First Edition Cycling News for August 31, 2004

Edited by Chris Henry

Walters out but OK

Navigators loses leader for Tour of Britain

By Chris Henry

Mark Walters of the Navigators is out of action, but deemed 'OK' after a mass pile up in the Chris Thater Memorial Criterium on Sunday in Binghamton, New York. Initially feared to have broken an elbow and suffered possible internal injuries, a trip to the hospital revealed no serious damage for the former Canadian champion. Initially unconscious after the fall, Walters was out of the hospital by Sunday evening.

"I am happy to report that, although involved in a violent crash, Mark Walters is fine," Navigators directeur sportif Ed Beamon told Cyclingnews Monday. "We had some major concerns when he hit a fencing post coming through the start finish line on the third lap."

Beamon described the crash, saying "Mark was riding on the far right side of the road, setting up an attack, when a rider behind him tried to accelerate... apparently forgetting the physics that makes it impossible to pass through another physical body without creating an impact. Mark was hit from behind, and catapulted into the metal fencing as a major pile up sent bikes and wheels flying through the air, and a couple of dozen riders hit the deck."

The race was neutralized while paramedics attended to the injured. Adding to the worrisome scene was the fact that the crash came on a day when Walters' parents had flown from Canada to watch their son race.

Banged up and bruised, Walters suffered no serious injuries in Sunday's crash, though x-rays taken revealed a cracked patella, apparently the result of a crash last week in Downer's Grove at the USPRO Criterium Championship.

"Needless to say, Mark will not be leaving with the team for Tour of Britain today, which is a big disappointment for all of us," Beamon commented. "Especially since his form is so good, and we expected him to be a leader in Britain, as well as San Francisco."

Marco Marzano joins Lampre

Young Italian Marco Marzano has signed a stagiaire contract with Lampre and will begin riding professional events on September 2 at the Tropheo Melinda. Marzano has in fact signed a two year deal with Lampre, but will test the waters this fall before formally beginning his pro career.

Marzano is a talented climber and this year claimed the overall victory in the Giro d'Italia U26 (Baby Giro), as well as victory in the Giro della Valle D'Aosta for the second year in a row.

Moos injured

Former Swiss national champion Alexandre Moos (Phonak) has suffered a broken collarbone. Moos, 32, fell while training, and will be forced to miss the T-Mobile International in San Francisco, among other races.

Llaneras through 2007

Joan Llaneras, silver medallist in the Olympic points race in Athens, told a crowd of supporters that he will race professionally through 2007. The Spaniard indicated he would not return for the 2008 Olympics in China, but looked forward to the prospect of his home island of Mallorca hosting the 2007 Track World Championships.

"The Balearic islands lack facilities like a new velodrome, and I wanted to take advantage of this occasion to show the many people supporting me that they were right," Llaneras commented.

Chiesa to Fassa Bortolo

Former professional Mario Chiesa will return as team manager with Fassa Bortolo in 2005. Chiesa spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons working as a team manager with another Italian team, Tenax.

Courtesy: Cyclismag.com

Quick.Step for Vuelta and Britain

Quick.Step-Davitamon will send teams to this week's major stage races, the Tour of Britain (September 1-5) and the final grand tour of the season, the Vuelta a España.

Spaniards José Antonio Pecharroman, Pedro Horillo and José Antonio Garrido will be joined in their national tour by Tour of Germany winner Patrik Sinkewitz, Laszlo Bodrogi, Kevin Hulsmans, Jurgen Van Goolen, Bram Tankink and Luca Paolini.

In the Tour of Britain, sprinter Tom Boonen will be equipped with ace leadout man Stefano Zanini, along with Frederic Amorison, Davide Bramati, Wilfried Cretskens, and stagiaire Aaron Kemps.

U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross

A new cyclo-cross series is set to begin this season (is it 'cross season already?), as title sponsor Crank Brothers kicks off the 2004 U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross. The new national series is backed by USA Cycling and brings together six UCI-sanctioned races across the country to promote a cohesive national effort among promoters, riders and sponsors.

The overall series winners Elite Men, Elite Women, U23, and Junior Men categories will receive automatic selection to the World Cyclo-cross Championships in St. Wendel, Germany in February, 2005. Master 35+ Men will also be ranked.

The 2004 series schedule is as follows:

Race 1 - October 9: Cannondale Stumptown Cyclocross Classic, Portland, OR
Race 2 - October 10: Clif Bar Grand Prix, Ft. Steilacoom Park, Tacoma, WA
Race 3 - October 30: Gloucester ECV Cyclocross #1, Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, MA
Race 4 - October 31: Gloucester ECV Cyclocross #2, Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, MA
Race 5 - November 20: Beacon CX, Bridgeton, NJ
Race 6 - November 21: Highland Park Cyclocross, Donaldson Park, Highland Park, NJ

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