Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that World Road Race Champion Alessandro Ballan, who won his title last year in Varese, is poised to leave Lampre–NGC after six years for BMC Racing, the California-based team formed in 2008 from the remains of the Phonak outfit.
If true, it would represent a something of a gamble for Ballan, since BMC currently races on the UCI America Continental professional tour, one level below the ProTour ranks, although the team will be aiming to secure wildcard entries to some top-flight events in 2010.
Ballan confirmed that he had decided to leave Lampre–NGC, although under UCI rules he cannot confirm his destination until after 1 September, telling the Gazzetta only “I want to better myself, to go abroad to learn English and see new worlds”. However, the newspaper expects his signing to be confirmed tomorrow.
Damiano Cunego, meanwhile, will be joined at Lampre–NGC by sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, who joins from LPR Brakes–Farnese Vini with a two-year contract.
The Gazzetta also reports that BMC, whose directeur sportif is John Lelangue, who headed the Tour de France’s press office for ten years, is set to announce several other signings.
Names in the frame are said to include the veteran George Hincapie, who won the US Professional National Road Race Championship yeserday, and Germany’s Marcus Berhardt, both of Columbia-HTC, as well as Team Saxo Bank’s Dutch rider, Karsten Kroon.
I thought it was everyone else that are the snowflakes, they certainly don't waste any time in being offended by everything and anything then wang...
Yes, right after "it lost control."
If you are being generous, they should lose their license as they didn't realise what they were doing. ...
ICAN't
I know people that vilify Millar for doping but were happy to cheer on that wheelsucking doper Valverde. Go figure.
Well done that man (also - nice trike)!...
I wish road.cc would bring their review up to date with regards to new bikes
intervals.icu is a good free alternative to TP
Absolutely fine - they're Shimano ICE tech rotors & pads which helps. It's fairly hilly where I live (Dorset) and I'm 87kg so they get tested...
That top picture of the team really does hammer home the skills and trust involved in riding a TT bike on a banked circuit at 40+mph, centimetres...