First Edition Cycling News for November 5, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Julian Dean seeing green in 2004?

By Anthony Tan

Victory at the Wachovia Classic in June this year
Photo: © Jonathan Devich

Recent Credit Agricole signing Julian Dean, who is currently riding the PowerNet Tour of Southland in his home country of New Zealand, may well be a contender for the points classification in next year's Tour de France if his form continues to improve after his best season ever this year.

Despite being Team CSC's most successful rider on account of victories and second only to Tyler Hamilton in UCI points earned, Dean said in an interview with Cyclingnews he was only "offered half of what I was offered from other teams".

"It was almost like they made the offer because they felt they had to; I don't really know why that happened or was given an explanation as to why they acted the way they did with me, so for that reason I felt quite disrespected about the whole issue," he said.

A string of excellent performances at the Wachovia Cycling Series that included victory at the Wachovia Classic paved the way for the 28 year-old's biggest victory to date shortly after the Centenary Tour de France - the overall classification at the Tour de la Region Wallonne, where he also won two stages and beat a quality field of riders including Michele Bartoli, Yaroslav Popovych and Jurgen Van Goolen.

"It's not the biggest race in the world or anything like that", he said modestly, "but it does seem to carry a lot of prestige because it was around the time all the Classics riders were starting to come back [to form]. But I think more than anything, it instilled a lot of confidence in myself as to my capacity and how far I think I can go."

Next year will be Dean's ninth season as a professional. He first turned pro at Shaklee, a successful US-based team formed in the early 90s, before a short but successful stint at Mercury led to a place with US Postal Service in 1999. After three seasons with US Postal, Dean alighted the 'Blue Train' to join CSC-Tiscali in 2002, enjoying his two most successful seasons to date under the direction of former Tour winner Bjarne Riis.

"If you had of asked me at the start of the year, I probably would have told you I would have never been able to win Region Wallonne," said Dean. "Now, things have changed and it's opened up my capacity for races that I could potentially win that I never really thought about before."

Asked about his chances for a stage victory in his home race, Dean plays down his chances, preferring to use the Tour of Southland to spot future talent coming out of New Zealand. "I've not counting on myself on winning overall - I've been on a bit of a down-period with training and that," he said.

"I'll try and help the profile of cycling in New Zealand a bit and generate some interest more than anything - that's the real motivation for going. I'd like to also look at riders who I might be riding the Olympics with next year and see a little bit for myself who the future talent might be from New Zealand, which is something I'd kind of like to get involved in."

Look out for the full interview with Julian Dean to be published later today.

Olano depends on Beloki

Retired professional and former world champion Abraham Olano has indicated that the possibility of his taking a position as directeur sportif of the planned Stayer team is entirely dependent on Joseba Beloki's signature with the Italian/Dutch formation. Beloki is expected to make a decision shortly on his team for 2004, and the new Stayer team appears the likely destination as long as the team's financial guarantees come through. Beloki requested Olano, a former ONCE teammate, be brought along as directeur sportif.

"[Beloki] requested that I join him," Olano told Spanish paper AS in an interview. "If he does go to another team, and wants me to go with him, I would be delighted. I would only take a position with Stayer along with Beloki."

Olano, like many, is waiting for Beloki's decision. Beloki recently indicated his decision not to re-sign with Manolo Saiz and the Liberty Seguros team that replaces ONCE-Eroski.

"I have always had a good relationship with Beloki and he trusts me," Olano said. "The important thing is that he look for a good path for his future, and for that reason he wants some guarantees."

Olano, who retired at the end of 2002 after eleven seasons in the professional ranks, appears ready for a return to the sport. "This has always been my world," he said. "I enjoyed being a cyclist, then I needed some time for my family, and now everything can be compatible. It would be a wonderful return."

Mateyev extends with Panaria

Ukrainian Sergey Mateyev has been offered a contract renewal with the Panaria-Fiordo team. Team manager Bruno Reverberi offered the extension despite already having Mateyev under contract through 2004. Mateyev joined the team in 2000 as a stagiaire and has been with Panaria ever since. This year he won the Ukrainian national time trial championships.

Liebig to Team Nürnberger

Tina Liebig will join the women's Team Nürnberger for 2004, riding alongside the likes of Judith Arndt, Hanka Kupfernagel, and Petra Rossner. Liebig rode this season for the German national team and Team Euregio Egrensis. She was a junior world champion in 1998.

"For me it's an enormous challenge to ride with these professionals," Liebig said of her new team in a DPA report. "It provides a great boost to my motivation and for my career."

Team Nürnberger will maintain a 12 woman roster for the coming season, as Liebig replaces Patricia Hempel, who did not receive a contract renewal.

Hundertmarck retires

German Kai Hundertmarck has decided to put an end to his professional road career. A member of Team Telekom since 1995, Hundertmarck was not offered a place in next year's T-Mobile line up, and as a result the 34 year old has opted for a change of lifestyle rather than the search for a new employer.

Hundertmarck began his pro career in 1991 with the Histor-Sigma team, moving on to PDM in 1992, Motorola in 1993, and settling at Telekom in 1995. Among his career highlights are victories this season in the Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt and Hessen Rundfahrt, a stage in the 2001 Tour Down Under, and the 2000 Rund um den Henninger Turm.

Spanish bids for 2005-6 Tours

Originally a candidate to host the Tour de France in 2004, the Spanish city of Barcelona has once more thrown its hat into the ring to host the race in either 2005 or 2006. Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc had indicated enthusiasm at the prospect of visiting Barcelona next year, but the logistics of beginning as far north as Belgium (the 2004 Tour will begin in Liège) and reaching as far south as Barcelona were prohibitive.

Leblanc has revealed, however, that Spain could figure into the Tour's plans in the coming years. Barcelona and the Balearic Islands- which not so coincidentally have also entered the sponsorship scene as a replacement for iBanesto.com, are both possibilities, according to a Todociclismo report. The Balearic community is eager to promote its tourism industry through sponsorship of cycling.

"Spain has good cyclists, but the Spanish will have a tough time against Ullrich and Armstrong," Leblanc said of the country's chances in the Tour. "Perhaps the best is Beloki if he recovers from his injury. There are riders for the podium, at least, unlike in my country."

Lefèvre recovering after 'cross crash

Jean Delatour's David Lefèvre is on the mend after what looked to be a serious crash in the opening round of the Challenge La France Cycliste cyclo-cross series in Athée-sur-Cher on Sunday. Lefèvre sustained cuts to his face in an early race crash, and although he was up shortly after, he later lost consciousness and did not remember the crash. Taken to the hospital in Tours for examination, Lefèvre was released Monday.

Winter season at Burnaby Velodrome

Over 10 Canadian National Cycling Champions across various age categories and track cycling disciplines will be competing against some of the Northwest's best this weekend in the first event of the Burnaby Velodrome's winter race season. The 2003/2004 BVC Race Series kicks off this Friday night at North America's only indoor velodrome. Featured races will include points races, miss-n-outs, kilo time trials, and keirins.

The 200 metre track with 47 degree corners will play host to athletes from around the Lower Mainland, across Canada, and from the USA. Amongst those racing will be 10 time National Champion, World Cup medallist, and Athens 2004 hopeful Mandy Poitras, who will join several Canadian National team members at the event as they begin their quest for a spot on Canada's Olympic team.

Burnaby Velodrome local riders will face riders like Calgary's triple Canadian National Champion Travis Smith and a host of riders from Alberta, Vancouver Island, as well as racers from Washington and Oregon. US National Team member Tyler Farrar will also be in attendance.

Racing starts Friday, November 7th at 7:00pm and continues all day Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9 from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day. For more information and to download a schedule of the race events, visit the Burnaby Velodrome website at http://www.burnabyvelodrome.ca, or contact race director Jeremy Storie at 604-888-5933 or learntorace@burnabyvelodrome.ca.

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