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Op zondag 2 juli 2006 15:00 schreef sportfreak het volgende:[..]
Ik dacht dat David Canada en Gilberto Simoni de kopmannen waren daar.
Bovendien had ik er nog nooit van gehoord.
Voor zover SDV over klassementsambities is beschikt is Gomez Marchante hun kopman. Gibo reed inderdaad een mooie Giro eerder dit jaar maar heeft geen klassementsambities. Wel zal hij nog een zege in een mooie bergetappe proberen te bemachtigen. Mijn zegen heeft hij. Jammer dat Piepoli niet meefietst.
A prestige stage for SimoniMatxin Fernandez (SAUNIER DUVAL – PRODIR)
Since the beginning of the Giro, Saunier Duval riders have often been to the forefront. What are the aims for the Tour?
It’s true we’re arriving with riders who are brimming with confidence and who want to continue to be in the spotlights on the Tour de France. First of all, there are the Italians with Gilberto Simoni, a regular on Tour of Italy podiums (3rd in the latest edition), and Leonardo Piepoli, who in particular won two stages on the Giro this year. Then the Spaniards, younger riders but who have proved this year that they have a lot of potential: Jose Angel Gomez Marchante by winning the Basque Country Tour and David Canada, stage winner on the Tour of Catalonia. With all these assets, I think we have what it takes to bring off a stage.
So there’s no big ambition for the general classification…
I don’t think we can be setting our sights on the podium, for example. So, for someone like Simoni, I think it’s better to assert himself on a prestige stage, such as the Alpe d’Huez or Toussuire, for instance. As for the general classification, Gomez Marchante will be our leader, with the possibility of hoisting himself into the Top 10.
The Tour is also beginning with a big challenge for David Millar…
He’s one of our main chances for a stage victory. We’re backing him a lot for the prologue, and he really wants to prove that he’s worthy of taking part once again after being suspended for two years. For him, it’s a big comeback. He’s trained hard, with dedicated work in particular in San Diego, California, then on track in Manchester. He is capable of asserting himself on the prologue.
The team: David Millar (GBR), David Canada (Spa), Nicolas Fritsch (Fra), Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa), Ruben Lorato (Spa), Riccardo Ricco (Ita), Christophe Rinero (Fra), Gilberto Simoni (Ita), Francisco Ventoso (Spa).