Second Edition Cycling News, Monday, August 9, 2010

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Date published:

August 9, 2010, 23:00

• Tour of South Africa re-introduced

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 10:30

  By:

  Hedwig Kröner

  Cycling South Africa builds up international stage race for 2011

  A popular off-season training location for many European pro cyclists, South Africa may soon see more top riders come to visit the country at the southernmost tip of Africa as it is preparing an international event for next year.

  Cycling South Africa has announced that it is planning to have the Tour of South Africa, discontinued 10 years ago, back on the calendar for at least the next two seasons, 2011 and 2012. The national tour will get underway in the third week of February.

  "The aim of the tour is to create a cycling culture in South Africa and to make professional cyclists around the world want to ride in South Africa," Cycling South Africa general secretary Ciska Austin told AP.

  Cycling officials were meeting Thursday in Johannesburg to start preparing the route.

  Moreover, Austin added that a program of competitive cycling weekends was planned next year to improve the performance of South African riders in international race conditions, where distances covered are far longer than in local competitions.

  If successful, the country could see its national tour rise to similar popularity as the Tour Down Under held in January. Over the years, the Australian event has gained in status and is now a confirmed early season destination for many European teams despite being held on the other side of the globe. It is also a major aim of the International Cycling Union (UCI) to extend pro cycling, still very much centered in Europe, to a world-wide level.

• The Cyclingnews guide to rider transfers 2010-2011

  

  Article published:

  November 23, 2010, 19:20

  By:

  Cycling News

  UPDATED: All the comings and goings from the pro peloton

  With the Tour de France over and the countdown to the World Championships beginning in earnest, teams are starting to shore up their rosters for next season. The hottest property on the market, Alberto Contador, has already confirmed his move to Saxo Bank-SunGard. Meanwhile, the arrival of the new Luxembourg team should compensate for the departure of some big-name sponsors and ensure significant movement in the transfer market.

  From here until the end of the season there will be a flurry of transfer activity, so don’t get left behind and bookmark this page. Check back regularly to get up-to-the-minute news from Cyclingnews about who's going where in this transfer period.

  Ag2r-La Mondiale

  In:
  Mathieu Perget (Caisse d’Epargne)
  Romain Lemarchand (Big Mat-Auber 93)
  Matteo Montaguti (De Rosa-Stac Plastic)
  Jean-Christophe Péraud (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Mikael Cherel (FDJ)
  Seabastien Minard (Cofidis)
  Steve Houanard (Skil-Shimano)

  Out:
  Vladimir Efimkin
  René Mandri
  Jose Luis Arrieta (Retired)
  Alexander Efimkin (Team Type 1)
  Nicolas Rousseau (Big Mat-Auber 93)
  Gatis Smukulis (HTC-Highroad)
  Ludovic Turpin (Saur Sojasun)
  Tadej Valjavec

  Re-signed:
  Nicolas Roche
  Cyril Dessel
  Sebastien Hinault
  Yuriy Kritsov
  Guillaume Bonnafond
  Martin Elminger
  John Gadret
  Blel Kadri
  Rinaldo Nocentini
  Julien Berard
  Maxime Bouet
  Dimitri Champion
  Hubert Dupont
  Ben Gastauer
  Kristof Goddaert
  David Le Lay
  Julien Loubet
  Lloyd Mondory
  Anthony Ravard
  Christope Riblon

  Androni-Diquigiovanni

  In:
  Emanuele Sella
  Josè Rujano

  Out:
  Cameron Wurf (Liquigas-Cannondale)

  Astana

  In:

  Robert Kirserlovski (Liquigas)
  Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas)
  Evgeni Petrov (Katusha)
  Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre)
  Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua&Sapone)
  Tanl Kangert (Estonia)
  Fredrik Kessiakoff (Garmin-Transitions)
  Remi Di Gregoio (FDJ)
  Simon Clark (ISD-Neri)

  Out:
  Alberto Contador
  Jesus Hernandez
  Daniel Navarro
  Benjamin Noval

  Re-signed:
  Alexander Vinokourov

  Bbox-Bouygues Telecom (becomes Europcar)
  

  In:
  Sebastian Chavanel (FDJ)

  Out:
  Yuri Trofimov (Katusha)
  Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ)
  Nicolas Vogondy (Cofidis)
  William Bonnet (FDJ)
  Johann Tschopp (BMC)
  Steve Chainel (FDJ)

  BMC

  In:
  Yannick Eijssen
  Amaël Moinard (Cofidis)
  Johann Tschopp (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom)
  Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas-Doimo)
  Ivan Santaromita (Liquigas-Doimo)
  Greg Van Avermaert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Tim Roe
  Taylor Phinney (Trek-Livestrong)

  Ceramica Flaminia

  Out:
  Riccardo Riccò (Vacansoleil)
  Daniele Colli (Geox)

  Cervelo TestTeam

  Out:
  Carlos Sastre (Geox)
  Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Andreas Klier (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Brett Lancaster (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Daniel Lloyd (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Roger Hammond (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Gabriel Rasch (Garmin-Cervélo)
  Xavier Tondo (Movistar)
  Ted King (Liquigas-Cannondale)
  Martin Reimer (Skil-Shimano)
  Jeremy Hunt (Team Sky)

  Davide Appollonio (Team Sky)

  Cofidis

  In:
  Nicolas Vogondy (Bbox)
  

  Out:
  Amaël Moinard

  Colnago-CSF Inox

  In:

  Angelo Pagani (neo)
  Andrea Pasqualon (neo)
  Paolo Locatelli (neo)
  Omar Lombardi (neo)
  Manuele Caddeo
  Andrea Piechele (Carmiooro NGC)

  Out:

  Alan Marangoni (Liquigas-Doimo)

  Staying:

  Domenico Pozzovivo
  Manuel Belletti
  Sacha Modolo
  Marco Frapporti
  Federico Canuti
  Gianluca Brambilla
  Stefano Pirazzi
  Simone Stortoni
  Filippo Savini
  Alberto Contoli
   

  Endura Racing Team

  In
  Rene Mandri (Ag2R La Mondiale)
  Paul Voss (Team Milram)

  Euskaltel-Euskadi

  In:
  Pierre Cazaux (FDJ)

  Out:
  Beñat Intxausti

  Re-signed:
  Igor Anton
  Egoi Martinez
  Samuel Sanchez
  Romain Sicard
  Amets Txurruka
  Gorka Verdugo
  Iban Velasco

  Française des Jeux

  In:
  Pierrick Fédrigo (Bbox)
  William Bonnet (Bbox)
  Steve Chainel (Bbox)

  Out:
  Sebastian Chavanel (Europcar)
  Jussi Veikkanen (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Christophe Le Mével (Garmin)
  Remi Di Gregorio (Astana)
  
  Re-signed:
  Frédéric Guesdon
  Sandy Casar
  Mathieu Ladagnous
  Yoann Offredo
  Jérémy Roy
  

  Garmin-Transitions

  In:
  Christophe Le Mével (FDJ)
  Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam)
  Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam)
  Andreas Klier (Cervélo TestTeam)
  Brett Lancaster (Cervélo TestTeam)
  Daniel Lloyd (Cervélo TestTeam)
  Roger Hammond (Cervélo TestTeam)
  Gabriel Rasch (Cervélo TestTeam)
  
  Out:
  Trent Lowe (Pegasus)
  Christian Meier (United Healthcare)
  Svein Tuft (Pegasus)
  Ricardo Van der Velde
  Robbie Hunter (Pegasus)
  Danny Pate (HTC-Columbia)
  Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana)
  Steven Cozza (NetApp)
  Timothy Duggan (Liquigas-Cannondale)

  Re-signed:
  Murilo Fischer

  Geox (Footon-Servetto)

  In:
  Juan Jose Cobo (Caisse d'Epargne)
  David Gutierrez Gutierrez
  Carlos Sastre (Cervelo)
  Denis Menchov (Rabobank)
  Fabio Duarte (Café de Colombia)
  Matteo Pelucchi (Trevigiani)
  Marko Kump (Adria Mobil)
  Marcel Wyss (Cervelo)
  Mauricio Ardila (Rabobank)
  Dimitry Kozontchuk (Rabobank)
  David Blanco (Palmeiras)
  Daniele Colli (Ceramica Flaminia)

  HTC-Highroad

  In:
  Matt Brammeier (An Post Sean Kelly Team)
  John Degenkolb (neo)
  Gatis Smukulis (AG2R La Mondiale)
  Alex Rasmussen (Saxo Bank)
  Caleb Fairly (neo)
  Danny Pate (Garmin-Transitions)

  Out:
  André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Adam Hansen (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Marcel Sieberg (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Gert Dockx (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Vicente Reynes (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Michael Rogers (Team Sky)
  Maxime Monfort (Luxembourg Pro Cycling)
  Aleksejs Saramontins (Cofidis)

  Re-signed:
  Bert Grabsch
  Bernard Eisel
  Mark Renshaw
  

  ISD-Neri

  Re-signed:
  Giovanni Visconti

  Jamis-Sutter Home

  In:
  Fernando Antogna
  Eric Shildge
  Bradley Ghrig

  Out:
  Ivan Dominguez (retired)

  Staying:
  Luis Amaran
  Alejandro Borrajo
  Anibal Borrajo
  Tyler Wren
  Jamey Driscoll
  Ignacio Pereyra
  Andy Guptill
  Tucker Brown
  Nick Frey
  Jackie Simes, III

  Jelly Belly

  In:

  Ken Hanson (Team Type 1)
  Alex Hagman (neo)
  Nick Hamilton
  Emerson Oronte
  Cameron Cogburn
  Alistair Loutit

  Out:

  Mike Friedman (Kelly Benefit Strategies)
  Will Routley (SpiderTech-C10)
  Kiel Reijnen (Team Type 1)

  Staying:

  Jeremy Powers
  Brad Huff
  Bernard Van Ulden
  Will Dickeson
  Sean Mazich
  Sergio Hernandez

  Katusha

  In:
  Yuri Trofimov (Bbox Bouygues Telecom)
  Leif Hoste (Omega Pharma-Lotto)

  Out:
  Evgeni Petrov (Astana)
  Robbie McEwen (Pegasus Sports)
  Serguei Klimov (Pegasus Sports)

  Re-signed:
  Vladimir Karpets

  Kelly Benefit Strategies

  In
  Michael Creed (Team Type 1)
  Jason Donald (Bahati Foundation)
  Mike Friedman (Jelly Belly)
  Daniel Holloway (Bissell)

  Out
  Scott Zwizanski (UnitedHealthCare)

  Lampre – Farnese Vini

  In:
  Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli)
  Andrei Kashechkin
  Leonardo Bertagnolli (Androni Giocattoli)
  Przemyslaw Niemiec (Miche)

  Out:
  Mirco Lorenzetto (Astana)
  Mauro Da Dalto (Liquigas-Cannondale)
  Simone Ponzi (Liquigas-Cannondale)

  Re-signed:
  Damiano Cunego

  Liquigas-Doimo

  In:
  Paolo Borghini Longho (ISD - Neri)
  Eros Capecchi (Footon-Servetto)
  Cristiano Salerno (De Rosa - Stac Plastic)
  Damiano Caruso (De Rosa - Stac Plastic)
  Cameron Wurf (Androni Giocattoli)
  Alan Marangoni (CSF-Colnago)
  Dominik Nerz (Milram)
  Mauro Da Dalto (Lampre)
  Simone Ponzi (Lampre)
  Timothy Duggan (Garmin-Transitions)
  Ted King (Cervelo)
  Cameron Wurf (Androni-Giocattoli)

  Out:
  Francesco Chicchi (Quick Step)
  Robert Kiserlovski (Astana)
  Roman Kreuziger (Astana)
  Manuel Quinziato (BMC)
  Ivan Santaromita (BMC)
  Oliver Zaugg (Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project)

  Re-signed:
  Valerio Agnoli
  Maciej Bodnar
  David Cimolai
  Mauro Finetto
  Jacopo Guarnieri
  Kristjan Koren
  Maciej Paterski
  Daniel Oss
  Fabio Sabatini
  Elia Viviani
  Ivan Basso
  Vincenzo Nibali
  Sylwester Szmyd
  Alessandro Vanotti
  Francesco Bellotti
  Tiziano Dall’Antonia

  Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project

  In:
  Will Clarke (Genesys Wealth Advisors)
  Stefan Denifl (Cervelo)
  Brice Feillu (Vacansoleil)
  Daniele Bennati (Liquigas)
  Davide Viganò (Team Sky)
  Giacomo Nizzolo (neo)
  Bruno Pires (Barbot Siper)
  Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia)
  Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step)
  Dominic Klemme (Saxo Bank)
  Linus Gerdemann (Milram)
  Fabian Wegmann (Milram)
  Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank)
  Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank)
  Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank)
  Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)
  Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank)
  Fabian Cancellara? (Saxo Bank)
  Anders Lund (Saxo Bank)
  Martin Mortensen (Vacansoleil)
  Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank)
  Oliver Zaugg (Liquigas-Doimo)
  Joost Posthuma (Rabobank)

  Miche

  In:
  Stefan Schumacher

  Movistar

  In:
  Beñat Intxausti (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
  Xavier Tondo (Cervelo TestTeam)
  Ignatus Konovalovas (Cervelo TestTeam)
  Franciso José Ventoso (Carmiooro)
  Sergio Pardilla (Carmiooro)
  Branislau Samoilau (Quick Step)

  Re-signed:
  Ivan Gutierrez

  Omega Pharma – Lotto

  In:
  André Greipel (HTC-Columbia)
  Jurgen Van de Walle (Quick Step)
  Jussi Veikkanen (FDJ)
  Bart De Clerq
  Maarten Neyens
  Adam Hansen (HTC-Columbia)
  Vincente Reynes (HTC-Columbia)
  Marcel Sieberg (HTC-Columbia)
  Gert Dockx (HTC-Columbia)
  David Boucher (Landbouwkrediet)
  Jens Debusschere
  Klaas Lodewyck (Topsport Vlaanderen)
  Oscar Pujol (Cervélo)
  Sven Vandousselaere (Jong Vlaanderen)
  Frederik Willems (Liquigas-Doimo)

  Out:
  Leif Hoste (Katusha)
  Greg Van Avermaert (BMC)
  Jean-Christophe Péraud (AG2R-La Mondiale)

  Pegasus Sports

  In
  Ben Day (Fly V Australia)
  Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia)
  Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia)
  Aaron Kemps (Fly V Australia)
  Jai Crawford (Fly V Australia)
  Darren Lill (Fly V Australia)
  Jay Thomson (Fly V Australia)
  Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia)
  Robbie McEwen (Katusha)
  Dominique Cornu (Skil-Shimano)
  Svein Tuft (Garmin-Transitions)
  Luke Roberts (Milram)
  Christian Knees (Milram)
  Serguei Klimov (Katusha)
  Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions)
  Trent Lowe (Garmin-Transitions)
  Daryl Impey (RadioShack)
  Rohan Denis (Jayco-Skins)
  Clinton Avery (neo)
  Darren Lapthorne (Rapha Condor)

  Quick Step

  In:
  Marc de Maar
  Francesco Chicchi
  Niki Terpstra

  Out:
  Kurt Hovelynck (Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly)
  Kevin Hulsmans (Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly)
  Jurgen Van de Walle
  Maarten Wynants
  Marco Velo (retired)
  Matteo Tosatto (Saxo Bank-Sungard)

  Re-signed:
  Sylvain Chavanel
  

  Rabobank

  In:
  Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank)
  Michael Matthews (Jayco-Skins)
  Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
  Theo Bos (Cervelo)
  Maarten Wynants (Quick Step)
  Carlos Barredo (Quick Step)

  Out:
  Koos Moerenhout (retired)
  Joost Posthuma (Luxembourg team)
  Kai Reus (retired)
  Denis Menchov (Geox)

  Re-signed:
  Graeme Brown

  RadioShack

  In:

  Manuel Cardoso (Footon-Servetto)
  Jesse Sergent (Trek-Livestrong)
  Michal Kwiatkowski (Caja Rural)
  Philip Deignan (Cervelo TestTeam)
  Nélson Oliveira (Xacobeo Galicia)
  Benjamin King (Trek-Livestrong)

  Re-signed:
  Lance Armstrong
  San Bewley
  Janez Brajkovic
  Matthew Busche
  Ben Hermans
  Chris Horner
  Markel Irizar
  Andreas Klöden
  Levi Leipheimer
  Geoffroy Lequatre
  Tiago Machado
  Dmitry Muravyev
  Sergio Paulinho
  Yaroslav Popovych
  Gregory Rast
  Sebastien Rosseler
  Bjorn Selander
  Gert Steegmans
  Haimar Zubeldia

  Out:
  Jose Luis Rubiera (Retired)
  Daryl Impey (Pegasus Sports)

  Saxo Bank – SunGard

  In:
  Alberto Contador
  Jesus Hernandez
  Daniel Navarro
  Benjamin Noval
  Nick Nuyens
  Volodymyr Gustov
  Manuele Boaro
  Matteo Tosatto (Quick Step)

  Out:
  Fränk Schleck
  Andy Schleck
  Matti Breschel
  Anders Lund
  Frank Høj (retired)
  Fabian Cancellara
  Jens Voigt
  Stuart O'Grady
  Jakob Fuglsang
  Dominic Klemme

  Re-signed:
  Michael Mørkøv
  

  Skil-Shimano

  In:
  Johannes Fröhlinger (Milram)
  Roman Kluge (Milram)
  Marcel Kittel (Thüringer Energie)
  Thomas Bonnin
  Thomas Damuseau
  Martin Reimer
  Matthieu Sprick
  Ronan van Zandbeek

  Out:
  Dominique Cornu (Pegasus Sports)
  Steve Hounard (AG2R La Mondiale)

  Re-signed:
  Roy Curvers
  Mitchell Docker
  Koen de Kort
  Steve Houanard
  Kenny Van Hummel

  Team Sky

  In:
  Alex Dowsett (Trek-Livestrong)
  Xabier Zandio (Caisse d'Epargne)
  Rigoberto Uran (Caisse d'Epargne)
  Michael Rogers (HTC-Columbia)
  Jeremy Hunt (Cervelo)
  Davide Appollonio (Cervelo)

  Re-signed:
  Russell Downing

  Team Type 1

  In:
  Alexander Efimkin
  Alexey Schmidt (neo)
  Kiel Reijnen (Jelly Belly)
  Ben King (Trek-Livestrong)
  Ivan Melero (Burgos 2016 - Castilla y Leon)

  Out:
  Michael Creed (Kelly Benefit Strategies)
  Ken Hanson (Jelly Belly)
  Davide Frattini (UnitedHealthcare)
  Christopher Jones (UnitedHealthcare)
  Shawn Milne (Kenda Pro Cycling)

  Staying:
  Alex Bowden
  Fabio Calabria
  Will Dugan
  Joe Eldridge
  Aldo Ino Ilesic
  Valeriy Kobzarenko
  Javier Megias Leal
  Scott Stewart
  Martijn Verschoor

  United Healthcare p/b Maxxis

  In:
  Trent Lowe (Garmin -Transitions)
  Robert Förster (Team Milram)
  Christian Meier (Garmin-Transitions)
  Scott Zwizanski (KBS)
  Davide Frattini (Team Type 1)
  Chris Jones (Team Type 1)
  Charly Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
  Boy Van Poppel (Rabobank Continental)

  Re-signed:
  Rory Sutherland
  Karl Menzies
  Brad White
  Adrian Hegyvary
  Jonny Clarke
  Hilton Clarke
  Max Jenkins
  Jake Keough
  Morgan Schmitt

  Vanansoleil

  In:

  Stijn Devolder
  Martijn Keizer
  Riccardo Riccò
  Ezequiel Mosquera

  Out:
  Brice Feillu
  Bobbie Traksel
  Wouter Mol

  Re-signed:
  Romain Feillu
  Bjorn Leukemas

• 2011 Tour de France set for Brittany?

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 13:30

  By:

  Peter Cossins

  Tour looks set to move due north after starting in the Vendée

  With more than two months still to go before the route of the 2011 Tour de France is unveiled in Paris, details are starting to emerge about stages likely to feature after the opening – and already announced – days in the Vendée region of western France. According to Ouest France, stage finishes are being considered in the Breton towns of Redon and Châteaulin. The coastal town Lorient is also in line to host a stage start.

  Lorient mayor Norbert Métairie described preparations for the Tour’s potential arrival next July as being “on the right track”. Métairie told Ouest France: “I had Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme here in May and I confirmed to him that we were interested in hosting a Tour stage in 2011. For the time being nothing is official and there are some technical details to be resolved, but things are looking good.”

  Métairie also revealed details about how the Tour will reach Lorient and where it will head when it leaves the town. “The Tour would arrive at Redon on the evening of July 4 and the riders would transfer from there to Lorient for the night for the start at midday the next day,” said Métairie.

  Indications are that the fourth stage would run between Lorient and Châteaulin. Gaëlle Nicolas, mayor of Châteaulin, admitted to Ouest France: “We’ve made a counter-proposal to [Tour organizers] ASO after our first proposal was complicated by the fact that the finish area was located in an area where the flora and fauna are protected. We have to combine administrative and sporting requirements, as the organizers are requesting that the stage finishes at the summit of a hill.”

  ASO have already revealed plans for the opening two days of the 2011 Tour. The opening stage will take place on July 2 and will take the race 180km from the Passage de Gois to Mont des Alouettes, just outside Les Herbiers. Stage two will be a 23km team time trial at Les Essarts.

  Stage three is scheduled to start in Olonne-sur-Mer and could run to Redon on July 4, with the heavily rumoured Lorient-Châteaulin stage to follow on July 5.

• Breschel signs for Rabobank

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 14:49

  By:

  Cyclingnews

  Dane signs two-year deal to bolster classics challenge

  Rabobank has announced the signing of Matti Breschel from Team Saxo Bank. The Danish rider has signed on for two seasons and will be a crucial member of his new squad's classics contingent.

  "Breschel has shown that he is one of the most talented riders for one-day races," said Rabobank manager Erik Breukink. "Together with Boom and Langeveld, we can build a strong unit for the classics."

  The 25-year-old Breschel won Dwars door Vlaanderen this spring and placed eighth in Gent-Wevelgem. In his five seasons at Saxo Bank, he has built up a solid palmares, including a world championship bronze medal in 2008 and the Danish road race title in 2009, in addition to stage victories at the Vuelta a España and Tour de Suisse.

  Speaking to tv2.dk, the Dane explained that the switch to Rabobank was not made lightly. "It's been a very difficult decision, and it's quite sad," said Breschel. "My heart was with Saxo Bank, but now I feel it is time to try something new, to get some hair on the chest."

• Renshaw signs new deal with HTC-Columbia

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 15:53

  By:

  Cycling News

  Australian extends for two more years

  Mark Renshaw has signed a two-year contract extension with HTC-Columbia, committing himself to the team until the end of 2012. The Australian has been a hugely important element of sprinter Mark Cavendish's lead-out train over the past two seasons and it comes as no surprise that the team has rushed to secure his services for the foreseeable future.

  "I'm happy to extend with the team," said Renshaw. "I know my role and I'm happy to commit to that and be part of a successful team."

  Renshaw's Tour de France was cut short when he was ejected from the race due to irregularities during his lead-out on stage 11. He has since returned to action and has just completed the Tour of Denmark, where he snagged a stage victory and delivered another fine performance in the service of his team. "I'm really happy with my form," he said. "I think I can carry this form all the way to World Championships in Australia later this year."

  While acknowledging that his primary duty will be to continue to serve as Cavendish's most trusted lead-out man, Renshaw also anticipates some opportunities to develop his own burgeoning palmares. One objective in particular has caught his attention. "Hopefully next year I'll also get more chances to prove myself as one of Australia's top sprinters ready for the Copenhagen World Championships [in 2011]. We rode on the course yesterday," Renshaw explained.

  Team manager Rolf Aldag is pleased to have Renshaw continue in HTC-Columbia colours. "Mark is a key rider in our sprint execution and was critical to our sprint success in the Tour de France this year and last," he said.

  Aldag also sees plenty of scope for Renshaw to develop his personal ambitions. "He also has a lot of potential as a top sprinter himself which he proved on Saturday when he won the stage in Denmark. We trust in his talent and we're happy to have him as part of the solid foundation for our team."

• Bettini names Italian team for Giro del Veneto

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 17:30

  By:

  Cycling News

  Tuscan happy with opportunity to make managerial debut

  Paolo Bettini will have his first competitive outing as Italian team manager at the Giro del Veneto on 28 August. The recently-appointed commissario tecnico has been permitted to select an Italian national team to participate in the event.

  The race will serve both as an opportunity for Bettini to cut his managerial teeth ahead of October's World Championships and as a chance for some members of the Italian peloton to stake their claims for a place on the plane to Melbourne.

  Local hero and 2008 World Champion Alessandro Ballan is the stand-out name on Bettini's team sheet and he is accompanied by BMC teammate Mauro Santambrogio. Padova-born Alberto Ongarato (Vacansoleil) also gets a chance to don the blue jersey on home roads.

  Outside of that trio, Bettini has opted to blood some young riders, perhaps with an eye on future championships. Among the young names to watch out for in Bettini's line-up at the Giro del Veneto are Riccardo Chiarini (De Rosa), Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas-Doimo) and, particularly, the much-heralded double world junior champion Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Farnese Vini).

  "First of all, my thanks must go to the team managers and sponsors for their willingness to cooperate," Bettini said.

  "In the past there have been very few opportunities for national teams to ride together outside of the major championships. One that springs to my mind is the race in Castelfidardo before the Athens Olympics. And we all know how that expedition ended," he smiled.

  Bettini brought home the gold from Athens in 2004 under the stewardship of Franco Ballerini. One of the hallmarks of the late Ballerini's tenure was ability to build team spirit and ahead of those games, he brought his five-man team to the humble GP Fred Mengoni in Castelfidardo to ride together.

  "In comparison to other sports, a cycling national team manager lacks the chance to gather young riders together and see how they operate without the pressure of formally calling them up to the national squad. This is a good opportunity," Bettini said.

  The team in full is: Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas-Doimo), Alessandro Ballan (BMC), Riccardo Chiarini (De Rosa-Stac Plastic), Oscar Gatto (ISD-Neri), Alan Marangoni (CSF-Colnago), Alberto Ongarato (Vacansoleil), Mauro Santambrogio (BMC) and Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Farnese Vini).

• Euskaltel’s De Lis quits cycling

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 22:34

  By:

  Peter Cossins

  Basque rider leaves team for family reasons

  Euskaltel-Euskadi have revealed that 24-year-old Sergio de Lis has decided to quit professional cycling. De Lis is reported to have informed the team of his decision prior to the Tour de France. Team manager Igor González de Galdeano admitted that he and other members of the team had attempted to persuade De Lis to change his mind, but without success.

  González de Galdeano refused to be drawn on the reasons for De Lis’s decision to quit the sport mid-season. However, El Diario Vasco indicated that De Lis had “other family priorities."

  Moved up from Orbea, Euskaltel’s feeder team in 2009, De Lis was regarded a strong rouleur with a promising future in the sport. “Sergio’s relationship with his teammates and with the team has always been very good,” said González de Galdeano. "He’s a very disciplined rider, serious, and always does the work that he’s been asked to.”

• Bretagne-Schuller bids for Pro Continental ranks

  

  Article published:

  August 9, 2010, 22:55

  By:

  Jean-François Quénet

  Breton team aims for Tour de France start

  The Continental team Bretagne-Schuller has announced its decision to ask the UCI for a promotion to the Pro Continental division for next year at a press conference held on Monday in Lorient.

  Jean-Yves Le Drian, the president of the Bretagne region (Brittany), and sponsor Michel Schuller, who owns a car dealership network, have announced their commitment for another two years. "Taking into account the new organisation of professional cycling, we apply for the second division," said the team president Joël Blévin.

  "It's up to the UCI to decide but there's no reason why we wouldn't be accepted," Blévin said. "The budget isn't a problem. This year we have 15 professional cyclists. To be a Pro Continental team, we need 16 of them, it won't make a huge difference."

  Bretagne-Schuller has already recruited Guillaume Blot from Cofidis for the next two years. They have also extended the contracts of Romain Hardy, Laurent Pichon and current French cup leader Florian Vachon for another two years. 2008 junior world champion Johan Le Bon, who recently won the Kreizh Breizh Elite and finished third overall at Paris-Corrèze last week, is still contracted with the Breton squad for next year.

  "We are inspired by what Euskaltel is doing in the Basque country," Blévin said. "It's no shame copying what's working elsewhere. Brittany is also a strong region of cycling in Europe. There have been some highs and lows in Breton cycling, but we're obviously back to the highs nowadays. We want to give a future and priority to the promising Breton riders. Olivier Le Gac's win at the junior world championship yesterday is fabulous. I've met him recently at the Breton championship. He's still very young. Let's give him time to mature."

  Bretagne-Schuller's promotion to the Pro Continental ranks means the team will be eligible for the 2011 Tour de France. Le Drian said, "If the organisers invite us, we'll be present for sure." It was already in the air when the 2008 Tour de France started from Brest with the financial support of the region of Brittany but the team was still lacking experience. Next year's Tour is set to start in the nearby province of Vendée, also on the Atlantic coast, and there is a high probability of the race to proceed in Brittany for four days.