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Second Edition Cycling News, Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Date published:
December 9, 2009, 22:00

  • Kirchen looks forward to fresh start with Katusha

    carousel crop
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 11:00
    By:
    Susan Westemeyer

    Luxembourger motivated for strong season in 2010

    This year was one to forget for Kim Kirchen, with a serious crash and broken bones in February affecting the whole season. The Luxembourger is off to Russian team Katusha in the coming season, and hopeful of better luck in 2010.

    Kirchen, 31, is leaving Columbia-HTC after four seasons. His best year with the team was in 2008, when he recorded six victories, including Flèche Wallonne. However, this year got off to the worst possible start, as a crash in the fourth stage of the Tour of California in February left him with a broken shoulder blade and collarbone. While he recovered in time to win a stage in the Tour de Suisse and took his national time trial title, he never really got back into the swing of things.

    He announced on September 1 that he would be riding for Katusha in the new season. “It was the right decision, “ he told Luxembourg newspaper Wort. “This is like a new start, and, logically, it's given me new motivation. I want to know whether I can still do it, and believe I can have a positive 2010.”

    Had he stayed with the US-based team, he would have had less responsibility and less freedom to ride for himself, Kirchen said. In his talks with Katusha, “I felt that they believed in me and trusted me. That was very important to me. At some of the big races, the responsibility will be on me, and in the end it was this that convinced me to make the change.”

    Kirchen is pleased with his new team, saying “We will surely create some positive headlines. Our opponents should keep an eye on us.

    “At the Classics, we are Number One. We will be at the front and then the victories will only be a matter of time.”

    The Spring Classics will form part of Kirchen's first set of season objectives. He confirmed that he will ride the Ardennes Classics, and is currently considering starts at Milano-Sanremo, either Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice, and the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

    He will then have a short break before using the Tour de Suisse or the Dauphiné Libéré to prepare for the Tour de France.

  • Demol looks to Steegmans for RadioShack's first win

    Lance Armstrong and Gert Steegmans ride side-by-side.
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 11:33
    By:
    Laura Weislo

    RadioShack directeur sportif confident 2010 can be Belgian sprinter's renaissance

    Belgian Gert Steegmans' 2009 season was forgettable in most respects: while he scored two wins for Katusha, his season came to an abrupt and premature end. It was a big disappointment for the 29-year-old as it had followed a successful year with Quick Step that included eight victories and one triumphant win in the Tour de France's final stage on the Champs-Élysées.

    After a dispute with Katusha over its anti-doping charter, Steegmans was placed on non-active status by the team in June and was absent from the peloton for the second half the season. In January, all that will be forgotten as Steegmans lines up for the new RadioShack team in its first race at the Tour Down Under in Australia.

    Cyclingnews spoke with RadioShack Directeur Sportif Dirk Demol about his fellow Belgian, who he's brought into the team as its main sprinter, and how Steegmans fits into the squad's overall goals.

    "[The team] decided to be in the picture for the whole season, and to do that we needed a sprinter. Also, when we go to the Classics, we need more than one or two riders who can do well - we needed more. That's why we took Steegmans. He isn't just a sprinter, he can also do well in the Classics, same with Sébastien Rosseler.

    "With [Gregory] Rast, [Tomas] Vaitkus and [Dmitriy] Muravyev we have five good riders for the Classics. I won't say we'll have a top favourite at the start of any Classic, but when you have a strong team you can go far."

    The first order of business is to kick off the season strong at its first event, the Tour Down Under. Steegmans has already been named to the squad and Demol thinks he could net the team's first win.

    "Our first goal is to have a stage win at the Tour Down Under and show ourselves, to make a good impression. Maybe Steegmans is one of the guys who can win a stage.

    "He's strong - the fact that he did not do so many races this year means he's hungry now - he wants that competition and you can see it on the bike. He's trained well and you can see that he is motivated.

    "I know Gert is physically strong, and I know sometimes the mental battle is difficult, but everything is set up and he's ready to go."

    Demol also said the team was prepared to offer Steegmans a level of flexibility with his race schedule in order to maximise his chances of success.

    "We cannot put too much pressure on his shoulders. I know in some teams there is pressure in every race, but here it will be different. There will be some races that are goals, but there will be others where we will say 'if we can take something we'll do it, but if not, it's okay'. That's the best way to work with Gert."
     

  • Contador concedes Tour win will be tougher in 2010

    Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde, l-r, possible 2010 teammates.
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 11:54
    By:
    Shane Stokes

    Spaniard says that Armstrong tensions helped him to mature

    This year brought the most dominant of his four Grand Tour victories thus far, but Alberto Contador fully expects the push to add a fifth – namely another Tour de France win – to be a more difficult one.

    The 27-year-old Spaniard heads towards the new season with a reduced-strength Astana team, after his arch-rival Lance Armstrong brought many of the team's chief riders with him to RadioShack.

    "I am realistic and I know that I have a weaker team than in previous years,” he told the Spanish newspaper Marca. “For that reason we'll have to work hard on motivation in training so that we know what we can achieve and how to do it.”

    “I know that it will be a difficult year; it's possible I won't be able to win the Tour even if I am in good shape. People will be focussing a lot on me, but my rivals know that the team I will have is not the same as before.”

    Contador had one remaining year on his contract with the team and despite stating on several occasions that he wanted to leave, he was unable to do so. A delay in the Kazakh squad’s licence registration with the International Cycling Union (UCI) appeared to give him a way out, but ultimately he declared that he would stay for 2010.

    Part of his increased confidence in the team was due to the signing of new staff, including General Manager Yvon Sanquer and Directeur Sportif Giuseppe Martinelli, as well as signs that the squad will be more financially sound from this point on.

    In fact, he doesn’t rule out remaining there beyond next season.

    "We'll have to see how everything goes because Astana could be a great team and I may decide to stay, though I may also change teams or set up my own,” he said. “[That’s] something that would be highly motivating, but would tax my energy."

    Contador and the rest of the Astana are currently training in Pisa, Italy, and will be joined today or tomorrow by the latest signing Oscar Pereiro.

    They are likely to have another camp in the new year, prior to the start of the racing season. Contador is expected to follow a similar programme to 2009, eschewing the Giro d’Italia in favour of shorter stage races. He said that he may also consider riding the Vuelta a España later in the season.

    Armstrong stated yesterday that he is likely to compete in the Vuelta a Murcia and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, two Spanish events which Contador may also do. That would given them a chance to compare their form early in the season, before a big push to hit peak condition in July.

    The rivalry between the two is certain to be intense, particularly after the much-publicised tensions that existed during this year’s Tour. Contador acknowledges that the experience was a stressful one, but believes that it will stand him in good stead in the future.

    “I am thinking about the 2010 Tour, not the 2009 one, even though I admit he pushed me to the limit in all areas, psychologically and physically," he said.

    "But it helped me a lot to mature and I hope to exploit that experience next year."
     

  • Biological passport panel to discuss suspect cases

    Astarloa, Caucchioli, De Bonis, Serrano and Lobato Elvira were the riders named by the UCI
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 15:39
    By:
    Peter Cossins

    Panel to meet as UCI biological passport program nears end of second year

    The panel of nine experts charged with review of suspect blood test results discovered under the International Cycling Union's (UCI) biological passport program are set to meet this weekend to discuss a new batch of cases. News of the meeting was announced on French website Cyclismag after it contacted two of the nine experts on the panel.

    Given that almost six months passed between the last list of five passport-related suspects being drawn up and their names being released by UCI, the meeting is unlikely to lead to any revelations in the immediate future.

    On June 17, the UCI announced that it was taking disciplinary action against Spaniards Igor Astarloa, Ricardo Serrano and Rubén Lobato, and Italians Pietro Caucchioli and Francesco De Bonis following a recommendation by the nine experts that had been given in January.

    According to one of the experts contacted by Cyclismag: "Among the names under discussion there may well be some who have already tested positive."

    Figures released by the UCI on October 15 reveal that more than 800 riders were part of the biological passport program this year. The number of tests conducted on these riders was 9,070, or 80 below the UCI’s target for the year of 9,150. This, however, was significantly fewer than the target of 15,000 tests per year that was set when the passport program was launched at the end of 2007.
     

  • Milram's sponsor could remain beyond 2010

    Gerry van Gerwen is cautiously optimistic
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 15:55
    By:
    Susan Westemeyer

    German dairy company backtracks on total withdrawal of sponsorship

    Milram's parent company Nordmilch AG has apparently backtracked on its decision to abandon sponsorship of its eponymous ProTour team after the 2010 season, indicating that it may continue to support the German squad under certain conditions.

    “We have a large interest on the continued existence of the team,” the Bremen-based dairy-product company said in a statement issued on Wednesday. “Accordingly we are are open to various approaches, as to how and in what manner we could continue to work together with the team after 2010.”

    The company indicated that the best possible solution would be co-name-sponsor, who would eventually take over the team. It is in “constant dialogue” with team manager Gerry van Gerwen.

    Earlier this week Nordmilch repeated its intention of stop its now four-year sponsorship of the team after the coming season, and that an extension of the sponsorship was not under consideration.

  • Fat Cyclist goes to RadioShack team camp

    The FattyFly - a Gary Fisher Superfly in Fat Cyclist colours that's being offered up as a prize.
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 17:14
    By:
    Jeff Jones/BikeRadar.com

    Cycling blogger Elden Nelson in Tucson with RadioShack squad

    Popular cycling blogger Elden Nelson, aka The Fat Cyclist, has managed to book himself a ticket to the Team RadioShack training camp in Tucson, Arizona.

    Elden managed it after posting a tongue-in-cheek open letter to RadioShack team manager Johan Bruyneel on his website last Thursday. In it, he argued the team should hire him as a rider on the basis that he had the necessary skills: team player, willing to travel, older than the rest of the team, good speller and enjoyed riding his bike, among other things.

    To his surprise, Bruyneel took him up on the offer, saying if he raised $10,000 for LiveStrong, and $10,000 for the World Bicycle Relief Fund, he could go to the camp. And if he raised $50,000, he'd get a Trek Madone.

    Fatty leapt into action over the weekend. He turned it into a contest among his readers to raise money and send him to camp. To entice them, he offered the Trek Madone (signed by Team RadioShack) as a prize, a Gary Fisher Superfly custom painted in Fat Cyclist colours, and subsequently a Trek Travel trip to the Tour de France.

    The readers responded, raising an amazing $100,000 for LiveStrong and the World Bicycle Relief Fund in just three days. Thus, Fatty gets to go to camp this weekend, cancer is fought and kids in Zambia will get bikes to ride to school.

  • Pat McQuaid nominated for IOC membership

    UCI president Pat McQuaid has been nominated for membership to the International Olympic Committee.
    Article published:
    December 9, 2009, 21:05
    By:
    Cycling News

    UCI president among six candidates to be elected in February

    Ireland's Pat McQuaid, the International Cycling Union (UCI) president, is one of six candidates the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive committee has nominated today for election to the IOC. The election, considered a formality, will take place at the 122nd IOC Session, which will be held in conjunction with the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada in February 2010.

    In addition to McQuaid, five others were nominated including Prince Feisal bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, president of the Jordanian Olympic Committee and younger brother of King Abdullah II; Spain's Maria de la Soledad Casado Estupiñan, president of the International Triathlon Union; New Zealand's Barry John Maister, secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee; Ethiopia's Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, general secretary of the Ethiopian Olympic Committee; and China's Yang Yang, a two-time Olympic female short track speedskating gold medalist.

    The IOC currently has 112 members, and there is a maximum of 115 allowed. The terms of office of four members - Walther Tröger of Germany, Tamás Aján of Hungary, Zhenliang He of China and Fernando F. Lima Bello of Portugal - will expire at the end of the year. The six new members will bring the total to 114, including 20 women.

    McQuaid was elected to a second four-year term as UCI president in September. The Irishman was first elected UCI president in 2006 with the backing of the then out-going president, the Netherlands' Hein Verbruggen. The Dutchman currently serves as an honorary member of the IOC.

  • The Cyclingnews guide to team training camps

    Erik Zabel chats with Mark Cavendish on the road
    Article published:
    March 2, 2010, 16:00
    By:
    Cycling News

    2009-2010 training camps summary

    Keep informed about all information related to professional cycling team training camps as teams prepare for the 2010 road season. Check back often for the latest feature articles, news briefs, tech information, video and photographs related to teams' pre-season activities.

    Adageo Energy Pro Cycling Team: News Photos
    Ag2r-La Mondiale: News Photos
    Astana: News Photos
    Australia: News
    Bbox Bouygues Telecom: News Photos
    Bissell Pro Cycling Team: News Photos
    BMC Racing Team: News Photos
    Cervélo TestTeam: News Photos
    Fly V Australia: News Photos
    Garmin-Transitions: News Photos
    HTC-Columbia: News Photos
    ISD-Neri: News Photos
    Jamis-Sutter Home: Features Photos
    Jelly Belly p/b Kenda: News Photos
    Kelly Benefit Strategies: News Photos
    Lampre-Farnese Vini: News Photos
    Liquigas-Doimo: News Photos
    Omega Pharma-Lotto: News Photos
    Quick Step: News Photos
    Rabobank: News Photos
    Skil-Shimano: News Photos
    Sky Professional Cycling Team: News Photos
    Team Holowesko Partners: News
    Team Katusha: News Photos
    Team Milram: News Photos
    Team RadioShack: News, Features, Photos
    Team Saxo Bank: News Photos
    Team Type 1: News Photos
    Trek-Livestrong: News Photos
    UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis: News Photos
    Vacansoleil: News Photos
    Vorarlberg-Corratec: News Photos

     

    Rabobank riders enjoy sunny weather in Spain's southern Almería province during a pre-season camp.

    Adageo Energy Pro Cycling Team

    News

    February 27, 2010: Adageo Energy kicks off season at the Callville Bay Classic

    Photos

    February 27, 2010: Adageo Energy kicks off season at the Callville Bay Classic

    Ag2r-La Mondiale

    News

    January 27, 2010: Ag2R La Mondiale presented in Paris

    Photos

    January 27, 2010: Ag2R La Mondiale presented in Paris

    Astana

    News

    January 19, 2010: Contador gets in the miles at Astana's training camp
    January 14, 2010: Astana training in Spain
    December 13, 2009: Contador and Vinokourov present new Astana kit

    Photos

    January 19, 2010: Contador gets in the miles at Astana's training camp
    January 14, 2010: Astana training in Spain
    December 13, 2009: Contador and Vinokourov present new Astana kit
    December 11, 2009: Contador prepared to handle stress of 2010 Tour

    Australia

    News

    February 15, 2010: Australia gathering research with worlds camp

    Bbox Bouygues Telecom

    News

    January 28, 2010: Bbox Bougyues Telecome presented in Paris

    Photos

    January 28, 2010: Bbox Bougyues Telecome presented in Paris

    Bissell Pro Cycling Team

    News

    February 21, 2010: Bissell Pro Cycling welcomes sprinters to 2010 roster

    Photos

    February 21, 2010: Bissell Pro Cycling welcomes sprinters to 2010 roster

    BMC Racing Team

    News

    January 1, 2010: Swiss BMC riders train in Spain

    Photos

    January 28, 2010: BMC Racing Team hit the road in California

    Cervélo TestTeam

    News

    January 16, 2010: Cervélo TestTeam trains together
    December 17, 2009: Cervélo's Canary Islands training camp underway
    December 21, 2009: Cervélo's men and women report on training in Tenerife

    Photos

    January 16, 2010: Cervélo TestTeam trains together
    December 17, 2009: Cervélo's Canary Islands training camp underway
    December 21, 2009: Cervélo's men and women report on training in Tenerife

    Fly V Australia

    News

    January 15, 2010: Fly V Australia gets dunked in the name of team-work

    Photos

    January 15, 2010: Fly V Australia gets dunked in the name of team-work

    Garmin-Transitions

    News

    January 28, 2010: Garmin-Transitions tests time trial bikes at training camp

    Photos

    January 28, 2010: Garmin-Transitions tests time trial bikes at training camp
    January 25, 2010: Garmin-Transitions train in Spain

    HTC-Columbia

    News

    January 13, 2010: HTC-Columbia presented in Spain
    January 12, 2010: HTC Columbia warm up in Majorca
    December 15, 2009: Columbia-HTC's Spanish training camp
    December 11, 2009: Columbia trains on Lanzarote

    Photos

    January 13, 2010: HTC-Columbia presented in Spain
    January 12, 2010: HTC-Columbia warm up for team presentation in Majorca
    December 15, 2009: Columbia-HTC's Spanish training camp

    ISD-Neri

    News

    January 19, 2010: ISD to ride Cipollini bikes in 2010 

    Photos

    January 19, 2010: ISD to ride Cipollini bikes in 2010

    Jamis-Sutter Home

    Features

    February 5, 2010: Jamis-Sutter Home aiming to defend NRC title

    Photos

    February 5, 2010: Jamis-Sutter Home aiming to defend NRC title

    Jelly Belly p/b Kenda

    News

    February 25, 2010: Navy SEALs test Jelly Belly-Kenda at training camp

    Photos

    February 25, 2010: Navy SEALs test Jelly Belly-Kenda at training camp

    Kelly Benefit Strategies

    News

    February 14, 2010: Kelly Benefit Strategies recons Tour of California finale
    January 27, 2010: Kelly Benefit Strategies completes wind tunnel testing

    Photos

    February 14, 2010: Kelly Benefit Strategies recons Tour of California finale
    January 27, 2010: Kelly Benefit Strategies completes wind tunnel testing

    Lampre-Farnese Vini

    News

    January 27, 2010: Petacchi shows his new Lampre jersey at Tuscan training camp

    Photos

    January 27, 2010: Petacchi shows his new Lampre jersey at Tuscan training camp

    Liquigas-Doimo

    News

    December 18, 2009: Liquigas-Doimo escapes the snow for pre-season training
    December 4, 2009: Liquigas get set to go in the snow

    Photos

    December 18: Liquigas-Doimo escapes the snow for pre-season training
    December 4, 2009: Liquigas get set to go in the snow

    Omega Pharma-Lotto

    News

    January 12, 2010: Lotto prime Gilbert and Van den Broeck for success

    Photos

    January 12, 2010: Lotto prime Gilbert and Van den Broeck for success

    Quick Step

    News

    January 22: 2010: Quick Step to focus on the Classics
    January 6, 2010: Devolder happy to train in Belgium
    January 5: 2010: Boonen and teammates look for better weather in Spain

    Photos

    January 22, 2010: Quick Step to focus on the Classics

    Rabobank

    News

    January 20, 2010: Rabobank trains in Mojacar, Spain
    December 14, 2009: Rabobank riders bond on the high seas

    Photos

    January 20, 2010: Rabobank trains in Mojacar, Spain
    December 14, 2009: Rabobank riders bond on the high seas

    Skil-Shimano

    News

    January 28, 2010: Cornu conducts track tests in The Netherlands
    January 20, 2010: Skil-Shimano team presentation

    Photos

    January 28, 2010: Cornu conducts track tests in The Netherlands
    January 27, 2009: Skil-Shimano team presentation
    January 27, 2009: Gallery: Skil-Shimano prepares for 2010

    Sky Professional Cycling Team

    News

    February 18, 2010: Sky gives its sprinters a work-out at training camp
    February 17, 2010: TT training time for Team Sky
    January 13, 2010: Team Sky: Ready for the leap
    January 4, 2010: Team Sky launched in London

    Photos

    February 18, 2010: Sky gives its sprinters a work-out at training camp
    February 17, 2010: TT training time for Team Sky
    January 6, 2010: Gallery: Team Sky braves the cold in London
    January 4, 2010: Team Sky launched in London

    Team Holowesko Partners

    News

    March 1, 2010: Team Holowesko Partners team ready for 2010

    Team Katusha

    News

    January 10, 2010: Rodríguez injured in training camp mishap
    December 16, 2009: Katusha kick off in Calpe
    December 5, 2009: Katusha headed to Spain
    November 14, 2009: Katusha heads for Turkmenistan

    Photos

    December 16, 2009: Katusha kick off in Calpe

    Team Milram

    News

    January 4, 2010: Team Milram prepares for 2010
    December 20, 2009: Team Milram training in Mallorca
    November 26, 2009: Milram riders starting in Mallorca

    Photos

    January 4, 2010: Team Milram prepares for 2010

    Team RadioShack

    News

    February 10, 2010: A day of rest for RadioShack
    February 8, 2010: RadioShack camp continues in Spain
    February 6, 2010: RadioShack begins Spanish training camp in Calpe
    December 5, 2009: Hermans to miss RadioShack training camp

    Features

    December 8, 2009: RadioShack's training camp begins in Arizona

    Photos

    February 10, 2010: A day of rest for RadioShack
    February 8, 2010: RadioShack camp continues in Spain
    February 6, 2010: RadioShack begins Spanish training camp in Calpe
    December 11, 2009: RadioShack training camp sponsor ride
    December 10, 2009: RadioShack camp goes off-road
    December 9, 2009: Lance Armstrong: RadioShack not built around me
    December 8, 2009: RadioShack's training camp begins in Arizona

    Team Saxo Bank

    News

    January 18, 2010: Saxo Bank's time trial training on Fuerteventura
    January 15, 2010: Saxo Bank takes to the roads of Fuerteventura
    January 14, 2010: Saxo Bank boys have fun in the sun in Fuerteventura
    December 13, 2009: Porte survives his first Saxo Bank training camp
    December 6, 2009: Christiansen leaving Saxo Bank after 10 years
    December 3, 2009: Breschel joins Saxo Bank teammates on mountain climb
    December 2, 2009: Breschel injures ankle at Saxo Bank training camp

    Photos

    January 18, 2010: Saxo Bank's time trial training on Fuerteventura
    January 15, 2010: Saxo Bank takes to the roads of Fuerteventura
    January 14, 2010: Saxo Bank boys have fun in the sun in Fuerteventura

    Team Type 1

    News

    February 27, 2010: Creed's Corner: Gallery from Team Type 1 Camp
    February 18, 2010: Team Type 1 jump starts season in Georgia
    December 31, 2009: Public invited to ride with Team Type 1

    Photos

    February 27, 2010: Creed's Corner: Gallery from Team Type 1 Camp
    February 18, 2010: Team Type 1 jump starts season in Georgia

    Trek-Livestrong

    News

    January 19, 2010: Trek-Livestrong strengthens in Solvang
    December 13, 2009: Trek-Livestrong U23 training ride
    December 8, 2009: Taylor Phinney arrives in Arizona for Trek-Livestrong camp

    Photos

    January 19, 2010: Trek-Livestrong strengthens in Solvang
    December 13, 2009: Trek-Livestrong U23 training ride

    UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis

    News

    February 16, 2010: Sutherland and De Maar reunited Stateside
    February 14, 2010: UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis presented in Arizona
    January 29, 2010: Experience UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis training camp like a pro

    Photos

    February 16, 2010: Sutherland and De Maar reunited Stateside
    February 14, 2010: UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis presented in Arizona

    Vacansoleil

    News

    January 26, 2010: Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team presented in Holland
    November 26, 2009: Spanish training camps for Vacansoleil

    Photos

    January 26, 2010: Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team presented in Holland

    Vorarlberg-Corratec

    News

    December 3, 2009: Vorarlberg-Corratec meets for team building in the snow

    Photos

    December 3, 2009: Vorarlberg-Corratec meets for team building in the snow

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