Prudhomme doesn't rule out Ullrich start

In an interview with German cycling magazine "Tour", new Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme doesn't rule out that Jan Ullrich might start in the Tour de France again. Prudhomme was asked if Ullrich would ever take part in the Tour de France again, Prudhomme answered that he couldn't comment on the state of the investigation.

Speculation about Italian team for Ullrich in German press

The rumour mill produced a new story about Jan Ullrich's future. According to German sports magazine "Kicker", Ullrich might race for an Italian team next year. The German magazine writes that Sports directors of Ullrich could be Olaf Ludwig, Mario Kummer and possibly Georg Totschnig. Rudy Pevenage would be the man behind the deal. According to "Kicker" the information comes from a Belgian pro rider who doesn't want to have his name published.

Ullrichs manager announced that the Tour de France winner of 1997 will start training in a training camp in Tuscany, Italy next week. Strohband told "Kicker" that the reason for the training camp is that several Pro-Tour teams are interested in signing Ullrich.

Ivan Basso honoured by Roman Prodi

In Italy the support for  Ivan Basso seems to be as big as it was before the Puerto scandal startet. Ivan Basso was honoured for his "outstanding" sports career by Italian prime minister Roman Prodi yesterday. 

Meanwhile Ivan Basso told reporters that he would announce for which team he will race next year in the coming two weeks. Basso told reporters that Discovery Channel is one of the possibilitys. It's well known that Barloworld is one of the other candidates to sign this years Giro d'Italia winner. Basso also stated that he wants to win the Giro and the Tour de France next year. On Sunday Dutch magazine "Wielermagazine" reported that Basso has already signed a contract with Discovery Channel.

Thomas Ziegeler: "Aiming for the big races"

Thomas Ziegler made the most of his first season in magenta. The 25-year old spent a good eight-and-a-half months in action for the T-Mobile Team; from the Tour of Mallorca at the end of February up to the season closer in Lombardy in mid-October. However, a long season is nothing special for him.

"I ride the race from start to finish. Just like I did in the past“, Ziegler say and adds: “That doesn’t necessarily mean I do an incredible amount of races. I took regular breaks, but I rode the entire season”.

Two podium placings
The 2006 season clearly saw the amiable rider making progress in his development. Third places overall at the Rheinland-Pfalz-Rundfahrt and the Tour of Denmark indicated the allrounder’s potential.

"I clearly improved, especially on short and steep climbs“, Ziegler notes with satisfaction. A second place in the contre la montre at the Tour of Denmark, behind the subsequent World champion Fabian Cancellara proved that his time trial skills have also developed considerably.

First setback
However, like many of his team mates, Thomas Ziegler had his share of bad luck, too. After a satisfying start into the season including a good Tour of Algarve and Paris-Nice, Ziegler crashed at the end of the spring season on the finishing straight of the Rheind-Pfalz-Rundfahrt’s stage 3.

Despite the pain, the magenta rider saw it through until the end, even scoring a podium placing at the five-day-race. However, muscle fibre damage was diagnosed afterwards, forcing him to the sidelines for four weeks.

More than a week has passed since the season’s final curtain fell in Lombardy. Since then there was never a dull moment for Ziegler, who went to the team get-together in Lugano before heading to his new home in Hannover, where he just moved in a new flat together with his girlfriend.

New training ground
"I’m currently busy with doing painting jobs“, says Ziegler. “Since January I’ve been spending most of my time in Hannover –whenever I wasn’t racing”.

"I like it here. I have smaller climbs just around the corner in the Weserbergland. If I want to train on longer ones, I put my bike in my car and make that one-hour ride to the Harz mountains“, describes his new training ground, adding: “In order to build up basic stamina in the winter, the Weserbergland is absolutely sufficient".

In the 2007 season Ziegler is keen to take the next step in his development as a rider. “What I achieved at smaller races in the past season, I’d like to do at the big races as well”, says Zeigler, aiming for podium placings at the high-profile competitions. Maybe it will happen already at Paris-Nice, where he already scored a second place at a stage in 2004.

Source: T-Mobile team

Michael Boogerd: physically i was very strong

In an interview with Dutch newsagency "Novum", Dutch national champion Michael Boogerd talked about the 2006 season saying: "I think i had a good season, physically i was very strong. On the moments i wanted to be there, i was. I hope to do that again next year, although it's very difficult these days. But this year i succeeded in doing this.

Boogerd also told that his height of the past season was winning the Dutch national championship. Boogerd also had some good results in various spring and fall classics and had the 35 year old rider had a great Tour de France.

CARE-auction: Zabel first CARE-auction: Zabel first

Erik Zabel’s fan package is much sought-after. Especially by the cycling fans, who have been bidding assiduously since 15 October in the current CARE-auction.

The current bid (23 October, 12:20 pm) for Erik Zabel’s fan package is 667 Euro. Therefore, the Team MILRAM rider’s package is the most sought-after package in this CARE auction.

The auction, in which the aid organisation CARE is selling packages by VIPs via ebay, runs until 26 October 2006. Until then, all Zabel fans have the opportunity to purchase the package arranged by Erik Zabel himself by auction.

Robert Hunter to Barloworld

Another Phonak rider found a new team, Robert Hunter signed with Barloworld for the 2007 season. Chris Fisher, head of Barloworld's corporate marketing said: "A combination of team work and individual excellence defines what Team Barloworld and Barloworld are all about. This is the team and company's brand philosophy and a rider like Robbie Hunter obviously fits this philosophy perfectly because he can contribute on both fronts. We are thrilled to have this world class rider joining our team. We need experienced riders in our team if we are to continue to take on the best in the cycling world."

Robert Hunter commented: "I've always wanted to ride for a South African-sponsored team and Team Barloworld have certainly proven to their critics that they are a competitive team who are entrenching themselves in the international cycling circuit. I'm looking forward to joining the team and taking direction from the highly respected Claudio Corti and his management team."