Giro bodes well for Phonak, says Rihs

Phonak rider José Enriqué Gutierrez's second place in the Giro d'Italia was a pleasant but "not inexplicable" surprise that may help secure the team's future as Phonak looks to hand over to a new sponsor in 2006 - and Victor Hugo Peña's ninth place won't hurt either.

On the team's website, team owner Andy Rihs said, "In the run-up to the Giro d'Italia I'd expected one of our riders in the top ten and had hoped for a stage win," but to have two riders in the top ten was unexpected.

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