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04.12.2006/ Savoldelli stays with Astana, Mad Max wants to ride the Tour, Ullrich visiting US for "official
meetings", Discovery Channel training camp
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Saul Raisin: "My ultimate goal is to race by the end of next year"
Isaac Galvez dies after crash at Sixdays in Gent
Ullrich: training in Austria and Italy
Magnus Backstedt: "I am hoping to be able to qualify for the 2008 Olympics on the track."
Doping-Protest.com: "163,193 kilometres have been ridden as a protest"
Vinokourov: "If they don't want us in the Pro-Tour, then it's their problem"
Savoldelli stays with Astana
Paolo Savoldelli will stay with Astana. There were some rumours
that Savoldelli might leave Astana before he even joined them, but 'Il Falco' told Australian based website cyclingnews.com: "I
will stay with Astana. I have signed a one year contract with them." Savoldelli has a contract with the Marc Biver team. The
team was not granted a Pro-Tour license last week.
Mad Max wants to ride the Tour
Max Van Heeswijk transferred from Discovery Channel to Rabobank for the 2007 season. Van Heeswijk
told wieleruitslagen.be: "I enjoyed my time with Discovery, but it was time for a new challenge." Van Heeswijk took the decision
because Rabobank "simply offered him a better contract." The Dutch sprinter raced for the Dutch Pro-Tour squad before, in
1997 and 1998 he also wore the orange Rabobank jersey.
Van Heeswijk said: "I am glad to race for Rabobank again. I know that I have a free role in my
races and that is one of the reasons that I went to Rabo." Van Heeswijk will not be the only sprinter in the team, asked about
Oscar Freire, Van Heeswijk said: "I know for sure that I won't have to ride for Freire all the time, it all depends on
who is stronger at that moment: Oscar or me. W'll see."
Van Heeswijk about his goals for the 2007 season: "That stage win at the 2005 Vuelta was the most
beautiful thing that happened to me, I would like to repeat that at the Tour. " Van Heeswijk also wants to score at Paris-Roubaix.
Ullrich visiting US for "official meetings"
Jan Ullrich celebrated his birthday in the USA on Saturday.
Ullrich is on a three day business trip in the US and confirmed on his website janullrich.de that he planned several
"official meetings". Ullrich became 33 years old on saturday and wrote on his website: "Thirty-three
has always been my lucky number and I am really looking forward to this day. I am confident that my plans for next year will
come off."
Ullrich has already been training in Austria and Italy After returning from the States, Ullrich
plans to start with "the next phase of the season's preparation."
And although it looks like that Ullrich will be interrogated as a witness in the Fuentes case
soon, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. According to German daily newspaper Kölner Express UCI spokesman
Enrico Carpani said: "I think Jan will ride again. However he will need a team. The UCI won't get in the way.
The spaniards are blocking all documents. When Basso, Gutierrez and Sevilla can ride again, why not Ullrich?"
In a reaction about the remarks of Tour of Germany director Kai Rapp, that Ullrich won't be allowed
to start at next years Tour of Germany, Ullrich manager Wolfgang Strohband told Kölner Express: "Jan will race again.
It is outrageous when the Tour of Germany wants to exclude exactly that rider, which made the race possible in the first
place. Without Jan Ullrich the organizer would have gone bankrupt long time ago."
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| Jan Ullrich: "Official meetings" in the USA (Picture & Copyright : Citypress) |
Discovery Channel training camp
The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team is back in the saddle again as they
convene for their annual training camp in Austin, TX this week. Sunday afternoon, 13 riders joined 12 staff members
for 9 days of riding, working out, getting to know each other, 2007 season planning discussions, and yes, even some public
appearances. "Unlike the camp in southern California where the entire team is involved, the Austin camp is more about bringing
in the new guys, as well as some of the veterans, and introducing them to the way we do business," said PJ Rabice, team communications
manager.
And while there will be plenty of riding (seven events on the schedule,
but all four hours or less at tempo pace) there will also be time set aside for working out at the 24 Hour Fitness gym, and
even some lighter things to help bring the guys together. "We've found that it's important to build on the positive chemistry
the team is known for right from the start," said Rabice. "And in addition to things like going out for dinner each night
at various local restaurants, we add in some 'unusual' things to get the guys working together." For those that will remember
last year's camp, that does indeed include the infamous paintball day once again, and a new event that is sure to foster some
internal competition: go-kart racing!
Riders that participate at the training camp: Ivan Basso,
Janez Brajkovic, Antonio Cruz, John Devine, Levi Leipheimer, Fuyu Li, Egoi Martinez, Gianni Meersman, Uros Murn, Pavel Padrnos,
Sérgio Paulinho, Tomas Vaitkus, Brian Vandborg
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| Ivan Basso signed with Discovery Channel (Copyright Citypress) |
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