Latest Cycling News, February 25, 2009

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April 20, 2009, 19:59

• Roche pleased with form prior to Paris-Nice

  Article published:

  February 25, 2009, 00:00

  By:

  Shane Stokes

  By Shane Stokes Nicolas Roche feels content that he is on track for a good showing in his first big...

  By Shane Stokes

  Nicolas Roche feels content that he is on track for a good showing in his first big goal of the season, Paris-Nice. The Irish professional has come into decent form earlier than usual this year.

  Last month the Ag2r La Mondiale rider placed 13th overall in the Tour Down Under, then finished 20th in the recent Tour of the Mediterranean. The solid run continued with eighth on stage two of the Tour du Haut Var on Sunday.

  "This is the first time I have shown early form," he told Cyclingnews. "My legs are okay, my condition is okay and my weight is getting better. I am feeling good and it is a nice sign for Paris-Nice, which is very important for me."

  In the past Roche has always hit form later in the season but, several months after finishing an unexpected 13th overall in the Vuelta a España, he appears to have moved up a level. It consequently bodes well for a good season.

  The 24-year-old is recognised as an aggressive rider and his final results don't always reveal the effort he has made during the races. He was in the mix in recent events and as his form continues to grow, he will be hoping to translate attacks into victories

  "On the last day of the Tour of the Mediterranean I attacked with Mauricio Soler on Mont Faron but eventually he dropped me," he said. "I was then caught for fourth place 300 metres from the top.

  "This weekend, I was in a break of 24 on stage one of Haut Var," he added. "We got up to four minutes lead but nobody was working. The gap dropped to one minute and I got away then with 13 riders, but we were caught with seven kilometres to go. I had worked all day so I sat up."

  His aggression continued on Sunday's concluding stage, the Irishman getting away temporarily with seven others on the Cote de Fayence climb. "We were clear but no-one worked, even though the yellow jersey was dropped. Then at the end it was an uphill finish. I attacked with Moncoutier with one kilometre to go, but he counterattacked me with 400 metres remaining and [eventual stage and overall winner] Voeckler came flying past me from behind. I cracked 75 metres from the line and got caught by the rest in the gallop."

  Next up for him are the Swiss races Gran Premio dell'Insubria and GP di Lugano, taking place on Saturday and Sunday. After that he'll ride Paris-Nice, Milan San Remo, Criterium International, GP Indurain, Tour du Pays Basques, Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

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• Gerdemann prepares for Tour on the track

  Article published:

  February 25, 2009, 00:00

  By:

  Greg Johnson in Sydney, Australia

  Linus Gerdemann's Tour de France preparations stepped up a notch this week, with the rider taking to...

  Linus Gerdemann's Tour de France preparations stepped up a notch this week, with the rider taking to the track to improve his aerodynamics. The Team Milram rider was joined by Swiss expert Andreas Walser for a session at the track in Kaarst-Büttgen, Germany.

  Walser focused on improving Gerdemann's time trial position throughout the test. "The test can be called a warm-up for my Tour 2009 preparations," said Gerdemann. "It is part of the base training."

  Gerdemann was required to ride a constant speed of 45 km/h over a specified course during the test. Wattage data was recorded from differing saddle and handlebar positions which will be used to adapt his time trial position ahead of July's Tour.

  "My personal requirement is and always has been to get the optimum out of my body and the material," he explained. "That makes a test like this indispensable. Just like a wind tunnel test, with which I had a good experience last year and which I will do this year again if possible."

  Gerdemann missed last year's Tour while riding for Team Columbia due to injuries sustained in a crash at Tirreno - Adriatico. While the German also missed last year's Beijing Olympic Games, be returned with both stage and overall success at last year's Deutschland Tour.

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• Tomic hopeful for track worlds slot

  

  Article published:

  February 25, 2009, 00:00

  By:

  Cycling News

  By Greg Johnson in Sydney, Australia Australia's Josephine Tomic is hopeful she'll make the final...

  By Greg Johnson in Sydney, Australia

  Australia's Josephine Tomic is hopeful she'll make the final cut for this year's senior UCI Track World Championships squad after missing out on last year's event in Manchester. Tomic is one of 10 riders on Cycling Australia's 'long list' for the Poland event, with the final positions being decided at a team camp in Adelaide over the coming fortnight.

  "It means a lot to be given this chance to race in my first senior worlds," Tomic told Cyclingnews. "I really wanted to go last year and was very disappointed when they decided not to send a team pursuit team, however, I used that as motivation and I am very, very determined to go to Poland and have a successful worlds."

  Tomic will target the individual pursuit and teams pursuit for this year's worlds. Tomic, from Western Australia, also hopes to be in contention for the omnium, however that will depend on her form.

  "I have had some ups and downs since the junior worlds and have found the step up into seniors quite challenging," she said. "But I have made some big steps this year which have given me confidence and I think things are really going to start flowing from here.

  While it's possible two women from Cycling Australia's long list will miss out on this year's event, Tomic is determined to make the cut. She added victory at the recent Australian National Track Championships in the pursuit, teams pursuit and omnium to the Oceania Track Championships pursuit title she claimed in November.

  "I am quite confident of making worlds," she said. "However it depends on everyone's form at the training camp. My training times in the last few weeks are much better than they were pre-national championships, so I am really happy with that.

  "I think all things being well that I will have great form and be ready to go at the World Championships," added Tomic.

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• Filippo Pozzato: It's time to win

  

  Article published:

  February 25, 2009, 00:00

  By:

  Greg Johnson in Sydney, Australia

  Perhaps you first came to know the Filippo Pozzato when he appeared on television screens with his...

  Perhaps you first came to know the Filippo Pozzato when he appeared on television screens with his hands raised in a victory salute at the end of Tour de France's stage to Saint Brieuc in 2004. He was then only 22 years old and developing under the sharp eye of one of Italy's greatest directeur sportifs, Giancarlo Ferretti.

  But to Italians Pozzato was already their hidden jewel before that day. He took home the silver medal at the Under-19 World Championships in 1998 and claimed medals in several other track events in both 1998 and 1999. His progression continued throughout his early professional years with the Mapei squad, where he earned numerous wins in lower level races.

  Fame in his home country came in 2003, with wins in the Trofeo Laigueglia and the Tirreno-Adriatico general classification. He international-level Tour de France win was followed with the HEW Cyclassics in 2005, Milano-Sanremo in 2006 and 2007's Het Volk and Tour de France stage five.

  The 2008 season was painfully void of big victories for the rider from Sandrigo, Italy. Despite a win in the Giro della Provincia di Grosseto, the biggest news of Pozzato's season came during July when rumours revealed he would ride for Russian team Katusha.

  Click here to read the interview with Filippo Pozzato.

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