First Edition Cycling News for January 30, 2006

Edited by Jeff Jones & John Stevenson

Dutch score more; Belgium gets desired result

Erwin Vervecken (Belgium)
Photo ©: Luc Claessen

Sunday was again a day of success for the home nation in the Dutch town of Zeddam, where the elite women's and men's cyclo-cross world champions were decided. In the women's race, Dutch riders finished 1st and 3rd respectively, as 18 year-old Marianne Vos beat German Hanka Kupfernagel and Daphny van den Brand to take the title. In the men's race, a race-ending crash by Sven Nys didn't stop Belgium from scoring the gold and silver medals, courtesy of Fidea team-mates Erwin Vervecken and Bart Wellens, with Francis Mourey (Fra) taking the bronze.

With conditions again freezing and fast, it didn't take long for the women's race to be sorted out as Vos, Kupfernagel and Van den Brand escaped on the first lap. The three stuck together until Van den Brand flatted on lap 4, forcing Kupfernagel to lead to prevent the Dutchwoman from returning. That tactic played into Vos' hands, and she could sit behind the German before coming around her to win the two-up sprint.

The men's race saw a bunch of 15 stay together until well over halfway, with no-one being able to gain an advantage. Defending champ Nys, Wellens, Vervecken, Vannoppen (all Belgium) and Francis Mourey (France) entered the last lap with a small gap over the rest, and it was looking like an all-Belgian podium. But then Nys crashed on a tricky descent and his race for a second world title was over. That left Vervecken with a small advantage over the rest, which he pushed home to win ahead of Wellens and Mourey.

"With a half lap to go," Vervecken said after the race, "I knew I could win. In the last corners, everything was like a dream. This world title was far more emotional than my first one in Tabor."

See also: Elite Men full results & report, Elite Women full results & report, Main, Schedule & results, Map, History, Start List, Photos

Gibo leads revamped Saunier Duval team

The 2006 team.
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini

Two time Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni was the star of the show at Saunier Duval-Prodir's presentation in Milano last week. Simoni has been signed by the team from Lampre-Caffita as a top grand tour rider, with his sights being set on the Giro d'Italia once more.

"Yes, I was second last year in the Giro and it was disappointing at the time, but in the end, it's not that big of a deal," said Simoni. "This is a good team with lots of young riders. It will be a tough Giro with the start in Belgium and then all the climbs are concentrated in the last week... Changing teams is a big motivation for me and working with Pietro Algeri is good, too."

The second big name to join Saunier Duval is 28 year-old Scot David Millar, who is suspended until June 28 for admitting to EPO use, but is determined to make a clean comeback. "I have a responsibility toward cycling to come back to the sport better than I was before, with a good, clear voice to give merit to this beautiful sport," said Millar. "I'm very lucky this team is so welcoming. They've given me a second chance, which is something very rare these days."

With Simoni and Millar on board, as well as Brazilian sprinter Luciano Pagliarini, Canadian Charles Dionne, and American Aaron Olson, Saunier Duval-Prodir will be looking to improve on its seventh placing in the 2005 ProTour teams classification, including a win in the Clasica San Sebastian.

Click here for the full report

Pro Tour champ Di Luca the main man at Liquigas-Bianchi for 2006

Garzelli, Paolini and Backstedt ready to race, too

"And a bigger stage please"
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini

Landing the overall title in the inaugural ProTour series was 2005's biggest achievement for the Liquigas-Bianchi team. For 2006, the top Italian squad is aiming for more victories in Classics and Tours as well as series success, as the riders explained at the team's launch in Milano. European Editor Tim Maloney reports.

On a cold winter Saturday night with Milano covered in a rare white blanket of snow, there was a warm welcome for the second season of the Liquigas-Bianchi squad inside The Blue Note, Italy's top jazz venue. With Italian TV host Federica Panigucci and Liquigas-Bianchi press chief Gabriele Sola as the hosts with the most, the Liquigas-Bianchi team revealed its new squad for 2006.

Danilo DiLuca
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini

Kicking off the festivities was a brief speech by Liquigas boss, Dr. Paolo Del Lago. Known as a true cycling fan, Del Lago was very positive when he talked about the inaugural year for the team. "Yes, last year was a big season, with a lot of key moments; not just the wins and emotion from that, but also other moments... like on the Colle delle Finestre in the Giro d'Italia. For me, the most important moment was when we were following the stage, and as we began climbing the mountain, I looked up and saw the many tens of thousands of people who were waiting days and days to see the riders for just ten minutes and I realized how beautiful our sport is. That was a special moment for me."

Click here for the full report from Liquigas-Bianchi's presentation.

UCI retains marketing company to beef up ProTour profile

The UCI has retained marketing company TEAM to help it raise the profile of its ProTour race calendar, De Telegraaf reports. TEAM was involved in the development of UEFA's Champions League and the UCI is clearly hoping the company can do for cycling what it helped do for football.

This is the company that has produced the AV presentation the UCI will show at the upcoming meeting of the UCI and Grand Tour organisers shceduled for mid-February (see report).

UCI president Pat McQuaid was very critical of TV coverage of the ProTour, with the exception of the Tour de France and said he would once again approach the Tour organiser about their involvement in the series. Along with the organisers of the Vuelta a Espana and Giro d'Italia, Tour de France organiser ASO has declined to participate in the ProTour.

"I will point out their responsibility to the sport of cycling," said McQuaid. "I can understand ASO's point of view, but not that of the other two races. They need the ProTour."

Scottish team to ride Bendigo

As part of their preparation for the Commonwealth Games, Scottish national team riders Evan Oliphant and James McCallum will take part in the Bendigo Madison carnival in Victoria, Australia, March 10-12.

Oliphant and McCallum will race all three days of the carnival which kicks off Friday March 10 with the Retireinvest City Centre Criterium. Two days of track racing follow, culminating in the prestigious McCaig Daikin Airconditioning Madison on Sunday March 12.

Oliphant, the Scottish road champion, and McCallum, the Scottish pursuit champion, will be a fancied team in the tough 200 lap event. Their aggressive style of racing, in pursuit of taking laps, should make them a crowd favourite.

The Scottish duo, believe the carnival is the perfect preparation for the Commonwealth Games. "Tough quality racing against the best riders in the world is going to be perfect for us in the Games lead up," said Oliphant. "We are as excited about this as we are about the Games" said McCallum.

For more information see www.madison.org.au.

Forrest City Classic

Organisers have announced that registration is now open for the second annual Bikes Plus Forrest City Cycling Classic, July 15-16. 2006. "There is a $7,500 purse and loads of gear from sponsors up for grabs throughout the weekend. We're looking forward to a highly competitive weekend of racing," says Andrew Holliday of Start 2 Finish Event Management.

The event comprises three stages in an omnium format, with a criterium and time trial on July 15 and road race on July 16. Forrest City is located between Little Rock and Memphis on Interstate 40.

For more information see www.s2fevents.com.

Team Rubicon wants under-23s

Portland, Oregon-based Team Rubicon is looking to expand its under-23 program. Thanks to the generous donations of its team sponsors the team is accepting resumes and has three positions to fill for under-23 riders. International riders who have been thinking about coming to the States are encouraged to apply as well.

The U23 team will be traveling to at least 10 NRC races, including but not limit too, the Joe Martin Stage Race, Tri-Peaks, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, Cascade Classic, Tour De Delta, Univest Grand Prix Stage Races and more. For more information see www.trubicon.org.

Please send resumes to: trubicon@comcast.net

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