News 2007

News 2007/03

16. December, Training in Ticino
I am already training for the new season. The southern part of Switzerland is ideal to get some kilometers into my legs in sunny conditions. I am actually in an army camp. There are 4 other cyclists in my group. We are training under the instructions of Marcello Albasini im Centro Sportivo Tenero. A perfect solution!
3. December, Team Meeting 29.11. - 01.12.
All the members of Team Volksbank met last thursdaymorning for a 3 day camp in Götzis. We drove in the teambus to Dornbirn. There we had to demonstrate climbing abilities of a different kind, under the watchful eye of an instructor. Trying to conquer the indoor climbingwalls wasn't easy, and used up a lot of energy.
In the afternoon we hiked through the snow up to the Firsthut, where we spent the first night. In those very basic conditions we had time to get to know each other.
The next morning, after we had breakfast and cleaned the hut, we continued walking towards the Hospiz in St. Christoph am Arlberg. We got really spoilt there in the 5 star hotel. Besides good food and wellness, we also talked about the upcoming season and tried some of the racing gear.
For me it was very pleasant to meet my new teammates and all the other members of the team. I have a good feeling, and think that we will be a strong team next year.
15. November, Contract with Team Volksbank
Andreas used to race for LPR. Last season he won the Giro del Mendrisiotto and stage 5 of the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt. Previously he got a nineth place in the prolog of the Tour de Romandie. "A dark horse, he could make it really big in the 2008 season" said team manager Thomas Kofler. "Andreas is an allrounder with a lot of character, he has a good race instinct and likes riding in hard terrain"

Andreas said: "I raced in Italy for 2 years and learned a lot. I am looking forward to a new challenge. During this season, I proofed to be able to take responsabilty and pressure. Volksbank offers great conditions and a good race programme in North- and South-Europe. I would like to get myself and the team a step forward in 2008. We will gain from each other"

6. October, Memorial Cimurri
Another good performance in the last race of the season.
Right after the start I got into a breakaway with about 20 riders. After 60 km we had to go up a 7 km long climb, the first of four laps. At the top, only a few riders remained at the front. I fell back to the peloton which wasn't very big anymore.
I rode in there until the last climb, where I lost contact. But thanks to the Milram-Express I made it back up to the leading bunch once more. So I finished my last race in a LPR jersey in the peloton.
23. September, GP di Prato
The circuit hat a 2.5 km long climb, we had to go over it 9 times, a lot harder then yesterday. I was able to stay with the leading group throughout the race. Team Liquigas kept the pace very high, it was impossible to get away. After we climbed up the mountain on the last lap, the peloton was with about 70 riders still very big. In the finale we worked for our Sprinter Marco. He got a good result.
22. September, GP di Misano
The story of todays race is very short. 190 flat kilometers, a breakaway of 3 riders which was kept under control by the peloton at all times, and a mass sprint in the end. I didn't want to risk anything and held back.
16. September, Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt
My legs didn't feel as good as I would have liked to. Somehow we always missed the breaks. Instead of making the race, we had to react and chase. What made things even more difficult was that only 6 riders per team were allowed to start. So I used up all my energy without ever beeing part of the action.
9. September, Giro di Romagna
A good result on the second day!
The course of the race was up and down all the way. The weather was with 35 degrees a bit too hot for me after training in the cold weather last week. It was a bit of a bother going uphill.
I broke away with another rider just before the last mountain, with about 30 km to go. But they caught us just as we reached the top. At that moment a russian and two from our team attacked and got away. Unfortunately they didn't make it and got reeled in with 5 km to go. I didn't want to get into a mass sprint and had another go in the last km with two other riders. But the frontrunners of the peloton passed us and I just managed to hang on for a top ten place.
8. September, Coppa Placci
The last part in San Marino is very hilly, therefore it was my job today to do some teamwork. After training in the cool weather during the past week I don't feel 100% fit. In the early part of the race I went with some breakaways.
With about 50 km to go, I placed my teammates at the front of the peloton for the finale up to San Marino. Then I pulled out, to save some energy for tomorrow.
1. September, Giro del Veneto
I went to the start today with legs that didn't feel too good, as expected. But I was lucky because the race wasn't very fast in the early part.
The route became more selective as we got towards the finish. The last 50 km was on a circuit on which we had to do 2 laps with a 4.5 km long climb. When we went up there the second time the peloton exploded. A group of 10 riders went off the front. We had Bailo und Nardello in there. Nardo got a strong third place.
I finished in the second group.
30. August, GP Carnaghese
Another good result!
In the early part I had real problems. I still havn't got over yesterdays race completly. I knew that I had to be patient, and as the race went on I felt better. With about 50 km to go a break with 7 riders got away. There was nobody from our team in it, so we had to chase them. After several attacks the second group which chased the leaders was reduced to 15 riders, with 3 from team LPR. We didn't get any support from the other teams, and so we couldn't catch the leaders. In the sprint I got second of our group. Another top ten result.
29. August, GP Nobili Rubinetterie
I am back in the racing circus, and I found out that the break I had was very good for me.
We had to do 11 laps on a circuit, with a climb up a mountain and back down to the finish line. I was able to do a lot of work for the team. With every lap the peloton got smaller and smaller. There were lots of attacks towards the end but I managed to stay in the leading group. Only in the last lap a few riders got away.
The race tomorrow will suit me even better. With the legs I had today, and a bit of luck I should get a good result.
18. August, Raceschedule
After the problems I had with my stomach, which was the reason for my bad performance in the last few races, I have decided, together with my teammanager, not to take part in any races until the end of this month.
12. August, Trofeo Matteotti
The race today was on a hilly circuit and proofed to be very selectiv. I didn't feel as good as yesterday. On top of that, I just couldn't eat in the very hot conditions. I got dropped from the leading group with about 50 km to go.
11. August, Giro del Lazio
The profile of the race with a mountaintop finish didn't suit me very well. Therefore I decided to concentrate on getting into breakaway groups. In all those attacks I felt that I was getting back to full strength again. Only the appetite for food during the race wasn't there yet. Because of that the power wasn't there right until the finish.
It wasn't a lucky day for team LPR. Our leader was in the deciding breakaway, but his chances of a good result went down the drain when he had a flat tire near the end. Tomorrow we will go all out to force luck on our side!