First Edition News for August 24, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Mayo: Between Euskaltel and Saeco?

Although courted by several teams for the coming season, including Quick.Step-Davitamon, Cofidis, Phonak, and Rabobank, Iban Mayo looks to be narrowing his decision down to current team Euskaltel-Euskadi and the Italian Saeco squad. Spanish sports daily Marca reports that Mayo's manager Sabino Angoitia has finalised discussions with the foreign teams, with the exception of Saeco, and Mayo is expected to meet with Euskaltel team manager Miguel Madariaga on Monday.

Aside from a multi-year contract, Mayo is eager to secure a role as second leader in the team of his choice. For Saeco that would mean riding alongside Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni. Saeco's Danilo Di Luca may be moving to a new team for 2004, opening an important slot for Mayo.

For Euskaltel manager Madariaga, time is becoming a concern, as he hopes to make a bid for riders such as Joseba Beloki or Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, who will be on the market unless ONCE-Eroski director Manolo Saiz can secure a new sponsor in the very near future.

"We cannot wait much longer and we're eager to know if Iban will be with us next season," Madariaga told the AS newspaper, adding that although the deals still aren't finalised, the return of Haimar Zubeldia and Samuel Sanchez to Euskaltel for 2004 are nearly certain.

Labarca grabs another

Sergio Perez has signed a deal with Division II team Labarca 2-Café Baque, for whom he will ride the upcoming Vuelta a España. Perez, 26, currently rides for Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada. Labarca 2-Café Baque has been steadily reinforcing its roster, having already signed Colombians Félix Rafael Cárdenas and Hernán Buenahora from Orbitel 05.

Wauters vexed by TT timing

Marc Wauters
Photo: © Chris Henry/CN

Belgian time trial champion Marc Wauters (Rabobank) heads the list of riders frustrated by the timing of the national championships, scheduled for this Sunday, August 24. Wauters, currently competing in the Tour of Holland, does not expect to have sufficient time to recover and prepare for the time trial, just one day after the conclusion of the five day, six stage tour.

"I'll ride until Saturday in the Ronde van Nederland. There are better ways to prepare than that," Wauters noted. "Why can't the federation organise the time trial a few days before the road race [in June]? That's how it is in other countries."

Two riders skipping the time trial are Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick.Step-Davitamon) and Nico Mattan (Cofidis), both preferring to race the GP Ouest France in Plouay, France on Sunday.

Ullrich uncertain for Hessen-Rundfahrt

Jan Ullrich's participation in the upcoming Hessen-Rundfahrt (September 3-7) remains uncertain, pending the organiser's ability to make an offer sweet enough to the Team Bianchi leader. Organisers have lined up nine Division I teams for the event, including Bianchi and rival German teams Telekom and Gerolsteiner, but Ullrich's asking price for the race has not yet been covered.

In fact, Ullrich is not the only question mark on the start list. Telekom's Alexandre Vinokourov is listed as a likely started, but race director Andreas Bach commented that "only on the day before the start, when everybody has arrived and turned in their start papers, will we know who's really riding."

The Hessen-Rundfahrt begins Wednesday, September 3 in Frankfurt am Main and will cover nearly 900 kilometres of racing in five days.

French 'cross sponsor pulls out

A small but important presence in the French cyclo-cross scene will soon disappear, as the Julie Nature team will lose its support from Frédéric and Christine Delos, producers of organic endives. 'Cross riders Geoffrey Clochez and Mickael Fourez currently ride for Julie Nature, after the small sponsorship program was put on the map by Maxime Lefebvre. Clochez has ridden to top ten placings in a number of Super Prestige events.

Courtesy: Velomania

Randwick Botany celebrates centenary

To celebrate the centenary of Sydney, Australia's Randwick Botany Cycling Club, a Centenary Race Day and Celebration Dinner will be held at Heffron Park, Maroubra on Saturday, November 15 beginning 10:30am. The 2km enclosed road criterium circuit will provide some exciting racing for junior and senior riders, as well as top internationals.

Over $5,000 prize money is on offer, including $1,000 for first place in the Elite Race. The Celebration Dinner will be held in a giant marquee from 6:00pm will feature entertainment and guest speakers. Dinner tickets are $55 each before September 1, $65 after, and $35 for under 18 year olds. Centenary raffle tickets are $2 each with over $4,000 in prizes to be won, including a Velomax ‘Circuit’ wheel set and a Crowne Plaza Coogee Weekend Package.

The Botany Amateur Cycling Club (BACC) was founded in 1903. Cyclists gathered outside Thornton's Newmarket Hotel on the corner of Botany Road and Gardeners Road on Saturdays. This is where club races started and finished. In the 1970s the club moved to Heffron Park, Maroubra and in 1976 changed its name to Randwick Botany Cycling Club.

One of the longest members of our Cycling Club was Alfred C "Snowy" Wilson who was a member of the club for most of his life, first as a rider and later as coach, handicapper and Secretary. In fact Snowy was the longest serving executive member of the club performing the role of secretary for some thirty straight years. The club honours Snowy each year by holding the Snowy Wilson Memorial senior open in his honour.

Today, membership stands at over 150 with over 30 junior riders. The club has produced state, national and Olympic champions over the years. Olympians included Graham Sears, who competed at the Moscow Olympics in 1980 and Julie Speight, who was the first Australian woman to compete at an international track championship and finished 5th at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Sir Fred Hollows was once a member of the club.

"To achieve 100 years is a major milestone in the history of the Randwick Botany Cycling Club. We intend to build on the traditions of the club and develop it into the best cycling club in New South Wales," commented club president John Buckton.

Centenary race program

10:30am U9/U11 3-lap Hcp, $30, $20, $10, $20 fastest time
10:55am U13/U15 4-lap Hcp, $40, $25, $15, $20 fastest time
11:20am U17 Scratch Race 25min +3laps, $75, $50, $30
12:30pm Women Handicap Race, $500, $300, $200, $100, $50
1:20pm B/C/D Grade Hcp 15 laps, $500, $300, $200, $100, $50, $50 FT
2:15pm Pennyfarthing Race. 1 lap, $100, $75, $50
2:45pm Elite Race, 50min plus 3laps, $1,000, $500, $300, $200, $100

Entry fee: Men/Women/Masters $20; Juniors $10. Enter online at www.nsw.cycling.org.au. Entries close on October 30, 2003.

Ticket orders: Call Helen Vella, Telephone 02 9667 3307 or email hvella@bigpond.net.au.

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