PARIS, June 24, 2011 (AFP) - Italian veteran Ivan Basso, 33, will lead the Liquigas team in this year's Tour de France, which begins on July 2, his team confirmed on Friday. "Having a leader like Ivan Basso allows you to look towards the podium and the yellow jersey," said team manager Roberto Amadio. "Until now, he's not been able to express himself fully because of physical problems … [Read more...]
Boom Starts His Dauphine With A Bang
June 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
SAINT-JEAN-DE-MAURIENNE, France, June 5, 2011 (AFP) - Flying Dutchman Lars Boom powered to the overall lead of the Criterium du Dauphine stage race after dominating his rivals in the opening prologue held over 5.4 km here Sunday. Former cyclo-cross champion Boom, who rides for Rabobank, completed the race against the clock in a time of 6min 18sec to keep Astana veteran Alexandre Vinokourov of … [Read more...]
Tour de France Contenders To Test Fitness At Dauphine
June 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PARIS, June 3, 2011 - Australian Cadel Evans and Belgium's Jurgen van den Broeck are among the big names hoping to lay their Tour de France credentials on the line at the Criterium du Dauphine stage race as of Sunday. Along with the Tour of Switzerland, which begins on June 11, the Dauphine is the traditional stomping ground for those looking to both maintain fitness levels and peak in time … [Read more...]
Basso Suffers Facial Injuries In Training Crash
May 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
ROME, May 17, 2011 - Tour of Italy champion Ivan Basso needed 15 stitches after suffering a facial injury during a training crash on Tuesday. Basso revealed his misfortune on his own Twitter page, adding he had also suffered a knock to his shoulder. Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on their webiste that the 33-year-old fell while training on Mount Etna in Sicily … [Read more...]
Evans, Basso, and Menchov At Start Line At Tour de Romandie
April 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
GENEVA, April 25, 2011 (AFP) - Slovenian Simon Spilak faces a tough challenge to keep his yellow jersey for Tour de Romandie, which starts Tuesday, with Australian Cadel Evans, Italian Ivan Basso and Russian Denis Menchov among contenders. Evans missed this month's Ardennes Classics campaign due to a knee injury, while Tour de Italy champion Basso had pulled out of the Tour of the … [Read more...]
Giro d’Italia – Teams and Main Rider List
April 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Italy's Stefano Garzelli, winner in 2000, will be wearing the number one jersey in the Giro which will start May 7 Turin, the organization of the Giro said Thursday . The outgoing winner, Italian Ivan Basso has decided to not defend his 2010 crown. The 2010 Giro brings together 23 teams. The main contenders from the list released Thursday by the organizers: Acqua e Sapone: … [Read more...]
Basso To Bow Out of Giro
April 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Tour of Italy champion Ivan Basso will not be defending his title when the Giro begins on May 7 in Turin, he said Thursday. Instead Lampre's Michele Scarponi, who was fourth last year, will wear the number 1 jersey usually reserved for the champion. Italian Basso, who will instead set his sights on July's Tour de France, said he simply wasn't in the right shape to race, although he would … [Read more...]
Ailing Basso Ends Basque Country Campaign
April 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
PARIS, April 6, 2011 (AFP) - Tour of Italy champion Ivan Basso pulled out of the Tour of the Basque Country on Wednesday due to illness, his Liquigas team announced. "We'd rather be safe than sorry," said team manager Roberto Amadio. "Ivan needs to get home and undergo some proper medical examinations. We don't want to risk upsetting the rest of his race calendar." Basso came … [Read more...]
Powerhouse Liquigas-Cannondale Team Steps Up To DoubleTap
January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Team Liquigas-Cannondale was the most successful Grand Tour team of 2010, taking victories in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. The formula for the team will not change in 2011, again aiming at the top steps of podiums with champions Ivan Basso (ITA) and Vincenzo Nibali (ITA). Most notably, the Italian-based team will ride the world's lightest, fastest and most efficient mechanical … [Read more...]
Drugs and Engines Mar Cycling’s 2010 Season
December 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Written by: Justin Davis PARIS - The scourge of doping blighted cycling once more in 2010, where the most gripping Tour de France duel in years was marred by the subsequent revelation that winner Alberto Contador had failed a drugs test. Contador and Luxembourg's Andy Schleck took center stage in an epic battle over a grueling Tour itinerary so punishing it threatened to end the … [Read more...]