All of your cycling news: March 19, 2010

In today’s cycling news, Ricco’s return means no Giro for Ceramica-Flaminia, “dumb luck” plaguing Milram, Vuelta to North Africa, MSR notes and more:

• As it seems more and more likely that the UCI will impose a worldwide 2 year suspension against Alejandro Valverde, he received an award for Murcia’s Sportsman of the Year.
• Angelo Zomegnan, the director or the Giro d’Italia says that Ricardo Ricco’s Ceramica Flaminia should not count on a wildcard to the 2010 race. “In the Giro in 2010 we only (want) riders with a flawless coat,” said Zomegnan.
• USA Cycling is pleased to announce OUCH Sports Medical Center as an official sponsor and supplier to the national governing body’s track development programs. Per the agreement, which extends through the end of 2012, OUCH will be the official sports medicine supplier to USA cycling’s track program, providing a team doctor and other sports medicine support for the U.S. National Team at select track competitions.
• Team Milram’s attempt at more wins this season is being spoiled not by athletic performance (or lack thereof), but dumb luck. Sprint ace Gerald Ciolek required surgery on his shoulder after a crash at the Tour of Qatar, Fabian Wegmann broke his collarbone and Linus Gerdemann miseed Tirreno-Adriatico because of a gastrointestinal infection.
• Heinrich Haussler’s injuries are probably much worse than originally expected and will likely cause him to miss the Spring Classics. He twice injured his left knee (at the Tour of the Algarve and at Paris-Nice) and also bruised his left quadricep. He is being treated daily with  physiotherapy and osteopathy. It is impossible to gauge when he again will be ready for the competition,” team doctor Andreas Goesel said.
• Paolo Bettini succeeds Franco Ballerini as the road coach for the Italian national team for the World Championships and the Olympics.
• Organizers of the Vuelta are exploring a start to the race in North Africa. The towns of Ceuta and Melilla are under consideration, but with both Spain and Morroco claiming them as their own territory, problems may ensue.

More notes from Milan-San Remo:

• Fabian Cancellara says that he is coming to Milan – San Remo to win, not to train.
• Sebastian Langeveld says that he is recovered from his early season knee injury and is ready to help team leader Oscar Freire to a win.
• Luca Paolini will lead the Acqua & Sapone team in their efforts at MSR. He is recovered from intestinal problems and his happy with his condition going into the race.
• Filippo Pozzato is the only leader for Katusha on Saturday. He says that he feels great, but knows that he will have to attack to win. He says that training partner Tom Boonen (Quick Step) may be the logical favorite, but that luck may be more important than logic.
• Linus Gerdemann says that Milram may yet pull off a surprise at the racem, but knows that “the percentages are much greater for (the) sprinters.”
• Team Sky’s Greg Henderson replaces Kurt-Asle Arvesen as he continues his recovery from a broken collarbone. Henderson dropped out of the final day of Paris-Nice to better prepare for the race.
• Early season wins at the Tours of Qatar and Oman and in last week’s Tirreno-Adriatico have bolstered the confidence of Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson-Hagen going into the race. Boasson Hagen hopes he can time his attack to perfection by avoiding a mass bunch sprint, where the likes of Belgian Tom Boonen and Cavendish would come to the fore. He added: “The best for me is a small breakaway which comes to the finish and a sprint finish.”
• Despite his dental problems and self-admitted lack of power, HTC-Columbia is still banking on Mark Cavendish to repeat last year’s victory. “He’s the winner of the 2009 race and he’s our best option for winning the race in 2010,” says HTC-Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag. “Although I’m sure all seven team-mates are also capable of getting good results in their own right, they will do everything they can to support him.”
• Thomas Voeckler (Bouyges Telecom-BBox) has opted to race Cholet-Pays de Loire and will be replaced by teammate Sebastien Turgot for Milan-Sanremo.

Tags: acqua & sapone, Bouyges Telecom, Ceramica Flaminia, Fabian Cancellara, Filippo Pozzato, gerald ciolek, Giro d'Italia, Heinrich Haussler, HTC-Columbia, Mark Cavendish, Milan-San Remo, Milram, Paolo Bettini, Quick Step, ricardo ricco, Team Milram, The Tour, tirreno-adriatico, Tom Boonen, tour of the algarve, UCI, USA Cycling