Latest News for July 25, 2003

Edited by Jeff Jones

Who will win the Centenary Tour?

By Günter Krause-Friebertshäuser

Lance Armstrong
Photo: © J.Devich/CN

Everyone will certainly know the answer to this question in two days' time in Paris, and more than likely it will be determined in tomorrow's time trial between Pornic and Nantes. Will Lance Armstrong successfully defend his title, or will Jan Ullrich pull off an improbable win in the time trial to overtake the Maillot Jaune on GC? German TV channel ZDF questioned some insiders about their opinion of who will win the Centenary Tour.

Johan Bruyneel (US Postal director)

"I expect a very hard battle, a tight race between Jan Ullrich and Lance. We have 1.07 now and that's definitely a lot better than the 15 seconds before. But it could turn out good for both of them."

Rudy Pevenage (Bianchi director)

With a shy smile: "Jan Ullrich."

Laurent Jalabert

"Ullrich will win the time trial, but 1'07 is a lot of time. This Tour is incomparable, its suspense will last until its last meter. But I like the risk: I bet on Ullrich."

Richard Virenque (Quick.Step)

"Armstrong! He has already won four times and Ullrich won't be strong enough to win on his own."

Grischa Niermann (Rabobank)

"For German cycling it would be fantastic if Jan could win his second Tour. On the other hand Armstrong is a great champion. Both of them deserve the victory."

Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom)

Alexandre Vinokourov
Photo: © C.Henry/CN

"I would prefer Ullrich. He was great in the last time trial. But he will have to fight heavily to gain more than one minute on Armstrong, who will be much more motivated than in the previous time trial."

Michael Boogerd (Rabobank)

"I really like Jan and I think it would be good for him to win the Tour again. I hope he will."

Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo)

"I'd like to see Jan win. He has had a hard comeback and now finds himself in an unexpected position. It will be good for him and also for the race."

Brad McGee (FDJeux.com)

"It's gonna be very difficult for Ullrich to regain the time. But no doubt he's very motivated. I wouldn't put money on either one or the other."

Jörg Jaksche (ONCE)

"Well, my bets are still on Ulle (nickname of Ullrich among German riders) and I hope for him. Why? It's just my feeling."

Stuart O'Grady (Crédit Agricole)

"I think Armstrong will now probably win. The last time trial will be flat and fast. Ullrich will still have his chance, but Armstrong might be able to defend his advantage."

Udo Bölts (Gerolsteiner)

"I think Armstrong, because he has overcome his short period of weakness."

Christophe Moreau (Crédit Agricole)

"Now the circumstances are for Armstrong. He's in front, also physical, he has overcome his weakness and is not exhausted."

Bjarne Riis (CSC director and former captain of Jan Ullrich)

Jan Ullrich
Photo: © C.Henry/CN

"I know you Germans like to hear me say: Jan. And I surely would appreciate it. But I think Lance looks great..."

Laurent Fignon (former TdF winner, and lost by 8 seconds to Greg LeMond in 1989)

"It seems to be Armstrong again. He has more than a minute on Ullrich and the heat that caused his weakness is gone. He's in front now. 70% on him."

Erik Zabel (Telekom)

"As a friend of Jan it's not easy to say. I think we will have a finale as with LeMond and Fignon. Who will win will be decided by the Good Lord."

Robbie McEwen relaxed but on track for green

By Gabriella Ekström in Bordeaux

Robbie McEwen started the 18th stage with a six point deficit on Baden Cooke in the green jersey classification, but managed to erase that in the first intermediate sprint after 50 km. The defending green jersey champion looked relaxed as he spoke to cyclingnews at the start of Stage 18.

"Everyone says that this green jersey thing is so exciting but I think it's getting to be a bit too much excitement for me," McEwen joked. "I want a boring race where I have a big lead. It will come down to Sunday, just like last year and I'm pretty much getting used to that."

McEwen has gotten through the hardest part of the Tour now, and thinks that he is improving his speed again. "I was sick in the Alps but I was still close to Baden in the sprints," he said. "I lacked a bit of power then but I feel a lot better now - the strength has come back. I took two points in the sprint behind the break yesterday. It's not much but in circumstances like this it's important. I think today it's going to come down to the same scenario again where a break goes and we'll sprint for whatever's left. I don't think I'll be in the lead after this stage, but maybe closer."

Zabel doesn't rule out Green

By Günter Krause-Friebertshäuser

The six time winner of the points classification Erik Zabel has not been too satisfied with his 2003 Tour. He could not win a stage yet and didn't even wear "his Green" for a single day. Zabel (157 pts) is next to Robbie McEwen (163 pts) and the current wearer of green Baden Cooke (169 pts) as one of the three sprint favourites. Yesterday, Zabel said that the green jersey no longer interested him, but he was still on the lookout for a stage win. However, it seems that Zabel is finding himself in a good position to challenge for the green now.

After Stage 17, where he finished 12th in Bordeaux (second in the bunch sprint behind McEwen), Zabel told German TV, "As I said before today's start, the chance of a breakaway group succeeding would be very probable."

About his own performance in the stage, Zabel stated, "It didn't go too well for me since I intended to get away with a group to put some pressure on McEwen and Cooke. But I failed. After the group escaped, we went very fast for about 30 or 40 kilometres until the peloton made its decision to the advantage of the guys in front. These ten riders worked nearly as well as if they were in a team time trial. The four teams working heavily in the peloton to catch them were not able to gain more time on them than five seconds in 20 kilometres. It was crazy. And this will encourage more riders in stage 18. So we will have the same situation."

If the sprinters are not able to win the 18th stage and Zabel isn't going for Green, why did he sprint for 11th place? "Of course, your head doesn't easily agree with sprinting for 11th place, but you must not forget that I'm paid for it. Certainly the adrenaline flow is better when you go for a stage win. And the Green Jersey, it doesn't leave me alone...it seems to be my fate."

Peter Luttenberger moves up

Team CSC's Peter Luttenberger jumped a few places on the general classification in Stage 17 yesterday, after gaining eight minutes on the peloton by being part of the stage winning breakaway. The Austrian mountain goat now sits in 13th on GC, at 19'03 down.

"The parcours yesterday was not really my cup of tea," Luttenberger told L'Equipe today. "I barely weigh 60 kilos so it's hard for someone like me to ride kilometre after kilometre at 60 km/h. But I was ready to accept the challenge and I had discussed the tactics with Bjarne. I couldn't win the stage but the good thing was I moved up to 13th overall and the team kept its first place."

Who was third on Luz Ardiden?

Ullrich and Zubeldia
Photo: © Olympia

The sprint for second place behind Lance Armstrong atop Luz Ardiden last Monday was hotly contested, with Jan Ullrich, Iban Mayo and Haimar Zubeldia fighting it out. With 12 and 8 second bonuses for second and third place, Ullrich was definitely interested in sprinting, while Mayo and Zubeldia seemed to want to try and salvage some Basque pride by sprinting for the places after sitting on Ullrich's wheel the whole way up the climb. In the end, Mayo took second while Ullrich and Zubeldia fought it out for a very close third place. Television images appeared to show that Zubeldia took third, although in the end Ullrich was awarded third place by the finish line judges, and gained a potentially crucial eight seconds.

Cyclingnews spoke to one of the members of the jury, Mr Celeste Granziera of Italy about the judge's decision. Granziera explained that, "Perhaps that's the way it looked from TV. The TV camera shooting from straight ahead has a parallax view which compresses the image. However the two finish line judges are very experienced, having done over 20 Tours de France each and we have the photo finish videoline system where we can examine in slow motion, centimetre by centimetre, the finish line situation, and even enlarge it considerably. So we're confident about the way the call was made."

Lauri Aus buried

Estonian rider Lauri Aus, who was killed earlier this week by a drunk driver, will be buried in Tartu, Estonia, today. His former Ag2r team director Vincent Lavenu left the Tour yesterday to be at the funeral, and Jaan Kirsipuu will also be there.

Brard back in action

Frenchman Florent Brard is racing again, having served his suspension for testing positive to corticosteroids in August last year. He has signed for Belgian division II team Marlux, and started racing in Italy last week. Brard will do Tour de la Région Wallones from July 28 and August 1.

Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under 2004 Launch

By Khairunnisa Schebella in Adelaide

As the Tour de France descends from the peaks of the Pyrenees and heads north to Paris, one couldn't help feel a sense of the Basque country in Adelaide today, at the 2004 official Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under launch with the new tangerine colours of Australia's favourite bike race.

At a relatively low-key event held at the Italian Centre in central Adelaide, South Australian Premier Mike Rann and Race Director Mike Turtur unveiled details of next year's 6th edition race, complete with video message from Tourism Minister Dr. Jane Lomax-Smith and Race Commentator Phil Liggett from Pau, France.

Phil spoke with Cyclingnews from France directly this week. "In the six years this race has become part of South Australian folklore and accepted in a manner similar to the major bike races in Europe. Aside from the Tour de France, it is the best race of the year for me to cover. It pays attention to the peripherals, and is that is why it is building every year on its first-year success".

In addition to the growing legions of bike riders and cyclo-tourists heading to Adelaide next summer, there will be more women with the announcement of a new addition, the inaugural National Women's Criterium Series. Our top women will race the roads of SA over three days in hot form straight off the heels of the Australian Open Championships in Victoria. We all had a good chuckle at a dig by Phil Liggett regarding Mike Turtur's well known 'anti-women' racing attitude of the past. Good thing he's seen the light in the 21st century!

Maintaining its tried and true 'star formation' of previous years, in 2004 the Adelaide Hilton remains as race HQ and all race starts and finishes will be staged within an hour of a rub down and a shower for the riders, and a Jacob's Creek for the rest of us.

Stage 1 - Tuesday 20th January: East End street circuit, 50 km (19:30 start)

The 'Jacob's Creek' as it is becoming affectionately known starts with the lightning speed East End street circuit, which last year saw the disqualification of first stage winner Graeme Brown for irregular sprinting. 20 laps around the 2km parcours with two intermediate sprints will see riders averaging 50km/h around the café and parkland setting. Always an exciting and potentially dangerous stage, the riders settling their nerves, whilst whetting the appetites of the thousands of punters with the promise of more delicious racing to come.

Stage 2 - Wednesday 21st January: Norwood - Kapunda, 157 km (11:00 start)

Day two heralds the longest day in the saddle with a 157km sojourn from Norwood to Kapunda in the Barossa Valley. The race heads up the long and winding Gorge Road over Checker Hill for the first KOM points of the tour, then onto Mt Pleasant for the first of two sprints, the next only 17 km up the road at Eden Valley. Heading north towards the Barossa, for the first time in the tour history the bunch will attack Mengler Hill in reverse and descend the famous 'mongrel' into Bethany and Tanunda, with a loop around again through Nuriootpa finishing in Kapunda.

Wednesday will also feature the first round of the Women's Crit Series at 2pm around Kapunda and prior to that the Men's A, B and C grades and U19 Crits for riders with an Australian Cycling Federation License starting from around midday. The South Australian Classic Veterans' Race Series first race will also be contested in Kapunda.

Stage 3 - Thursday 22nd January: Goolwa - Victor Harbour, 150 km (11:00 start)

Just a tad shorter today, at 150km, the riders will trek around the Fleurieu Peninsula with the seaside town of Goolwa hosting its first ever stage start. Also for the first time the riders will head over the controversial "secret women's business Hindmarsh Bridge" and do a lap of Hindmarsh Island or Kumarangk as it is known by its Ngarrindjeri name. Backtracking again through Goolwa the race heads west along the stunning coastline famous for its whales and waves towards Victor Harbour. The Encounter Bikeway follows the road along here and is a nice easy 20 km ride.

From Victor the bunch tracks over the tough Newland Hill for KOM points, turns right at Parawa with a long descent towards a feed and a blessing at Yankalilla. From there it loops around the picturesque Myponga Reservoir and heads back towards the coast, even traversing a section of dirt road between Carrickalinga and Normanville, which according to Mike Turtur will be 'smoother than carpet'!. After the 'carpet ride' the peloton ploughs back through Yankalilla for some more blessings and along the beautiful Inman Valley Road to Victor Harbour.

A really pretty stage this one, one that keen riders can participate in as well. Last year the inaugural Breakaway Tour was a huge success with over 600 riders attacking Mengler Hill. The phones at Bicycle SA have started ringing already for registrations after the newly named Be Active Tour announcement today!

Race Two of the Vet Series will see the 'old' boys hit the tarmac around Victor Harbour.

Stage 4 - Friday 23rd January: Unley - Hahndorf, 141 km (11:00 start)

Day four starts on the pavé of the shop-till-you-drop boulevard of King William Road. The locals may be looking a bit bleary eyed after the famous street party the night before whilst the window dressing competition adds to the colour and spirit of the race. Check out the Print Bin for its four year straight award-winning displays and extensive cycling art exhibition.

Pretty much the same route as previous years, the peloton passes through the Heysen Tunnels up the freeway and then peels off into the delightful Adelaide Hills for the first sprint at Echunga. A German flavour to the day as the race passes through the villages and hamlets of the first European settlers of South Australia. Lots of sauerkraut, beer and oompah bands in Hahndorf, then right at Verdun towards Balhannah and Woodside. North along Cudlee Creek Road to Fox Creek Road where the mountain goats like to get down and dirty, and the roadies will be competing for KOM points.

Fox Creek Road runs along the Mt Crawford forest and has many new sustainable trails for off-roaders of all persuasion. After the climb the lads grab a feed in Lenswood and then head back to Balhannah for the second intermediate sprint. Through Hahndorf again the course then loops another 36k around through Littlehampton, Inverbrackie, Balhannah and Verdun to finish the 141km stage in Hahndorf.

Associated events today include Race Two of the National Women's Crit Series around Echunga at around 1030hours and the Willunga Straight Line Sprint in the Vet's Series.

Stage 5 - Saturday 24th January, Willunga - Willunga, 147 km (11:00 start)

A popular and usually decisive stage, the beach and vinyard circuit offers a great days racing which includes two intermediate sprints at Snapper Point, situated along the coast road between Port Willunga and Aldinga Beach on laps two and three and the longest and hardest climb of the Tour up Old Willunga Hill. Last years extreme 40 degree plus heat saw the riders enjoying some relief along the beach section although the hot sprinting for points by the leaders probably cancelled out any sea breezes. With the start and finish in Willunga, lots of bikeways around the region and plenty of enthusiastic locals decorating their shops, paddocks and homes there's plenty to see and do on this stage.

The Women's Series also concludes today as the field will contest for their final standings between the JCTDU's laps one and two

Stage 6 - Sunday 25th January, Adelaide City Council circuit, 90 km (13:00 start)

To cap off another great race the lads hit the streets of Adelaide again in the same fashion as last year with 20 laps up Montefiore Hill and around the Adelaide Oval famous for its Cricket, Aussie Rules and the occasional Rugby League game, towering lights and now white Cirque du Soleil-like coverings. The Morton Bay Figs, Torrens River, Memorial Drive Tennis Courts, Adelaide Golf Links and Festival Theatre are just some of the features of the circuit, but the racing is really what we are all there for. If the GC standings has not been decided yet then the two intermediate and final sprints could be crucial as they were for Stuart O'Grady two years ago.

The left turn into the finish straight lends well for the riders to jostle for good positioning for the final 300m sprint to the finish. Always an exciting stage.

The great Aussie BBQ in Elder Park and the unofficial Race Party at the Adelaide Hilton Lounge will keep the festivities going way beyond the race. Don't forget the Club Tour as well, join up early as membership was completely booked out early last year

Teams will be announced in October and Mike Turtur stated after the launch that Lance Armstrong himself had initiated contact with Adelaide Major Events this year, but it seems that team training commitments may once again not avail him to join the bunch and feel the rush of the Jacob's Creek Touring Down Under.

But word has it that although Armstrong's presence may not grace our shores, the presence of cycling legends Sean Kelly and Francesco Moser may. Speaking to Cyclingnews from France on Thursday, Sean Kelly confirmed he had been invited by European based consultant Ron Webb to attend the Legends Night dinner on Saturday 24th January, and that barring any catastrophes he would make his first visit to Australia next year. Moser traveled to the Tour de Langkawi this year as a guest and is also on Webb's hit list.

Looks like another cracker of a race is on the way so book early and join the thousands feel the rush in Adelaide next January.

See the official website on www.tourdownunder.com.au for more details.

BMX moves towards mainstream cycle racing

By Gerard Knapp

Photo: © AFP

With its admission into the next Olympic Games at the expense of two track racing events, bicycle racing's 'extreme' cousin - BMX (bicycle moto-cross) - is steadily moving into mainstream territory.

Indeed, one of the world's best road sprinters - currently in second position on the points classification in this year's Tour de France - is a former BMX racer. And Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) is not alone among road and MTB racers who've got their first taste for competition on the 20" inch-wheeled, single geared, indestructible dirt machines.

BMX has huge participation levels around the world and it appeals to generally younger audience. It would appear that it's only a matter of time before cycling's disparate disciplines get to know each other a little better. It happened with mountain biking and it's happened in winter sports, with snowboarding staking its claim as a legitimate winter sport discipline.

It would appear inevitable that BMX will follow suit, particularly with the Olympic status. With that in mind, and with the risk that the Cyclingnews policy of inclusiveness may offend the traditionalists, we are presenting coverage of this year's BMX World Championships.

For most cyclists who only know road or track racing, the sport is something of a mystery, so we've also included an FAQ on the discipline and common BMX terms. BMX appeals to younger riders, as well as those who may find road racing carries a little too much traditional baggage. Or they find that most road races take too long, or they stay on the ground for too long. Whatever their reasons, the BMX riders are also highly skilled athletes who must also undergo specific training, just like roadies, or trackies.

We hope that during this final weekend of road cycling's high profile event, you can take the time to check out the BMX coverage. Over 1,500 competitors from 29 countries will be in Perth, Western Australia, for the 2003 UCI BMX World Championships this weekend. To find out more about the sport, check out the BMX Worlds section.

Registration opens for Tour of Hope LA and DC rides

The Tour of Hope, a charity cycling odyssey across the U.S. led by Lance Armstrong, has officially opened its registration for the rides in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC. These events are open to the first 1,500 riders who register. Lance Armstrong will recognize (on stage) the top fundraiser in each city. To register, visit www.tourofhope.org

Event details

Event 1

Kickoff ride with Lance Armstrong, Sat., Oct. 11, 2003; 8 a.m. Los Angeles, California -- CityWalk at Universal Studios 62.5 miles/100 kilometres Pre-registration is MANDATORY, no on-site registration

Event 2

Tour of Hope cross-country ride October 11 - 18, 2003 More than 3,000 miles Starts: CityWalk at Universal Studios, Los Angeles Finishes: The Ellipse, Washington, D.C.

Selected members of the cancer community, joined by Lance Armstrong for parts of the Tour, will ride across the country to raise awareness of cancer research

Event 3

Welcome-back ride with Lance Armstrong Sat. Oct. 18, 2003; 7 a.m. The Ellipse, Washington, D.C. 35-45 miles Pre-registration is MANDATORY, no on-site registration

Events 1 and 3 are fund-raising events and are open to the first 1,500 riders who register. All funds raised by the LA and DC events will benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and cancer research.

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