First Edition Cycling News for November 12, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Jonathan Vaughters retires

Raise a glass...
Photo ©: B. Seliga

Jonathan Vaughters officially announced his retirement from professional cycling on Sunday night at the end of year "thank you" party of the 5280 Subaru development team that he started this year with Colby Pearce.

After 10 years as a pro, with a stage win at the Tour de France and a win at the top of Mont Ventoux in Dauphiné Libéré as just a couple of his achievements in the sport, Vaughters looks happy to be moving on to a new phase of his life.

"I guess I just want to say that I'm leaving the sport happy and content with my accomplishments and the person cycling has formed me into," he said. "My hope is that I'll make a much bigger impact on the sport from outside than I ever did as a rider. I figure if a rider with such a fragile little bookworm body as mine can claw his way towards the top of the sport, then doing something a little more suited to my natural talents, like dealing in the business world, should come more fluidly."

Vaughters will now focus on his career in Real Estate and the coaching of the young riders in the development team. His move into a role as coach may come as no surprise to his avid fans as he has professed these wishes before in an interview with Cyclingnews in 2002 when he said, "I've got big ambitions as far as training goes and with that combination, I may not have been able to have been the best professional cyclist in the world, but I really do think I could become the best coach."

At the party, which was at the well known Adega restaurant in Denver, a new sponsor of the team for 2004, it was also announced that the successful 5280/Subaru team will keep the seven members of the 2003 team and will add eight more, doubling in size for the coming season. This year's members included Blake Caldwell, who placed 4th overall in the Category One division at Tour of the Gila, Angeli Sheldrake, who won the Category two division of Tour of the Gila, and Peter Stetina, winner of the Cat. 3 division of the Tour of the Gila. The team also included Braden Kappius, Andrew Manart, and Jay Ku.

All members of the 2004 team have been decided except for one, which will be announced at the collegiate national championships in May as part of a development promotion with LeMond Cycles. As well as doubling in size the team will introduce TIAA- CREF as the new major sponsor for next year and will be known as Team 5280/TIAA-CREF.

Beloki pulls the plug on Stayer

After extensive negotiation, Joseba Beloki has ended discussions with the Italian electrical firm Stayer to join a new team planned for 2004. Beloki, who was Stayer's pick as team leader, called off the deal, dissatisfied with Stayer's financial guarantees. Along with his lawyer Pablo Arregui and former professional Abraham Olano, whom Beloki had invited to join as directeur sportif, the former ONCE leader traveled to Italy to meet with Stayer representatives, but ultimately went home empty handed.

While Beloki is reported to have interest from teams such as Gerolsteiner, Saeco and Lampre, those teams may not be as interested as Stayer in hiring his entire entourage of ex-ONCE men. Beloki's preference was always to continue riding for a Spanish team, but it appears his options now remain international. In fact, Beloki denied any link to the Italian Saeco team. "I don't have anything from them," he told the Spanish paper Marca. "That news came out because people want to discredit Stayer."

"We came with all the hope in the world, but in the end we couldn't reach an agreement," Beloki said of the Stayer proposition. "I think a contract like mine is complex enough. In sporting terms it was the most attractive project, with Abraham [Olano] and several riders in whom I have confidence, but it was necessary to take everything into account."

Gallopin joins CSC

Team Bianchi directeur sportif Alain Gallopin has received- and accepted- an offer to head north to Denmark and join Bjarne Riis at Team CSC. Gallopin has worked as a director with Catavana, Française des Jeux, Mercury, Team Coast and Bianchi.

"I am proud to be joining Team CSC and to be working with Bjarne Riis," Gallopin said. "I have a lot of respect for the team and the way it is managed. I know Bjarne very well and I am happy that we have finally been able to join forces. There are lots of interesting riders on the team and I look forward to working with them."

Bjarne Riis returned the compliment, noting that he hopes to have two directors on hand for many of the 2004 races. "I have wanted to sign [Alain] for a long time," Riis explained. "I am convinced that he will fit well into our management profile and I am confident that he will be able to create results."

Kate Bates to Van Bemmelen

Australian Katherine Bates has signed a one year contract with the Dutch Team Ton van Bemmelen Sports. Bates, who rode this year for the Powerplate-Bik team, reached an agreement with Van Bemmelen director Leen Merison.

Stefan Kupfernagel to Team Lamonta

German Stefan Kupfernagel has signed with the Division III Team Lamonta for 2004. Kupfernagel was not retained by the Swiss Phonak Hearing Systems team, a decision which did not come pleasantly.

"All of their promises turned out to be empty promises," Kupfernagel said in a Radsport-News interview, expressing his disappointment with Phonak manager Urs Freuler. "That's not right!"

Although moving to the Division III ranks, Kupfernagel will rejoin several friends and former teammates, including Björn Glasner, with whom he raced for two seasons in Cologne. Lamonta is hoping to gain entry into Division II by 2005.

"I wanted to start again with a German team," he added. "I proved that I can keep up with the world's best sprinters, and next season I will show again that I am fast."

Canadian doctor admits to EPO prescriptions

Canadian doctor Maurice Duquette has entered a guilty plea to charges that he inappropriately prescribed EPO to a 'world class cyclist from Québec'. The prescriptions were given during the period 1998-2001 and the Dr. Duquette faces a possible four month suspension of his license and could be prevented from prescribing EPO to anyone involved in sports.

A gag order has been imposed preventing the release of the name of the cyclist in question, who is also expected to report to the Fédération Québécoise des Sports Cyclistes (FQSC). Radio-Canada, in reporting the story, has also entered a legal bid to have the gag order lifted.

Four Italians suspended

The disciplinary committee of the Italian cycling federation has announced the suspension of four elite cyclists for doping violations. Cristian Tosoni has been suspended for four years, Gabriele Barengo for thirty months, and Andrea Rinaldini and Antonio Quadranti have both been suspended for one year, according to a Datasport report.

Kelly and Quigley in Partry

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

The Mayo Wheelers Cycling Club is holding its "Winter Training Programme" this weekend in Partry, Co. Mayo. Brendan Quigley is the driving force behind this venture, which, according to reliable sources, is of immense value to the participants.

The word on the street is that "Quigley" does not do things in half measure. For the benefit of those who will come to this idyllic part of Mayo for the think-tank on Saturday and Sunday they will not go away disappointed.

Per usual, Brendan has Sean Kelly in attendance. Sean is sure to swell the numbers who will come along to hear of his exploits down the years. Surely he'll reminiscence about his latest comeback in September, when he again was the hero of a unique event held under lights in the town of Newport, Shropshire. The thousands that came out that evening were not disappointed as Sean rolled back the past and served up the trimmings when he won the event.

"I have put in place a programme in conjunction with Sean that should be interesting," said Brendan. "Saturday and Sunday we have two spins approximately 55 miles in distance on each day. After the spins there will be a general discussion. Also in attendance will be Brian Kenneally and Ciaran Power as well as the local hero, David O'Loughlin."

The headquarters for the sessions will be ‘Harringtons' of Partry where the sign-on will take place. Both spins are scheduled to start at 10 o'clock.

Additional information can be had from Brendan on his two hotlines. Mobile: 087-6131891 or landline: 094-9543042. Anyone from outside the Irish jurisdiction please use the international code.

Previous News    Next News

(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)