First Edition Cycling News for January 2, 2006Edited by Jeff Jones Ballerini is back: A positive 2005, despite Madrid World's flopBy Tim Maloney, European Editor
Although there was talk that new Italian Cycling Federation President Renato DiRocco might replace Franco Ballerini as Commissario Tecnico (pro team coach) with Moreno Argentin after the controversy at the World Championships last September, Ballerini was re-confirmed in his job by DiRocco and recently took a look back at the 2005 season in a interview with Italian wire service Datasport. Crowned by the first ever ProTour won by Italian Danilo DiLuca, Ballerini felt 2005 was a good year for Italian pro cycling. "The season was a positive one; the results were very good and perhaps the only place where there could have been some improvement was in the northern classics, where we usually excel." The always astute Ballerini took a look at the key players of the 2005 season, starting with World Champion Tom Boonen. "He was the man of the year. To win Flanders, Roubaix, Tour de France stages and then the World's was something really exceptional. Boonen was competitive most of the year and above all had an incredible level of consistency." Looking at Italian ProTour winner DiLuca, Ballerini proudly declared, "Danilo was the big protagonist of the season and showed he could achieve many objectives besides just single day races, as he did at the Giro d'Italia where he was 4th." Ballerini was less positive about the turbulent debut of the Pro Tour this season, saying, "There has been a big change for the world of cycling and with this a big problem has emerged: to find a balance between the various forces in the sport and I believe that there needs to be some kind of mediation in the sport to find the right formula." Ballerini liked what he saw at the Giro this year, saying ,"It was one of the best Giros of the last 10 years, with a lot of possible winners right to the end." Ballero gave props to Discovery Channel's Giro winner Paolo Savoldelli, explaining that "he's a great talent who understood to how to create a great win in the Giro d'Italia. He could do even more as he's such a smart rider who matured a lot at this year's Giro." As for the Italian flop at this year's World's, Ballerini admitted, "It was certainly the low point of the 2005 season and a disappointment. But that's part of life and it help's one to appreciate the rest of the season." As for Alessandro Petacchi's 2005 performance, Ballerini didn't stir the pot by criticizing Petacchi's poor ride at the Madrid World's, but did say that "Petacchi was fantastic at Milano-Sanremo, and consolidated his position this season by winning at the Giro and the Vuelta." Looking at Italy's great hope Ivan Basso, Ballerini believes that "with Basso, we now have the confirmation that he can win the Tour de France. Italians have been able to win this race before and I believe that Basso can come back to that again." The Italian CT also saluted retiring Lance Armstrong, saying, "He won his seventh Tour de France, the final one of an extraordinary career. Armstrong was really great to always believe in himself." But turning his eye to doping, Ballerini said, "The Armstrong and Heras cases are bad for cycling. These are not good situations. In Armstrong's case, it was all about the headlines, done in a squalid manner just to make news. As for Heras, we still have to see how this case evolves. But cycling doesn't need this kind of attention." Mancebo to SwitzerlandOne of Spain's top grand tour riders, Francisco Mancebo, will move to Onex, near Geneva, in Switzerland this year. The new Ag2r captain will bring his wife Luisa and five month old daughter Paula with him in the next few months to live there, leaving their home in Navaluenga, Spain. Mancebo will make his 2006 racing debut on March 25 in the Critérium International McCauley injured in hit-and-run
New Zealand road champion Gordon McCauley has broken his wrist and suffered facial injuries after being hit by a car on New Year's Eve. McCauley, who is one of New Zealand's biggest hopes for a medal in the Commonwealth Games men's road race in March, said that he hopes to recover in time for the Melbourne games. "I still want to win a medal but the way I train is going to have to change," he was quoted by the New Zealand Herald as saying. He explained that he was on his way to a New Year's Eve party in Waihi, near Auckland, when he was hit. "I was just by Puhinui Rd when I felt this car come up beside me. It hit me and the next thing I knew I was on the ground, touching my face and wondering what had happened." The driver didn't stop, and McCauley believed he was hit on purpose. "There was no one else on the road and this car came so close it hit me. I was by myself and I was keeping left. This happens time and time again. It's unbelievable." McCauley's wrist is in plaster and will take six weeks to heal properly, meaning that he will have to train on a home trainer to keep his fitness. His bike was destroyed and local police are asking for any witnesses to the accident. Galletti's widow gives birthThe widow of former Italian cyclist Alessio Galletti has given birth to a son. Manuel Galletti was born in Pisa on January 1 and weighed 3.95 kg. His father Alessio died of a heart attack on June 15, 2005, during the Subida a Naranco, with his then wife Consuelo Saviozzi in her third month of pregnancy. Consuelo also has another son, Marcus, who is aged two. Contract newsRelax-Fuenlabrada has signed two riders for this season in Jesús Hernández and José Rafael Martines. Hernández rode for Liberty-Würth this year, while Martines was with Loule. Belgian cyclo-crosser Kevin Pauwels has extended his contract with Hans van Kasteren, the current manager of the Fidea team, until 2008. It's not yet certain which colours Pauwels will ride in though. Another rider to sign with Van Kasteren is the top Czech 'crosser Petr Dlask. Currently sponsorless, Dlask will ride in AVB colours this season, but will keep on with Empella bikes. Similarly, Tim Vannuffel will ride for AVB but on a Ridley. Iowa BRA scheduleThe Iowa Bicycle Racing Association (IBRA) has announced its 2006 road racing schedule, with over 110 events planned. The racing starts on January 7 with the Howling Headwinds Roller Race in Indianola, IA, and continues throughout the year to the December 3 Nur-Vee-Gin Shiver-n-Svet road race. Races are spread across each discipline, with 39 time trials, 27 road races, 20 criteriums/omniums, 12 cyclocross events, and 8 roller races held throughout the U.S. state of Iowa. "Nearly 100 events were held in 2005 and it's good to see such a strong showing of support for Iowa racing," said Richard Gilmore, IBRA President. "The ability to support this number of races is really a testament to the dedication of both the riders and also the promoters who put on these races, many of whom also race themselves. It shows that bicycle racing in Iowa is healthy and continues to grow." Highlights on the schedule include the state championship events for each discipline, including the team time trial which makes its return for 2006. "We re-introduced the team time trial championships in 2005 with four rider teams each covering 100km - the same distance used in the Olympics from 1960 to 1992," said Rick Paulos, race director for the state team time trial championships. "The state team time trial brings a unique opportunity to the Iowa racing scene." Selected events June 25 - State Team Time Trial Championships (Columbus City, IA) More information: www.bikeiowa.org Maxxis Georgia CupThe U.S. state of Georgia will see the return of the Maxxis Georgia Cup this season. The Cup features four competitions and corresponding jerseys: The white GC jersey for the leader of the series, the yellow jersey for race leader of each event, Most Aggressive Rider jersey for sprint primes, and the King of the Mountains. The 2006 Maxxis Georgia Cup has its season opener in Albany, proceeding to Gainesville, Savannah, Dahlonega, Rome, Lagrange, and concluding in the East Village of Buckhead in Atlanta with the Aaron's Buckhead Grand Prix. The schedule Round 1 - Albany: February 25-26 More information: www.georgiacup.com
Cyclingnews Rider of the YearAfter thousands of votes were scrutinised, there was only one choice for Cyclingnews' Rider of the Year. Click here to find out who it was. Finally our Rider of the Year reader prize, which was a set of HED Jet 50 wheels, was won by Richard Elgin. Congratulations Richard!
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