Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Tom Boonen has another Italian sprinter to help in his leadouts. Quick-Step signed Francesco Chicchi, the former under 23 world champ from Zolder in 2002. Chicchi left the Fassa Bortolo squad and will join the Belgian team with a heavy Italian flavor.
Chicchi has no delusions of his role on Quick-Step
“My objective will be to help [...]

Interesting interview with Danilo DiLuca. He gives a no comment about Franco Ballerini’s failed plans to bring an Italian victory at the Worlds. DiLuca did not work into Ballerini’s team plans for the World’s since the Italian effort was focusing on setting up Petacchi for the sprint victory. The only other card to play for [...]

Tom Boonen just won the rainbow jersey of World Champion. But he will not be able to show it off on the road as he declared his season over due to a scheduled stomach operation. The operation is routine and is to correct some intestinal problems that afflicted Boonen last year.
Before the operation, Boonen will [...]

Another World Championships has passed and no Italian victory. As a result Franco Ballerini’s job as seector and director of the Italian team is on thin ice. Silvio Martinello principal collaborator of Ferderciclo says that:
The role of the CT of the professional is an object of analysis for the next federal counsel
Martinello does point [...]

David Millar will be reinstated to pro cycling at the end of June 2006 after serving a two year suspension for taking EPO. For his return, Millar
will join Saunier Duval just in time to enter the Tour de France. Joining him will be Italian TT champ Marco Pinotti and newly crowned Under 23 World Champion [...]

Tom Boonen was one of the favorites going into the World Road Race Championship Sunday. But all eyes were mostly on Alessandro Petacchi, who had a squad that was his personal leadout train. Boonen timed his sprint perfectly as the peloton caught the breakaway containing Vinokourov and Bettini in the last few meters to [...]

There are more cycling films out there besides “Breaking Away” and “American Flyers”
If you are in San Francisco Oct 5th, check out the Bicycle Film Festival.
A fervor is brewing for bike culture in global urban centers. The films in the festival reflect the unadulterated passion cyclists have for their rides. The film program is amazing. [...]

The new squad in town next year will be Milram, that features the sprinting duo of Erik Zabel and Alessandro Petacchi. They will form an Italian-German team whose focus is on their sprinters. The question most everyone will have is willl Zabel be working as the last leadout man for AleJet, or will they try [...]

Alessandro Petacchi and Erik Zabel will co-captain a newly fused team sponsors by Milram.
The team is a combo of Domina Vacanze and Team Wiesenhof. Milram will take over as lead sponsor from Domina Vacanze and be entered into the ProTour.
Petacchi e Zabel firmano per la Milram

Michael Rogers of Australia and Team QuickStep has won his third straight World Championships Gold Medal in the Time Trial. Ivan Gutierrez finish second while Fabian Cacellarra of Switzerland finished third.
The Time Trial event has been owned by Rogers since he inherited the 2003 victory after Brit David Millar admitted to using EPO during [...]