Road News and Results – January 31, 2009

February 1st, 2009 by Ron Callahan View Comments

Welcome to the Weekend Edition. Yesterday was a travel day back from sunny warm California to the Ohio reality of seven inches of snow. It took me half an hour to get the car clear enough to leave the airport parking lot. With that.. the news:

Some unexpected riders to watch for in the Tour of California, European road racing season opens tomorrow, Stam and Schep lead at Copenhagen, Boonen wants postive news, not “positive” news and more….

Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Tyler Hamilton, Ivan Basso, Ben Jacques-Maynes, Mark Cavendish, Svein Tuft, J.J. Haedo, Allan David and Carlos Sastre are Bicycling Magazine’s “Riders to Watch” for the Tour of California.
The Ceramica-Flaminia Bossini team had their official presentation yesterday. Italian National Champion Fillipo Simeoni was at the forefront. They feel that the team is well rounded and will be able to contend in one day, stage and time trail races. (Ciclonet.it)
The Grand Prix La Marseillaise, official opener to the European racing calendar, takes place tomorrow. 17 teams will compete in the 26th edition of the 137km race. Defending champion Herve Duclos-Lasalle is expected to be a contendor, but he will be facing Thomas Voeckler (Bouyges Telecom), Sebastian Chavanel (Francaise des Jeux), Phillipe Gilbert (Silence Lotto) and Christophe Moreau (Agritubel), among others. (L’Equipe.fr)
The Dutch team of Danny Stam and Peter Schep lead after 2 days of the Copenhagen Six Day race. (Sportwereld.be)
The William’s Cycling website has video previews of all of the major climbs for the Tour of California. (Podium Cafe)
Fabian Wegmann is ready for the 2009 season and will start his year with the Milram team at the Mallorca Challenge, Febnruary 8 to 12. (Radsport News)
Tom Boonen is looking forward to a year of attention for racing results, not drug tests. (Velo News)
Danish anti-doping expert Rasmus Damsgaard (now running the anti-doping program for Saxo bank) has been criticized by his former boss Bo Belhage. Belhage doubts Damsgaard’s independence and transparency. (Radsport News)
Construction has started on the track for the Six Days of Cremona (Italy). They are hoping to complete construction by Sunday. The race starts February 6th. (Tuttobici)
Michigan’s Tour de Leelanau has been cancelled due to the pullout of Michigan based sponsor Priority Health. The company also pulled sponsorship from two other races due to “economic realities”, but no other event cancellations have been announced. (Velo News)
Annalisa Cucinotta’s B-sample has been analyzed and also shows a doping positive. She tested positive during the track World Cup event in Colombia in December. (Tuttobici)
Alejandro Valverde will race less this spring, saving his strength for the Tour de France. (Velo News)