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Issy-les-Moulineaux, April 21st 2005
Di Luca on Rebellin's tracks
Last year, Davide Rebellin (GER) triumphed in a very special week of bike racing, clinching the Amstel Gold Race – Flèche Walonne – Liège-Bastogne-Liège treble. A unique feat in the history of cycling that could well be performed again this year by his compatriot Danilo Di Luca (LIQ), an impressive winner both in Valkenburg and at the top of the Mur de Huy. To manage such a royal treble, Di Luca will have to keep an eye on the title holder who finished fairly close to his Italian rival during their last confrontations (2nd of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, 4th of the Amstel Gold Race, 3rd on the Flèche). And even if the battle only concerns Italian riders present in Liège, winning the event promises to be extremely difficult: Cunego (LAM), Basso (CSC), Bettini (QST) and Celestino (DOM) will all be starting the race with victorious expectations.
Other than the Italian contingent, the man in shape of the moment will have to control Michael Boogerd (RAB), his main rival last Sunday, but also Spaniards who are slowly proving to be fierce competitors on the Classics with riders like D.Etxebarria (LSW), Freire (RAB), Vicioso (LSW) and A.Osa (IBA), four men who finished in the first eight positions of the recent Flèche Wallonne. Concerning the French, the pressure will again be on the shoulders of David Moncoutié, who failed to be in the leading group last Wednesday.
The favourites of the 25 teams
| Germany |
| Gerolsteiner (GER) |
Rebellin (ITA) |
| T-Mobile Team (TMO) |
Klöden, Kessler (ALL), Vinokourov (KAZ) |
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| Belgium |
| Quick Step |
Bettini (ITA), Verbrugghe (BEL) |
| Landbouwkrediet – Colnago (LAN) |
Lagutin (OUZ) |
| Davitamon – Lotto (DLV) |
Merckx (BEL), Evans (AUS) |
| MrBookmaker.com – Sports Tech (MRB) |
Van de Wouwer, Vandenbroucke (BEL) |
| Chocolade Jacques – T interim (JAC) |
Peeters, Stubbe (BEL) |
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| Denmark |
| Team CSC (CSC) |
Basso (ITA), Voigt (ALL) |
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| Spain |
| Fundacion Ciclista Euskadi (EUS) |
Isasi (ESP) |
| Illes Balears (IBA) |
Mancebo, A.Osa, Valverde (ESP) |
| Liberty Seguros Team (LSW) |
D.Extebarria, Vicioso (ESP), Jaksche (ALL) |
| Saunier Duval – Prodir (SDV) |
Zaballa (ESP) |
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| United States |
| Discovery Channel Team (DSC) |
Devolder (BEL), Popovych (UKR), Savoldelli (ITA) |
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| France |
| Bouygues Telecom (BTL) |
Brochard (FRA) |
| Credit Agricole (C.A) |
Halgand, Moreau (FRA) |
| Cofidis crédit par téléphone (COF) |
Sy.Chavanel, Moncoutié, Vasseur (FRA) |
| FDJeux.com (FDJ) |
Gilberrt (BEL) |
| AG2R Prevoyance (A2R) |
Astarloza (ESP) |
| RAGT-Semences (RAG) |
Rinero (FRA) |
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| Italy |
| Domina Vacanze (DOM) |
Celestino (ITA) |
| Fassa Bortolo (FAS) |
Kirchen (LUX) |
| Liquigas – Bianchi (LIQ) |
Di Luca, Pellizotti (ITA) |
| Lampre-Caffita (LAM) |
Cunego (ITA) |
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| Netherlands |
| Rabobank (RAB) |
E.Dekker, Boogerd (HOL), Freire (ESP) |
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| Switzerlan |
| Phonak Hearing Systems (PHO) |
Martin Perdiguero (ESP), Botero (COL) |
>> Download the press release (.doc, 1 page, 86 ko)
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