Latest News for August 6, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Tour EPO positive revealed... Almost

The rider who tested positive for EPO during the Tour de France has been identified as a member of the Spanish Kelme-Costa Blanca squad. According to Spanish daily Marca, Kelme's Javier Pascual Llorente is the man in question. Team manager Juan Mas confirms that the rider is a member of his team, but would not confirm that it was Llorente, saying that the rider had yet to be officially notified.

The UCI and Tour organisers had revealed on the eve of the final stage into Paris that one rider had tested positive for EPO, but did not reveal his identity until the B-sample test results were returned. The rider tested positive for EPO after the Stage 12 time trial from Gaillac to Cap' Dévouverte, the only positive doping result registered at the Tour.

The Spanish Cycling Federation accepted the UCI's results, and will decide on a sanction, which could result in a 1-2 year suspension from competition. The UCI retains the right to take the case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) if it does not feel the Spanish federation's punishment is severe enough.

Damien Nazon to Crédit Agricole

French sprinter Damien Nazon has signed a two year contract with Crédit Agricole, which continues to reinforce its roster for 2004. The elder of the Nazon brothers will leave Brioches La Boulangère, however he will not be joined on his new team by his brother Jean-Patrick, winner in Paris of the final stage of the Tour de France but still without a contract for next season. Crédit Agricole directeur sportif Roger Legeay noted that Jean-Patrick resembled too much the style of Thor Hushovd, who has extended his contract with the team.

Gerolsteiner signs Krauss

German Divistion I team Gerolsteiner has added promising young rider Sven Krauss to the roster, signing the 20 year old German through 2005. Krauss' contract is effective as of August 1, and last September Krauss had already ridden with Gerolsteiner as a stagiaire. Krauss has been riding with Stuttgart under 23 team Hofbräu Radler.

"Sven has the best conditions to begin a professional career," Gerolsteiner manager Hans-Michael Holczer said in Radsport-News. "He's an all-rounder, in the style of Michael Rich. He fits in well with the team, and that's why we decided to offer a contract starting in August. Perhaps that's also more pleasant than beginning in the cold winter."

VDB's Re-entry delayed

Victim of a throat infection, Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick.Step-Davitamon) did not make his planned re-entry into competition at the Tour de la Region Wallonne. Vandenbroucke sat out the Tour de France, but was unable to resume racing in Belgium, and was also forced to miss the HEW Cyclassics World Cup race in Hamburg, Germany on Sunday. Instead, VDB will test his racing legs in the Tour de l'Ain next week, before tackling the World Cup in Zurich (August 17) and the Vuelta a España in September.

19th Regio Tour

The 19th edition of the Regio Tour will follow a parcours similar to the 2002 edition, beginning Wednesday with an opening road stage from Heitersheim, Germany to Guebwiller, France. The remainder of the Tour is a German affair, including a split stage Thursday with an afternoon time trial of 14.4 kilometres. The race concludes Sunday in Vogtsburg after six stages and five days of racing.

Jean Delatour hopes to defend its title, but without last year's winner Laurent Brochard, who this year rides in the colours of Ag2R-Prévoyance. Cadel Evans will be on hand for Telekom, and American Levi Leipheimer is reportedly back in racing action after his Stage 1 crash and subsequent abandon at the Tour de France.

Stages

August 6 - Stage 1: Heitersheim - Guebwiller (France), 189.4 km
August 7 - Stage 2a: Liel - Müllheim, 71.6 km
August 7 - Stage 2b: Müllheim - Müllheim ITT, 14.4 km
August 8 - Stage 3: Herbolzheim - Lahr, 188.2 km
August 9 - Stage 4: Wehr - Neuenburg, 172 km
August 10 - Stage 5: Emmendingen - Vogtsburg-Kaiserstuhl, 171.4 km

Teams

Alessio
iBanesto.com
Team Bianchi
CCC Polsat
Crédit Agricole
Fassa Bortolo
German U23 team
German national team 2
Gerolsteiner
Jean Delatour
Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
Rabobank
Saeco
Telekom
Team Wiesenhof

Taberlay ready for MTB Tour de France

By Matthew Conn

Hobart, Australia cyclist Sid Taberlay begins his campaign in the mountain bike version of the Tour de France this Sunday. Taberlay is competing in L’Hexagonal for the second time, and along side France’s Olympic Champion Miguel Martinez, Taberlay is one of the top seeded riders of the eight day event.

In the 2002 race Taberlay placed fourth overall as well as taking numerous top five stage placings. This year he will be joined by fellow TIS rider, Jai Crawford in a four man international team.

The tour starts in the French Ardennes in northeast France and concludes in the south central region of the country on Sunday, August 17. The race comprises a number of transport stages as well as the traditional racing sectors.

Both Taberlay and Crawford have been racing in Europe this year with Taberlay finishing sixth in the GP Abruzzo cross country event in Italy while racing for the Mapei professional team. Both riders are training at altitude this week as part of their final tour preparation.

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