Latest Cycling News for May 11, 2006
Edited by Jeff Jones
Stage 5 wrap-up: T-Mobile takes pink while CSC triumphs
Yessss!
Photo ©: Sirotti
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Team CSC has spectacularly won today's team time trial from Piacenza
to Cremona, held over 35 kilometres. In a concerted team effort, the Danish
squad proved that it was this time superior to Discovery Channel, the
other pre-race favourite. Discovery finished third behind a solid Team
T-Mobile, who took the leader's jersey off Gerolsteiner's shoulders.
T-Mobile's Serguei Gonchar was the best-placed T-Mobile rider to take
the maglia rosa - the German squad powered by time trial specialists
such as Michael Rogers and Jan Ullrich - although not in the best of his
form yet - as well as the Ukrainian himself would have also shared in
the stage victory today, hadn't it been for an unfortunate Matthias Kessler:
the fifth man in line had to let go of his teammates with just 300 metres
to go and crossed the finish line two seconds behind. But it was his time
that counted, so Team CSC snatched the day's victory by just one tiny
second.
Looking at the GC now, Ivan Basso gained 39 seconds on Paolo Savoldelli
as the two are now only 9 seconds apart. Liquigas, with a very good fourth
placing, secured the spot of their leader Danilo Di Luca, who didn't lose
much time today - unlike Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Gilberto Simoni (Saunier
Duval), who both had to give in to the leading team's great performances.
Coming up on
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).
WAP-enabled mobile devices: http://live.cyclingnews.com/wap/
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"It was a victory we have been aiming at for a long time," commented CSC
manager Bjarne Riis on team-csc.com. "It's the essence of team
work, so of course it's a huge win for us. To ride a great team time trial
requires discipline and the ability to communicate, and the riders showed
just that today, so I'm obviously very proud. After a less than satisfying
prologue, we have now confirmed we have a great team, which will be able
to help Ivan all the way to Milan in this Giro."
"It was an important victory for us and it was an awesome feeling
standing on the podium as a team," said Ivan Basso. "Everyone
contributed with all they had, and it means a lot to me to have such a
strong team behind me here in the Giro. Today it was all about taking
the victory as a team and show people how we are able to work together
and accomplish something big. Just as expected it was a close race, so
in the overall standings maybe the results won't mean a lot, but I can
assure you it means a lot for us as a team and the assignment we are on
as team mates."
Scott Sunderland's Giro diary
When you win, it's very nice
The winning team
Photo ©: Sirotti
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Yes, it was close, but we did win the team
time trial today! Last year, we lost the team time trial in the Tour:
we lost the stage and the yellow jersey by one single second.
So yes, T-Mobile did OK, because they did get the leader's jersey. That's
not bad at all. When you lose everything on one day, it's worse.
For the team to win a team time trial like this...it's huge. You only
know how big it is when you have lost before. When you don't win, you're
pretty well gutted. It guts the whole team, personnel, team direction,
fans, everyone. Today we won, and it was a good accomplishment, a very
big boost to the morale.
It's been a good couple of days for us since we last touched base. I
can assure you we weren't resting. The riders and personnel were working
big time. The truck which drove down with the road bikes from the fourth
stage drove all night, and arrived at 7:00am. The mechanics had the road
bikes ready for riding the next day. The soigneurs came in at 3-4am the
next morning. And for us travelling by plane, by the time we got into
the hotel it was just after midnight. I got into bed at 1:30 am after
making sure everyone and everything arrived OK.
Click here
to read the full entry
Rogers over the moon
T-Mobile's Michael Rogers was part of the team that almost won the stage,
but still managed to gain the leader's jersey with Serguei Gonchar. In
his diary on t-mobile-team.com, Rogers wrote, "What drama! What
a day for the team! Serhiy has the maglia rosa. We are all delighted -
over the moon. We knew we had a chance to do something special today.
Everything was in our favour; we have the riders, the experience and the
form. Everybody was super motivated and we went after our goal.
"I said yesterday it would be a very hard ask to put Serhiy in pink.
And it was. Team time trialing requires flat-out riding over the whole
course. It’s tough, there is nowhere to hide, but we really hammered it
with everybody taking their turns and pulling hard at the front. Jeez,
it was worth it in the end. It is a great feeling to have the maglia rosa
in the team fold.
"So far so good for the whole team. Now it is up to us to make the maglia
rosa the maglia magenta for as many days as possible. We won't let it
out of our sights!"
Liberty Seguros limits losses
Although Manolo Saiz's teams have a history of doing well in team time
trials, today's performance in stage 5 by Liberty Seguros-Würth, which
finished 17th of 22 teams, probably wasn't one of them. Despite this,
the team is maintaining a positive outlook after the flat and fast 35
km leg between Paicenza and Cremona. In the end, the team only lost 1'25
to winners CSC, and with most of the riders being climbers, it wasn't
a bad performance according to team director Marino Lejarreta.
"There were no big differences," said Lejarreta. "The team limited its
losses well, because the majority of our riders are climbers. I want to
point out the good work that Baranowski, Scarponi and also De Kort have
done.
"The only ones that achieved a slightly greater advantage were CSC and
T-Mobile, but we are inside the norm, because up to two minutes' difference
was reasonable to expect in such a fast time trial. We have to be mentally
prepared because there will be much bigger differences in the 50 km individual
time trial."
Armstrong picks Basso as Tour de France favourite
Confirms presence at 2006 Tour
By Tim Maloney, European Editor, in Tabbiano Terme, Italy
Meet & greet:
Photo ©: Tim Maloney
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Back in Europe for a birthday cycling trip with a good friend from Austin,
Texas, a relaxed and cheerful Lance Armstrong spent a day with Discovery
Channel cycling team at the 2006 Giro d'Italia. On a sunny spring Thursday
midday at the Hotel Boomerang at Tabbiano Terme, nestled in the green
“Colle Parmense” hills outside of Parma, Italy, all-time Tour de France
champ Lance Armstrong spent a few minutes with Cyclingnews before
he headed off with his Discovery Channel homeys to the Giro d'Italia's
Stage 5 Team Time Trial from Piacenza to Cremona, where he would ride
shotgun for Discovery Channel d.s. Sean Yates. Earlier that Thursday,
Lance had gone on a 90 minute ride with the Discovery Channel guys. shared
a team meal, then had a brief chat with us.
Cyclingnews: Lance, there are seven weeks to go before the Tour
de France. How do you see the first Tour since 1999 without Lance Armstrong
unfolding? The last time we spoke, you thought that Jan Ullrich would
win by three minutes.
LA: Now, times have changed...I can't criticise Jan
because apparently he's been injured. I'm detached enough now that I catch
up...for example, in the past, I would have read Cyclingnews five
times a day for results, or for pictures or the news, etcetera, etcetera.
Now, I might check Cyclingnews and look at other news about cycling
a couple of times a week and a lot of time I'm playing catch-up. Apparently,
Ullrich has been injured and didn't start racing until the (Tour of) Romandie,
which is way too late to start racing (for the Tour). And they say he's
a little heavy, although I haven't seen him. So it seems like Basso's
ahead in his preparation.
Then again, Basso's got a risky program to try to win the Giro and the
Tour. There's a lot of pressure there at CSC for Basso. So I've changed
my opinion; I think now Basso's the favourite to win the Tour de France
now.
CN: Will you be at the Tour de France this year?
LA: Yes, I'll be there the last week.
CN: Will you be there in Paris?
LA: Yeah...I won't be on the Champs-Elysees, but
I will be at the Tour and have a presence within the team, but I won't
be credentialed, I won't be hanging out in the village depart.
I'd rather hang with my guys; positive, progressive people. That's my
team, that's my cause, that's my family.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com
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Meet & greet:
Lance presses the flesh with 'Paolino' Savoldelli
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He Rides, he wrenches!
Lance adjusts a new saddle. Check out Armstrong's one-off Giro Atmos Livestrong helmet
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Lance tolerates
yet another question
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Yo Great White:
Lance Shares a yuk with Cyclingnews diarist Tommy D. Great white is Danielson's nickname.
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Retirement rig:
Lance Armstrong's Trek Madone SL in special one-off Livestrong livery
Valverde: "I'm better than ever"
Caisse D'Epargne's Spanish ace, Alejandro Valverde has said at a recent
reception in his local area of Murcia that he'll arrive at the Tour de
France ready to do well, and that the ProTour leader's jersey he currently
holds will be "just one more motivation".
Valverde will return to competition at the Dauphiné Libéré (June 4-11)
before taking a crack at the Spanish national championships. According
to Valverde, "This will be very good for me and, in this way, I can do
the Tour relaxed and thinking about doing the things that count," he said.
On the other hand, Valverde admitted that, "I am one of the favourites
and hope to be among the top six or seven riders on general [classification]
and to to win a stage."
The 25-year-old said that, "I will need to complete the whole Tour,
something that I hope to do this time, because I'm a little better that
in 2005." For Valverde, "Ivan Basso is the main candidate to win the Tour,
but there are others like Ullrich, Mancebo, Vinokourov, Popovych and myself
who are also in the running."
Courtesy of Antonio J. Salmerón
Alisha Lion joins Webcor-Platinum
Alisha Lion has joined the Webcor-Platinum Women's Cycling Team for
the remainder of the 2006 season. She recently set a new course record
at the May Day Biathlon in her hometown of Morganton, NC and is currently
competing at the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, AK.
"I believe Alisha is one of the up and coming young talents in women's
racing right now", said team director Carmen D'Aluisio. She placed second
overall in the best young rider category to Webcor rider Erinne Willock
in last year's Women's Prestige Series, and has had some impressive results
in both the San Dimas Stage Race and the Redlands Bicycle Classic this
season. The team believes she will add depth to the already strong stage
racing team lead by former Olympian, Christine Thorburn and current US
National Road Racing Champion Katheryn Curi.
"Webcor-Platinum has the perfect environment for my development. It
really feels like I have found a home where I can grow and develop into
a top cyclist", says Lion, who has a degree in Elementary Education. "I
want kids to be inspired and go for their goals and dreams in life."
Hours left to join Fantasy Giro game!
The grand prize
Photo ©: Bianchi
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Registration
for this year's Fantasy Giro game closes in just a few hours time. You
can still join
in the fun here at Cyclingnews and win some great
prizes .
Create your team today and manage riders like McEwen and Schumacher
on your own dream Giro team - win points and prizes everyday whilst following
the Giro here at Cyclingnews. The deadline for submitting your teams is
Fri 12th May 10:00 CEST (04:00 EDT, 01:00 PDT, 09:00 BST, 18:00 AEST,
08:00 UTC). It's simple to play - pick your dream team of 15 from the
riders racing in this year's Giro start list. Then each day pick 9 riders
to race for your fantasy team from these 15. There is no disadvantage
in
joining now that the Giro has already begun.
Yesterday we announced more information about the Grand Prize in this
year's Giro d'Italia Fantasy Game: it is a special-edition bicycle from
Bianchi, the legendary Italian firm of Treviglio, released just in time
for this year's edition of the Grand Tour.
BBB Parts
Photo ©: BBB
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HED Stinger wheels
Photo ©: HED
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Giro Atmos
Photo ©: Giro
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Speedplay Zero pedals
Photo ©: Speedplay
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Santini clothing
Photo ©: Santini
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fi'zi:k saddles
Photo ©: Cyclingnews
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Maxxis Courchevel tyres
Photo ©: Maxxis
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Today we are pleased to announce that we are providing a daily stage
prize from BBB
Parts! A pair of BBB's BSG-23
Winner Team Quick-Step glasses will go to the manager with the highest
scoring stage team each day during the Giro. Four managers have already
won!
Overall there will be 31 opportunities to win prizes this year and you
do not need to take part in the whole Giro to win. Have a look at the
grande
prize and runner-up details below for more information:
Called the 'Via Nirone 7 Alu Carbon Mirage', it is painted in the same
colour-scheme of ProTour and Giro team, Liquigas, which will be looking
to support its lead rider Danilo Di Luca as the race hits the mountains
this week.
In fact, the Via Nirone is so new it is not even in the Bianchi 2006
catalogue - it is purely "a special version available in some Bianchi
shops to celebrate Giro", said a Bianchi spokesperson. The special model
has an excellent design and development pedigree, as it comes from the
'Reparto Corse' division of Bianchi (its racing bicycles area) and bristles
with many new features.
Of particular interest is the first application of Campagnolo's new
'Ultra Torque' 10-speed Mirage compact crankset (34/50T) with integrated
bottom-bracket. The Via Nirone 7 is the only bicycle on the market to
feature this new release from Campagnolo.
The frame is made of aeronautic-grade 7000 series aluminium, with double-
and triple-butted tubes smoothly TIG-welded and with a carbon monostay
rear-end to smooth out the road vibes.
Bianchi describes the frameset as having relaxed geometry to allow for
long days in the saddle, while retaining relatively quick steering. It
also features a saddle d'Italia. The Via Narone 7 also features Campagnolo's
new 'Khamsin' wheelset, as well as a Selle Italia saddle and an ITM stem
and handlebar. For full details, including the frame geometry chart, you
can download
the PDF.
The Bianchi is only one of many great prizes in this year's Giro d'Italia
Fantasy Game. Other great prizes include:
From BBB
Parts, our daily stage winner will win the official sports glasses
of the Quick.Step-Innergetic professional cycling team.
Called "BSG-23 Winner Team Quick-Step" the glasses have a durable, flexible
and lightweight Grilamid frame; adjustable metal nose piece for a perfect
fit; and interchangeable polycarbonate lenses with 100% protection against
harmful UV rays, up to UV 400nm.
The glasses are matte silver with the Quick.Step logo on the band and
come with smoke blue revo lenses. They also come with three extra lenses;
orange, yellow and clear with a flash mirror coating, and a carrying case
so that you have a lens for all types of weather.
A pair of HED's Stinger wheels - the HED
Stinger 50 is an all carbon wheel ideal for road racing. With a 50mm
rim depth, it is more aerodynamic than a traditional alloy rimmed road
wheel. While this rim depth is more aerodynamic, it is not too deep that
handling will be compromised in crosswinds or a crowded peloton;
Three Giro Atmos helmets - from Giro.
We have three Atmos helmets, the same model worn by some of the best riders
and teams in this year's Giro d'Italia;
Three sets of Speedplay's Zero pedals - from Speedplay.
We have three sets of its Zero pedals, as used in the Giro d'Italia by
teams like CSC and Phonak;
Team replica cycling clothing by Santini
- several of the teams in this year's Giro are wearing clothing supplied
by Italian company Santini, and Cyclingnews has three complete sets of
team clothing on offer as prizes in the Fantasy Game;
Three fi'zi:k saddles - some of the best saddles in Italy come from
fi'zi:k,
and we have three of them as prizes in the Fantasy Game;
10 sets of Maxxis Courchevel road tyres - the Courchevel road tyre from
Maxxis
is one of cycling's best road racing tyres. It is a completely new design
from Maxxis, from the rubber to the casing. The Courchevel features 'Triple
Compound Technology' to provide long wear life, great traction and a better
transition from compound to compound.
Play for FREE in the Giro 2006 game
Remember you can play for free for the first 5 stages! Try the game
out and see how best to play. It's easy to play the Tour games - aall
you need to do is pick your dream team of 15 from the riders racing in
this year's Giro start list before registration closes on Fri 12th May
at 10:00 CEST (04:00 EDT, 01:00 PDT, 09:00 BST, 18:00 AEST, 08:00 UTC).
Then each day pick 9 riders to race for your fantasy team from these 15.
You'll need a good combination of climbers, sprinters and general classification
riders. For more details go to the
rules section of the site for more info. It's a great way to follow
the Giro 2006.
To register your teams for the game go to
fantasy.cyclingnews.com
Good luck!
The Fantasy Cyclingnews Team
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