Latest Cycling News for November 14, 2003Edited by Chris Henry & Jeff Jones Beloki says "au revoir" to SpainBy Chris Henry
At the end of a press conference at the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport announcing his arrival in France after signing a two year contract with Brioches La Boulangère, Joseba Beloki was asked for his first words in French. "Au revoir," he said with a laugh. Thus begins a new chapter in Beloki's career after his collaboration with ONCE-Eroski team manager Manolo Saiz. At age 30, Beloki is considered one of the few men capable of challenging Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France, and has already finished three times on the final Tour podium. Beloki ended efforts to head the new Stayer team in Italy after negotiations proved unsuccessful. At La Boulangère, he joins a young, ambitious team, which until now did not have a major contender for the grand tours, particularly the Tour de France. "There are different types of teams," Beloki explained. "There are those with multiple leaders and those with a single leader. I think Brioches La Boulangère is a unique team, and I share the team's values." Beloki will be joined at Brioches La Boulangère by his younger brother Gorka, but was unable to bring a larger entourage of support riders with him. "Friendship is something very important to me," he said, referring to his efforts to find contracts for his faithful circle at Stayer. "For me it was important to be able to follow things to the end, and unfortunately with Stayer that wasn't possible."
The switch to La Boulangère (19th in the 2003 team rankings) is somewhat surprising, and certainly a coup for the team coming at the tail end of the transfer season. However it comes as less of a shock for La Boulangère's management. Team director general Philippe Raimbaud and team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau each spoke of the 'acceleration' the Basque rider gives to the longer term goals, alluding to objectives in the general classification of the Tour de France in 2005 or 2006, which have now without doubt been pushed ahead to 2004. Bernaudeau insisted his team would profit from Beloki's talent and experience, and would be up for the task of supporting its new leader at the Tour. Younger riders like Sylvain Chavanel, picked by many as one of the great hopes for France in the coming years, will have some of the pressures of leadership eased thanks for Beloki's arrival. Chavanel is likely to focus on races such as Paris-Nice, while Beloki will be the undisputed team leader for the Tour. As the brothers Beloki represent an addition of two riders to the team, Bernaudeau believes that the resources may exist to attempt two grand tours in one season, something thus far impractical with such a young group of riders. "The Tour is an obsession for Joseba, and for me too," said Bernaudeau, a former professional and wearer of the yellow jersey in the Tour. Beloki and the team will meet throughout the winter to plan his 2004 season, but he leaves no doubt as to where his ambitions are focused. "I know that I'll do more races in France, but hopefully in Spain as well, because there are important races like San Sebastian," he said. "I'll race in preparation for the Tour de France... and the Vuelta. Naturally I'd like to do both, but my number on goal is to win the Tour de France. "I'll discuss my racing schedule with the team," he added. "We'll start the season slowly with the objective of being good for the Tour, the Vuelta, the Olympics, and the World Championships." Auction for Eddie B.By Mitchell Clinton
Coach Eddie B, who lost his home in the wildfires that hit Southern California last week, is starting to put the pieces back together. Eddie B has been coaching top-level cyclists in the USA since 1977 when he was made the national cycling team head coach shortly after emigrating from Poland. He is best known for coaching the 1984 US Olympic cycling team to 4 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, the first gold medals in cycling for the US since 1912. He now makes a modest living coaching masters and junior riders from his home in Ramona, California. After the fire Eddie was understandably very down. Although all his loved ones and animals were able to get out safely, much of his memorabilia from his past as a champion racer and coach went up in smoke. Items lost include 1984 Olympic medals, to a book of newspaper clippings of Eddie's cycling career that he started collecting as a young racer in Poland. Before the trees had stopped smoldering next to what was his home, relief was already being organized. All of the people that Eddie coaches, independently and together started casting nets looking for help. With the wide range of professions in his group, doctors, lawyers, contractors, police officers, graphic artists, writers and photographers, the net went far. Almost simultaneously, two websites were setup up to take donations. One by Eddie's son, Eddy (www.cqdigital.com/eddiebfund/home.asp) and the other by some of the riders he coaches. Many of Eddie's past riders and industry friends have been donating items to be auctioned off on Ebay for the benefit of the Eddie B Relief Fund.
The first 2 items to be sold are a Euskaltel-Euskadi jersey signed by the entire 2003 Tour De France team and a CSC jersey that will be autographed by Tyler Hamilton to the winner of the auction. To see a list of the items that will be auctioned to benefit Eddie B, please visit his web site, www.eddiebcycling.com/documents/auction.htm Thanks to the response from the cycling public, and the many riders Eddie has helped over the years, he is moving forward to a new enthusiasm and a positive outlook to the future. PhotographyImages by Mitchell Clinton/clintonphoto.com
Basque ride for driver awarenessThe fourth edition of the Marcha Ciclista Urbana was organised last Sunday, November 9 between Erandio and Arriga in the Basque Country. The ride, which typically attracts 500 people, was aimed at promoting driver awareness of cyclists in the Basque Country. In 2003 alone, four cyclists have been killed and 127 injured by cars, and organisers Erandioko Txirrindulari Elkartea wish to get the message across that "cyclists aren't simply furniture on the roads". The 30 km ride started from Ayuntamiento de Erandio at 10:30am, finishing in Arriaga, stopping off at Berango to offer a tribute to Ricardo Otxoa's family. (Ricardo was a professional rider with Kelme, who was killed in a car accident that also injured his brother Javier). The Erandioko Txirrindulari Elkartea group's latest campaign hopes to persuade the government to include a Marra Gorri (red line) on all main roads, drawn 1.5 metres from the edge. The initiative has already received a lot of media attention and support from the Basque authorities, as well as from the Basque cycling community where people like Marino Lejarreta, Miguel Indurain, Josea Fernandez Rodriguez "Matxin", Joane Somarriba, Mikel Zarrabeitia and David Lopez have all pledged their support. Heartland Road Racing Team looking for ridersThe U.S. based Heartland Road Racing Team (Bikesource/Wholefoods Cycling Team) is expanding its elite roster for 2004. The team is currently looking for Cat. 1 riders (with a preference for U23's), who wish to race in the top professional/amateur events throughout the US events in 2004. Interested riders should contact Josh Crow at hrrc2002@hotmail.com and email him your resume and bio. Anthony Rappo Memorial moved to Eastern CreekThe Marconi Cycling Club in Sydney, Australia will again be running the Annual Anthony Rappo Memorial Criterium this Sunday, November 16 2003. This is open to all riders who currently hold a racing licence. But due to ongoing Police approval dramas in the Western Sydney area, the race has had to be moved to Eastern Creek Raceway. The entry Fee is $15 and there will be no late entry fee. $5 from race entry goes to the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. The start time is 7:30 am (all grades) as all races must be finished prior to 9:00am. Riders must sign on prior to 7:15 am - the sign-on table is behind the main grandstand, entry via Gate 1 at the end of Brabham Drive. Competitors and spectators can still enter via Gate 7 and park at the back of the pits, but they will have to go around to Gate 1 after racing for the presentations.
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