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05.10.2006/ Tom Boonen wins in Zele after surprise start, Erwin Thijs extends contract with
Unibet.com, Floyd Landis supports Nickel Mines community, Liquigas roster for 2007, Milram for Trofeo Beghelli, Ullrich:
the haunt continues, Jaan Kirsipuu retires, Michael Boogerd starts at Paris-Tours
New: Picture gallery Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 2006
New: picture gallery Zürich Metzgete 2006
New: German Quadriga dashing away on national holiday
Tom Boonen wins in Zele after surprise start
The officials at the signing table of the kermis race in Zele (Belgium) had to look twice... Yes it was defenetly
Tom Boonen (Quickstep) who was signing the startlist. Boonen received backnumber 89. Kermis races are not the same as crits
and have a long tradition in Belgium. There is no starting money and the distances are much longer. All riders, elite riders
with and without a contract, race together for the price money and around the track Belgians are betting on the outcome of
the race.
Yesterday in Zele the rumour was spreading fast: Boonen will start and the usually already very well visited
kermis race in Zele was more crowded than ever before. Boonen started together with his Quickstep team mates Kevin Hulsmans
and Wilfried Cretskens. The Quickstep boys rocked the race and only 20 of 98 started riders finished the race , which was
won by Boonen.
After the race Boonen told a reporter of Belgian daily sports "Sportwereld", that he was feeling a bit down
after the world championships and that Hulsmans asked him to race again. As Boonen needed some more training before Sunday's
Paris-Tours he thought an extra race would be good. After his 23th season victory he didn't regret coming to Zele.
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| Tom Boonen: "I was feeling a bit down after the world championships" (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Erwin Thijs extends contract with Unibet.com
Erwin Thijs is staying with the Unibet.com cycling
team next season. The Belgian signed a contract for one year with the new ProTour team. “Next to Unibet.com, I had three
offers from other teams. But I eventually choose to extend the contract with my familiar Unibet.com team”, said Thijs.
The 36 year-old Belgian absolutely has no lack of ambition. “Just like last year, I want to be in front in some
of the classics races. Another challenge is definitely to finish one of the big tours”, stated the Unibet.com rider.
Erwin Thijs managed to win three races for Unibet.com this season. He was the best in the GP Aarhus, the sixth stage of the
Course de la Paix and the Flèche Hesbignonne.
Floyd Landis supports Nickel Mines community
Floyd Landis who had hip surgery last week (we reported) is still waiting
for the outcome of the doping case aginst him after his positive probe during this years Tour de France, is supporting the
Nickel Mines community after the shooting tragedy this week. On his website Floyd published following statement: "In the wake
of the tragic Amish schoolhouse shooting, Floyd and his family wish to extend their deepest sympathies to the community of
Nickel Mines, PA. As a native of nearby Farmersville, his personal connections to the people of Lancaster County run deep.
To assist his neighbors in their time of need, Floyd will be donating funds to assist those affected by the recent tragedy.
Floyd encourages that all those who would like to help the bereaved visit the Coatesville Savings Bank website at www.coatesvillesavings.com for more information on both the Nickel Mines Children’s Fund and the
Roberts Family Fund."
Liquigas roster for 2007
The latest agreements have been signed yesterday morning during a meeting
between Roberto Amadio and the Carera brothers of A&J Sport.
Liquigas team 2007: 30 riders from 13 countries, 19 staying riders and
11 new riders:
Staying:
Michael Albasini (SUI), Magnus Backstedt (SWE), Patrick Calcagni (SUI), Eros Capecchi
(ITA), Kjell Carlstrom (FIN), Mauro Da Dalto (ITA), Danilo Di Luca (ITA), Francesco Failli (ITA), Enrico Gasparotto (ITA),
Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Vladimir Miholjevic (CRO), Matej Mugerli (SLO), Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Andrea Noe' (ITA), Luca
Paolini (ITA), Franco Pellizotti (ITA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Alessandro Spezialetti (ITA), Charles Wegelius (GBR)
New
riders:
Manuel Beltran Martinez (ESP), Leonardo Bertagnolli (ITA), Francesco Chicchi (ITA),Antonio Fischer
Murilo (BRA), Aleksandr Kuschynski (BLR), Roberto Petito (ITA), Filippo Pozzato (ITA), Guido Trenti (USA), Alessandro Vanotti
(ITA), Frederik Willems (BEL)
Neo-pro:
Dario Cataldo (ITA)
Milram for Trofeo Beghelli
Michele Gobbi, Andrey Grivko, Giovanni Visconti, Mirco Lorenzetto, Matej
Jurco, Carlo Scognamiglio, Fabio Sabatini, Alessandro Vanotti
DS: Antonio Bevilacqua
Ullrich: the haunt continues
On Sunday October 1, Swiss TV station SF 1 broadcasted a report about pro cyclists using the enzym protease
to mask the use of EPO in their urin probes. Protease destroys EPO and makes it therefore undectectable in doping probes.
In the report Swiss tv stated that pro cyclists mixed protease with their urin by peeing over one of their fingers were they have
some protease powder on. After doing that the EPO dissapears in the urin sample. In the report it was said that one of the
urin samples of Jan Ullrich, which was taken last winter during a training camp in South Africa, showed no signs of EPO at
all. The report stated that this indicates that Ullrich used protease since there also was no natural EPO in his sample. In
the report it was said on one hand that the person who was called JAN in the Fuentes code system ordered the powder at Fuentes
but it was also said that protease is in many washing powders.
Protease is considered one of the most important enzymes that humans have. It's in many food supplement
biologics as it can help to clean up your blood stream and restores your energy and balance. Cyclingheroes
own research found out that protease is also in many foodstuffs like fish, meat, pineapple, cheese and several bakery products.
Matthias Kamber, of the Swiss federal sports office stated to German TV channel ARD, "it's possible that the
absence of epo in the probes have a natural cause, but it also feeds the suspicion of manipulation."
Jaan Kirsipuu retires
Estonian rider Jaan Kirsipuu will retire after Paris-Tours on sunday. The Credit Agricole rider won more than
130 races, among those wins were 4 stages of the Tour de France and he was also wearing the yellow jersey for 6 days
during his career. Kirsipuu started his career with the French Chazal-Team.
Michael Boogerd starts at Paris-Tours
After a request of the Rabobank team managment Michael Boogerd decided to start at Sunday's Paris-Tours instead
of the Giro dell Emilia. The last Rabobank rider that won Paris-Tours was Erik Dekker in 2004.
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| Michael Boogerd during Zürich Metgete on October 1 (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
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