Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: Nooooooooo!!!

Sono sconvolto, ho appena appreso che la Safi-Pasta Zara-Manhattan, la 
squadra di Nicole Cooke, non sarà presente al prossimo Giro d'Italia 
femminile.
Cacchio...poi non ci sarà nemmeno Modesta Vzesniauskaite, visto che sarà 
impegnata agli europei under 23.
Ecco la notizia da Datasport:
Giro donne 2005: il team Safi-Pasta Zara-Manhattan non sarà al via
  21/06/2005 17:27.18
L’annuncio si collega alla polemica portata avanti dal gruppo nei 
confronti della Federciclismo
  (DS) - Milano, 21 giugno - Vigilia di polemiche per la 16esima 
edizione del Giro d’Italia femminile. Il team Safi-Pasta Zara-Manhattan, 
entro il quale milita la vincitrice 2004 Nicole Cooke, ha infatti 
comunicato quest’oggi pubblicamente la propria decisione di non prendere 
parte alla corsa rosa. Il presidente Maurizio Fabretto ha confermato 
tuttavia l’impegno della squadra per la realizzazione della cronoprologo 
e delle prime due tappe. L’annuncio, che giunge a un giorno di distanza 
dalla presentazione milanese dell’evento, si collega alla polemica 
portata avanti dal gruppo ciclistico internazionale nei confronti della 
Federciclismo. In un comunicato odierno, i responsabili del team 
evidenziano “ostacoli posti alla propria attività dai nuovi vertici FCI 
attuati con le stesse modalità della precedente gestione federale, alla 
quale sono di fatto rimasti legati nel modo di operare”. Dura anche la 
posizione del presidente Fabretto, impegnato da un decennio nella 
valorizzazione del movimento femminile ai livelli più alti.
La protesta della Safi-Pasta Zara aveva preso il via domenica scorsa, 
con il ritiro delle atlete prima dell’ultima tappa del Giro del 
Trentino. Sulla posizione della squadra non sono attese altre 
dichiarazioni, considerato il silenzio imposto a tutti i componenti il 
team.
Dal sito di Rochelle Gilmore
http://www.holidaykoala.com.au/athletehk/showPage1.asp?athleteID=1
Montebelluna, Italy, June 22, 2005
SAFI is the longest standing, most successful cycling team in the 
history of women’s cycling. Until yesterday we ‘SAFI’ were registered 
for the Giro as the number one team, holding the race numbers from 1-8. 
Our team leader Nicole Cooke is the defending champion. So, our late 
decision to withdraw from the most prestigious Italian race has come as 
a huge shock to many people.
Our team president- Maurizio Fabretto is protesting against a section of 
the Italian cycling federation, the Organo Ciclistico Nazionale by 
withdrawing his team from all racing in Italy for the remainder or 2005. 
Maurizio’s disagrees with the way the Organo Ciclistico Nazionale is 
being run, some of the decisions they have made in the past and they way 
they have treated him personally and also SAFI for the past 8 years.
Myself and other riders on the team are extremely disappointed to being 
missing the biggest tour of the year; we have all trained our butts off 
and prepared specifically for this event. In saying that, we can only 
hope the result of this action will be to gain a little respect and 
appreciation from the Organo Ciclistico Nazionale for what Maurizio and 
SAFI have done for Women’s Cycling.
I must point out that I am not involved in the politics of the Italian 
Cycling Federation, and what I report here is 100% based on information 
I have received from people inside SAFI pasta zara. I have no 
information from the outside.
I feel anger… but towards no one- simply because I am not racing the 
biggest tour of the year when I am at my absolute fittest! This is life. 
I will continue to train hard and focus on doing what is in my power.
-- 
Gandhi: "Vivi come se dovessi morire domani. Impara come se dovessi 
vivere per sempre."

 femminile.
snip-
There's her one chance for Faby to win the Giro. Now she could retire with
at last, one more Giro victory and take what Cooke took from her in the
minutes of the last stage last year. Since Cooke is not competing this year
and was perhaps the main obstacle to winning, now she can enter the Giro
with hope. Cooke never won anything with Grand ease like Faby. Cooke always
has to collapse after winning as where when Faby used to win completely
fresh like just another day at the office.
Bruce

 fresh like just another day at the office.
Cooke is only 22 and has already a big palmares.
http://www.nicolecooke.com/main/palmares/index.html
I like Nicole because of her determination, she always gives 110% in 
every race.
Look at these photos shooted after she won the Flèche Wallonne 2003.
http://www.nicolecooke.com/images/2003/fleche/flechevictory_g.jpg
http://www.nicolecooke.com/images/2003/fleche/flecherecover_g.jpg
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2003/apr03/flechewallonne/women/CN4.jpg
... and then her sparkling eyes and shining smile.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2003/apr03/flechewallonne/women/nicolecooke.jpg
http://www.nicolecooke.com/images/2003/fleche/flechephone_g.jpg
http://www.nicolecooke.com/images/2003/fleche/worldcupleader_g.jpg
http://www.nicolecooke.com/images/2003/fleche/flechescream_g.jpg
I know that you are a big fan of Fabiana. I don't know so many details 
about her career because I'm too young :-) so I can't appreciate her 
great qualities as you do.

 wrote in message
news:d9hfq8$bsh$1...@newsreader.mailgate.org...

Yes I know, Cooke does her famous collapsing stunt at the end of her races
as she did in San Francisco Grand Prix also know as the T-Moblie
International. I live just about 180 from San Francisco and have been there
many times, too many times. I know the course quite well as it is very steep
but there is no difference when Faby has climbed so many steep climbs and
won easily completely fresh and never had to collapse like Cooke does in the
Fleche Wallonne which Faby won three times. Take for instance when Luperini
won the Assisi stage of the Giro, quite steep, and you can see how fresh she
is in this photo with a smile on her face.
Scroll down...
http://www.torelli.com/vittoria/vitphoto.html
My point is Cooke is a great rider, but she wins nowhere near as easy as
Luperini used to win in her prime. Cooke is in her prime and she struggles
to win. As for Palamares, Luperini stands alone, over 350 victories, 4 Tours
of Italy and Three Tours of France. I also understand that last years Giro,
Cooke snubbed the Italians after stages of the Giro by being unfriendly and
not willing to talk to some of the Italian girls. I heard this firsthand,
but I don't know to what degree this is true. By looking at some of the
photos in the archives of 
http://www.laborraccia.it
 for the 2004 Giro, there
seems to be some heat in the air.
I do agree Bouba is on a roll!!
Go Bouba!!!!!!!!
Bruce

 Sierraman wrote:
Here is an interesting result. Jeannie Longo, 45 years old.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2005/jun05/france05/france051
Elite Women - 22.8 km
1 Edwige Pitel (VC La Pomme Marseille)                    37.28
2 Jeannie Longo (Paris Cycliste Olympique)                 0.09
3 Marina Jaunatre (VS Valletais)                           0.15
4 Maryline Salvetat (Vsll Castres)                         1.01
5 Magalie Finot (VS Nivernais Morvan)                      1.29
6 Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Team Cycliste Feminin 24)     1.54
7 Sonia Huguet (Ucb Houillier)                             2.47

 Go Bouba!!!!!!!!
And I say, go Edita!! Pucinskaite just told me by email that she is in 
Livigno preparing for the Giro (and enjoying the place very much). She 
hopes to be in good condition for such an important event.
-- 
Il segreto della felicita' non e' di far sempre cio' che si vuole, ma di 
voler sempre cio' che si fa. (Lev Tolstoj)

 hopes to be in good condition for such an important event.
Edita is one of my favorites. If you could see how she threw her bike
against the mountains when she won the 1998 TDF against Faby by just a
minute and a half. True, Faby was the first over Mount Ventoux but Edita in
a galent effort literally threw her bike at the mountain in a desperate
attempt to stay in contact with Faby, which worked. She won the Tour. Edita
is a great champion! :-)
Bruce