Latest Cycling News for February 23, 2004

Edited by Jeff Jones

Pantani's manager explains dead champion's depression

By Tim Maloney, European Editor

"Marco wasn't abandoned by everyone," declared Manuela Ronchi, ex-manager of Marco Pantani in an interview with L'Equipe's Phillipe Brunel. "I believe Marco was killed by his own dignity. He's dead because he didn't want to bother others with his problems. And the story of Madonna di Campiglio has given me another way to look at justice. Everyone has to go along with their conscience. So I don't think Marco was really abandoned as it's been said in the media. His doctor, Doctor Greco who was helping him deal with his drug addiction, was always there for him, as were his parents and a few of his 'real' friends. Marco himself asked me to leave him alone when he checked into the rehab clinic last year in Abano Terme. So you have to realize that he was looking for help when he wanted to be left alone.

Ronchi continued by saying that everything bad started for Marco when he had to leave the Giro d`Italia at Madonna di Campiglio in 1999. "His personal problems came from the simple fact that he was found with a haematocrit level higher than allowed. But the exclusion made Marco face a much bigger dilemma, a new way to look at the law. Remember that recently, Marco was upset because (he said) 'I can't explain the hypocrisy in the system. Marco did everything by himself, he often trained alone and so he died alone, the way he came up. Not because he lacked dignity, but because he had too much pride and didn't want others to see him that way, to bother them with his problems."

Tour of the Gila to honour Pantani

The National Geographic Adventure Tour of the Gila, which will take place in the USA between April 28 and May 2, will honour recently deceased Italian climbing star Marco Pantani by adding a special "Cima Pantani" prize for the first rider over the toughest climb on the final stage. In a similar vein, it has also been decided that the race leader's jersey this year will be pink.

Freire fined

Oscar Freire, the winner of the Trofeo Luis Puig yesterday, has been fined SFR100 by the race commissaires for cutting the course, according to Todociclismo. A protest was made by Vicente Belda of the Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme team, alleging that Freire had taken the inside way around a roundabout in the final kilometres, instead of going all the way around the outside. The judges recognised this, but did not disqualify Freire.

Seven Kelme riders still without licenses

Seven riders from the Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme team, including Angel Casero, have not yet been allowed to race this season as the UCI hasn't granted them licenses. According to a report in AS, Angel Casero, David Muñoz, José Luis Martínez, Vicente Ballester, Juan M. Cuenca, J. Adrián Bonilla and Agustín Bravo are the riders in question, and it's rumoured that although they have signed contracts, the UCI has not yet received a bank guarantee from the team to cover the new acquisitions.

Casero had to sit out the Trofeo Luis Puig yesterday as a result, although if things are sorted out by today as expected, he will be able to take part in the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana that starts on Tuesday and is obviously an important race for his team.

McEwen hurts knee again

In his crash in yesterday's slippery edition of Classic Haribo, Lotto-Domo sprinter Robbie McEwen injured his knee again, the same one that has apparently been giving him problems since the start of the season. It's not expected to take him out of action, and he will start in Het Volk and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne this coming weekend.

Planckaert's debut shorter than expected

The professional debut of Francesco Planckaert (Chocolade Jacques) in Sunday's Classic Haribo was shorter than even he expected. He abandoned after only 70 km of the 200 km race, although team director Johan Capiot was not too harsh. "I am not dissatisfied with this here," Capiot was quoted by VRT Teletekst. "Francesco is coming from a long way back and will get from us enough time to improve. He has it in himself and will get there. His next race will possibly be Fayt-le-Franc."

Tirreno-Adriatico tough again in 2004

By Tim Maloney, European Editor

Although Italy's race between the seas won't be officially presented until March 1, Cyclingnews has learned some details ahead of time. Slated for March 10-16, Tirreno-Adriatico starts with a flattish circuit around Sabaudia on the Tirrenean coast in Latina, south of Rome, then heads south towards Naples through Maddaloni and crosses the Apennine Mountains with stages in Isernia and Paglieta. Once on the east side of Italy in the Abruzzi hills, T-A will have its usual uphill finish on March 14 in Torricella Sicura, then another winding, hilly stage from Monte S.Pietrangeli to Torre S.Patrizio before the fast, flat, seaside sprinters stage in S.Benedetto del Tronto. Last year's winner Filippo Pozzato (Fassa Bortolo) will be back again, with a sprinters battle on the menu between Mario Cipollini (Domina Vacanze) and Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo), while world number 1 Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) will be seeking a GC win to fine-tune for Milano-San Remo four days later.

Matthew Gilbert to Monex

New Zealand U23 rider Matthew Gilbert, who rode briefly for Giant ART in Europe in 2003, has now been contracted by Team Monex in the USA. He joins another kiwi rider Gordon McCauley in the team.

Development needed for Irish and Malay cycling

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

With the developments in the cycling world wide regarding trade teams, Cycling Ireland may have to look at the idea of forming one under the umbrella of a major backer. The Philippines and Indonesia are amongst the developing nations with a view to the future which have gone down those lines. This course of action has been in place for the last couple of months and it has strengthened their involvement worldwide, and they are now receiving invitations to major events in Europe.

The Malay Cycling Federation is now strongly considering embarking on a similar course that CI has involved itself in, and that is taking a House of Sport in Belgium. A former professional who raced in Ireland in the Nissan Classic days, Tim Harris, is going to pilot the scheme on behalf of the Malays, as they are aware that unless they can get serious competition they will not be at the races when it comes to next year's Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi.

It was generally accepted this time around that with the substantial sponsorship that they had, the Malays would up there fighting for number one position in the Asian category last week, but they were simply left in the rear guard and their coach Ng Joo Ngan is adamant that the team will redress matters next year.

Top lineup for cancer kids track night

by Karen Forman

Australian Olympic hopeful and heir apparent to Shane Kelly's kilo, Ben Kersten, will top the list of elite riders at the Lidcombe Auburn Cycling Club's Homeloans Ltd Wheelrace at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome on Saturday night (February 28).

Kersten is favourite for the 2000 metre/eight lap handicap but will have to work hard for the prize money, with his peers including Rod McGee, brother of Tour de France star Brad McGee, who will bring a mix of experience and controlled aggression to the fray, putting the hurt on with blistering turns of speed.

Son of NSW Institute of Sport Coach and former World Champion Gary Sutton - Christopher (CJ) Sutton - will also be there. He's a carbon copy of his the old man with an effortless style and experience beyond his years. Sutton Jnr is a member of the McGee/NSWIS development squad supported by FdJeux.com and has a big future ahead of him.

Spokesman for the organisers, Steven Pearson, told Cyclingnews that the Fitzpatrick brothers, Steve and Peter would also prove a force to be reckoned with. "They will combine their talents to always be in the money and the young turks Pascoe and Tanner race with a tenacity to bring any crowd to its feet," he said.

Proceeds of the event will go to Children's Cancer Institute Australia. "Cycling identifies with this insidious disease mainly through the exploits of five times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, himself a cancer survivor," Pearson said. "We hope people will come along and support the event with that in mind."

Saturday night's program starts at 6pm and will run until 9pm and will include the finals of the NSW Teams Sprint Championships. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 concession and kids free.

For more information, go to www.homeloans.com.au or contract Stephen Pearson on 0407 755 853 or email stephen.pearson@homeloans.com.au

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