Danielson, Barry ready for Vuelta
Tom Danielson is quietly confident going into Saturday’s start of the 2005 Vuelta a España in Granada. The Discovery Channel rider has been intensely preparing for the three-week Spanish tour, but doesn’t want to create too much of a stir ahead of his second three-week tour start of his career. “I don’t want to say too much. It will be my first Vuelta,” Danielson told VeloNews last week. “I’ve worked really hard. I’m ready to do a good race.” Danielson is part of the nine-man roster confirmed by the team for the Spanish tour it won in 2003 with Roberto Heras. The American team starts without a clear leader, but Portuguese rider José Azevedo is considered an outsider if he regains the form that led him to finish fifth overall in the 2004 Tour de France. “I think Azevedo will be in good form,” Danielson said. “I think he can do a good race there.” Danielson is keen to make a strong showing at the Vuelta (Aug. 27-Sept 18), with his primary goals to help the team and arrive in Madrid. His Giro d’Italia ended early when knee pain forced his withdrawal. Physical therapy sessions helped cure Danielson’s injury and he’s been riding without pain since June. “I’ve been doing a lot of training. Right before this race, I did a big training block,” Danielson said at the Clásica San Sebastián. “I’m ready to go. Two weeks to go and I’m excited. I really like racing in the heat.” Rounding out the team are Benjamin Noval and Manuel Beltrán, both from the 2005 Tour team, Leif Hoste, Stijn Devolder, Benoit Joachim, Max van Heeswisjk (Joachim and van Heeswijk each had stints in the leader’s jersey last year) and Michael Barry. Barry, who rode well in the Giro d’Italia in May, wasn’t sure if he was going to get the nod for the Vuelta. “I’m motivated to race and my fitness is getting better,” Barry said after the Clásica San Sebastián. “I’d be happy to do the Vuelta or the one-day races. Either way it’s good for me.” Discovery Channel for the Vuelta a España(Aug. 27-Sept. 18)
José Azevedo
Benjamin Noval
Manuel Beltrán
Leif Hoste
Benoit Joachim
Max van Heeswisjk
Michael Barry
Tom Danielson
Stijn Devolder
No world’s for Ullrich
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) confirmed he will not race the 2005 world road cycling championships (Sept. 21-25) because he said the flat course favors the sprinters. The announcement came moments after he won the time trial stage at the Tour of Germany on Monday. The 1997 Tour de France champion would have been one of the favorites for the world time trial title, but said he wouldn’t be able to guarantee his fitness level so deep into the season Ullrich, however, did confirm he’ll start at the GP Zurich on Oct. 2. Busy time for T-Mobile
T-Mobile isn’t missing a step despite the recent departures of star names Alexandre Vinokourov and Erik Zabel. The team announced it has signed contracts with Ukraine rider Sergei Honchar and Italian Eddy Mazzoleni. Honchar, 35, is a time trial specialist and won the world time trial title in 2000, but finished second in the 2004 Giro d’Italia. Mazzoleni, 32, rode well as co-captain to Gilberto Simoni this season at Lampre-Caffita. The two new names come on the heels of arrival of Michael Rogers, 2004 Tour of Germany winner Patrik Sinkewitz, Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner) and Jörg Ludewig (Domina Vacanze). The team also announced that Rolf Aldag, 37, and Tobias Steinhauser, 33, would retire at the end of the 2005 season. The team’s two Italian riders, Giuseppe Guerini and Daniele Nardello, have extended their contracts with the team by another year, as have Dutchman Bram Schmitz and the German André Korff. Gerolsteiner extends with Rebellin
Italian classics rider Davide Rebellin has extended his contract with Gerolsteiner through the end of 2007, the German wires reported. “I’m very happy that I can say ‘at home’ for the fifth and sixth year,” Rebellin said. “I'm personally and on a sporting level very happy here. This team improves itself from year to year, and we have an outstanding personal harmony. It was just a formality that I would stay with Gerolsteiner.” More Vuelta line-ups
Saunier Duval, Illes Balears and Liquigas-Bianchi have all finalized their lineups for the Vuelta a España. Saunier Duval will come with Leonardo Piepoli and Joaquim Rodriguez to fight for the overall while they can go on the attack with a solid lineup, including Clásica San Sebastián winner Constantino Zaballa. Rising star Gomez Marchante won’t be able to start as he’s still recovering from his broken collarbone from the Tour de France. Illes Balears will headline with Francisco Mancebo, who wants nothing less than overall victory. The team has also signed Francisco Pérez to race the Vuelta. Pérez, 27, won two stages at the 2003 Tour de Romandie, but later tested positive twice for EPO and served an 18-month racing ban until April this year. Liquigas-Bianchi, meanwhile, won’t have a clear GC leader, but comes with a lineup highlighted by 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt. Saunier Duval
Constantino Zaballa
David Cañada
Iñigo Cuesta
Angel Gomez Gomez
Leonardo Piepoli
Rafael Casero
David de la Fuente
Joaquim Rodriguez
Francisco Ventoso
 
Illes Balears
Jose Vicente García Acosta
Iván Gutiérrez
Joan Horrach
Pablo Lastras
Francisco Mancebo
Fran Pérez
Mikel Pradera
Aitor Osa
Unai Osa
 
Liquigas-Bianchi
Magnus Backstedt
Patrick Calcagni
Mauro Gerosa
Marcus Ljungqvist
Oscar Mason
Devis Miorin
Matej Mugerli
Charles Wegelius
Marco Zanotti