Latest Cycling News for June 3, 2005

Edited by Jeff Jones

Hondo banned

The Swiss Cycling Federation has sentenced Danilo Hondo to a two-year suspension, with one year of that to be suspended, followed by five years probation, after testing positive for the stimulant Carphedon at the Tour of Murcia in March this year. He must also pay a fine of CHF100,000 and court costs of CHF5,000.

Hondo has continued to maintain his innocence. After the hearing, his lawyer Michael Lehner said, "This sentence is a compromise and a partial success for us. With this, Danilo still has a future in the sport."

Gerolsteiner's team boss Hans-Michael Holczer commented, "We expect soon to get a look at the reasoning behind the Disciplinary Commission's decision and will look carefully at what is said about Danilo's guilt. Then we will see how it goes."

Although 31 year-old Hondo can return to racing on April 1, 2006, he will not be able to sign for a ProTour team for the next four years, according to the ProTour code of ethics.

Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer

VDB and Planckaert react to Gaumont book

Frank Vandenbroucke and Jo Planckaert are considering taking legal action against Philippe Gaumont after he named them in his book Prisonnier du dopage. Both were part of the Cofidis team with Gaumont, and the French ex-pro described the alleged drug taking habits of both in his book.

In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, Vandenbroucke said that he was actually "relieved, because I now know that this is probably the last chapter in his long running smear campaign. This has been going on since 2000! When he maintained that I had got him into trouble. Now he wants to cash in on it one more time by bringing out a book. Gaumont is in financial difficulties and now he wants to earn a bit of money at the cost of others...If I really wanted, I could have easily written three books about him."

Vandenbroucke added, "I'm talking with my manager Paul De Geyter and a few riders that Gaumont named in his book about what we can do."

Jo Planckaert, who was the rider described by Gaumont as getting a stomach ache from taking Oxyglobin before the 2003 Paris-Roubaix, told Het Nieuwsblad that, "Gaumont is a clown. Together with a few other guys, we'll take him to court. It's serious slander, yes, but I know it comes from an unstable fool. Gaumont was always stoned. He took 15 sleeping tablets and walked like a zombie through the hotel.

In response to the Oxyglobin story, Planckaert said that because of the Landuyt affair, "I'm an easy target."

Saunier Duval for Dauphiné Libéré

With the start of the 58th Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré just a couple of days away, the Saunier Duval-Prodir team has named its lineup for the ProTour race. The team will mainly be comprised of riders who will take part in the Tour de France, including Angel Gomez Marchante and Tino Zaballa, who are motivated to perform in the Tour. The rest of the squad is Nicolas Fritsch, Manuel Quinziato, Angel Edo, David Canada, and Rafael Casero. The latter is the only rider not on the Saunier Tour team.

Savoldelli to ride LuK-Challenge

Giro winner Paolo Savoldelli has been announced as a starter in the two-man time trial in Bühl, which will be held on July 30, a week after the Tour de France. The 32 year-old Discovery Channel man will ride with teammate Yaroslav Popovych, and the pair should be one of the stronger teams. Both are down to ride the Tour de France.

Other riders taking part in the 74 km test include Michael Rich, Uwe Peschel, Markus Fothen, Sebastian Lang (all Gerolsteiner), Alexandre Vinokourov, Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile), Jens Voigt (CSC), Michael Rogers and Patrick Sinkewitz (Quick.Step). There will be 10 teams in total.

Fothen in Tour of Germany

Gerolsteiner's young talent Markus Fothen will make the Tour of Germany in August his second major season goal. Fothen recently finished the Giro d'Italia in 12th position, an impressive result in his first grand tour. Fothen, who was suffering from a heavy cold in the final stages of the Giro, will spend the next few weeks recovering from his efforts. He will miss the Tour de France, but hopes to be on the start line there in 2006.

"I have said a few times in recent days how great my respect for the Tour is," said Fothen. "The world's best riders are at the start there and I expect I would pull out after 10 days. Therefore, we have planned my first start in the Grande Boucle for the year 2006."

Fothen consulted with team doctor Dr. Ernst Jacob on Friday morning, and will now discuss his upcoming program with team director Christian Henn. "A start in the team time trial on June 19 in Holland could be good as the first outing after the Giro," said Fothen. "And after that my program will be aligned towards the Tour of Germany. There I want to be in very good form again."

Aids/Lifecycle Ride starts June 5

Starting this Sunday, June 5, 1800 cyclists will pedal 585 miles (943 km) between major US cities San Francisco and Los Angeles as part of the Aids/Lifecycle Ride. The charity ride aims to support HIV and AIDS prevention, education and awareness organisations, and those who serve people affected by the illness. The ride will finish on June 11 in Los Angeles.

The ride will be sponsored in part by Mikes Bikes of San Francisco and Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica, with Cannondale offering Demo bikes to interested participants, and providing mechanical assistance along the way.

Siemen's/Cannondale hall of fame racer Tinker Juarez will also make the trip: "It's no secret that I love to ride my bike long distances, so when given a chance to do it for such a great cause I was honoured to be a part of it," said Juarez.

More information: www.aidslifecycle.org

Cyclist killed in Maryland

A 31 year-old cyclist has been killed in the state of Maryland, USA, while riding his bike on Tuesday evening, May 31. The cyclist was Joey Ramos of Montgomery Village, who was hit by a Ford F350 pickup truck at the intersection of Damascus Road and Hipsley Mill Road. Ramos was taken to Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, where he was pronounced dead.

Police are still investigating the accident, although they believe that the driver of the truck was not at fault.

Cyclingnews extends its condolences to the friends and family of Joey Ramos.

Ontario Provincial Track Championships at Forest City

The Ontario Cycling Association (Canada) has announced that the Provincial Track Championships will be hosted by the Forest City Velodrome in London on Friday night, June 17, and Saturday, June 18. The Championships are open to "Out of Province Riders" who have a UCI or USCF racing license. Ontario riders wishing to be considered for the Provincial team at Track Nationals at the end of the month must compete at the event in London.

Program

Friday, June 17

Event #1: Junior Men's Kilo
Event #2: Senior Men's Kilo
Event #3: Women's 500m TT
Event #4: Masters 500m TT
Event #5 - 8 Mass Start Scratch races

Saturday June 18

Event #9: Qualifying for Sprint Tournament ( all Categories)
Event #10: Sprint 1st & 2nd Rounds & Repechages ( all Categories)
Event #11: Individual Pursuit ( all Categories) - Standard Distances (one rider at a time)

Event #12: Sprint Semi - Finals (all Categories)
Event #13: Points races (all Categories)
Event #14: Sprint Finals (all Categories)
Event #15: Team Sprint Competition
Event #16: Madison Team

'Hell' comes earlier to Brisbane

Erik Zabel
Photo ©: Aztec International

Further to the item on June 1 about more screenings in Australia of the cycling film "Hell on Wheels" there will be two special screenings this weekend in Brisbane, on June 4 and 5 at 1pm and 11.30am, respectively.

Australian distributors, Aztec International, said the film can then be seen in Brisbane from June 9 onwards for a strictly limited season at the Schonell Twin Theatres on Union Road, at the University of Queensland campus. In Perth it can be seen from June 16 onwards, at the Luna Leederville cinema. Please check the respective theatres' sites for sessions times.

Check out the Cyclingnews review of the film, rated a "must see".

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