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11.01.2007/ Team Milram reorganises
itself in 2007, Kenny van Hummel at Rotterdam Six-days: ‘The priority is safety’, Rabobank will remain sponsor
through 2012, Lampre training at Terracina, From the outback
into the European peloton
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Milram: "we can be satisfied with the first season"
Swiss cyling: No case against Ullrich?
Hall of fame: Henk Lubberding about June 5, 1988
Looking back in anger
Team Milram reorganises itself in 2007
The German-Italian Team Milram
is heading into the new 2007 cycling season with a tightened squad, a new team structure and a clear system for setting goals.
Five new riders have come on board, eight riders have left the team. The most prominent of the new assignments is Igor Astarloa,
the 2003 World Champion from Spain. In the future, he will complement the team’s top sprinter-duo Erik Zabel and Alessandro
Petacchi. Just like the dairy products of the main sponsor Milram, all successes are to be achieved on a natural basis.
In
addition to Igor Astarloa the team will be further strengthened by Brett Lancaster, the up-and-coming riders Marcel Sieberg
and Niki Terpstra, and new pro Sebastian Schwager. “We think the new riders, with their abilities, will complement Team
Milram extremely well. Brett Lancaster is strong in the time trial and also able to lead the train that prepares the sprints
for Zabel and Petacchi. We’re betting on Astarloa at the spring classics. He’s already won a World Championship
title and the Fleche Wallone,” Team Manager Gianluigi Stanga describes the new team member’s qualities. “I
am especially excited about up-and-coming riders. I’m sure that we’ll experience the one or other surprise as
far as they are concerned,” adds Erik Zabel, Team Milram’s German captain.
Simultaneously with the changes
in the team line-up, Team Milram’s management also approved a model for team development. The bottom-up strategy is
based on a pyramid-shaped arrangement of the riders in terms of the various functional levels. It starts with the new generation
of riders, the so-called ‘young and wild ones’, and the allrounders, followed by the specialists (sub toppers)
in the middle and finally the stars Zabel, Petacchi and Astarloa at the top.
Each sports director is assigned nine
riders, so that they can better monitor the development potential of each individual rider and, if possible, enable the rider
to move up to the next level. In addition to this, the scouting of promising young talents will continue. The Team Milram
scouting system set up in mid 2006 will be continued by the three Italian sports directors. The bottom-up strategy will be
supported by the introduction of a new and periodic goal-setting system. Similar to free enterprise, objectives will be agreed
on for both the team and individual riders – scaled as six-monthly, monthly and race-specific goals. “Generally
speaking, the following will apply: The process is more important than the result. Of course we intend to pursue our objectives
more consistently using this system in the future, but we also want to offer more and better support to the individual riders
in terms of their development,” says Commercial Manager Gerry van Gerwen, explaining the new measures. Gianluigi Stanga
adds, “We want to secure victories at Milan - Sanremo, the Vattenfall Cyclassics, Ghent - Wevelgem and the World Championships
in Stuttgart. In doing so, we’ll be betting primarily on our stars Zabel, Petacchi and Astarloa. But of course we also
expect our other riders to be successful in further important races in the coming season.”
In December the team
already came together for a team meeting in Italy. The first joint training camp is scheduled to begin 11 January in Tuscany.
“Team meetings and joint training sessions are important steps in the development of trust and confidence amongst the
riders,” explains the team manager. “This way, we’re competitive, and we can start the season off with our
first wins.”
The 2007 Team Milram:
Igor Astarloa (30/Spain), Mirko Celestino (32/Italy), Alessandro
Cortinovis (29/Italy),Volodymyr Diudia (24/Ukraina), Sergio Ghisalberti (27/Italy), Ralf Grabsch (33/Germany), Andrey Grivko
(23/Ukraina), Dennis Haueisen (28/Germany), Matej Jurco (22/Slovenia), Christian Knees (25/Germany), Brett Lancaster (27/Australia),
Mirko Lorenzetto (25/Italy), Martin Müller (32/Germany), Alberto Ongarato (31/Italy), Alessandro Petacchi (33/Italy), Enrico
Poitschke (37/Germany), Elia Rigotto (24/Italy), Fabio Sabatini (21/Italy), Fabio Sacchi (33/Italy), Björn Schröder (28/Germany),
Sebastian Schwager (22/Germany), Carlo Scognamiglio (23/Italy), Marcel Sieberg (24/Germany), Sebastian Siedler (28/Germany),
Niki Terpstra (22/Netherlands), Marco Velo (33/Italy), Erik Zabel (36/Germany).
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| Milram 2007 (picture: Milram) |
Kenny van Hummel at Rotterdam Six-days:
‘The priority is safety’
Kenny van Hummel made his debut last week at the Rotterdam Six-day
event for professionals, two years after winning the youth edition.
“I’ve done a lot of track riding since
I was young,” says Van Hummel in Rotterdam’s Ahoy arena between races. “When my nephew Leo Peelen won silver
in the points race at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul I said I wanted to ride on the track too. The reason I actually joined the
cycling club in Apeldoorn was that they had a track. I travelled to Apeldoorn from where I lived in Elden a couple of times
a week to train.”
As a youth Van Hummel won a slew of Dutch titles on the track, not forgetting the Rotterdam
Six-day event for youngsters together with Niels Pieters two years ago. “When I was invited to participate in a real
six-day event I didn’t have to think about it for long. I was originally going to ride with Aart Vierhouten, but ultimately
we were both teamed with an experienced track rider. It’s practical, because they (Jozef Zabka and Alexander Aeschbach)
can teach us the ins and outs of six-day riding.”
Five days circling Ahoy and getting to bed late has started
to affect Van Hummel. “It’s really fast. I found it tough in the beginning especially. You have to work hard and
you also have to be very careful. I’ve sometimes had problems with my concentration due to tiredness.”
Van Hummel is not taking any unnecessary risks. “After the death of Isaac Galvez in Ghent I’m quite worried.
I’m riding in safe mode. I don’t want to cause a fall. The priority is safety, especially with the road season
about to begin again. Road racing is still number one for me, but I think it’d be nice to ride the off six-day event
in the future. It’s a pleasant way to train and you make a nice bit of pocket money too.”
The Rotterdam sixdays ended last Tuesday, the race was won by
Robert Bartko and Iljo Keisse.
Rabobank will remain sponsor through 2012
Piet van Schijndel , Member of the Executive Board of Rabobank, announced during the
Rabobank team presentation yesterday, that Rabobank will continue to contribute approximately €12 million annually
to the Rabo cycling teams through 2012. The current sponsorship contract expires at the end of 2008. Van Schijndel said he
is delighted that the contract will be renewed: ‘We see the sport of cycling as a gem that can continue to gain lustre
providing that we give our long-term confidence and commitment.’
Van Schijndel also stated that Rabobank does not turn a blind eye to the issues currently
facing the sport of cycling. ‘We are aware of the history of doping within the sport and the considerable discord that
exists between the large competition organisers and the international cycling union. We have, however, fortunately seen that
the Rabo Cycling Teams have performed an exemplary role in this field of tension. This can help to restore the image of the
sport of cycling.’Van Schijndel did note in this regard that guarantees regarding both issues will be established in
the sponsorship contract.
In addition to the role that the cycling sponsorship can play in connection with Rabobank’s
increasing international ambitions, the impact that the sponsorship has had on the Dutch population and the level of public
appreciation for it are vitally important. Approximately 80% of the Dutch population is aware of Rabobank’s cycling
sponsorship and 85% considers it a fitting combination. What’s more, 90% of the local member Rabobanks have stated that
they would like to continue the cycling sponsorship. ‘Considering that the local member banks are positioned the closest
to our nine million customers, their enthusiasm was decisive for our decision to renew the contract,’ explained Van
Schijndel.
To continue with the same approach
The decision was made to renew the
contract for a term of four years due to the period of the licences, the ProTour and the Olympic cycle. Rabobank is also announcing
at this time that the contract will be renewed in light of the fact that the Rabo Wielerploegen BV organisation currently
employs approximately 100 people. This makes it especially important to provide clarity regarding the continuity of the sponsorship
relationship.
Rabobank will continue the sponsorship contract according to its own distinctive Rabobank
approach that focuses on both the breadth of the sport and recreational cyclists. The guiding principle will continue to be
that the sponsorship should benefit everyone who cycles in the Netherlands.
Rabobank 2007
Mauricio Ardila (Col), Leon van Bon (Ned), Michael Boogerd (Ned), Jan Boven (Ned), Graeme
Brown (Aus), Thomas Dekker (Ned), Theo Eltink (Ned), Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa), Rick Flens (Ned), Oscar Freire (Spa), Robert
Gesink (Ned), Bram de Groot (Ned), Mathew Hayman (Aus), Max van Heeswijk (Ned), Pedro Horrillo (Spa), Dmitri Kozontsjoek (Rus),
Sebastian Langeveld (Ned), Gerben Löwik (Ned), Marc de Maar (Ned), Denis Mentsjov (Rus), Koos Moerenhout (Ned), Grischa Niermann
(Dui), Joost Posthuma (Ned), Michael Rasmussen (Den), Kai Reus (Ned), Thorwald Veneberg (Ned), Pieter Weening (Ned), William
Walker (Aus).
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| Michael Boogerd wants to start at the Tour of Flanders (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Lampre training at Terracina
From today, Thursday the 11st of January, to Thursday the 18th, 14 Lampre-Fondital’s cyclists
will meet in Terracina (Latina) for a week of training. Cunego, Baldato, Ballan, Bono, Bossoni, Corioni, Gavazzi, Loosli,
Marzano, Napolitano, Possoni, Stangelj, Tiralongo and Valjavec will be hosted in Hotel Fiordaliso and will be supported by
sport directors Giuseppe Martinelli and Fabrizio Bontempi, by doctor Andreazzoli, by mechanicians Borselli, Bortoluzzo, Cambiè
and Pengo and masseurs Borgognoni, Inselvini, Napolitano, Pizzini and Rubino.
During the week the riders will train on
medium-long distance, in order to increase the work that the single athletes have already sustained by themselves; Lampre-Fondital’s
cyclists will also pay visit on Saturday morning in a school in Terracina: an event (that will replied in the future) that
blue-fucsia team wanted in order to promote the cycling to the young, also thanks to a beloved athlete such as Cunego.
“Terracina
meeting is a traditional appointment," said Giuseppe Martinelli. "We we’ll se the new riders pedalling with the other
cyclists and we’ll see also all the young riders of the team. Daily trainings will be on the medium-long distances:
the athletes that will run in the first part of the season will be able to increase in a perfect way their fit, and also Damiano
Cunego could train in the best way."
From the outback into the European peloton
Adam Hansen has made his name as a two-time winner of the brutal Crocodile Trophy, one of the
hardest multi-day races the fat tyre world has to offer - a bit like cycling’s answer to the Dakar Rally, except
it’s set in the stifling tropical heat of the northern Australian Outback.
However,
despite the epic nature of the extreme mountain bike challenge, the 25-year-old T-Mobile newcomer is actually very much a
‘roadie’. It was pure power, tactics and meticulous preparations, rather than extraordinary cross-country technical
skills that saw him dominate what is essentially an off-road race of attrition.
Swimmer,
runner, cyclist
Hansen started out as a triathlete in his native Cairns, turning pro at 16 -
there followed a period where Hansen competed as a runner and open-water swimmer, before switching his focus purely to cycling,
on- and off-road. "Triathlons were OK, but not mentally stimulating enough," says the quietly spoken Aussie. "A
triathlon is essentially a time trial and I was fascinated by the tactical team element of bike racing. It was something I
wanted to do more of."
Given Cairns isolation in
Australia’s Far North, over two days driving from the country’s cycling hotbeds in the south of the country,
Hansen bypassed the national road scene completely and, through local connections, he amazingly found his way to Austria
in 2001.
"It was a culture-shock at first," says the 25-year-old
Hansen, but he adapted well to the amateur scene in Austria and quickly made a name for himself
as a solid stage racer.
The birth of the ‘Crocodile Man’
Meanwhile,
on his post-season trips home to Australia’s tropical north, he started the Crocodile Trophy –
his local race – as a favour for race supremo Gerhard Schoenbacher, the man who had originally masterminded Hansen’s
move to Austria.
Aussies usually steer well clear of the epic off-road
stage race, because they are all too familiar with the stifling tropical heat – but once Hansen was in the race he went
from strength to strength, placing sixth in 2003 before going on to back-to-back wins in 2004 and 2005. The legend of the
‘Crocodile Man’ was born.
Hansen, himself, puts his
success there down to superior preparation. In 2005, as reigning Crocodile Trophy Champion, he organised a strong support
team of two Austrians and three Australians. "I think I was more prepared, I trained a bit better and was a bit more used
to the heat and knew how to save energy, I played a very smart race that year and that’s how I won it."
Dr
Heinrich gets his man
2007 will be a big year for Hansen. He arrives at T-Mobile on the
back on some strong results last season, including a strong ride and fourth place in his national championship and 11th overall
at the Tour of Austria, but he has never raced for a big team before –and his successful forays into mountain biking
and road experiences in Austria have been as a team leader.
"This year I will
have to make the transition to team worker. It’s sort of a backwards learning curve, but it’s something I am looking
forward to. I am really keen to work hard at the front for the team. But I am also sort of anxious about what’s
ahead - I just want to get started."
From a general fitness perspective
Hansen has nothing to anxious about. He has scored top results in the ergo meter and physio tests at the camp this week. Indeed,
it was his incredible results that first alerted T-Mobile Team doctor Lothar Heinrich to Hansen’s ability after he performed
some tests in Freiburg a few years ago. The team roster was already closed at the time, but Heinrich
and Hansen stayed in touch. This year the doctor finally got his man.
"Hansen
has a phenomenal engine and I kept tabs on him from a distance," says Heinrich. "With the big shake-up in the team this year,
I saw the chance to bring him on board."
Team manager Bob Stapleton shares the confidence
of the team doctor, as well as an American’s love of a good gamble: "He has an incredible engine and lots of potential.
He will need time to adapt to big time pro racing, but he’s the kind of guy you have to take a chance on."
"The camp is full-on"
The T-Mobile training camp on Mallorca is a world away from the Australian
Outback, where after each Crocodile Trophy stage is over, the riders pitch tents at night and hand-wash their kit before the
next day's torture. Harsh conditions that only can be fully appreciated when one is stranded in such an environment.
These things are taken care of by others at the Mallorca camp,
but Hansen is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for the challenges ahead. "The camp is really full-on, and that’s
fantastic because I am here to learn and improve," says the obviously driven Hansen. "I love the gymnastics stuff
we are doing, and the scientific approach to training, I love the tests, the data and the numbers. I’m really positive
about the whole thing and keen to see how the season works out for me."
Source: T-Mobile
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