First Edition Cycling News for August 16, 2005Edited by John Stevenson Deutschland Tour stage 1 wrap: Tankink solos to win
The Tour of Germany, newly upgraded to ProTour status for this year, got off to a dramatic start yesterday as Dutch Quick Step rider Bram Tankink took a solo win in Plauen. The stage was won by Quick Step's Bram Tankink, who attacked from a three-man breakaway with 20km to go. Tankink stayed away despite crashing on a slippery corner in the finishing circuits. Tankink escaped after just 30km of the 170km stage - marked by bad weather that covered the full range from damp to drenching - following Austrian Bernhard Eisel (Francaise des Jeux) along with Spaniard Juan José Cobo Acebo (Saunier Duval). The trio built a lead that extended to 10 minutes at the 70km mark. Tankink also picked up both sets of the mountains points on offer on stage 1, putting himself into the king of the mountains' jersey as well as the leader's. With the sprinters' teams seemingly not wanting to chase - perhaps preferring to avoid a risky bunch kick in the wet conditions, the trio's lead looked secure and was still over seven minutes with 47km to go. The CSC team joined Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile on the front and limited the damage somewhat, with the gap eventually reduced to three minutes. Meanwhile, Tankink attacked his two breakaway companions with 20km to go and stayed away to the finish. Full results,
report & photos Arvesen out of Deutschland TourCSC's Kurt-Asle Arvesen was one of two riders who failed to finish yesterday's opening stage of the Tour of Germany, along with Swiss rider David Loosli (Lampre - Caffita) who quit with a knee injury after a crash. The loss of one of the team's big engines will likely weaken CSC's chances in Germany. "When the break had a lead of more than seven minutes with just 30 kilometres to go, we moved towards the front of the peloton to help Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile take the lead," said CSC directeur sportif Kim Andersen. "It wasn't possible to catch the three-man break, but at least we managed to reduce their lead considerably. Even though Tankink has about three minutes on the peloton it's not serious - it's up to Quick Step to control the race now. Ahead of us is a very tough race with many difficult stages so nothing's decided yet." "The weather wasn't exactly great, but hopefully it'll change. Both Bobby and Jens feel great, but unfortunately Kurt-Asle couldn't see the stage through to the end, as he was suffering from a stomach bug," added Andersen. Kiwi invasion for the Jayco Tour of TasmaniaBy Shane Goss
Just when you thought most New Zealanders headed north to the beaches of the Gold Coast in Australia, three have gone south to a cooler climate to prepare for the Jayco Tour of Tasmania. Gordon McCauley 33, Matthew Gilbert 22 and Matt Haydock 19 are in Australia to compete in the 2005 Tattersall's Cup Cycling Series. The series consists of three five day stage races held in Victoria, Tasmania and dipping into New South Wales during the last race, the Tour of the Murray. The second race in the series begins on Wednesday in Launceston and the field will cover 428.3kms of undulating roads in the beautiful region of Northern Tasmania. With scenery similar to that of New Zealand, McCauley, Gilbert and Haydock will feel right at home on the back roads of Launceston and surrounding townships. The three landed in Launceston a week ago to prepare for the tour and were greeted at Launceston airport to torrential rain. The first leg of the series held in Gippsland, Victoria went to Gordon McCauley from Dunedin, the most experienced of the trio. McCauley, who is riding to qualify for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, will start one of the pre-race favourites in Tasmania and is looking to assert his dominance over the hills. Tasmania is notoriously hilly, so McCauley's climbing abilities will get a severe test. One of the race's tougher climbs comes on stage five during the third day from Deloraine to Sheffield. Heartbreak Hill is a climb feared by locals during training rides and has not been used in a race since the early days of the Sun Tour. A four-kilometre, leg-sapping test, it is expected to put minutes into the general classification. On a recent training ride McCauley rode the climb twice to make sure he was comfortable with his gear set-up and familiarise himself with every twist and turn on the ascent. He rode on ahead of Gilbert and Haydock who were more relaxed taking in the views from in between the trees. Over the top and descending Matty Gilbert set the pace and was the first one into the tiny town of Paradise at the foot of the sensational backdrop of Mt Roland. The stage finish will be in Sheffield, a town steeped in Tasmanian cycling history and a region where riders like Mark Jamieson, Belinda Goss and former Australian track scratchmen - brothers Frank and Grant Atkins rolled around on their training rides. Apart from becoming accustomed to the roads in Northern Tasmania the travelling kiwis visited schools in and around the tour course. Matt Gilbert answered questions from "how fast can you go?" to "have you met Lance Armstrong?" He showed curious school children how to change gears and position yourself on the bike ready for an all out assault on a sprint to the line for a stage victory. The kids were amazed at the weight of the bikes and hands were shooting up all over the room to test Matt's knowledge of this sport that fascinates all ages. After each session in the schools the riders signed autographs and received good luck wishes for the tour ahead. It's a long way from the warmer weather of the Gold Coast but these three New Zealanders are happy to be in Tassie. The weather may be cool and the surrounding mountains are covered with snow but the roads of Northern Tasmania will be hot with action and plenty of colour with the 2005 Jayco Tour of Tasmania. PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
Van de Walle to Quick StepLandbouwkrediet - Colnago rider Jurgen Van De Walle has signed a two-year contract with Quick Step. The 28-year-old Belgian turned pro in 1999 and has ridden for smaller Belgian teams including Palmans, Vlaanderen, and Chocolade Jacques. Landbouwkrediet-Colnago for Tour du LimousinThe Landbouwkrediet-Colnago team has announced its line-up for the Tour du Limousin, August 16-19. Under directeur sportif Marco Saligari, the team will field Nico Sijmens, Sergey Lagutin, Jurgen Van de Walle, Jurgen Van Loocke, Geert Verheyen, Mathieu Criquielion, Jean -Paul Simon, and Gregory Habeaux. Lampre-Caffita for Tre Valli VaresineThe Lampre-Caffita team has announced its line-up for the Tre Valli Varesine (August 16), the first of the three races that comprise August's 'Trittico Lombardo' which also takes in Coppa Agostoni (August 17) and Coppa Bernocchi (August 18). This year's edition of the Tre Valli Varesine sees a new finish: at Campione d'Italia on the top of a climb to 2,700m. "The team is competitive: with Cunego, who is improving every day, we will have also Mazzoleni, Figueras and Commesso to do well. Now we only miss the win, I hope we will nail it in the next few days," said Giuseppe Martinelli, the technical director of the team. With Martinelli as directeur sportif, the team will field Salvatore Commesso, Damiano Cunego, Giuliano Figueras, Eddy Mazzoleni, Morris Possoni, Alessandro Spezzialetti, and Andrea Tonti. Selle Italia - Colombia - Univer for Trittico LombardoThe Selle Italia - Colombia - Univer team has announced its line-up for all three races of the Trittico Lombardo. Under directeur sportif Marco Bellini, the team will field Mariano Giallorenzo, Marco Gili, Raffaele Illiano, Leonardo Scarselli, Philippe Schnyder, and Trent Wilson. Giro prize money paidIn a final resolution of a dispute over appearance and prize money that threatened to derail the Giro d'Italia before it even started, riders have been paid their prize money from this year's race, according to an announcement from the professional riders' body, the CPA. The ACCPI (Association of Italian professional riders) informed the Secretary-general of the CPA that RCS, the society that organized the Giro d'Italia, carried out the payment of the prizes according to the agreements which had been taken between the President of the CPA, Francesco Moser, the President of the ACCPI, Amedeo Colombo, and the RCS events manager, Angelo Zomegnan. The 2005 Giro awarded a total of €1,225,000 in prize money; next year's race will increase the pool to 1,350,000, returning the race's prize value to the same level as the 2004 edition. Mayo Wheelers raise funds for suicidologyBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent Like many of the cycling clubs in Connacht, Mayo Wheelers caters for all who are interested in touring or racing. With a full programme of activities in Westport this Saturday the club is organising a leisure ride to raise funds on behalf of the Irish Association of Suicidology. According to organiser of the ride, Joe McGuire, "that organisation is doing Trojan work and it is a pleasure to be able to making some worthwhile contribution." The ride starts from the Wyatt Hotel - named after famous Georgian Architect, James Wyatt - in the Octagon in Westport. Midday is the start time and the 65-mile Sheeffry Challenge leisure ride takes in some of Mayo's finest scenery. The route includes Aughagower, the Aasleagh Falls, Doolough Pass, Louisburgh and Clew Bay. "It's a testing route, but there are no extreme climbs. You won't have to be super fit to enjoy the lakes, mountains and coastal scenery," said Joe. Rider killed in PennsylvaniaDermot Foran died on Wednesday, August 11 when he was involved in a collision with a car in the North Park area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The 36-year-old veterinarian was a cat 4 racing cyclist; he died a short time after the crash of head injuries. Dr Foran is survived by his wife Pamela Parsons Foran and three children Kenneth Foran, Aislinn and Fiona. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2005) |
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