CSC Hopes to Continue World Cup Success
17.04 07:43
Team CSC did a great Paris-Roubaix putting five riders into the final select group that made it through the treacherous Arenberg Forest cobbled section, and now the team hopes to continue the World Cup success in Sunday's Amstel Gold Race - the fourth race in this year's World Cup.
Two of the young riders on the team, Vladimir Gusev og Fr�nk Schleck, who seems to be in line for breakthrough seasons, have both been selected for this race, but teamowner Bjarne Riis is looking for some of the more experienced riders to come through in Amstel Gold Race.
"Bartoli is right where he wants to be; in great shape, just like J�rg Jaksche, who's back after being rested for three weeks," says Riis.
Michele Bartoli has been bothered by a crash and punctures in bad moments during the first three World Cup races of the season, but perhaps the Amstel Gold Race is where the Italian classics specialist will get his first really big result for Team CSC.
Only two years ago, Bartoli won the race, and he has made the top-15 six times in the past eight seasons, which definitely proves the Amstel Gold Race is a race well suited for 'Miki'.
One of this spring's major profiles on Team CSC, German rider J�rg Jaksche, will make his comeback after a three week break from all races. Jaksche has, just like his fellow countryman Jens Voigt, won four of the team's nine victories this season.
Both in Tour M�diterran�en and in Paris-Nice he won the time trial and took the overall victory, and these excellent results has taken him to ninth spot in the latest 'Best 100 riders in 2004' rankings.
Norwegian Team CSC rider Kurt-Asle Arvesen is a dark horse in the Amstel Gold Race, which Arvesen has previously pointed out as one of his main goals this season.
�I'm looking very much forward to a race like Amstel Gold Race. Of course we all have to help Bartoli in the World Cup, but I hope to get a chance to make a good result for myself in this particular race,� Arvesen earlier this season told team-csc.com.
* Please note: J�rg Jaksche broke his elbow during Saturday's training and is forced to withdraw from the Amstel Gold Race (also read: Bad Luck for J�rg Jaksche)
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