|
|
LATEST NEWS: ROAD BIKE ACTION NEWS NOVEMBER 30, 2008
Road Bike Action & AFP
November 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Contador Comments on Armstrong
Contador said he was unsure of
Lance Armstrong's competitive level as the two Tour de France winners
prepared to train together for the first time as Astana teammates.
The
37-year-old Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour, is making a
comeback to the sport, but there have been questions raised over the
Americans place in the team alongside a man who was Tour de France
winner in 2007.
"His level is not known," Contador, told his
website before adding: "I'm convinced he will strengthen the team."
Armstrong and Contador will train for the first time from Sunday in the
Canary Islands and will be together until December 8.
Contador,
the fifth man to win all three of the sport's major tours, has in the
past expressed doubts over how the two men could fit snugly into the
same team. However, he has said he had been given assurances that he
would remain team leader.
"If we both stick to our schedules,
there won't be a problem," added the Spaniard. "For me, it's a pleasure
to be in the same team as a man whom I have always admired."
 William Walker has signed with the new Fuji-Servetto team for 2009
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Fuji-Servetto Sign Walker And Duarte
The
new Fuji-Servetto ProTour team has signed two promising young riders
for its 2009 squad. Australian William Walker from Rabobank team and
U23 World Champion Fabio Duarte from the Colombia is Passion team.
23-year-old
Walker is one of Australia's hopes for the future, won his national U23
championship title in 2006. He was also the runner-up in the World U23
Championships in Madrid in 2005. He makes his move after two seasons
with the Rabobank team.
Duarte, who is also 23, will go into his
third season as a professional. He previously raced for Serramenti
Diquigiovanni in 2007 and Colombia is Passion in 2008.
Walker
and Duarte will make the number of riders 23 or younger on the
Fuji-Servetto team up to six. The other four riders are Ermanno
Capelli, Eros Capecchi, Arkaitz Durán and Beñat Intxausti.
 Napolitano will bring even more finishing speed to the Katyusha team
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Napolitano Signs With Katyusha
Katyusha
is clearly aiming for victories in its first season as Russia’s ProTour
team. Yesterday sprinter Danilo Napolitano signed a one-year contract
with the team. The 27-year-old Italian won five races last year. He has
raced the last three years for Lampre the team of world champion
Alessandro Ballan. Katyusha already has fast finishers in Robbie
McEwen, Gert Steegmans, Kenny Dehaes and Filippo Pozzato.
Gerlach Makes Comeback With Amore e Vita
Chad
Gerlach will make a return to the professional ranks after having
descended into drug addiction and homelessness. The story of his
addiction was featured on the A&E program Intervention. Following
the show, and his recovery, Gerlach began training again. Gerlach had
been off the bike for six years before he decided to make is comeback.
Gerlach’s
signing is part of the Amore e Vita-McDonalds move to become an
American team. Although based in Tuscany, Italy, the Amore e
Vita-McDonald's team will be registered as a US continental team from
the US for 2009. They were previously registered in Poland. For 2009
the team features a multi-national 18-man roster including Yuriy
Metlushenko and Christian Müller from Germany. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|