First Edition News for September 11, 2003

Edited by John Stevenson

Landuyt affair: soigneur questioned

According to a report on Belgian Teletekst, Belgian police have questioned private soigneur Herman Versele as part of their on-going investigation into Belgian veterinarian Jos Landuyt, who is accused of trafficking in doping products.

Police have alleged that phone taps show Landuyt and Versele communicating using code words for doping substances and that riders also used codes in communication with Landuyt. Johan Museeuw is alleged to have asked Landuyt for "three wasps", "beetles" and "sliced bread" in a phone conversation.

Asked about these accusations at the Memorial Rik van Steenbergen yesterday, Museeuw would not be drawn. "That I know nothing of," he said. "I have raced for six hours and that's enough."

Rebellin extends

Gerolsteiner rider Davide Rebellin has renewed his contract with the German team for two years.

Celebs line up for San Fran charity race

Before the serious business of the T-Mobile International gets underway in San Francisco on Sunday, a substantial line-up of local celebrities will take to the streets for the BMC Software Celebrity Chase, a fund-raising event for various charities designated by the riders themselves.

Among the names who'll line up for Chase are actor Robin Williams (riding for the Challenged Athletes Foundation); San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. (riding for his own Employment and Youth Education Foundation); mountain biking pioneer Gary Fisher (Trips for Kids); San Francisco Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik (Home away from Homelessness); and former Talking Heads keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison (Breast Cancer Foundation).

Big field for 2003 Grafton to Inverell

The 2003 Grafton to Inverell is shaping up to be a classic edition of arguably Australia's hardest one-day race. According to organiser Peter Sunderland, official entries close today with 175 riders on the roster, just eight short of the biggest field ever. "We are hoping that we can better this number by next Saturday. Brett Aitken [2000 Olympic Madison champion] is a definite starter and Stephen Wooldridge [a member of Australia's world champion team pursuit squad] is going to have a start also. Dave Sanders will be here with the National under 23 squad as well."

Sunderland is still looking to fill up the start list for the 140km women's race which currently has 16 entries. "We hope a few more will enter as this is a Cat 1 race on the women's National Road Series also," said Sunderland.

Star-Crossed twilight 'cross returns

The 'cross season is almost upon us and the first UCI-sanctioned US event of the winter will be the second annual Star-Crossed evening cyclo-cross criterium, on Saturday, September 27, at Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA.

According to the organisers, attractions include a fast, spectator-friendly course and a venue with a party atmosphere, featuring music, the Widmer Brother's beer garden, racing under the lights and the K2 free raffle for the crowd.

Registration opens at 3pm, and racing starts at 4pm. Elite racers must have UCI licenses but day licenses are available for other classes.

Four UCI events in eight-race 2003/4 Vergegear mid-Atlantic series

Also returning for another year is Monkey Hill Cycle Sports' mid-Atlantic series. Supported again this year by Vergegear.com, this eight-event series runs through October and November in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and includes four UCI cat 3 events this year.

The Mid-Atlantic series started as a grass roots cyclo-cross series that emphasized fun and participation. The organisers believe it still meets those aims, but has also grown to become a showcase of top national and international talent.

The 2003 Vergegear.com Mid-Atlantic Cyclo-Cross Series kicks off on Sunday, October 5 in Revere, Pennsylvania with Evo Cross.
For race details or additional series details, please go to www.monkeyhillcs.com/mac

Schedule

Round 1: October 5 - Evo Cross Revere PA
Round 2: October 11 - Lancaster Lancaster PA
Round 3: October 25 - Wooden Wheels (UCI) Granogue DE
Round 4: October 26 - Prophecy Creek Cross (UCI) Blue Bell PA
Round 5: November 2 - Beacon Cross Bridgeton NJ
Round 6: November 8 - Saturn Classic (UCI) Camp Hill PA
Round 7: November 9 - Rockville Bridge Marysville PA
Round 8: November 15 - Highland Park (UCI) Highland Park NJ

RAAM on OLN

This year's Race Across America was followed by a TV crew from the Outdoor Life Network. Their coverage of this arduous ultramarathon airs for the first time this weekend at 5-6pm Saturday September 13 and will be repeated Wednesday September 17, Noon to 1pm.

Two new collegiate cycling conference directors named

USA Cycling has announced two new conference directors to the National Collegiate Cycling Association.

Andy Phelps of Kansas University will head the North Central Conference which includes teams in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. Andrew Rizzo, a University of Illinois alumnus, will lead the way for the Midwest Conference consisting of teams in Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

As conference directors, Phelps and Rizzo will be responsible for the vitality and health of their conference teams. Their duties will include recruiting and advising new and current teams, helping student leaders organize the race season and ensuring that collegiate cycling's team-based scoring system is accurately implemented.

Collegiate riders to Indianapolis for track nationals

More than 20 collegiate teams and over 100 competitors are expected to converge on Indianapolis next week for the 2003 collegiate track nationals. Hosted by Marian College the nationals runs September 18-20 at the Major Taylor Velodrome.

Ken Nowakowski, Head Cycling Coach for both Marian College and the Major Taylor Velodrome, says that in addition to its central location, Indianapolis was well chosen for the other reasons. "Indy - and the Major Taylor Velodrome - has always been a favorite of the federation because of the quality of our facility, and because of the way we promote our national events."

Big winner at Bicycling Australia show

By John Stevenson

Prize winner Carl Drieman (right)
Photo ©:Tom Balks/Bicycling Australia

Prize draws at races and bike shows are often a bit anti-climactic as busy punters have often gone home by the time someone puts their hand into the box and pulls out the winner's ticket. So you could have knocked down with the proverbial feather all involved at the Bicycling Australia show last weekend when door prize winner Carl Drieman was still around to collect his Trek Fuel 80 mountain bike.

Carl was more than a little stunned to win the Au$3,000 bike, and his state of excitement wasn't alleviated by the announcer (who was, er, me) being unable to read his name clearly from his entry form. A quick check of his address to confirm his bona fides and Carl cheerfully accepted the prize from Trek Australia's Tony Cook and Bicycling Australia's Phil Latz.

The show also featured a BMX display, trials demo and roller-racing contests.

More images from the show by Tom Balks/Bicycling Australia

• Kate McEvoy, Danielle Jackson and Bree Sherwood smile for the camera
• Phil Latz and Tony Cook with the winner of the $3000 Trek Fuel 80 MTB, Carl Drieman
• Rebecca Borgo powers along in the roller derby
• One of many seminars put on over the weekend
• BMXer Zac clocks up some frequent flyer points
• Zoli Borbasi contemplates his landing

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