Memorial race with Sevilla and Heras

Banned Spanish rider Roberto Heras is expected to attend at a memorial race Sunday in Spain. Heras is serving a two-year ban after testing positive for EPO during the 2005 Vuelta a Espana. Heras is challenging the ban in a Spanish civil court, but he's stripped of his 2005 Vuelta title.

In the 50 kilometers long memorial race for the brother of pro Luis León Sánchez, who was killed last year in a quad accident, Heras is expected to be joined by 2006 Pro-Tour champion Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador, Sergio Paulihno, Oscar Sevilla and many others.

Oscar Sevilla, who was sacked by T-Mobile after his alleged involvement with the Puerto affair, told "cyclingnews.com": "All that has happened has fortified to me physically and psychologically. I am already training and I believe that I am going to render my maximum, because I am also totally recovered of the injury that decreased my performance during previous years. I am better than ever." Sevilla continued by saying: "I was not in agreement with which T-Mobile proposed to me because they said I was incapable of demonstrating my innocence." The Spanish rider is looking for a new team at the moment and concluded his interview with "cyclingnews.com": "I want to find a team that demonstrates fully its trust in me, and if it must be a Pro continental team, I will not consider it a disadvantage."

When is McEwen's season going to end?

He started early this year and Robbie McEwen's season still hasn't ended. The green jersey winner of this years Tour de France started in the Herald Sun Tour this month and by winning the seventh and final stage McEwen showed that he was able to keep his form. On October 28 Robbie McEwen will start at a criteium in Noosa (Australia) and on October 29 he will attend at the Sydney Thousand track carnival. It's expected that Robbie McEwen will kick of his 2007 season at the Tour Down Under in January.

Tom Boonen: "to do list and take very common, daily things first"

Tom Boonen (Quickstep) had a succesfull season with 23 wins. Right now Boonen is enjoying "normal" life. On his website, Boonen published a statement in his diary saying: "This is life! For the first time this year there is neither pressure nor obligation. Things as common as washing a car myself instead of hastily passing a car wash because I have to at another appointment again.

Damiano Cunego tests in the USA.

After having received form Coni the prestigious award Collare d’Oro, Cunego will be in Houston (USA) for some tests in the wind tunnel of the Texan city.
In order to reach a better aerodynamic in the air, Damiano Cunego and Wilier Triestina will be hosted in one of the most advanced wind tunnels and one of the best technicians in the field.
The appointment is set for the 28th of October in Houston, where Lampre-Fondital’s captain will meet John Cobb, a master of cycling aerodynamic. Lampre-Fondital’s sport director Giuseppe Martinelli, the mechanic Enrico Pengo and, for Wilier, the brothers Andrea and Michele Gastaldello will join Damiano Cunego during the USA visit.
“We choose this tunnel because it gives you the opportunity to realize dynamic tests on the athlete in action, in a situation similar to the agonistic act” explained Andrea Gastaldello, managing director of Wilier Triestina.
The aim of this travel is to pay attention to all the details, of the bike and of equipment of Cunego, that could be useful to obtain better performances in the time trial. Cunego will make some tests will the traditional frame Le Roi, then he will test the new Wilier Cento (in street version and in time trial version). During these trials, various models and positions of the handlebars, saddle and bottles will be tested.
“I’m going to Houston with enthusiasm, because I think it could be a useful occasion to find and improve important details” commented Damiano Cunego.

T-Mobile women's team: "As many wins as possible"

It’s not only the T-Mobile women's roster that has a new-look for the 2007 season, a new management regime is also in place with former Olympic track champion Petra Rossner onboard as new team coach. t-mobile-team.com reporter Barbara Völkerding caught up with the 39-year old to learn about her tasks, goals, the team and the competition.

Petra, you were hired as a coach for the women’s team. What exactly are your tasks?

Petra Rossner: In my function as team coach I work in close alliance with Kristy Scrymgeour and Anna Wilson. Together with them and those riders who want to use my help, I develop training and racing plans for example. But I also advice on issues like diet, tactics, SRM analysis or injury prevention. I hope to be able to pass on my experiences to the young riders in particular.

You played an important part in shaping the new-look T-Mobile women’s team: There are eight new additions to the squad. What’s your take on 2007 team?

Rossner: We have strenghtened the squad considerably and I’m convinced that we’ll be up there with the world’s best teams and we will win many races. The team was strong already in 2006. We intend to follow up and expand on that.

Which rider do you expect the most from?

Rossner: Our biggest asset is the team, its strength-in-depth. A rider can only win a race if she is supported by her team in the best way possible. Each and every rider will be capable of winning races in the next season. This will be our key strength.

2004 and 2005 World Cup series winner Oenone Wood (Australia) is the biggest new name on the roster. What are her qualities?

Rossner: Though she's only 26, Oenone has already enjoyed a lot of success in the past. She’s a big talent, she's very quick and will surely be red-hot favourit when she's at the start line for one-day-races. In the past season she went through some motivation problems, that’s why switching to a new team will certainly be a good thing for her.

The Swede Emilia Fahlin has been signed as a young and up-and-coming rider…

Rossner: At age 17, she's our youngest rider. Emilia already excelled in gymnastics and she has now the potential to be one of the biggest talents in European cycling. We want to let her gradually adjust to the pace of women’s cycling, to find her level and learn, especially from the team’s experienced riders However, in 2007 Emilia will also focus on finishing school.

Apart from the Germans Judith Arndt and Ina Teutenberg the only rider remaining of the 2006 squad is American Kim Anderson...

Rossner: Kim has been a very important support for the team this year. At age 38, she has a lot of experience, but she was able to improve last year. There’s still a lot of good racing left in her. Kim is always highly motivated and last year managed to leave her mark on the races. We have high hopes for her gain in the next year.

On which races will the team focus in 2007?

Rossner: Mostly on the World Cup races. But we also want to make our mark on the stage-races. Our goal is simple - to win as often as possible. Most interesting are those races, where we can compete against absolute top riders.

Which teams do you consider your fiercest rivals?

Rossner: I expect teams like Nürnberger, Univega, Buitenpoort-Flexpoint or Nobili, which have been riding on a high level for years, to be in top from again. But since some of the teams' rosters are not complete yet, there’s only so much you can say about their quality at this early stage.

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts, Petra!

Source: T-Mobile