship just so they can race in the Worlds.

Gli Italiani have every reason to be proud, they have one the rainbow jersey 16 times. The last, in 2002 in Zolder, Belgium, was won by Mario Cipollini with DS Ballerini guiding the team from behind. The 2006 World Championships are in Salzburg, Austria; three days before is the crono but most of the attention will be turned to 24 September, 9 days from today, for the road race.

Putting the Madrid mishaps behind him, Franco Ballerini hopes to win number 17 for the Squadra Azzurra in Salzburg. Ballerini, two-time Paris-Roubaix winner, was tasked with selecting the nine men (and two reserves) that he will use to try to bring a rainbow jersey home to Italy.

La Squadra Azzurra

The 11 Azzurri (9 + 2 Reserves):
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital)
Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step)
Marzio Bruseghin (Lampre-Fondital)
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
Raffaele Ferrara (Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi)
Rinaldo Nocentini (Acqua & Sapone)
Filippo Pozzato (Quick-Step)
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner)
Matteo Tosatto (Quick-Step)
Luca Paolini (Liquigas)
Andrea Tonti (Acqua & Sapone)

This year the squadra will be more or less captained by reigning Olympic and Italian Champion, Paolo Bettini, but the tifosi can look at The Killer, Danilo Di Luca and Luca Paolini to captain if Bettini fails. Ballerini expects an aggressive race, so any of these three riders will be used in the final escapes. This will serve to keep the other nations on their toes and give la Squadra Azzurra options to play.

“The road will determine the strongest,” saying Ballerini, who refused to name an all-out caption of his squadra. “Bettini and Di Luca are obviously going strong, as evident from the Vuelta.”

An interesting selection by Ballerini is Rebellin. In the past, the two had a falling out when the DS overlooked il Veronese for the national team. This year Tin-Tin is back, at least in the first cut of 11, and he plays a part in another controversial move.

Ballerini overlooked the selection of Stefano Garzelli in favor of Rebellin. Even in the first 11, BiciRace.com thinks that Garzelli would have been an optimum pick. Il Varesino has been winning, or placing in races all year, recently taking the win in the Tre Valli Varesine.

“I took Rebellin over Garzelli,” said Ballerini. “It is not just a matter of wins, which Garzelli has shown. Rebellin has proved very well in the Vuelta a España and I think he will fit in well with this aggressive squadra. … We need racers in quantity that can fire at all times”

Ballerini announced that a week from today, Friday, two days before the Worlds, he will make the final selection of nine. Il Toscano wants to see how the group rides together before making the ultimate decision. The boys will meet this coming week in Varese before travelling to Salzburg.

Ballerini has not only been observing the Italians, he has kept a close eye on the competition. Ballerini pointed to the always-strong Spain, aggressive Kazakhstan and Germany.

“Spain will be without Freire and Astarloa, but they have Valverde,” Ballerini continued. “Valverde is always strong; even after racing this year's Vuelta, he should go well. Last year he arrived in Madrid after missing three months of racing and finished second.”

“Vinokourov will be very dangerous. We will watch him closely. He makes me nervous. … Germany will have Schumacher. He is a young revelation, and very much one to watch.”

Not wanting to rule out last year’s World Champion, Ballerini finished, “Even though I don’t think this race will be one for the sprinters, we will pay attention to Boonen.”

Crono Boys

In a country not full with crono men, Italy should do well with Pino and Nibali. Young Nibali, from the south but lives in Toscana, fired off an impressive win in the GP Plouay and proved well over one week in the Eneco Tour of Benelux … And yes, he can get aero and go fast in a crono.

We are very excited to BiciRace.com’s Pino selected for the World Championships. Pino should make the podium, if not more. Remember back in the Giro d’Italia, it was il Bergamasco who was third behind Ullrich and Basso? This year the 2005 Italian National TT Champ has trained like never before and we expect the best from him.

Read:
Ballerini Visits Spain to Observe Vuelta, 9 September
Worlds: Bettini, Paolini, Petacchi and Ballerini, 28 August
Two of Nine Auzzurri: Paolini and Bettini, 19 August
Ballerini: Paolini on the Azzurra Track, 18 August
Paolini Satisfies Ballerini, 4 August
Franco Ballerini Back from Salzburg, 14 December

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

15 September News ...