NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Alessandro Ballan

Alessandro Ballan (born November 6, 1979 in Castelfranco Veneto, Veneto) is an Italian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Lampre-Fondital. Although he possesses a frame that is usually more associated with climbing, Ballan has established himself as a leading spring classics contender in recent years. His nickname, Bontempino, is a diminutive reference to Guido Bontempi, to whom he bears a resemblance.^[1] November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... Castelfranco Veneto is a town and episcopal see of Veneto, Italy, in the Treviso province, 16 mi. ... VÃ¨neto is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on the road (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... The UCI ProTour logo The UCI ProTour is a competition under the International Cycling Union (UCI). ... Lampre-Fondital is an Italian road bicycle racing team competing in the UCI ProTour in 2006. ... The Classic cycle races are the most prestigious one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. ...

Ballan turned professional in 2004 with the Lampre team. Despite a decent amateur career, Ballan was not sought after by professional teams, and required a little bit of helps to secure a professional contract.^[1] In his first season, Ballan worked as a domestique for Romans Vainsteins and Gianluca Bortolami. In 2005, Ballan was given the opportunity to aim for high placings in the spring classics and achieved a stage victory and second overall in the Three Days of De Panne^[2], along with sixth place in the Ronde van Vlaanderen^[3], having attacked the leading group with 37km to go. Later in the season, he achieved his first and so far only ProTour victory in taking stage 4 of the Eneco Tour of Benelux^[4]. Lampre was the name of an |Italian road bicycle racing team, sponsored by the company with the same name. ... The following terminology is used in the general sport of cycling, as well as the more specific road bicycle racing and mountain bicycle racing. ... Romans Vainsteins (born 03 March 1973) is a professional cyclist from Latvia. ... Gianluca Bortolami (born August 28, 1968) is an Italian cyclist. ... KBC Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde (or Three Days of the Panne) is a mid-week, three-day stage race before the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (or Tour of Flanders) in De Panne in West Flanders, Belgium. ... These are the results for the 2005 edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen cycling classic, which saw the emergence of Tom Boonen in the Flemish classics. ... The 2005 Eneco Tour of Benelux road cycling race took place from August 3 to August 10. ...

In 2006, Ballan started his spring classics campaign as a highly rated contender, given his performances in 2005 and his success in the warm-up races in winning the Trofeo Laigueglia^[5], a second place to Tom Boonen in the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen^[6] and third overall at the Tirreno-Adriatico.^[7] Ballan was a leading protagonist in the classics: he took fifth at the Ronde van Vlaanderen^[8] and followed this with third at Paris-Roubaix, following the disqualifications of Peter Van Petegem, Vladimir Gusev and Leif Hoste.^[9] Later in the season, Ballan further proved his talent with a second placing in stage 12 of the Tour de France^[10] and a third place overall in the Tour of Poland.^[11] Ballan finished in sixth place in the individual rankings of the 2006 UCI ProTour.^[12] The Trofeo Laigueglia is an early season road bicycle race held annually in Liguria, Italy. ... Tom Boonen (born on October 15, 1980 in Mol, Belgium) is one of the worlds best professional road bicycle racers and is the 2005 World Road Race Champion. ... The E3 Prijs Vlaanderen is a single day semi classic cycling race which takes place in the Flanders area of Belgium. ... The 41st Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race took place from March 8 to March 14, 2006, over seven stages. ... The 90th edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen cycling classic was ridden on Sunday, 2 April 2006. ... These are the results for the 2006 edition of the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic. ... Peter Van Petegam (born January 18, 1970 in Opbrakel, Belgium) is an elite professional road racing cyclist. ... Vladimir Gusev (born 4 July 1982) is a Russian professional road racing cyclist since 2004. ... Leif Hoste (born 17 July 1977 in Courtrai) is a Belgian professional road racing cyclist since 1998. ... The 2006 Tour de France was the 93rd Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 23, 2006. ... The 2006 edition of the Tour de Pologne cycle race will take place from September 4 until September 10. ... The 2006 ProTour is the second year of the UCI ProTour system, in which the ProTour teams are guaranteed, and obliged to, participate in the series of ProTour races. ...

In 2007 Ballan suffered a broken collarbone during Tirreno-Adriatico. Despite this injury, Ballan worked hard in Milan-Sanremo, although Ballan's teamleader Daniele Bennati didn't win the race. Nearly two weeks later, Ballan won the Three Days of De Panne after an escape during stage 1. Ballan didn't win the stage, but beat his nearest opponent Luca Paolini during the closing time trial, in which Ballan finished 10th. On April 8, Ballan won the Ronde van Vlaanderen in a close sprint finish ahead of local favourite Leif Hoste of Belgium. Ballan is the first Italian in the history of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and the Three Days of De Panne to win both consecutively within the same season. Tirreno-Adriatico, the race of the two seas, is an elite cycle race following a route between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts of Italy. ... Milan - San Remo, nicknamed la primavera, is an annual cycling race between Milan and San Remo. ... Daniele Bennati (born September 24, 1980) is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. ... KBC Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde (or Three Days of the Panne) is a mid-week, three-day stage race before the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (or Tour of Flanders) in De Panne in West Flanders, Belgium. ... Luca Paolini (born January 17, 1977 in Milan) is an Italian road bicycle racer who rides for UCI ProTeam Liquigas. ... The Tour of Flanders (Dutch: Ronde van Vlaanderen) is a road cycling race held in Flanders, Belgium. ... Leif Hoste (born 17 July 1977 in Courtrai) is a Belgian professional road racing cyclist since 1998. ... The Tour of Flanders (Dutch: Ronde van Vlaanderen) is a road cycling race held in Flanders, Belgium. ...

Honours

References

^ ^a ^b Maloney, Tim. "Ballan following in Bartoli's footsteps?", Cyclingnews.com - First Edition Cycling News for April 7, 2005, 2005-04-07. Retrieved on September 27, 2006. (in English)
^ KBC Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde Results (2005-03-31). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 89th Ronde van Vlaanderen Results (2005-04-03). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 1st Eneco Tour of Benelux Results (2005-08-10). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 43rd Trofeo Laigueglia Results (2006-02-14). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 49th E3 Prijs Vlaanderen Results (2006-09-27). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 41st Tirreno-Adriatico Results (2006-03-14). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 90th Ronde van Vlaanderen Results (2006-04-02). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 104th Paris-Roubaix Results (2006-04-09). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 93rd Tour de France, Stage 12 Results (2006-07-14). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ 63rd Tour of Poland Results (2006-09-10). Retrieved on September 27, 2006.
^ UCI ProTour Individual Rankings as of as of 2006-10-14 (2006-12-12). Retrieved on December 12, 2006.

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Lebanese political coalition, see March 14 Alliance. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Honours GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

References

External links

Honours