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Archive for January, 2010

For another year Samuel Sánchez will be leader of Euskaltel-Euskadi. The 32-year old 'Asturiano' has two clear objectives, the Tour of the Basque Country and the Tour de France, where he wants to win a stage and ameliorate his 7th place of 2008. Samuel Sánchez answered these questions in the Euskaltel training camp in Derio from Biciciclismo.

How is the preseason and winter going?
The most important thing is that everything is going well, without any injuries like last year when I had one at my left knee. My health is good and that's the most important for a sporter.
How are you looking towards the new year?
It will be a special year cause the sponsor will quit after this one so everyone will to their best to get a new one next year. It's important to know whether the team will continue or quit after this year so we have to look out for something new.
Do you expect extra pressure?
No, personally I'm calm and focussed on my preparation. It's an extra motivation. There's no need to get nervous about the team continuing or not. I'm focussing more on training and getting the best out of the races.
Do you have the intention to stay with Euskaltel-Euskadi?
My intention is certain. I don't know how the direction thinks about it, but I feel part of the team, part of the schedule of Miguel Madariaga. I would love to continue here.
You've also said that you wanted to end your carreer in this team.
Yes, I've said that and I stick with it: I would love to end my carreer with Euskaltel-Euskadi. Although I don't want to close other doors because the carreer of a cyclist is short and you'll have to get the maximum out of it.
What are objectives for this year?
The first objective is being 100% in the Tour of the Basque Country, but I already want to show myself in Paris-Nice and the Criterium International and that way getting a good condition for the Basque Country.
And what do you think about the Tour de France?
We have to keep our feet on the ground and I'm a bit reluctant to it myself, but the main objective is to do better than in 2008. The ideal is finishing on the podium, but I have to be realistic cause you have Contador and other strong contenders.
How do you look back on the Tour 2008?
Good and satisfied. I lost time on the Hautacam and the Tourmalet, just like Valverde, and that whitholded me from obtaining a better spot in the general rank.
The Vuelta has been dismissed?
Nothing is certain, we'll have to see that during the season. The Vuelta has an attractive parcours with stages in the Asturias where I live. And the Vuelta is my race, where I finished two time on the podium and won several stages. Just like the Tour of the Basque Country, I want to win it.
The last Vuelta, you lost time in the stage with Xorret de Cati.
That was due to a fall in the stage before, I felt really bad but that's cycling! Valverde was the deserved winner cause he made the least mistakes.
You feel good with Euskaltel-Euskadi?
It's like Athletico Bilbao in soccer, they only choose players from their own region. Other teams have a lot of cyclists to pick from but we're limited. In the Tour de France you need cyclists with experience and the parcours is looking good, there is no team time trial which is good for us. Especially the last week we'll be beautiful with the Pyrenees and the last time trial.
How is the Asturian cycling going?
There is not a lot of new talent, maybe Higionio Fernández with Caja Rural. We have Checu, Noval, Barredo, Navarro, Santí Perez, Sobrino, Santamarta, Antuña and me, but there's nothing after us. We hope that Alonso will take care of this with his new team.
What is certain about Alonso's team?
It's not an invention. He's really planning on starting a team, but what he's real intention are, I don't know yet. But it would be good for Spain to have another team with a good schedule.
Would you like to participate in the World Championships in Melbourne?
It's still far away and a lot of things can happen this season. It's not the ideal parcours for guys like me and Valverde, it's probably a better chance for Freire and I will be happy to help him with that.

HTC-Columbia Women's Team gets it's racing season underway in the Tour of Qatar next week, and they're aiming for a strong start to 2010.
 
"We've got a good group there, it often gets really windy in Qatar but they all know how to ride hard in the gutter and line out the bunch," comments HTC-Columbia sports director Ronny Lauke. "We'll be aiming for some early success just like last year. It's a very important race, and a stage win would lift the riders' confidence for the rest of the season."
 
Lauke says the three-day Qatar stage race may be one of the flattest events on the calendar, but the terrain is unusually demanding nonetheless.  "The high winds and fast speeds make Qatar very technical, the riders have got to be well-placed in the peloton and stay focussed all the time. The heat's a big factor, too. The latest forecasts say it'll be nearly thirty degrees during the day, which is thirty degrees warmer than most of Europe.That's quite a difference."
 
HTC-Columbia achieved good results in Qatar last year. After getting in an early break on stage one, Ellen Van Dijk finished fourth overall, and won the Best Young Rider's prize.
Van Dijk is part of the team's line-up for Qatar this February, and Lauke says he expects the Dutchwoman and new signing Chloe Hosking will be battling it out in the field sprints.
 
"We did a lot of good training in Mallorca and the team has really come together as a unit. Now it's time to see how we compare with our rivals and what we can achieve."
 
HTC-Columbia line up for Tour of Qatar: Judith Arndt, Noemi Cantele, Chloe Hosking, Emilia Fahlin, Adrie Visser, Ellen Van Dijk

HTC-Columbia Women's Team gets it's racing season underway in the Tour of Qatar next week, and they're aiming for a strong start to 2010.
 
"We've got a good group there, it often gets really windy in Qatar but they all know how to ride hard in the gutter and line out the bunch," comments HTC-Columbia sports director Ronny Lauke. "We'll be aiming for some early success just like last year. It's a very important race, and a stage win would lift the riders' confidence for the rest of the season."
 
Lauke says the three-day Qatar stage race may be one of the flattest events on the calendar, but the terrain is unusually demanding nonetheless.  "The high winds and fast speeds make Qatar very technical, the riders have got to be well-placed in the peloton and stay focussed all the time. The heat's a big factor, too. The latest forecasts say it'll be nearly thirty degrees during the day, which is thirty degrees warmer than most of Europe.That's quite a difference."
 
HTC-Columbia achieved good results in Qatar last year. After getting in an early break on stage one, Ellen Van Dijk finished fourth overall, and won the Best Young Rider's prize.
Van Dijk is part of the team's line-up for Qatar this February, and Lauke says he expects the Dutchwoman and new signing Chloe Hosking will be battling it out in the field sprints.
 
"We did a lot of good training in Mallorca and the team has really come together as a unit. Now it's time to see how we compare with our rivals and what we can achieve."
 
HTC-Columbia line up for Tour of Qatar: Judith Arndt, Noemi Cantele, Chloe Hosking, Emilia Fahlin, Adrie Visser, Ellen Van Dijk

Da domani in Calabria prende il via la stagione agonistica italiana e il team Ceramica Flaminia è pronto alla sfida da vera protagonista, come mai avvenuto in passato. La squadra allestita dal team manager Roberto Marrone e dal direttore tecnico Omar Piscina è accreditata infatti di molte credenziali visti i corridori ingaggiati quest'anno. Il primo tra quelli più attesi è certamente Andrea Noè, lontano dalle corse dallo scorso mese di aprile, e deciso a tornare in gruppo per vivere e suscitare nuovamente le emozioni più forti. La squadra si è subito innamorata del suo modo di vivere il ciclismo e la professione ed è decisa a sostenerlo nella sua rincorsa al massimo risultato. Noè debutterà al Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria determinato a recitare subito un ruolo importante.

La Ceramica Flaminia 2010 è certamente cresciuta moltissimo sotto tutti i punti di vista; anche il sito internet (www.teamflaminia.com) si è rinnovato, non solo nella sua veste grafica. Ora appassionati e media possono trovare sul sito notizie, foto, profili, calendario, sponsor e tutto ciò che riguarda la vita della squadra diretta da Orlando Maini, Giuseppe Petito e Massimo Podenzana.

Andrea Noè returns to competition after a long absence Ceramica Flaminia increased also in communication, starting from the website

Tomorrow in Calabria kicks off the racing season in Italy. Team Ceramica Flaminia is ready to challenge a true hero, as ever before. The team set up by the team manager Roberto Marrone and technical director Omar Piscina is accredited in fact given the credentials of many riders hired this year. First among those is certainly the most anticipated Andrea Noè, away from the races since last April, and decided to return in groups to live and raise again the strongest emotions. The team was immediately in love with her way of life cycling and the profession and decided to support him in his race for best results. Noè debut at the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria determined to play an important role immediately.

Ceramica Flaminia 2010 has certainly seen strong growth from all points of view, even the website (www.teamflaminia.com) was renovated, not only in its graphics. Now fans and media can find on site news, photos, profiles, calendar, sponsors and all that concerns the life of the team directed by Orlando Maini, Giuseppe Petito and Massimo Podenzana.

Roma, 29 gennaio 2010

The cycle track is on course to be the first London 2012 venue completed for the Olympic Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority says.