First Edition News for August 16, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Zurich could be enough for Ullrich

The world wants Jan
Photo: © Olympia

Jan Ullrich, one of the heavy favourites to topple Paolo Bettini at this weekend's Championship of Zurich World Cup race, could pass on the world championships in Canada should he claim victory in Switzerland. Ullrich is extremely motivated for the World Cup event, which since his move to Switzerland earlier this year has become a home event.

"The chances of starting in the world championships are 50-50 for now," Ullrich's directeur sportif Rudy Pevenage commented in a DPA report. Pevenage explained that Ullrich is eager for a win in Zurich, which would be Germany's first since Rolf Gölz's 1987 victory, but is less sure about the commitment necessary for the World's in Hamilton. The Bianchi leader would in all likelihood use the Vuelta a España as preparation, which would require three weeks away from his girlfriend Gaby and daughter Sarah Maria.

La Boulangère for Zurich

Brioches La Boulangère will hope to capitalize on the good form of Tour de l'Ain stage winners Jérôme Pineau and Maryan Hary at Sunday's Championship of Zurich. The team will line up with a mixture of youth and experience, as Hary and Pineau join Walter Bénéteau, Anthony Charteau, Sylvain Chavanel, Franck Renier, and Didier Rous for the 8th round of the World Cup.

Millar 'chilling' before Vuelta

David Millar, like many others, used this week's Vuelta a Burgos stage race to hone his form for the upcoming Vuelta a España, while not overextending himself in the wake of the Tour de France. Mission accomplished for the Cofidis rider, who won Thursday's individual time trial, spending the rest of the week on domestique duty for teammate Daniel Atienza, one of the early GC contenders thanks his presence in the stage 1 breakaway that gained 20 minutes on the field.

"It's a strange race because there are a lot of guys from the Tour here who are in form but just feeling a little tired," Millar explained on his web site. "The break during stage 1 didn't surprise me because the teams from the Tour don't want to ride out front and screw themselves. There are also a lot of guys who are going for the Vuelta, like me, who are just chilling and trying to help the team."

Having targeted the stage 4 time trial as a stage to win, Millar was content to work for his team rather than focus on his own GC position throughout the week. "I've been doing the domestique thing, bringing up bottles and riding at the front, basically just taking it easy it advance of my Vuelta preparations," Millar said. "With the race like this it's down to a lot oft he guys who haven't been racing to fight it out."

Hamilton to ride Ronde van Nederland

American Tyler Hamilton (Team CSC), who finished fourth in the Tour de France, has been named as one of the starters in the ENECO Ronde van Nederland (Tour of the Netherlands) which begins next Tuesday, August 19. Hamilton will be considered one of the favourites for the race, depending on form. He will also line up this Sunday in Switzerland for the Championship of Zurich World Cup race.

Lamballe criterium returns

The Lamballe criterium in the Bretagne region of France returns Saturday after a five year absence. Not quite the cash-infused event that pervades the post-Tour period, Lamballe assembles a solid field to race for a good cause. For a modest 5€ entry fee, fans will see riders such as Jimmy Casper, Carlos Da Cruz, and Frédéric Guesdon square off against other French pros and a host of top level amateurs. Proceeds from the race will be donated to a local facility for the purchase of a minibus to transport handicapped clients.

Courtesy: Velomania

Cipollini hasn't impressed Moser

Current world champion Mario Cipollini clearly hasn't made the best impression on compatriot and former champion Francesco Moser.Cipo's four victories this season in the rainbow stripes of world champion have done little for Moser's opinion of the Lion King. More importantly, Moser feels that Cipollini has not fulfilled his end of the deal concerning certain contractual responsibilities and appearances in the world champion's jersey.

Source: Italiaciclismo.com

Momentum grows at Northbrook

Olympic gold medallist Marty Nothstein joined Navigators teammate and 2002 Russian national champion Oleg Grichkine and other regional and national stars in a benefit race to help the effort to save the Northbrook Park District Ed Rudolph Velodrome on Thursday, August 14.

Preliminary estimates indicate that almost $5,000 was contributed to help save the Velodrome. Nearly $150 of that was raised by 10-year-old Pete Wright of Northbrook, a local resident who has now donated more than $200 brought in through a lemonade stand set up near his home and at the track. Wright and others were treated to a star-studded night at the facility, as Nothstein and Grichkine joined USPS racer and Lemont, Illinois, native Christian Vande Velde in an extended autograph session after the race.

"This was an incredible momentum builder," said Pete Janunas, Northbrook Cycle Committee President. "Having this many people come out to show their support for the track really has an impact on our effort to save the Velodrome. Our thanks go out to the Navigators Team and Trialtir USA for their help in bringing this together."

The Northbrook Park District Ed Rudolph Velodrome has endured 14 years of harsh weather since it was last resurfaced, and is in danger of closing after the 2004 season unless improvements are made. The Northbrook Park District, which owns the facility, has offered to fund half the project, charging the Northbrook Cycle Committee (NCC) with raising approximately $150,000 to close the funding gap. More information is available at www.northbrookvelodrome.com.

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