needed a top eight finish at the recent Japan Cup to make sure that fellow Italian, Paolo Bettini, didn?t pip him at the post.  The Saeco rider finished second in the race securing him the top spot.

Congratulations to Roadcycling.com?s latest interviewee, Tadej Valjavec, who got married on Saturday.  Valjavec is expected to lead the Swiss Phonak team at next season?s Giro d?Italia.

Finally this week, our condolences go out to the family and friends of first year Spanish pro, Jokin Ormaetxea.  The Paternina-Costa de Almeria rider was traveling in a car driven by Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Joseba Albizu when the car left the road, hitting the embankment and spinning over.  Spanish daily El Pais reports that both riders were taken to hospital where Ormaetxea died; Albizu remains in intensive care after fracturing ribs and bruising his lungs.

Already thinking of your 2005 season?  Why not prepare like the pros and begin next year with a pre-season warm-weather training camp based in the exclusive resort town of
Noosa on
Australia?s east coast.  For more information, log on to www.freerideoz.com.

Till next week?

Ian

ian@roadcycling.com