Velochimp

Tom Boonen is showing that the World Champion’s curse does not apply to him. Maybe it is the magic of the mullet? Boonen has been dominating the competition in the Middle East winning the Doha GP and two stages of the Tour de Qatar. Boonen has been undefeated in races where he has worn the World Champion’s jersey.

The man who wanted to wear Boonen’s multicolored shirt will be starting his season in the GP Costa delle Etruschi. Alessandro Petacchi ended 2005 on a dissapointing note as he was heavily favored to win the World Championships road race, but did not have the gas to get to the end. A new team may mean a fresh start for many cyclist, but Petacchi had a formidable leadout train already established. The new Milram team brings in a few Fassa Bortolo men from the “Silver Train” to the new blue team. Boonen’s Quick-Step team have developed a formidable train of their own, and it seems to be clicking already in January. Will Petacchi feel that he has to respond to Boonen’s domination in the Mid-East by taking a few early wins in the GP Etruschi?

Petacchi may face some hungry sprinters such as Enrico Degano of Barloworld, who will want to take a win for the newly revamped team under Claudio Corti. Fabio Baldato is now on the small Tenax team and may feel a bit rejuvanted. Plus, there may be the presence of the new Brazilian sprinting sensation Murlino Fischer. Petacchi may have his hands full and it is only February.
The GP Etruschi starts on Febrary 3rd.

It is getting closer to racing time. This month has felt more like March than January compared to what we usually expect for Upstate New York. As I race this year, I plan on bringing a video camera and digital camera with me to document the races. YouTube makes it super easy to post your videos to the web.For a little taste, here are a couple of videos from the 2005 Syracuse Race Weekend set to music. Enjoy, the terrifying street sprints and the elbow to elbow action of the criterium.

Street Sprints:

Continue reading →

Stefano Garzelli seems to be the default Tour contender on a team that is mostly focusing on the Giro D’Italia. Last year Garzelli and Cioni were supposed to be the main Liquigas antagonist for G.C. but Danilo DiLuca’s surprising and inspired performance put Cioni and Garzelli into a supporting role.

This year with DiLuca looking to win the Giro, Garzelli is aiming to perform well at the Tour de France by skipping the Giro and putting all of his training efforts to performing well in France. Although he has never placed very high in France, Garzelli is highly motivated by the arrival of his new baby. “I have a new motivation this year part to go much faster. Because of this I have more calmness and tranquility”

On the subject of DiLuca’s Giro chances Garzelli think’s Danilo has a chance. “Maybe the course is too tough for his abilities, but for me that is an exaggeration. Diluca showed last year that he could ride well in very tough climbs after performaning well in the spring classics. This year he will focus entirely on the Giro. By saving his energy for the Giro, he will be one of the main protagonist with a chance to win the race that he holds close to his heart.”

McDonalds joins the professional peloton as a major sponsor of Ivano Fannini’s Amore e Vita Cycling team. The longtime sponsor Beretta Salumifico (Salami company) is now gone, replaced by another fatty meat company. “I am very happy and honored to begin McDonalds involvement in professional cycling, thanks to Amore e Vita for helping to make this possible” says Ivano Fannini.

The new sponsor with much larger pockets may mean good things for the small Italian team that helps foster new champion riders for the peloton for 25 years. Since that time over 4,000 athletes have ridden in an A e V jersey with 12 world titles, 45 national titles, 15 stages of the Giro D’Italia and various classics wins. Some of the riders who acheived these goals either while on A e V or after include Michele Bartoli, Franco Chioccioli, Rolf Sorensen, Francesco Moser, Andrea Tafi, Glenn Magnusson, Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart

In 2005 A e V acheived 19 international victories and have been very outspoken about doping in the peloton.

The A e V team is current in Libo di Camaiore at a training camp until February 3rd. They will then show off their colors in the GP Costa degli Etruschi and the Trofeo Laigueglia.

One interesting note is that Fannini has been talking with Mario Cipollini about a possible return to cycling. Fanini says that all that is left is to sign a contract. Could we see a return of Cipo in the next few weeks?
Stay tuned….

Tutto Bici

Jan Ullrich now has Eddy Merckx picking him to succeed in France come July. Merckx made a few comments on the “Man with the new coif” while assiting at the Doh International GP. Merckx particularly likes the fact that “Der Kaiser” has decided to add the Giro D’Italia as part of his training schedule leading up to the Tour. Merckx himself won the Tour five times and thinks that a rider like Jan Ullrich needs a few races to get into form. “The Giro will allow Ullrich to come into excellent form for the Tour” says the Cannibal.

Eddy does offer some criticism to Jan and others: “in the last sven years he concentrated solely on the Tour, but he is a rider that needs many more miles of racing in his legs in order to perform well at the Tour”

Well said Eddy, that was always odd how Jan was in great form at the end of July, August and September while Lance was sitting back going to talk shows and parades. Will the 8th time be a charm for “Der Kaiser”?
http://it.sports.yahoo.com/29012006/8/tour-2006-mercks-l-anno-ullrich.html

Claudio Corti and Igor Astarloa had a great year in 2003. They won Fleche Wallone together, had a powerhouse Italian team and Igor won the World Title. Their team had red kits and Cannondale bikes. Nothing could be better. In 2004, Astarloa suffered the “Curse of the World Champion” and eventually tumbled down to the lowly South African Barloworld team for 2005.

Now in 2006, old friend and team manager Corti comes in to bring back the glory days of only two years ago. What happened since then? The ProTour changed the climate that smaller Italian teams used to enjoy. They could put together a team almost at the last minute and still get into some very big races, even the Tour. But this is 2006 and Barloworld will have to spend some time in the Continental circuit and hope for an upgrade sometime in the future.

Checkout the stories at:
http://www.ciclismo-online.it/
and Cycling News.com

Perhaps Bode Miller has been a little too eager to give interviews and speak his mind. Miller throws fellow athletes Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds under the bus for simply taking pills and not asking questions. Come on Bode, do we need to make the drug issue more of a witch hunt than it already is? Seriously, remember what Charles Barkley said long ago in a famous commercial. I am an athlete, I am not a role model. Maybe Bode Miller has an insight to the dark underbelly of sport. Maybe he has some insight into what really goes on in the backrooms of gyms or in French hotels during the Tour, but that does not justify simply making random accusations in Rolling Stone.

Read the interview here

Tom Boonen is starting the season where he ended it last year-on the podium. Boom Boom Boonen beat out Robert “The machine” Hunter and Zoom Zoom Zabel to take the GP Doha which is an hors-D’ oeurve for the Tour of Qatar.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.com/home.htm

Early season racing hits the Middle East with racing in Doha and the Tour of Qatar. The Doha International GP will take place on Jan 27th and will feature the debut of Erik “Zoom Zoom” Zabel with his new Milram team. Petacchi will not be present, so Zabel gets to test out the leadout train for himself.

Tom Boonen will lead his QuickStep Team and show off the new “Maglia Iridata”. Other teams include Davitamon-Lotto, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim and Unibet.com, Rabobank, Skill-Shimano, Phonak, Team CSC, le Gerolsteiner, Team Wiesenhof-Akud, Cofidis, Française des Jeux, Agritubel, Team Milram, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare, Naturino-Sapore di Mare and Kazak team CT Capec.

Tour of Qatar Stages:
Friday, January, 27th – Doha International Grand Prix
Doha Al Corniche: 108 km

Monday, January, 30th – 1st stage
Khalifa Stadium – Al Khor Corniche: 131,5 km

Tuesday, January, 31st – 2nd stage
Camel Race Track – Al Khor Corniche: 138 km

Wednesday, February, 1st – 3rd stage
Sealine Beach Resort – Khalifa Stadium : 160 km

Thursday, February, 2nd – 4th stage
Al Zubarah – Qatar Olympic Committee: 144 km

Friday, February, 3rd – 5th stage
Al Thakhira – Doha Corniche: 151,5 km (11 laps on the finish line))

Tuttobici web

Fat Cyclist (via cyclelicio.us ) has a brilliant writeup on the latest Euro-style trend in hair. Jan Ullrich’s new hair cut and the Discovery Channel response:

“His curly, highly moussed locks clearly state, ‘I am the team captain. You must ride in support of me, and in support of my hair.’ I only wish that we had thought of this hair before last year’s Tour de France; perhaps we could have kept Vinokourov in check.

And he offers some insight into why Armstrong chose Ullrich to win the Tour instead of good friend Ivan Basso:

“I’m just glad that I’m retired,” said a concerned-looking Armstrong, pensively running a hand through his (rather pedestrian) close-cropped hair. “I mean, I’ve always said that Ullrich was my greatest opponent. With that new hairstyle, well, I don’t know.” Armstrong paused for a moment, weighing his words. “To tell the truth, I don’t think I could compete with that.”

Fat Cyclist: Pro Cycling Teams Unveil 2006 Hair Strategy