Latest Cycling News for April 8, 2004

Edited by Chris Henry

Vandenbroucke ready for Paris-Roubaix

Frank Vandenbroucke, not normally considered a contender for the pavé of Paris-Roubaix, is relaxed and ready before the Hell of the North this Sunday. Vandenbroucke's best finish in the fabled classic is a 7th place in 1999 behind race winner Andrea Tafi. No doubt focused on the Ardennes classics to come, the Belgian is still eager to test himself at Roubaix, particularly after the bad luck of a poorly-timed puncture dashed his hopes at the Tour of Flanders.

"It's the classic that suits me the least," Vandenbroucke told La Dernière Heure. "But I always have big ambitions and still hope that one day I'll succeed because it's a magnificent race."

Unlike many riders, VDB feels little need to investigate the sections of pavé which make up the difficulties of Paris-Roubaix. "It's a tradition among teams looking for publicity," he said. "Last year I did it because it had been three years since I last did Paris-Roubaix, but this time nothing's changed."

Despite not being a heavy favourite for the Roubaix title, Vandenbroucke still counts himself among those who hope for something other than sunny and dry conditions.

"For somebody like me who's light, it's good," he said of the prospect of mud-covered pavé. "The more slippery the ground, the slower the race, the less the powerful guys will be in control, and the farther I'll go."

Hayman out of Paris-Roubaix

Australian Matthew Hayman (Rabobank) will miss Paris-Roubaix this weekend after a crash in Wednesday's Gent-Wevelgem. Hayman injured his left hip and upper leg in the fall, and will be replaced by Bobbie Traksel.

Rabobank's full team for Roubaix:

Robert Bartko, Jan Boven, Steven de Jongh, Maarten den Bakker, Robert Hunter, Roy Sentjens, Bobbie Traksel, and Marc Wauters

More racing for Millar

Cofidis' David Millar has been called to enter a number of additional races in April, due in part to injuries in the team and the suspension for Médéric Clain and Cédric Vasseur. Millar has been training for the Track World Cup in Manchester (April 9-11) while also carrying on with road events. Last weekend's GP Miguel Indurain didn't smile on Millar but he remains confident for his first real test on the track this weekend.

"I found the race harder than expected but I think it is because of my training on the track," Millar commented on his website. "The course was up and down and there were three tough little climbs at the end that I found hard going. The track training has been going well but I haven't been riding the distances that I would in my normal training."

In April Millar will add Paris-Camembert, Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège to his schedule, making for a full month of high-level racing.

Kelly and pursuit team lead Aussie charge in Manchester

Four time world champion Shane Kelly, 32, will return to the Manchester Velodrome for the first time since 1996 when he lines up tomorrow for the third round of the UCI Track World Cup (April 9-11). Kelly and the country's team pursuit squad will lead the charge for Australia at the World Cup.

Fourteen Australians will contest the three day Manchester World Cup but Kelly will not race in the one kilometre time trial. Kelly last competed on the Manchester Velodrome at the 1996 world championships when he came away with gold medals in the kilometre time trial and the team sprint.

"In Manchester I'll be racing the sprint and the keirin, which is new territory for me," Kelly said. "It's the first time at an event of this level that I haven't raced the kilo so I'm sure there'll be some very surprised looks and a few people scratching their heads when I get on my bike with normal handlebars to warm up instead of my time trial bike.

"I haven't really ridden the keirin internationally but I want to try and qualify in it for Athens so I need to get a feel for the group pace and the whole experience before the World Championships in Melbourne in May," he added.

Pursuit team gets ready

While Kelly and the sprint group flew out from Australia Wednesday, the men's endurance riders have been training at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.

Three members of the reigning world champion and world record holding team pursuit squad, Graeme Brown, Peter Dawson and Brett Lancaster reunited last weekend to prepare for Manchester. Tour de France yellow jersey wearer and individual pursuit Olympic medallist Brad McGee joined them for the last two days of training, reportedly mixing well with the pursuit team. McGee will also race the individual pursuit in Manchester in a bid to set a qualifying time for Olympic team selection.

Four other members of the Manchester team Stephen Wooldridge, Ashley Hutchinson, Mark Renshaw, Katherine Bates and Alison Wright have also been training in Switzerland.

"I think Manchester will be a really tough event because a lot of riders are going and it will be a good indication of talent leading into the World Championships and the Olympics," said Brown. "We always have a training camp during the year for the pursuit team but we don't usually contest a world class competition before the world championships, so Manchester will give us a chance to mix up our combinations."

Obree drops record bid

After a disappointing first test in Manchester last weekend, Graeme Obree has decided to put his bid to reclaim the world hour record on hold. Obree cut his test ride short after just 12 minutes, realising that he was not in condition to match the pace set by record holder Chris Boardman in 2000.

"I was riding at an average of 46 km/h, and I knew quickly I wasn't ready," Obree told AFP. "Under these conditions, given that I'm only able to train on the road, the preparation required is too long. I've decided not to attack the hour record. I'll have to reconsider my objectives.

"I'm going to continue riding on the road," he added, "and I'm going to start writing a training manual for amateurs."

Irish stage racing begins

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

Those with serious aspirations for the big events that take place later in the year will be in action over the Easter weekend. The long range weather forecast is favourable to competitive competition in two locations that have become synonymous with stage racing over the Bank Holiday period.

Years ago there was little choice, with the exception of the Gorey Three Day, which has become a household item on the calendar. Of late, the Ras Mumhan has certainly come on in leaps and bounds and is now up with the best promotions in the country, based on the Trojan work and organisation that has taken place in the town of Killorglin, well known for its annual Poc Fair.

Two past competitors have returned to try their luck in the Gorey, Aidan Duff and Stephen Spratt. A couple of years ago, both would have their own in Killorglin, but they are easing themselves back into the competitive bug and who knows, maybe they'll try their luck next year in the "Kingdom".

Twice winner of the four-day event, Kevin Dawson is an absentee, but his former manager, Philip Leigh, has a new team, The Recycling.Co.Uk-MG X Power Team, who by all accounts are no slouches when it comes to bike racing. The brothers Downing, Russell and Dean, are the main men and on recent form could be the threat to a home success. The Irish team is well balanced and in David McCann could land the spoils, particularly if it hinges on the showing in the time trial on Sunday morning.

Considering it is a Munster event, it would be foolhardy to deny the hopes of Timmy Barry, Paul Griffin and Eugene Moriarty. Despite representing different teams, they are well qualified to fight it out with the best on familiar territory. Also, all three were at the recent Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi, where Moriarty was well capable of sprinting with the world's best.

The glory days of the Emerald Cycling Club may have slipped, but it is noteworthy that the McQuaid brothers, David and Andrew, will be managed by Pat, a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale Management Committee.

Weekend fixtures:

Credit Union Ras Mumhan, Killorglin, Co. Kerry

Stage 1 - April 9: Killorglin, 100km
Stage 2 - April 10: Nissan Ring of Kerry, 160km
Stage 3 - April 11: Killorglin ITT, 10km
Stage 4 - April 11: Killarney Criterium
Stage 5 - April 12: Western Union Stage, 93km

GreenStar/Gorey Three Day

Stage 1 - April 10: Brittas-Gorey
Stage 2 - April 11: Gorey ITT
Stage 3 - April 11: Gorey Circuit race
Stage 4 - April 12: Gorey-Brittas

Cyclingnews store open for business!

For several years, Cyclingnews has received emails and requests from people who asked: "I really like that picture of George Hincapie at Paris-Roubaix - how do I buy one?" Or, "Does Cyclingnews sell tee-shirts?" Or, after we covered the Australian men's cross-country MTB championships, another asked: "Can I buy a jersey like Syd Taberlay's?"

More recently, we've had requests for the stylish team strip of your Belgium-based Division 3 squad, Team Cyclingnews.com, such as: "I want to be the first in Minnesota with the jersey, can I order one?"

Well, yes! Now you can at the Cyclingnews store!

But first, an apology. Given that the image of Hincapie and co in the mud on the way to Roubaix was in 2001, we would like to identify any number of factors to explain the three-year turn-around on making this type of thing available.

OK, we can't, other than to say that we've been too busy working on the content that you keep coming back to read. But in between race reports, photos and features, a few of the team put their heads together and contacted a variety of clothing manufacturers, printers and photographers to offer a line of merchandise that reflects what people have requested.

There are posters of your favourite pictures from 2001 and 2002, tee-shirts, cycling socks, a wonderful track cycling calendar and when it comes to actual cycling clothing, the only articles the shop will offer are from those teams that Cyclingnews sponsors.

In Australia, it's the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, in Europe it's Team Cyclingnews.com, and in the USA it's Jonathan Vaughters' TIAA-CREF/5280 development team. In coming weeks, we will offer the same jerseys and knicks as worn by the riders in those teams. We've also got other products in the planning, but we promise we won't take three years to make them available.

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