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26.04.2007/ Basso suspended other riders continue to race, Rabobank
recap Fleche Wallonne, Lotto Tour: Petacchi takes first stage
Mailbox - win a picture in poster format with Original Autograph of Michael Boogerd
Letterbox: You can send your letters with ideas, comments and other things you would like to let us and
our readers to know to: letters@cyclingheroes.de . Some of the letters will be published on our website. We can only publish letters with your full name, hometown
and country.
Please note: your letter should not be longer than 350 words. The editor choose every month "The letter of the month".
The writer of the best letter in April 2007 will receive a picture in 20 X 30 CM format with original handwritten
autograph of Michael Boogerd.
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Henk Vogels Tour de Georgia riders diary: stage 7
Mancebo, Sevilla & Perez: "We are cyclists with heart and soul"
Jörg Jaksche is back!
New: Picture gallery: Fleche Wallonne , women, April 25, 2007
Basso suspended other riders continue to race
Ivan Basso (Discovery Channel) is suspended by his team after the Italian anti-doping authorities (CONI)
re-opened the case agains last years winner of the Giro d'Italia and several other riders. CONI also announced that the cases
against Giampolo Caruso, Luca Paolini, and Michele Scarponi will also be re-opened. However Caruso was allowed to start at
yesterdays Fleche Wallonne. CONI will ask Ivan Basso to provide a DNA sample so the Italian anti-doping authorities can
make a DNA comparison with several bloodbags that were seized during the raids of the Guardia Civila attwo Fuentes appartments
on May 23, 2007.
Presserelease Discovery Team about Ivan Basso's suspension:
Discovery Channel Team management ask Basso to forego competition pending investigation
Team management at Tailwind Sports has requested that Italian rider Ivan Basso not compete pending further
information in a new investigation coming out of Italy. The Italian Cycling Federation and Italian Olympic Committee conducted
a full review last fall of Basso’s implication in the “Operacion Puerto” affair, occurring prior to the
start of the 2006 Tour de France, and found no evidence of any wrongdoing.
Additionally, the Spanish Cycling Federation closed all disciplinary investigations, announcing that all riders
implicated were free to compete. Basso was subsequently signed to the Discovery Channel squad after these findings were announced.
Consistent with the Team’s stated position on this issue, upon notification of the new investigation
opened in Italy, General Manager Bill Stapleton and Sports Director Johan Bruyneel will not allow Basso to race pending further
information.
“We continue to stand behind Ivan and intend to cooperate with all parties involved until there is closure.
It is unfortunate that this is now occurring, however, I have spoke to Ivan and although frustrated he agrees and understands
with the decision we have taken,” stated Sports Director Johan Bruyneel.
Tailwind Sports management has always maintained a zero tolerance policy in regard to performance enhancing
drugs and has never had a rider test positive in more than 10 years of operations.
“It has always been Team policy to hold our riders to the highest standards while respecting their rights
and privacy. For these reasons we have requested that Ivan not race until we receive more information and this issue has been
resolved,” stated Team General Manager Bill Stapleton.
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| Ivan Basso is suspended by his team (Picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Rabobank recap Fleche Wallonne
Despite the fact that the Rabo ProTeam did not win Flèche Wallonne – it was won by Davide Rebellin – the Rabo-team
did show some great things during the Walloon classic. William Walker rode at the front of the pack during the second climb
of the Mur de Huy; Thomas Dekker was represented in an escape during the final part of the stage with the crème de la crème
of the pack, and Robert Gesink (picture) passed the finish line in ninth place after the fearsome final climb. With that performance,
he earns his first Pro-Tour points (three). Captain Oscar Freire laid claim to twelfth place.
The Spaniard knew before he started the climb of the Mur de Huy that his chances for victory were very slim. "Without the
final climb, this would be my ideal type of track, but the finale is just not made for me. I can only initiate something when
I attack early and start the climb with a lead." That was, however, not the case, because at less than 200 meters from the
finish line, the final escapee, Joaquin Rodriquez, was captured by a large group.
Rhythm
Davide Rebellin from team Gerolsteiner was unbeatable on the Mur de Huy, which was 1300 meters
long, with an average climbing percentage of 9.3. Alejandro Valverde and Danilo Di Luca completed the podium. There were various
other renowned names in the top ten such as Kessler, Ricco and Schleck. Among those was also Robert Gesink. He started the
climb from behind, but he quickly managed to find his rhythm and rode past many of his competitors. He even overtook captain
Oscar Freire during the final twenty meters.
The organization, which, after a lot of squabbling, decided to not let Unibet.com start, would have liked to see a different
progress of the race. Two extra climbs were added to the race track so as to ensure that the weaker cyclists would fall behind
before the start of the Mur de Huy. The tougher track did cause a lot of unrest and tension, but it did not have the wanted
result. The ASO could not be angry at Thomas Dekker, because he used all of his power and speed to force – together
with other favorites such as Valverde, Di Luca, Cobo and Kirchen – an early breakthrough during the race. But that plan
did not succeed.
Invisible
Team leader Erik Breukink was very happy for Gesink. "Robert has proven again that climbing
is his best skill. It is great that it earns him ProTour-points." He, and Thomas Dekker, were not very actively present before
the final kilometers. "They had been given the permission to remain invisible during the race, so they could strike later.
They did that very well."
Breukink was not very satisfied by the way his men rode during the turbulent part at three quarters throughout the race.
Not one single time were his men able to join an escape. "We also experienced bad luck because Freire fell and had to change
bikes at that moment. That is exactly not what you want to happen during such a part of the stage; the pace was picked up
drastically as well. It certainly had a big influence, because if it had not happened, I think Oscar would have had
a better position at the start of the Mur de Huy."
Read also: Rebellin wins Fleche Wallonne 2007
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| Neo pro Robert Gesink finished 9th at yesterdays Fleche Wallonne (picture: cyclingheroes) |
Lotto-Tour: Petacchi takes first stage
Alessandro Petacchi has won the first stage of the Lotto-Tour. In a bunch sprint after 161 kilometers he
outpaced Graeme Brown and Tiziano Dall Antonio (Panaria). Erik Zabel sprinted to rank nine in Bremen.
The first stage,
which led from Wallenhorst over 161 kilometers to Bremen with summer conditions, was dominated by a break of four riders.
Ronny Scholz (Gerolsteiner), Clement Lhotellerie (Skil Shimano), Björn Papstein (3C Gruppe-Lamonta) and Richard Faltus (Sparkasse)
broke away after 40 kilometers and established a gap of 3:30 minutes. Then the sprinter teams, led by Team MILRAM, started
the pursuit. The gap shrank quickly and a bunch sprint was to come after the quartet was caught ten kilometers to finish.
Team
MILRAM showed itself strong and brought Alessandro Petacchi in a good position for the sprint. On the last meters the Italian
gave Graeme Brown and Tiziano Dall Antonio no chance and sprinted to his sixth success in this season.
“We worked
for this success the whole day, but I think we did it allright,” said Erik Zabel, who finished ninth. “This stage
was very important for us. Now we have to defend the jersey – the pressure goes on. But today no Brown and no other
was able to hazard him,” Zabel summed up.
Ralf Grabsch was one of the riders who controlled the race and the
gap to the lead. “We didn’t want to let the gap get too large. On the second half of the stage we had head wind,”
declared Ralf Grabsch. “For my sake the tour can go on like this, just like it did last year. I think the victory is
a big motivation for the next days after the many failures in the last weeks. In any case we will go on very concentrated
on the next stages,” said Grabsch.
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| At last years edition Ale-Jet won all 5 stages of the Lotto-Tour (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
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