First Edition Cycling News for June 8, 2006Edited by Hedwig Kröner
Cyclingnews will cover the 60th edition of
the Dauphiné Libéré live
as of stage 4 on Wednesday, June 10, at approximately 15:00 local Europe
time (CEST)/ 23:00 Australian time (CDT)/ 9:00 (USA East). Dauphiné stage 3 wrap-up: Second victory for Zabriskie
A rare feat has been accomplished at the Dauphiné Libéré on Wednesday: CSC rider David Zabriskie won the second individual time trial in the same race. A few days after taking the prologue win, the young American confirmed his skills against the clock on a 43km-long parcours in Bourg-de-Péage - but Zabriskie has his mind made up to show that this is not his only talent. "Of course I'm happy to win again, but I'm even more curious about how far I can take it when we start climbing," said Zabriskie, relaxed as usual. "I have to be honest and say that I haven't been preparing much for the time trials this season, because I more or less just went up and down the mountains during my training sessions. However, I don't believe I can be up there with the very best on the climbs, but at least I now have a decent gap on my opponents." "It was simply amazing to watch Dave ride the time trial today," added sports director Alain Gallopin. "He was definitely in a league of his own, and I think he did a perfect time trial. He's outstanding in this discipline, and today no one was able to reach his level. Now we just have to wait and see what he's capable of in tomorrow's stage, which will be very hard, but definitely interesting for us." The third stage developed into an American battle as three compatriots finished in the spots just behind Zabriskie: at 53 seconds, Floyd Landis (Phonak) placed second, followed by Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) and George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), who all showed their excellent form a few weeks ahead of the Tour de France. In the overall classification of the Dauphiné, young Belgian Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) held on to the lead, while Zabriskie moved to second place before Thursday's tough test to the legendary Mont Ventoux, where the Dauphiné will see its first summit finish. Click here for full results, report & photos Post-stage quotesBy Jean-François Quénet in Bourg-de-Péage
David Zabriskie (CSC), 1st "I didn't know that four Americans took the top four positions. I'm not surprised about that. For some reason, Americans are talented for time trialing. I have a theory about that: when Americans start cycling, it's by themselves, Europeans do it in groups. It could be nothing but that's my theory."
Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), 3rd at 1'17
"I'm happy. David Zabriskie went faster, but I'm happy. I'm in the same shape as one year ago. But last year's time trial suited my capabilities better. If I'm one of the favourites for the Tour de France this year? Yes, for sure. If I can do time trials like this, I can target the win or the top three."
Alexandre Vinokourov, 17th at 2'41 "It's not too bad but I'm not at the top. I know the Tour is in three weeks time, that's why my form is delayed compared to last year. I know I'm on the right track. I've lost two minutes on Floyd Landis, that's normal, these guys have done a lot of races. I'll look at Saturday's stage but I won't put too much pressure on myself for winning a stage this year." Rojas "calm and confident" in view of the TourBy Antonio J. Salmerón Spanish neoprofessional rider José Joaquín Rojas of Astaná-Würth is looking for an opportunity in the Dauphiné Libéré, after finishing eighth in stage one from Annecy to Bourgoin-Jallieu. Only two hours before participating in Wednesday's time trial, a discipline which suits Rojas naturally, he said, "it is the Dauphiné Libéré - I am going to prove myself looking at Eindhoven on June 18." The arrival of the new sponsorship to the scandal-shaken squad seems to have calmed its members: "This [sponsorship] offers us an unquestionable tranquility with respect to our future, as well as confidence with respect to our presence in the Tour [de France] with our leader Vinokourov," Rojas added. The young Spaniard is optimistic in order to get a victory, "but I am realistic, and I need to have a rest". And he will continue to support his controversial team manager Manolo Sáiz: "I won't engage in discussion], nor leave, because it is not my war. I will continue in this team." Ullrich and Klöden gearing up in SuisseTeam T-Mobile has announced its final per-Tour de France testing line-up for the Tour de Suisse, in its 70th edition this year. Starting next Saturday, June 10, the mountain challenge is a traditional build-up for Jan Ullrich in his preparation for 'D-month', July. After considering riding the Vuelta Ciclista Asturias instead, the German decided to stick to old habits and head the magenta outfit in Switzerland. "I have enjoyed success in this race in the past and feel very much at ease there," said Der Kaiser, who won the 2004 edition of the race after a dramatic final time trial. Accompanied by Andreas Klöden and Aussie Michael Rogers, the 32 year-old will be joined by two other riders from T-Mobile's 'Le Tour' core squad. Last year, Rogers had to let go of the overall win on the final stage, when he was overhauled by Basque rider Aitor Gonzalez, as Jan Ullrich finished third overall. This year, Rogers abandoned the Giro d’Italia on stage 13 with severe toothache. Since then, he has been getting treatment at the University Clinic in Freiburg and has now been given the go ahead for the challenge in the Swiss Alps. Another rider coming back from injury is Andreas Klöden. After an eight-week lay-off because of a fractured shoulder, the 2004 Tour runner-up was back in action at the recent Bayern-Rundfahrt, where he placed third in the time trial. Linus Gerdemann, who has good memories of the Tour de Suisse, will also form part of the team. The 23 year-old pulled off a surprise stage win on his debut last year. Riding with the CSC team at the time, Gerdemann soloed to victory on stage seven from Einsiedeln to Lenk. The runner-up on that stage was Italian Lorenzo Bernucci, then in the colours of Fassa Bortolo and now part of the magenta squad at the nine-day tour. Luxembourger Kim Kirchen, Patrik Sinkewitz and climbing specialist Giuseppe Guerini round out the eight-man roster, but they are certainly not only domestiques. The Italian Guerini was the 2003 runner-up behind Alexander Vinokourov. "We're sending a strong squad into action, with ambitions for a top overall placing," said sports director Rudy Pevenage. "We won the Tour de Suisse in 2003 with 'Vino' and in 2004 with Jan. Last year, Jan was third behind runner-up Michael Rogers. A good placing is also a pointer to the Tour de France." The 1,468km Tour de Suisse kicks off on Saturday with a 154km loop starting and finishing in Baden and concludes on June 18 with a 30km final time trial in Bern. After four undulating, but not too demanding stages, the peloton will hit high mountains for the first time on Wednesday, June 21, with a summit finish at 1,376m in Leukerbad on the menu. The queen’s stage follows a day later, taking in the leg-breaking Furka (2,436m) and Albula passes (2,315 m). The stages Stage 1 - June 10: Baden - Baden, 154 km Liquigas for upcoming racesItalian team Liquigas is optimistic about the upcoming races. The latest wins by Stefano Garzelli at the Tour of Luxembourg and of Matej Mugerli at the Volta a Catalunya have reassured the team. The expert rider from Varese and the young Slovenian will captain two squads at the next-up Tour de Suisse and Tour of Slovenia respectively. In Slovenia (from Thursday 8th to Sunday June 11th), 25 year-old Matej Mugerli will race on his home turf. Magnus Backstedt, Roman Kreuziger, Dario Andriotto, Eros Capecchi and Alberto Curtolo will be with him, under the watchful eye of team manager Mario Scirea. In Switzerland (from Saturday 10th to Sunday June 18th), Stefano Zanatta will lead an aggressive team that features a mix of riders who are back from the Giro d’Italia and some riders who will race the Tour de France. The centre of attention will be Stefano Garzelli, who scored two wins this season already and likes the Swiss stage race very much, as the 33 year-old took the overall win in 1998 as well as four stage wins. He will be helped by Swiss Michael Albasini and Stefano Zanini, also victorious in the Tour de Suisse in the past, as well as Kjell Carlström, Dario Cioni, Luca Paolini, Franco Pellizotti and Charles Wegelius. Acqua & Sapone for Tour of SloveniaItalian outfit Acqua & Sapone has announced its rider roster for the upcoming Tour of Slovenia, scheduled from June 8-11. Alexander Arekeev, Andrus Aug, Denis Bertolini, Stefano Cavallai, Crescenzo D’Amore and Ondrej Sosenka will participate in the event taking place in Eastern Europe. "We have the possibility to do well," said sports director Franco Gini. "Aug will be our man for the bunch sprints, while Arekeev has possibilities in the general classification and for the mountain finish on the third stage." No Tour for KnavenIt could have been the tenth Tour de France for Quick.Step's Servais Knaven, but the Dutchman has been informed by his team management that he is not on the 15-rider list of which nine will be selected to participate in the French Grand Tour. "It's going to be a strange summer," said Knaven. "In the last ten years I rode the Tour nine times, as only in 1999 we weren't welcome with TVM. After my stage win in 2003 I thought I had enough of it, but then I always had a goal with Tom Boonen these last years, again. The team management has to make a choice - that's hard, but cycle racing simply is a hard world." Helpers wanted for 2006 Tour of Britain, and Tour de France 2007British Cycling has announced it will again be working with the Tour of Britain this year to help recruit two thousand volunteer marshals for the 2006 race. As not all of the route has been decided at this point, the exact locations required for marshalling will be revealed once all the stages have had their regional launches. Once registered, volunteers will be contacted with the locations available on the stage in which they have expressed an interest. The provisional 2006 Tour of Britain route is: Stage 1 - August 29: Scotland, Glasgow to Castle Douglas British Cycling has also announced that applications for helping in the Tour de France start next year are also open and required. Volunteers who are interested in helping in the 2007 'Grand Départ' of the greatest of the Grand Tours can assure their places by assisting at the South East and London stages of this year's Tour of Britain. Experience of marshalling anywhere on the Tour of Britain will also be considered when selecting people for the Tour de France. The Tour of Britain can't pay travelling expenses to marshalling points but each volunteer will receive a goodie bag, appropriate training and the safety equipment necessary to fulfil their role. To register for any of the stages of this year's Tour of Britain, go to: www.tourofbritain.co.uk/volunteer.asp Sydney Thousand relocated to Canterbury VelodromeThe Sydney Thousand will once again be held at Canterbury Velodrome later this year. First run at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of in 1903, the event has changed venues several times over the decades, taking place last year at the Dunc Gray Olympic Velodrome at Bass Hill. However, because of management differences between the Sydney Thousand promoters, Events Du Monde, and the Bass Hill track administrators, the race organisers have announced that they, along with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ben Kersten, have inspected the Canterbury Velodrome at Tempe built in 1982, in order to relocate the race. Kersten pointed out some repairs necessary to ensure the 24 year-old track would be safe for international competition. The organisers will submit an application to Canterbury City Council this week to secure the venue to run the event on Sunday October 29 along with Kersten's recommendations for repairs. Saturn of Toledo/Shell Cat 3 rider diesOn Tuesday evening, a training ride resulted in a tragic and fatal accident for a Category 3 member of the Saturn of Toledo/Shell Cycling Team in Toledo, Ohio, USA. Christian Burkhart, 20, was headed South on Fulton-Lucas Co. Rd outside of Sylvania, Ohio, when another rider saw him slow down approaching Rt. 20. Burkhart nevertheless continued, and apparently did not see or misjudged the speed of a semi-truck coming from the West and was struck. A car driver who saw the accident dialled 911 immediately and someone was on the scene within minutes, even before the emergency squad arrived, but there was nothing that could be done to save the young cyclist. Team Toledo/Shell mourns his loss and sends its deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Updates and details on funeral arrangements will be posted on www.freewheel.com/mvw/news.html as information becomes available. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2006) |
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