First Edition News for April 22, 2003

Edited by Jeff Jones

Di Luca looking at Ardennes classics

Danilo Di Luca
Photo © CN

Having placed third in the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, Saeco's Danilo Di Luca is looking forward to this week's Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Di Luca helped form the final 10 man breakaway yesterday when he split the bunch on the Eyserbosweg with 19 km to go. At the finish, he was just behind Michael Boogerd, who won the group sprint for second.

"In Holland I did not have a super day, yet I was able to stay with the others to fight for the victory," Di Luca told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Now I'm hopeful for the next appointment."

"I ride every race to the maximum, but perhaps Liège is more to my style, if not only because I'll have more time to recuperate. What is important is that I've got over my illnesses: the 'flu, conjunctivitis and an intestinal virus that affected my condition heavily after San Remo. In the Basque Country, I was a wreck."

Di Luca points to Francesco Casagrande and Michele Scarponi as riders to watch in Liège. "Of course you can't forget about Boogerd and Armstrong," he said.

Also see: Danilo Di Luca's pre-Amstel diary

Ullrich wins at home

Ready for Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Jan Ullrich
Photo © AFP

Jan Ullrich (Team Coast) gave the first demonstration of his former brilliance in nearly 18 months when he won the 88th edition of the Rund um Köln. The 29 year old, who has this season only been competing since April 8, pulled off a magnificent solo victory in front of thousands of spectators in the German cathedral city, winning by 1'52 over former teammate Danilo Hondo (Telekom) and a group of 20 riders. As he rode down the finishing straight, Ullrich high-fived the spectators lining the roads before raising both arms in victory across the line. His last win was in the World Time Trial Championships in Lisbon in October, 2001.

"Never before have I won a race this early in the season," said the delighted Ullrich at the finish. "Actually it's like a miracle, but this is also not a World Cup race. I wanted to do a good race in my own country, but no-one expected that it would go so well. I'm unbelievably happy. Our tactic worked completely, I was able to protect myself in the first kilometres, and had good legs the whole time and was able to maintain a high cadence."

"In my comeback I made up my mind to work seriously. I've learned from the faults I made and I state that I have to work hard and hurt myself. I won't talk any more about the past. I'm looking at the future, because that's all that counts."

Ullrich's manager Wolfgang Strohband was similarly happy with Jan's performance. "He is at the top, we've not yet seen him like this in spring," said Strohband. "We'll have a lot of enjoyment from him this year."

Ullrich had pulled out of the Vuelta a Aragon before the final stage on Sunday in order to prepare for his first race back home in nearly two years. It paid off better than expected, and now Ullrich has his sights set on both the Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Indeed it will be interesting to see him come up against Lance Armstrong's in 'La Doyenne' next Sunday, with the American targeting this classic as one he wants to win.

"I actually wanted to recover between Köln and Liège-Bastogne-Liège," said Ullrich, who will also do the Rund um den Henninger Turm on May 1. "But I feel very good and because of Köln I'm racing in the vicinity anyway, so I'll take part in La Flèche Wallonne."

Beyond these races, there is of course the Tour de France in July, a race in which Jan Ullrich has never finished lower than second. It's early days yet, but the form that Ullrich showed today puts him in good stead for the Tour, and is starting to stake his claim on a favourites berth.

Ullrich and Botero in Clasica de Alcobendas

In further news about the racing plans of two Tour contenders, Jan Ullrich (Coast) and Santiago Botero (Telekom) have been confirmed as starters in the Clasica de Alcobendas, a two day stage race in Spain on May 10-11. The pair of time trial specialists will be the star attractions at the race, with Botero back in Europe ready for his build up for the Tour.

17 teams will take part in the race, including the seven Spanish squads and ten foreign ones. The race will feature three stages in two days, including a relatively flat road stage, a mountain top finish and a time trial.

11 teams confirmed for Burgos

Along with the seven Spanish teams, US Postal Service-Berry Floor, Saeco, Telekom and Cofidis have been confirmed as taking part in the Vuelta a Burgos, which will be held between August 11-15 this year. The race will feature between 18 and 20 teams once things are finalised later this season.

The five day race will feature a mixture of terrain, and the organisers hope that the variations in the parcours will cause several changes in the leadership. The first stage will start in Burgos and finish in Miranda de Ebro. The second stage will finish atop the Cat. 1 Alto de Altotero and stage 3 will also finish on a climb, the Special Category ascent of Lagunas de Neila. The fourth stage is an individual time trial of between 15 and 20 km while the fifth and final stage will be run from Aranda and Burgos.

The Vuelta a Burgos is a 2.1 classified stage race, and is considered an important race for many riders who are aiming at the Vuelta España (September 6-28).

Squadra Corsa Cycling Team

The Squadra Corsa Cycling Team is a 26-member racing team that has established itself in the Twin Cities cycling community, beginning as a cycling club at the University of North Dakota in 1995.

For the 2003 season, Squadra Corsa has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Clinical Supplies Management Inc. (www.clinicalsupplies.net). Clinincal Supplies Management is a company founded by Gerald Finken (currently a Squadra Corsa top-ranked amateur racer) in 1997 which provides numerous services to the pharmaceutical industry. Squadra Corsa is also supported by American Classic Components (www.americanclassic.com). Squadra Corsa has also formed a relationship with Erik's Bike Shop (www.eriksbikeshop.com).

Team Roster

(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)