First Edition Cycling News for February 12, 2004Edited by Jeff Jones Ludo Dierckxsens wants to be "as good as possible"At 39, hard man Ludo still feels like a kid on his bikeBy Tim Maloney, European Editor Cyclingnews caught up with Landbouwkrediet-Colnago's evergreen Ludo Dierckxsens at the conclusion of his time at the team's training camp in Santa Severa, Italy. The ever popular Ludo chatted with us for a few minutes about the coming season.
Cyclingnews: Ludo, what are your ambitions for 2004? Ludo Dierckxsens: I want to be as good as possible...last year (2003) I had many problems. I broke my collarbone and then I had an operation on my left knee and so I ended up missing the classics season. So this winter I worked hard and so I'm hoping to have the same form as I did last year at this time. CN: Bart Leysen, who is now a mechanic at Quick.Step, used to train with you a lot. He told me that you always go extremely hard in training. LD: For sure, when you train, you have to work hard to get some results. I like to train and that's also important, I think. If you don't like to train, it's hard to be a professional cyclist. CN: Ludo, at 39 years old, do you still feel that desire to get out on the bike every day? LD: Yes, but you know, when there's bad weather, no one likes to go out! That's the same for everyone. In a race, it's different since the conditions are the same for all of us.
We also spoke to Landbouwkrediet-Colnago director Marco Saligari, who was in his day one of the most astute pro riders. Saligari is in his second year as team director of the Italo-Belgian formation managed by Gerard Bulens. "We're looking for a good classics season with Tom Steels, Dierckxsens and Bernucci, who's in excellent form," Saligari told Cyclingnews. "Then I'm confident that Popovych will have an excellent Giro and perhaps we'll even have a shot at an invitation to the Tour De France." Marco had reason to believe that his team training camp went well, as Tom Steels took Stage 1 in Bessèges and Yuri Metlushenko sprinted to victory in the GP Costa degli Etruschi, one day after the team ritiro concluded on February 7. PhotographyImages by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com
Simoni assesses the Corno alle ScaleGilberto Simoni has returned his assessment of the Corno alle Scale, which will serve as the finishing climb of the third stage of the Giro d'Italia. Simoni, accompanied by Saeco team manager Claudio Corti and teammates Dario Pieri, Paolo Fornaciari, Gabriele Balducci and Sylvester Szmyd, rode the last 80km of the stage which will run from Pontremoli to Corno alle Scale on May 11. They also used the opportunity to meet the management of the Saeco company from nearby Gaggio Montano, and president Sergio Zappella even followed Simoni in the team car with Claudio Corti. "The Giro has rarely included such a tough stage after just three stages," Simoni said after his ride today. "The climb is almost 13km long, it never eases off and forces you constantly change pace. To make things worse the last three kilometres are really hard. "I'm sure the climb to Corno all Scale will be a very important stage in the Giro and that means we will have to suffer right from the start. I hope I'll be in good condition on the day, the Saeco headquarters are close by and everybody will be cheering me on, so I don't want to let them down." De Clercq prefers to continueMario De Clercq (Mr Bookmaker-Palmans) will probably continue as a racer for another season. The World's silver medalist has come to the realisation that retirement to take up a role as a team director will actually mean more work and more days away from home than at present. "As a rider I have about 100 racing days a year," De Clercq commented in the Belgian RUG papers. "As a team director, I'd be away from home between 150 and 200 days. Furthermore I would have to go under my own means. As I rider I earn more." Tendonitis delays CasagrandeLampre's team captain Francesco Casagrande will not be making his planned debut in the Trofeo Laigueglia on February 17 due to an inflamed Achilles tendon. Instead he will return in the Giro della Provincia di Lucca, which runs from February 24-27. Casagrande's problems follow teammate Gianluca Bortolami's injury in a car accident yesterday. Bortolami is expected to be out of action for 10 days. International Turkish Riviera Tour cancelledThe inaugural International Turkish Riviera Tour, a UCI 2.3 stage race due to take place between February 18-22, has been called off for financial reasons. The race was being organised by Gerry van Gerwen's Cycling Service company, however there was no bank guarantee and no money for plane tickets, prize money, or payment of the teams. Some of the major teams in the peloton, such as FDJeux.com, Bankgiroloterij, T-mobile, Fassa Bortolo, Saeco and Chocolade Jacques had intended to start. Jong Vlaanderen 2016 presentation
The division III Jong Vlaanderen 2016 team was presented in the grounds of the castle Ham te Steenokkerzeel, Belgium on Wednesday. Containing 22 (mostly young) riders from all disciplines, the team will serve as a development squad for Vlaanderen-T Interim and Belgian cycling in general. The exceptions to the "young talent" rule are mountain bikers Filip Meirhaeghe (32) and Roel Paulissen (27) and track rider Steven De Neef (33). The remainder are all younger than 24 years. Meirhaeghe's main aim this year is the Olympic Cross Country race in Athens. "But I'll also ride all the World cups and certainly want one victory," he said. Of the Jong Vlaanderen project, Meirhaeghe commented that "It's good for the young guys that they get this chance. I hope that they realise how lucky they are." Jong Vlaanderen 2016 will work together with Vlaanderen-T Interim and in some races will field a combined squad. The team is managed by Marcel Van der Slagmolen (ex-ABX-Go Pass) with Andy Misotten, Rik Sinaert and Roger Loysch as team directors. Click here for the Jong Vlaanderen 2016 team roster Quark Cycling Team takes shapeWith the signing of Canadian Audrey Lemieux, Frenchwoman Magali LeFloc'h and American Erica Lanser, the Quark Cycling Team now has seven riders under contract. The remaining four riders: Lyne Bessette, Megan Elliot, Amy Moore and Sarah Uhl, are all former members of the Saturn women's team, and the squad looks to be quite competitive in its first year. The team will have a week long training camp in Merced California running from March 6-12. That will be followed by the McLane Pacific race the following weekend. The camp will consist of product demonstration and education of the Quark Team sponsors, a major photo session over the week, and on the bike training. Team roster Lyne Bessette (Can)
Team MACK RacingTeam MACK, in its thirteenth year, is set to once again have a strong presence in the Midwestern United States. With over 100 members, the team will focus on all major Midwest events, a few NRC events, the Elite, Masters men/women & Junior Nationals championships. Click here for the full roster. Credit Union Ras MumhanDetails have just been released for the Easter Weekend (April 9-12) of racing in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. The race is four days and will be run over five stages. The stages Stage 1 - April 9: Killorglin Credit Union Stage, 52 miles More information: Sean O'Callaghan (Race Organiser), Gurrane West, Killorglin, Co. Kerry Tel/Fax 00 353 66 9762379, Mobile 00 353 87 2630326, Email: seanoc21@hotmail.com 2004 Cascade Northern TourThis year's Cascade Northern Three Day Tour organised by the Launceston City Cycling Club in Tasmania, Australia, has gained a major financial boost from last year's major sponsor Cascade. The total cash and prizes for this year's event now exceeds $5300, with over $1250 worth of cash and prizes for the overall winner. There is a change of format this year which will see the event decided on elapsed time rather than on points, as in previous years. The race will include a time trial prologue and four road stages. The prologue over 6.8km on a flat circuit will sort out the field before two days of racing on the quiet roads of Bishopsbourne, Bracknell and Carrick, approximately 30 kilometres from Launceston CBD. All road stages start and finish at the Bishopsbourne Sports Ground. The stages Stage 1 - February 19: St Leonards ITT, 6.8km More information: Launceston City Cycling Club or Paul Turner 0438 436 831. Australian 24 Hr MTB Championships confirmedThe dates for the 2004 Australian 24hr Mountain Bike Championship in Canberra have been confirmed as October 9 - 10, 2004.
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