Saturday’s EuroFile: Bénéteau calls it quits; Dessel, Gerrans for Tour Down Under
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jan. 6, 2007
Without any new offers since the end of his contract with Bouygues Telecom at the end of 2006, Walter Bénéteau has decided to retire.
The 34-year-old Frenchman turned pro in 2000 when he joined the newly formed Bonjour team. He has raced his entire pro career for current Bouygues boss Jean-René Bernaudeau.
Bénéteau has finished every Tour de France since turning pro and raced the Giro d’Italia-Tour double in 2005 and the Vuelta a España-Tour double last season.
Dessel, defending champ Gerrans target Tour Down Under
Cyril Dessel, who wore the yellow jersey for a day during the 2006 Tour de France, will begin his season in Australia during the Tour Down Under January 16-21, according to his Ag2r-Prevoyance team.
Dessel will be joined by defending TDU champ Australian Simon Gerrans, Swiss Martin Elmiger and Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin.
The remainder of the team will attend training camp January 9-18 at l’Isle sur la Sorgue, except for John Gadret, who is racing cyclo-cross.
FILED UNDER: Road