First Edition News for July 11, 2003

Edited by Jeff Jones & John Stevenson

No comparisons please: "I am Petacchi!"

More from Fassa Bortolo's top sprinter

By Gabriella Ekström in Nevers

Third time on podium
Photo: © J.Devich/CN

Hot and tired after his third Tour stage conquest in Nevers, Alessandro Petacchi still hasn't lost any of his sting. "I came to the Tour with the same goal that I had for the Giro, and that was to win a stage. Now I have won three out of three," he says with a frank smile. "I'm not counting the one where I was at the back of the bunch," he admits for those who have been keeping count of the sprints so far.

Today's sprint had a different set up than those of his first two wins. With two kilometres to go of today's sun baked stage, Ferretti's top sprinter did not have a lot of support from his Fassa Bortolo team. "It was not an easy day for my team, because FDJ had all their guys up at the front, stomping it. It was difficult for Nicola Loda and Marco Velo to get in a good position to help me, and I had to make an effort to find them myself and get a place on their wheel. Velo and Loda took me through to the last corner, and from there I went on Zabel's wheel and then jumped onto McEwen's."

Click here for the full interview.

McEwen: "I don't deserve Green"

Sprinter Robbie McEwen of the Lotto-Domo team came to the Tour to win a few stages, and as yet he hasn't achieved this. He is starting to doubt himself, as he told Belgian TV1 after today's stage. "If you can't finish better than fifth or sixth all the time, you don't deserve the Green. You have to be honest with yourself," he commented.

"I am not concentrating really on the Green Jersey as yet. The team has worked really hard again but I couldn't finish it again...maybe it's got something to do with self-confidence? Was I doubting myself in the back of my mind?"

"It will be hard for them to work this hard again tomorrow. Lotto rode on the front for me for 160km, but we got nothing for it. Petacchi went really early. I waited a too long and Petacchi just flew past me with Kirsipuu in his wheel. Petacchi is clearly the best sprinter in the Tour."

Team director Marc Sergeant added, "We need to sympathise with the riders today, it was so hot and they did a lot of work. Petacchi is just too strong. There's nothing to be done about this 'gentleman sprint' of his."

"The team worked well again and McEwen was positioned perfectly before the bend by Van Bon. Robbie took the bend nicely and it looked good. But Petacchi came around them easily, took the lead and then they're all lost. I think they will have to handle the sprints differently. Robbie is getting frustrated with the way things are going, I think all the other sprinters would feel the same though."

CSC doctor on Hamilton's performance

Tyler Hamilton
Photo: © C.Henry/CN

Team CSC's doctor, Dr. Joost De Maeseneer is still not sure whether Tyler Hamilton will be able to finish the Tour, however he is impressed with Hamilton's performance so far after breaking his collarbone in stage 1.

"Tyler is doing reasonably well," said Dr De Maeseneer to Belgian TV. "We gave him less medication today so he was in more pain. We also loosened the bandage a bit this morning because it was so hot. He is still so determined to continue. He has slept well after that first really bad night. We had to give him a hand though, with some sleeping tablets."

"The pain medication we can administer is so limited," continued De Maeseneer. "It's only given to him in the morning, so he wakes up in a lot of pain. This evening we are having some more X-rays taken. If the medical staff thinks it is too dangerous to continue with a substantial long term risk, he won't be allowed to start tomorrow."

"But in case it looks better, he will continue. Of course we'll have to wait and see then how he holds up in the first mountain stage."

Medical communiqué

Angel Vicioso (ONCE-Eroski): Injured left hand, multiple cuts and contusions, and x-rays taken at the hospital in Nevers showed a fracture of the radius (double check)

He is not expected to start Friday's stage

Jens Voigt (Crédit Agricole): Insect bite on neck

Steve Zampieri (Caldirola SO.DI): Digestive trouble

Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner): Left knee pain

Commissaire's rulings

Marco Milesi (Caldirola SO.DI.): Victim of a puncture in the final kilometre, was credited same time as the winner

Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2R-Prévoyance): Fine of 50 Swiss Francs for improper riding (art. 12.1.040, par. 40)

Last chance to win Fantasy Giant TCR 100

Giant prize
Photo: © C.Henry/CN

It's your last chance to win the bike! Cyclingnews in conjunction with Giant are offering a special edition TCR 100 for this year's first prize in the Fantasy Cyclingnews game. The prize roster also includes equipment from Bell, fi'zi:k, Full Speed Ahead, Giro, Hutchinson, Nokon, Rudy Project and Speedplay. You can enter until stage 7 begins and there is no disadvantage in joining mid-Tour.

It's a great way to get involved in following the Tour stage by stage. Select your stage teams every day as the Tour develops. You can increase your chances by adding more teams. Compete against the Cyclingnews team and those of other readers.

Join now before stage 7 begins - go to http://fantasy.cyclingnews.com/. If you've already signed up - make sure you have registered your team for the Tour by buying your race credits before stage 7 begins.

Good luck!

Camenzind stays with Phonak

Swiss rider Oscar Camenzind has extended his contract with Phonak through 2004, according to the team. The 1998 World Champion joins Niki Aebersold and Alexandre Moos, who have both extended their contracts.

O'Loughlin time trials for charity

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent

Irrespective of his busy schedule, Mayo Wheeler, David O'Loughlin who hails from Cong, but represents the American team Ofoto Lombardi in America, stills find time to aid deserving causes. This Saturday, he'll be in action on behalf of the Western Care Association which does Trojan work on behalf of the needy in greater Mayo.

David will time trial from Belmullet to Shrule, just about the length of the County (Mayo). The scheduled start for the 86 miles against the clock is from the town of Belmullet, which is a small decayed seaport at the Mullet to the village of Shrule via Kilmaine, which crosses the Shrule or Black River. The off is mid-day and David will cross the line in Shrule between three and three and a half hours later.

For those interested in predicting the time taken to cycle the length of Mayo, there are prizes, which can't be sniffed at. Not one, but two weekends away in a Lynch Group of Hotels. The organiser is Brendan Quigley, a man known to get blood out of a stone when it comes to raising money. He can be contacted for your pledge of support at: 087.6131891 (mob) from Ireland and 00353 from outside.

My prediction for David's time is 3 hours, 23 minutes and 37 seconds. Remember the seconds will count!

British Cycling's regional team

British Cycling has announced the first four members of its new five-person team of Regional Coaching and Club Development Officers, whose role will be to develop and support the organisation's network of clubs, coaches and volunteers.

The four are: Paul Evans (North West), Peter Root (Yorkshire & North East), Dan Coast (South & South West) and Keith Stocker (Midlands). A fifth position, for the East & South East, is being re-advertised.

The Regional Coaching and Club Development Officers will be supported from British Cycling head office by Coaching and Club Development Manager, Margaret Nolan; Coaching and Club Development Officer, Kurt Lindley and Secretary/Development Administrative Support, Julie O'Gorman.

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