News 2007/01

27. April, Giro del Trentino

The last stage was more or less flat. We rode for Borut, who got a top ten place in the mass sprint. At first I felt horrible, still tired from yesterday. But as time went on my legs got better and felt OK towards the end.

26. April, Giro del Trentino

I thought, not beeing placed amongst the best in the overall classification, could be an advantage today. But it didn't work out that way. But we still got a good result. We missed the break, so we were forced to chase them. Borut, Celli and myself had to make the race. Soon after we cought the breakaways, with about 30 km to go, we had a hard 7 km long climb. I made it to the top in the second group with Celli. He gave everything to get us back to the leading group and made sure I was in a good position for the sprint. The result, a fine 6. place. Thanks to some very good teamwork. I am very happy!

25. April, Giro del Trentino

The stage was really hard. Up and down all day and for dessert a 11 km climb to a mountaintop finish. At the end of the day we had climbed about 3500 m in altitude. I normaly can't keep up with the best riders in a stage like todays. Thats why I didn't mind loosing a few minutes. I will try to make it up tomorrow.

24. April, Giro del Trentino

A good start to the Trentino. The climbs in todays stage were only about 3-4 km long which is OK for me. When we got to the last mountain with about 10 km to go, I was in the leading group of about 50 riders. Yesterday we had a look at the climb. I had a lot of respect for the last 1500 m because it was really steep. So I attacked at the bottom in the hope to get to the highest point with the first few riders. My advantage was 11 sec, but instead of the really hard section, we had to take another road which wasn't so steep. I got caught at the top, not only by a few riders, but by the whole bunch. They all went past me. Only on the last km I recoverd a bit and made up a few places again.

22. April, Giro d'Oro

After a couple of weeks of intensive training I am back racing again. In todays very hard Giro d'Oro it took me some time to find the right rythm. The most difficult section was a 14 km long climb up to a mountain and from there we had about 70 km left to the finish. I got to the top in the leading group of about 30 riders. Then our Celli attacked. A few riders followed him and a new frontgroup was formed. None of the teams wanted to go after them and so the race was decided. I was surprised because I was in a group with people like Garzelli and Pelizotti. I really have to blame myself because I was in a position to get a better result today.

9. April, Settimana Lombarda

Good legs in the final stage. The pace was fast and furious. We did 51 km in the first hour. A group got away on the first hill after 90 km. On the second mountain, about 10 km long with a 600 m change of altitude, I decided to go for it. As we went into the climb I attacked and got away from the peloton. I caught 3 riders who had lost contact with the leading group. But I couldn't close the gap to the frontgroup. I ran out of power and 1 km from the top was caught by the peloton. Then we decided to ride for Borut. With 4 km to go we had a 3.categorie climb. When we got to the top Borut and myself had a gap of 50 m to the leaders. With 1 km to go I got Borut back to the front. For the next races I will try to improve my form, which is already fairly good, further.

8. April, Settimana Lombarda

180 flat kilometers. We controlled the race for our Sprinter Borut. As expected the stage ended with a mass sprint. From 1500 m up to the 1000m mark I took Gutierrez and Borut to the front. Guti took over and placed Borut who got a good 4. place.

7. April, Settimana Lombarda

Todays stage was flat for the first 80 km, then 3 mountains and a descent down to the finish. As I was the only rider of our team in the leading group, I had orders to ride for the overall classification. But it wasn't a lucky day. After the feedingstation, just before the first climb, an idiot from Rabobank threw his empty foodbag into my bike. It got caught in my backwheel and I couldn't change gears anymore. So I had to get off my bike to pull it out. I got back up to the leading group in the climb, but was only able to use the 21 cog as my smallest gear, because the derailer was bent. I had to give everything I had and on the descent I got back in to the frontgroup. Then I changed the bike at the bottom of the second climb. Now I had the small gears I needed for the climbs. And again I chased and went full power up the mountain and was able to get into the leading group once more on the downhill section. Then for dessert, the last mountain. About 6 km long with a gradient of about 10%. I had used up all my energy and wasn't able to stay with the leaders. I chased hard downhill but wasn't able to close the gap. At least I will be able to attack now ;-)

6. April, Settimana Lombarda

The teams tactic was to ride for Borut from Slovenia. He is a very good sprinter and rides well in the mountains too. With about 60 km to go 2 riders were in front by about 6 min. We organized the chase together with Liquigas and Barloworld. In the last 20 km we still had a 2.categorie mountain to climb. We caught the 2 frontrunners at the bottom of the hill. Halfway up our captain Borut got into trouble. I still felt good and got the green light to go for it. So I got to the top in the leading group. In the sprint, I was boxed in for a moment. When I got out on the last few meters I still made up some ground and finished in 7. place.

5. April, Settimana Lombarda

A short but though start to the tour! A 3 km teamtimetrail, uphill. A very special kind of race. The most important thing was to warm up all the muscles before the start, to be able to go flat out during the short race. We did that by riding behind the teamcar at 60 km/h for a few kilometers and then get on to the rollers. I felt good during the 3 km and was able to do all my turns with full power. But our time wasn't good enough to be amongst the best teams.

31. March, Settimana Coppi-Bartali

A good performance in the last stage. After about 40 km I got in to a breakaway with 6 riders. We made todays race until the peleton caught us with about 20 km to go. This is proof that I am in good shape and still had something left in the last stage of the tour.

30. March, Settimana Coppi-Bartali

A flat stage of 200 km doesn't seem to be very difficult. But if it rains from start to finish with a temperature of only 7 degrees it's a real torture. I was wearing lots of warm clothes but was still shaking in the cold. I hope I won't get sick because I would like get a good result in the last stage tomorrow.

29. March, Settimana Coppi-Bartali

The hardest stage today ended with a mountaintop finish. I didn't feel too good today. That's why I tried to place Ferrara who finished 10th yesterday, right at the front of the race at the start of the final climb. Then I took the gruppetto towards the finish.

28. March, Settimana Coppi-Bartali

Today I was allowed to conserve my energy for the finale with 2 climbs of about 6 km each. After the second mountain there was a descend of about 25 km to the finish. I was hoping to be in the leading bunch at the end of the stage and use my sprint ability for a top place. But the form wasn't good enough yet. I lost 50 seconds on the last climb and we couldn't catch the front group anymore on the descend. So I finished the stage in the second big bunch.

27. March, Settimana Coppi-Bartali

Now I have started to my first tour of the season. In the morning we did 8 laps on a circuit arround Riccione in cold and rainy weather. 3 riders got away on the tricky roads and made out the first places. I felt that I had not yet recovered fully from Milan - Sanremo but managed to finish with the main bunch. In the afternoon we had a team timetrail. Unfortunately the rain hadn't stopped and the roads were very slippery. On top of that it was our first ride on the new timetrail bikes for most of us and therefore we lost a lot of time to the faster teams.

24. March, Milan - Sanremo

Almost 300 km with sunshine, then a bit of snowfall and rain towards the end! The aim of our team was to have at least one rider in a breakaway. During the first 100 km there was one attack after another until a group of 6 with our Traficante got away. Up to that point I had used up a lot of energy already. Then it started to rain. The long distance and a very nervous finale took it's toll and the crash festival began. I fell once, but was lucky and suffered only minor abrasions. In the climb up to the Cipressa I lost contact with the peloton. I blew up big time. To last the distance one has to ride very careful without wasting any energy at the early part of the race. Otherwise you will never make it to the finish. I rode over the Poggio by myself because I wanted get to know the final part of the course for next year;-) I gained a lot of valuable experiences during this spectale which is very importend for my future and to improve further.

21. March, My first Classic

After my victory in Mendrisio I was picked to race in Milano - Sanremo by my team. It will be my first start in such an importend one day classic. The race distance of almost 300 km will be very challenging. I am very happy to be able to take part and will do my best for the team.

18. March, Giro del Mendrisiotto

A perfect day!! As the only professional team in the race we were the favourites. This gave us a lot of responsibility because all the other teams were looking at us. We controlled the race without any problems. About halfway there was a breakaway, just the way we planned it. It included 20 riders with our leaders Solari, Maserati and myself. I was a bit worried about Team Miche because they had 4 riders in the group. But then Ricci from our team joined us and we began to attack on the last 3 laps. I attacked just before we went into the last lap. Straight away I got a gap and at the bottom of the climb I was in front by 40 seconds solo! From there on I really had to give everything and the chasing group behind we was making up time again. But with great determination I made it to the finish as the winner of the race. My first win as a pro! Riding the last 10 km solo. A lot of emotions!! I dedicate this victory to my girlfriend, we are exactly today together for 9 years. With Solari finishing second, our team achieved a super result.

10. March, Milano - Torino

I had orders from my team to try to get into a good breakaway, to present our sponsors. I tried 2 or 3 times, but never got away very far. It was mainly team Milram who made sure that nobody could get away. During the last 50 km we had a few climbs. I positioned Luca Solari, who has a few more races in his legs, at the front of the peloton. So I was in a good position as well. In the hardest part of the climb I lost contact with the leading group. The last section before we got to the top wasn't so steep anymore, and I almost closed the gap. But....only almost. Then during the descent I got caught by the second bunch, in which I finished the race. I was surprised, after the hard work I did for the team, I still had enough power to almost stay with the leaders. This makes me confident for the next races.

7. March, Good News

After my good performance last weekend I have been selected by my team to take part in the semi-classic Milan - Turin, this coming saturday. The news came to me as a big surprise. I never expected to take part in this race, and we have 13 italian riders in the team which would like to be at the start of this big race. So I would like to show my gratitude to my managers with a good result.

4. March, GP Lugano

Riders and spectators were able to enjoy nice weather with a blue sky with 20 degrees celsius. The course was a bit different compared to previous years. No more long climbs, but lots of small hills on a new circuit. The finale was as usual over the San Salvatore. The race started with a very fast pace. I still felt yesterdays race, and suffered a lot. Then a rider got away and the pace of the bunch slowed down a lot. As we were going faster again during the last 50 km my legs opend up and felt really good. Just like last year, I almost made it to the top of the San Salvatore with the leading group. I was happy to finish the race in the second group.

3. March, GP Chiasso

The the new season started with perfect weather. There were a lot of attacks, but nobody really got away very far. This made the race very fast. At about halfway, in a descent through a traffic circle there was a bad crash. I just managed to steer my bike arround them on the right side of the road. It looks like I am having a bit more luck this year. My legs felt good, but towards the end they just didn't have the necessary racing kilometers in them. With 3 laps to go, on the climb, I couldn't keep up with them anymore.

26. February, into my third year

We had the team presentation on 22. february and this coming weekend (3. + 4. march) I will start into my third season as a pro. At the same time we are going into the third year with my website. I would like to take this opportunety and thank all my partners for their big support they have given me. First of all thanks to Building Contractor H. Bachmann AG in Aadorf and the Bären Party-Huus in Heiterschen near Wängi. They have been with me from the beginning. Already for the second year I have got Eurojob Ost AG. And I like to welcome the 2-Rad-Center Edi Kägi in Elgg and Gymnastica-Fitness in Aadorf as new sponsors. Please consider my partners, because they have made this website possible. A special thanks to Beni Wolfer. He has built my website and is keeping it updated. I hope that everybody who is going with me through the highs and lows of the new season will enjoy reading about it ;-)

8. - 19. February, Trainingcamp in Fondi

Now, at last we are in the first trainingcamp. We are not in the Toscana, as originally planned, but between Rome and Napoli. This week we are working on all the final details. That means, not only our fitness, but also the bikes and the clothing. Whatever doesn't fit, can still be changed. We are also talking about the first few races. The weather hasn't been very good so far. It rained on 3 out of 4 days. I have got a cold, but it's not too bad. I hope to get rid of it as soon as possible. I like the atmosphere in the team. Everybody is relaxed. I know some of the riders from last year, and my italian is getting better. I am the only german speaking rider, but I am feeling at home in the team. See you at the first race...which hopefully will be soon ;-)

30. January, Licence for Team LPR

It worked out well in the end. A little bit late, but we now have as Team LPR from the UCI a Continental Professional Licence. Now the season can really start. We will meet the first time as a team on 8. february in a trainingcamp in the Toscana. This camp should have taken place in january, but was cancelled. The first race will be during the camp, the GP Etruschi on 10. february. But I am not sure yet if I will be in it.

27. January, Costa Blanca instead of Toscana

The new year began for me in a very dramatic way. I got a phonecall from our team manager. He told me that the team has not received a licence yet from the UCI until further notice. Apparently the registration for the team was sent in too late. Now they are supposed to pay a fine for the late registration, which our team managers are not willing to pay. A lawyer has been brought in to clear the matter. But this things always take time. The bikes and the clothing are beeing held back by the team. The trainingcamp which was planed for the end of January in the Toscana was cancelled. In spite of all these problems I flew to Spain at my own cost from 16. - 25. January. As I already did in December, I stayed with my mates Florian Stalder and Damian Reichlin in Oliva Nova. The conditions were perfect to continue working on my basic fitness. Now back home I am waiting for a phonecall from my team, and hope that I can start the new season soon....