Monday’s EuroFile: Raisin soon home-bound; Disco gears up for Giro; Will Basso double?
- By Andrew Hood
- Published May. 1, 2006
There’s good news for Saul Raisin as it appears he could be returning to the United States soon following a life-and-death struggle in a French hospital.
The 23-year-old lapsed into a life-threatening coma following a crash last month in the Circuit de la Sarthe, but according to a report posted on his web page, Raisin is improving by the day and he’s expected to travel back to Georgia to begin rehabilitation.
“Hopefully this will be our last report from France. Saul is strong enough to move home and we have started the ball rolling,” his parents wrote. “Saul is improving every day. He is seating, walking with help, eating and whispering.”
The improvement comes as a relief following a harrowing struggle for Raisin, who suffered a cerebral edema in the early hours of April 6 after crashing hard with 2km to go in the first stage at the Circuit de la Sarthe two days before.
Raisin was put on a respirator and underwent two surgeries to reduce dangerous swelling on his brain, but prospects were initially guarded concerning his prognosis. Since then, Raisin has battled back and looks to have a good chance at a full recovery.
It already seems Raisin’s trademark tenacity is back. His parents reported that it was Raisin – not the French doctors – who initially removed the breathing tube that’s assisting his recovery.
“We did not tell this before, but Saul was not taken off the respirator earlier, he pulled it out. After 24 hours they had to reinsert it,” his parents wrote. “(April 24) they took it out again and so far Saul does not need it and hopefully he will not need it.”
Most important right now is Raisin’s full recovery and rehabilitation and there’s been no talk of a comeback to competition racing for the moment. Raisin also suffered a lung infection, but that also shows signs of improvement.
Raisin’s parent also thanked the hospital staff and support from fans who’ve shown an outpouring of concern for the popular Crédit Agricole rider.
“All the people here in France have been great to us and especially to Saul,” they wrote. “Saul still has a long hard road to travel, but we all know he can do it. Thanks to everyone for your support. If you see us, we need a hug.”
Savoldelli getting strong support at Giro
Defending champion Paolo Savoldelli will be counting on top support from his Discovery Channel teammates as he lines up Saturday to defend his Giro d’Italia title.
Savoldelli won his second Giro title last year using a mix of guile and depth to earn a surprise win against pre-race favorites Damiano Cunego and Ivan Basso. Once again, everyone seems to be looking to Cunego and Basso as the favorites, a tactic which plays well for Discovery Channel.
“We have the last winner of the Giro with Savoldelli, so we’ll try to win it again. He’s won it twice and he’s proven that he’s always good for the Giro. We’ll be there for him,” Discovery Channel sport director Johan Bruyneel told VeloNews. “It will be difficult. He’s not another Armstrong. The course this year isn’t ideal for him, but everyone said the same thing last year. If you go to the podium with Savoldelli, that’s an objective.”
Also lining up for Discovery Channel will be Tom Danielson, back to make a stronger run at the Giro after a knee injury forced him to pull out of last year’s race. Jason McCartney is back from last year’s winning team as well as Matt White.
The team comes stacked with Tour de France veterans Viatcheslav Ekimov, Manuel Beltrán, Pavel Padrnos and Chechu Rubiera to provide Savoldelli will excellent support.
Discovery Channel for Giro d’ItaliaPaolo SavoldelliBenoît JoachimManuel BeltránTom DanielsonJason McCartneyViatcheslav EkimovPavel PadrnosChechu RubieraMatt WhiteVoigt believes Basso can double
Ivan Basso lines up Saturday as one of the top favorites for overall Giro victory and at least one teammate believes it will be the first step in pulling off the elusive Giro-Tour double.
“Absolutely, Ivan can do it,” said Team CSC’s Jens Voigt. “I want to ride the Giro to eye-witness the magic double of Ivan.”
Voigt joins a stacked Team CSC that’s committed to pushing Basso onto the top spot of the Giro. Last year, Basso won two stages, but faltered over the Stelvio with a bad stomach and fell out of contention.
Also getting the nod are Tour veterans Bobby Julich, Carlos Sastre, Giovanni Lombardi and Nicki Sørensen. David Zabriskie, a winner of a stage in last year’s Giro, will be bypassing the Giro to ramp up for the Tour de France.
Team CSC for GiroIvan Basso Carlos SastreBobby JulichJens VoigtVolodymir GustovGiovanni LombardiIñigo CuestaMichael BlaudzunNicki SørensenUllrich satisfied with season debut
Former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich said he was satisfied with his performance on his comeback from injury despite finishing almost last at the Tour of Romandie which ended on Sunday.
Ullrich finished 115th out of the 120 riders who completed all six days of the tour and ended up around 50 minutes behind winner Cadel Evans and fellow Tour de France hopeful Alejandro Valverde who was third.
The German T-Mobile rider, who won the sport’s flagship event back in 1997 and has finished runner-up five times, will now continue his tune-up for the French showpiece at the Tour of Italy next month, which again he is not expecting to challenge in.
“It was a great success for me to finish this stage,” said Ullrich after Sunday’s time-trial. “My knee held up well and I will tackle the Tour of Italy with determination to increase my strength and to improve.”
The 32-year-old injured his knee at the beginning of March in a training crash.
“This was a very difficult course but I tackled it. Even the last stage, a time-trial, was difficult,” added Ullrich, a time-trial specialist.
The German finished 69th at 2min 28sec off Evans in the time-trial, an event he would normally be expected to win with ease, were he in his usual condition.
Ullrich struggled on this tour, his first race of the season, particularly on Saturday when there were three first category climbs. He finished that stage 25 minutes behind winner Valverde.
“Jan showed a lot of courage and determination in making his comeback in such a hard race. Few riders could have done that,” said T-Mobile sporting director Rudy Pevenage.
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Andrew Hood
Hood cut his journalistic teeth at Colorado dailies before the web boom opened the door to European cycling in the mid-1990s. Hood's covered every Tour since 1996 and has been VeloNews' European correspondent since 2002. He lives in Leon, Spain, when he's not chasing bike races.