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Giro finale
Photo ©: Bettini

First Edition Cycling News for October 13, 2007

Edited by Steve Medcroft with assistance from Susan Westemeyer

Boogerd injured in training crash

By Susan Westemeyer

Boogerd at Worlds
Photo ©: Sirotti
(Click for larger image)

Michael Boogerd of Team Rabobank was injured in a training crash Friday. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, complaining of pains in his left knee.

The knee was drained, and he hopes to start a light training again on Monday, the team said on its website, "rabobank.nl."

Boogerd, who will retire after the Giro di Lombardia (October 21st), said, "I want to start in Lombardia no matter what."

The 34-year old announced his retirement in April saying it wasn't a sudden decision. "I felt this decision was coming. I'm no longer 29 years of age. I want to avoid the moment where I have to learn to deal with dissatisfying results. This is not a dramatic decision. It has to end someday anyhow. Besides. It is not over yet."

Wiesenhof makes Paris-Tours its last race

By Susan Westemeyer

Coming up on

Cyclingnews will be covering the 101st Paris-Tours live starting at 15:00 local European time (CEST)/ 9:00 (USA East)/ 23:00 Australia (EST) - also on WAP-enabled mobile devices at
http://live.cyclingnews.com/wap/

Team Wiesenhof-Felt will make its last appearance ever on Sunday in the ProTour race Paris-Tours. Sponsor Wiesenhof is not renewing its contract which expires at the end of the year, and the team's management said that it was unable to find a new sponsor.

"We are very happy that we can appear on the largest-possible stage again at the end of the season, and that we can close things out there," said Ronny Lauke, Directeur Sportif.

U23 World Champion Peter Velits will lead the team in the French race. The team will have send only six riders, as both of its stars Olaf Pollack and Steffen Wesemann are unable to ride due to injury and illness.

Wiesenhof for Paris-Tours: Peter Velits, Martin Velits, Robert Retschke, Daniel Musiol, Bas Gilling and Stefan van Dijk.

CSC sends stacked team to Paris-Tours

Cancellara at Roubaix in '06
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

CSC is fielding a strong team for the second-to-last ProTour race of the season. The line-up has a lot to live up to after last years performance where Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Stuart O'Grady each took a podium spot but were passed by Frédéric Guesdon, who won the race.

With Stuart O'Grady on the injured-list, team CSC would probably prefer to open op the race a bit and try to make a decisive break, but if it turns out to be a sprinter's finish riders like Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Matti Breschel and Matthew Goss might be able to make something happen as well. And even Fabian Cancellara, who is reported to be in great shape at the moment.

"Fabian came out of Circuit Franco-Belge in brilliant shape and that was actually meant as preparation for Paris-Tours. But I think it's a very exciting line-up altogether. There are several potentials," says Scott Sunderland, who was sports director in Circuit Franco-Belge.

Besides Arvesen, Breschel, Goss and Cancellara Team CSC has chosen Lars Bak, Allan Johansen, Karsten Kroon and Marcus Ljungqvist for Paris Tours.

Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner on wedding spree

Former MTB pro Meirgaeghe to tie the knot
Photo: © Rob Jones
Click for larger image

Belgium-based Pro Continental squad Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner has a week of celebrations ahead. Not only can the team party the end of a decent season, but three of its riders get married the same week.

The current phase of reduced training offers the perfect opportunity to put the bicycle into the corner and get other pressing things done.

On Friday, Filip Meirhaeghe said yes to his girlfriend Kelly in Schorisse, Belgium. Next Friday, it will be James Vanlandschoot who walks down the aisle with Laurence in Oostrozebeke. And the day after, Andy Capelle will get married to Lindsay in De Panne.

Also see Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner in the 2007 Cyclingnews teams database

Demol joins Quick.Step-Innergetic for 2008

Dirk Demol
Photo ©: Brecht Decaluwé
(Click for larger image)

The Quick.Step-Innergetic team announced on Friday that it has signed former Discovery Channel sports director to the team for the 2008 season.

Born in Belgium in 1959, Demol rode as a professional for 14 years, from 1982 until 1995 winning Paris-Roubaix in 1988. Demol was then the first sporting director in Belgium in the young riders sector then went on to the Tour de France winning US Postal and Discovery Channel teams.

"For 2008," Quick.Step-Innergetic team Manager Patrick Lefevere says, "the team has decided to invest in athletes for stage races such as Stijn Devolder, Alexander Efimkin and Matteo Carrara who will be riding alongside existing team riders such as Juan Manuel Garate and Carlos Barredo and young upcoming athletes like Kevin Seeldraeyers... We are sure that Demol’s experience will be an important piece in the construction of this new group”.

“I am really looking forward to joining this team, to have the possibility of working with a Belgian team," Demol said. "I am extremely motivated and cannot wait to use the experience I’ve gained over the past years with the Quick.Step-Innergetic Team. I already know most of the athletes already - I’ve worked with Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder and Jurgen Van de Walle when they were riding for the Kortrijk Groeningespurters Team."

Tinkoff adds Mazzanti, Riccio and Gottfried

By Gregor Brown

Alexander Gottfried
Photo ©: JF Quenet
Click for larger image

Tinkoff Credit Systems announced yesterday the signing of three new riders for the 2008 season. The Italian Professional Continental squad owned by Russian Oleg Tinkov will bring onboard Luca Mazzanti, Bernardo Riccio and Alexander Gottfried. 33 year-old Italian Mazzanti will bring the experience of 11 years as a professional cyclist to the team -- the last five being with Ceramica Panaria-Navigare.

The rider from Bologna scored a big win early this spring with the GP Lugano, but it was one day prior that he probably caught the attention of the team directed by Orlando Maini, Dmitri Konychev and Claudio Cozzi; he was narrowly beaten in the Swiss Classic GP Chiasso by Tinkoff's own Pavel Brutt.

Italian Riccio and German Gottfried, both 22 years old, have ridden as stagiaires with Tinkoff in selected races this fall.

Luca Mazzanti (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
(Click for larger image)

Riccio, from Napoli, will make the jump to the professional ranks after starting this year as a dilettante ('amateur') with team Filmop Parolin. In 2006 he accumulated four wins, and Tinkoff will help him develop to achieve his first victory in the top levels of cycling.

Gottfried has ridden the last three years for German Continental Team Sparkasse. In 2005 his name was first noticed when he won stage seven of the Tour de l'Avenir. He has been selected by the team to ride in the Giro dell'Emilia this afternoon, joining Salvatore Commesso, Ricardo Serrano, Mikhail Ignatiev, Daniele Contrini, Ivan Rovny, Pavel Brutt and Evgeni Petrov.

Rebellin with Gerolsteiner for another year

Rebellin at 07 Worlds
Photo ©: Shane Stokes
(Click for larger image)

Davide Rebellin has extended his contract with Team Gerolsteiner through 2008, the team announced Friday. The 36-year-old has been with the German team since 2002.

"Davide told me that he wants to stay with us until he ends his career," said team manager Hans-Michael Holczer on the team's website, "gerolsteiner.de". "He feels well with us and wants to keep on riding."

The Italian won the Fleche Wallone this year and was second in the Amstel Gold Race. His biggest year was 2004, when he won the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, all within a one-week period.

The team also announced that it has signed Francesco De Bonis to a two-year contract. The 25 year-old amateur, who is from the Lazio region, won the Trofeo San Giuliano in 2006.

At least 4 riders will be leaving the team. Marcel Strauss and Beat Zberg have both announced their retirement, and, according to the "sid" press agency, David Kopp and Torsten Hiekmann will not be offered contracts for the coming year.

U.S. junior champion signs with pro team for 2008

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor

The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team is continuing to sign riders in the off season. But despite having a market flooded with veteran riders from teams that have closed up shop, director sportif Jonas Carney has signed a young talent -- 18 year old Ben King, the current U.S. junior road race and time trial national champion.

“I’ve been looking at King since 2006,” Carney said in a statement. "As a first year junior he was getting results against pros at the Tour of Virginia that just blew me away. Our team has a very positive, supportive atmosphere which I know is really going to help Ben maximize his great potential.”

King, who has ridden for the U.S. at the past two world championships, with a top 20 finish in this year's road race, is looking forward to taking the next step in his cycling career. “I learned a lot about how to race a bike in the past few years,” said King. "During the upcoming season I hope to continue improving and enjoying the sport as much as possible."

Jurgen Van Goolen Signs with Team CSC

26-year old Jurgen Van Goolen has just signed a two-year contract with Team CSC. The all-round Belgian rider has finished his 2007 season on a good note - most recently with a second place in the mountain competition in Vuelta a España.

”I'm really looking forward to working with Team CSC because I've heard so many good things about it,” said Van Goolen. "Looking from the outside there seems to be a really good team spirit and the riders get the best possible opportunities to make results. This year I've finally managed to get through without any injuries and I expect to at least keep up the level, which I've managed to reach during this season."

”In Van Goolen, we are getting a young and very interesting new addition to our team," said Bjarne Riis. "I've been following him for some time now and I'm sure he'll be able to get a lot more out of his considerable talent. He's an all-round rider, who'll strengthen the team in different types of races and I think we'll see his potential unfold in the near future.”

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(All rights reserved/Copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Limited 2007)