Gerolsteiner's Michael Rich claimed his fifth national title when he dominated the field in the German national time-trial championship Friday in Schweinfurt.

Rich, 35, a specialist in the race against the clock, turned a time of 47 minutes, 10 seconds for the 40km race, leaving his teammate Sebastian Lang down in second place at 1:02. CSC's Jens Voigt finished third at 1:15.

Results
1. Michael Rich, Gerolsteiner, 40km in 47:10
2. Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner, at 1:02
3. Jens Voigt, Team CSC, at 1:15

Gutierrez takes Spanish TT
Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Illes Baleares) won his third title in the Spanish national time-trial championship Friday in Torre Pacheco.

Gutierrez finished the 44km course 36 seconds ahead of Santos Gonzalez (Phonak) and almost a minute ahead of Ruben Plaza (Comunidad Valenciana).

Results
1. Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Illes Baleares, 44km in 55:48
2. Santos Gonzalez, Phonak, at 0:36
3. Ruben Plaza, Comunidad Valenciana, at 0:59

Goussev claims Russian title
Vladimir Goussev (UFA) won the Russian national time-trial crown Friday in Moscow.

Goussev turned a time of 43 minutes, 30 seconds for the 33km race. Alexandre Bespalov (Tatarstan) finished second at 22 seconds, with Moscow rider Vladislav Borisov third at just over a minute behind.

Results
1. Vladimir Goussev, UFA, 33km in 43:30
2. Alexandre Bespalov, Tatarstan, at 0:22
3. Vladislav Borisov, Moscow, no time available

Euskaltel names Tour team
Spaniard Iban Mayo will spearhead the Euskaltel team's bid for glory at the Tour de France, his Basque team announced Friday in Madrid.

It will be Mayo's fourth Tour; he won a stage in 2003.

Euskaltel for the Tour de France: Iban Mayo, Mikel Artetxe, Iker Camano, Iker Flores, David Herrero, Inigo Landaluze, Egoi Martinez, Haimar Zubeldia (Sp); Unai Etxebarria (Ven)

Liberty announces Tour team
The Spanish Liberty Seguros team run by Manolo Saiz announced its nine-man Tour de France team Friday in Madrid.

Aussie sprinter Allan Davis, who will ride his second Tour, will help spearhead the team's bid for stage victories in the mainly flat first week.

Roberto Heras, a multiple Vuelta a España winner, and Joseba Beloki, who has finished on the Tour de France podium, will challenge for the yellow jersey once the race hits the mountains.

Liberty Seguros for the Tour de France: Joseba Beloki, Alberto Contador, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Roberto Heras, Luis Leon Sanchez, Marcos Serrano, Angel Vicioso (Sp), Allan Davis (Aus), Jorg Jaksche (G) Reserves: Jan Hruska and Rene Andrle (Cze).

Ng, Sanderson to race with Liberty U-23s
Liberty also announced Friday that it had signed Malaysian cyclist Ng Yong Li for a three-month training program.

Time-trial specialist Ng and Australian sprinter Nic Sanderson, both 20, joined their professional teammates in training beginning Thursday. During the three-month period the two riders will compete with the team's under-23 outfit.

Ng came to the attention of Liberty boss Manolo Saiz during the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia earlier this year.