Latest Cycling News for October 11, 2004

Edited by Jeff Jones

Museeuw felt it coming

Johan Museeuw hasn't yet issued a formal reaction to his (more or less symbolic) two year suspension from cycling that was handed to him by the Belgian cycling federation last Friday. Museeuw, together with Chris Peers, Jo Planckaert, Mario de Clercq and others, was implicated in the José Landuyt/Herman Versele doping affair that started in September 2003 when police raided and seized material from 21 riders' homes in Belgium. As there is a civil case still in progress against veterinarian Landuyt and soigneur Versele, the details of the riders' involvement in the affair were kept as secret as possible by the Belgian federation, which ruled that there was sufficient evidence to show that the riders had infringed the sport's anti-doping laws.

Museeuw has been a guest commentator on VRT television and during yesterday's live broadcast of Paris-Tours, he was asked about his suspension. "I felt it coming," was Museeuw's main comment, one that he also made two weeks ago. "The fact that my lawyer wasn't at the hearing was because he is in the USA. During the course of this week we will discuss it, and then I will comment if necessary."

Although the suspension has dealt a heavy blow to the Museeuw myth, the softly spoken man from Gistel added, "I will always remain the same person. It's disappointing that this should happen, but we will see."

Aernouts going Dutch

Young Belgian cyclo-crosser Bart Aernouts is trying to change nationalities to become Dutch, as he is finding it hard to gain selection in the Belgian team for the World Cups. Over the last six months, Aernouts and his lawyer Marc Delissen have been setting the wheels in motion for the change, and it's now a matter of waiting for the approval from the necessary authorities.

Statue for Van Moorsel

Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel has been honoured with her own bronze statue in her home town of Boekel, the Netherlands. She will also have a driving tour through the town named after her. The four-time Olympic gold medalist will unveil the statue this Saturday.

Source: ANP

Fassa Bortolo to Milano-Torino

The Fassa Bortolo team that will race in this Wednesday's Milano-Torino has been named with the following eight riders: Marzio Bruseghin, Massimo Codol, Luca De Angeli, Mauro Facci, Dario Frigo, Volodimir Gustov, Gustav Larsson and Marco Velo

Illes Balears-Banesto to Giro del Piemonte

Team Illes Balears-Banesto has named its lineup for the Giro del Piemonte on October 14: Chente García, Iván Gutiérrez, José Luis Arrieta, Unai Osa, Joan Horrach, Mikel Pradera, Pablo Lastras and José Antonio López.

Symmetrics Cycling goes pro

Building on a successful 2004 season, Canadian team Symmetrics Cycling is seeking to step up to the professional ranks next year. The team has submitted a letter of intent to the UCI to become a North American Continental Team (formerly Division 3) under the new UCI Road Reform. It intends to complete its application and payment prior to the December 20 deadline. This will permit the team to be invited to the Dodge Tour de Georgia, Wachovia Cycling Series, and the T-Mobile International in San Francisco.

The team roster for 2005 has yet to be finalised, although Svein Tuft, Cam Evans, Will Routley, Marsh Cooper, and Andrew Pinfold will all return to the team.

"We established ourselves as a North American force to be reckoned with in 2004," commented Symmetrics Cycling Director, Jeremy Storie. "For 2005, we have expanded our race plan and rounded out our team in a concerted effort to develop and highlight our young talent. Registering as a UCI Continental Team was the next logical progression for our team. Our riders will be given the opportunity to race in more of North America's premier events this coming season and we can raise the profile of our team and by extension our sponsors."

Joe Papp ties the knot

Joe Papp and Yuliet Rodríguez
Photo ©: Joe Papp

Yuliet Rodríguez Jiménez and Cyclingnews diarist Joseph Michael Papp were married last Saturday in a small ceremony in Havana, Cuba. The wedding was witnessed by Mark Albert, Javier Clavelo, Yeilien Fernández, Jerry Martinez and Peter Volpe. The reception took place in the garden of the Hotel Nacional in the Vedado section of Havana.

The couple, who first met in April 2001, are both elite cyclists. The bride, 27, is a member of the Cuban national women's team and a medalist at the Pan American Championships. The bridegroom, 29, won the 2004 Vuelta a Habana del Este and regularly represents the United States in international competition.

Despite the difficult political situation that exists between Cuba and the United States, the newlyweds look forward to a loving future together and hope to establish homes in both their countries.

Photos, video and more will be available at www.joepapp.com

Photography

Images by Joe Papp

• The bridegroom, Joe Papp and the bride, Yuliet Rodriguez, at the 2004 Cuban Olympiad
• The bride and bridegroom pose for pictures after the ceremony in the Ministry of Justice in Havana, Cuba.
• Joe Papp and Yuliet Rodríguez

Bicycle messengers pay respects to dead

On the International Messenger Appreciation Day (October 9), members of the London Bicycle Messenger Association honoured the memory of their fallen comrades by visiting and marking the spot where the collision that killed them took place. A spokesman for LBMA said, "The street is our workplace. But for these seven messengers, the street was their death. This memorial ride is our way of saying that some things are more important than getting a job done on time."

The seven messengers were as follows:

Sebastian Lukomski, killed February 23, 2004, junction of Lower Thames Street and Queen Street Place, by a left turning tipper truck. Driver of truck has been charged with driving without due care and attention and will be tried in November 2004 at City of London Magistrates Court.

"Danny" Reidar Farr, killed October 1, 1999, junction of Westbourne Grove and Hereford Road, by a left turning skip lorry, driven by Vincent Doyle, operated by PowerDay. Despite witness evidence that driver failed to signal, court acquitted driver.

Mark Francis, died in hospital from injuries sustained June 8, 1999, East Smithfield, by unknown lorry.

Edward Newstead, killed March 22, 1992, junction of Oxford Street and Holles Street, by a left turning HGV operated by TNT Garment Express delivering to John Lewis Partnership. Driver found guilty of driving without due care and attention, received endorsement points and a fine.

Calvin Simpson, killed 1991, Stamford Street by an unknown HGV.

Paul Ellis, killed 1990, junction of Gray's Inn Road and Clerkenwell Road, by a left turning skip lorry. Driver acquitted.

Joe Cooper, killed 1989, Pentonville Road, by an unknown HGV.

Note: The LBMA is the representative body of London's working cyclists, and is currently working with the Mayor of London, Transport for London, RoadPeace and the London Cycling Campaign to reduce the fatal threat from HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) to London bicycle messengers and other cyclists. The LBMA is seeking to ensure that "HGV operators be persuaded that they have a duty of care towards vulnerable road users," and that HGV's be equipped with appropriate safety equipment such as near side mirrors eliminating blind spots and their drivers given training on how to use the mirrors to avoid injuring cyclists. The LBMA is calling for a ban from Central Congestion Charge Zone on all HGV's that fail to comply.

For more on the LBMA's campaign see www.LondonMessengers.org/hgv.html

Queensland's 2004/2005 Grand Prix Track Series

The 2004/2005 Queensland (Australia) track season gets under way with the Cycling Queensland Grand Prix series and the MB-Coaching Women's Grand Prix at 7:00pm this Saturday night, October 16 at Chandler Velodrome in Brisbane's east. The series continues on October 30 at Nerang, November 13 at Chandler, November 27 at Nerang and finally on January 22, 2005 at Chandler.

The men's series is a team-based competition with eight teams of six riders competing over five rounds. Four events are held each night, with points races, Madisons and pursuits for the endurance riders, team sprints, sprint derbies and keirins for the sprinters. The strongest team over all disciplines at the end of the series wins the money.

The women's series is an individual competition, and the focus of each night is the three-lap wheel race. Points will also be accumulated for each rider over the whole series, including scratch races, points races and sprints. Each night there are also events for men who are not affiliated with one of the teams. Although the teams have been finalised, prospective male and female riders can enter via the Cycling Queensland website: www.qld.cycling.org.au.

Admission for spectators is $6.00 for adults, $1.00 for children less than 16 years old and $2.00 for pensioners. Family tickets are $12.00. Major sponsors include MB-Coaching, Officezone, Tyrepower Morningside, Lape and Partners, Lifecycle and Carindale Cycle World.

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