Latest Cycling News for October 13, 2005

Edited by Hedwig Kröner & Les Clarke

Rebellin heads Gerolsteiner in Lombardia

Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) at the GP Beghelli
Photo ©: Sirotti

German ProTeam Gerolsteiner has released its roster for the last ProTour race this season, the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday, October 15: Classics rider Davide Rebellin will lead the line-up further including Fabian Wegmann, Andrea Moletta and Heinrich Haussler. The 99th edition of the 246 km-long race will be "very difficult" according to Christian Henn, Gerolsteiner DS in Italy.

"It's a race for good climbers, for riders like Davide," Henn said. "And he's shown that he has the form to be in front." Rebellin, who placed fourth in the Giro dell'Emilia won by Gilberto Simoni last Saturday got second in the Giro di Lombardia three years ago. In 2004, the 33 year-old battled it out against fellow Italian Paolo Bettini in his bid to top the World Cup ranking finally won by "Il Grillo". This year, Rebellin wants to retain his top ten placing in the ProTour overall ranking.

But Gerolsteiner does not focus on the Italian alone. "Fabian Wegmann, Andrea Moletta and Heinrich Haussler are in good shape, too," Henn continued. "They can also play a part in the race." Wegmann achieved fourth place at the G.P. Beghelli recently, while Haussler and Moletta finished seventh and 13th respectively at the Züri Metzgete.

The final Gerolsteiner line-up for the last ProTour race from Mendrisio to Como reads as follows: Fabian Wegmann, Heinrich Haussler, Andrea Moletta, Davide Rebellin, Matthias Russ, Marco Serpellini, Beat Zberg and Marcus Zberg.

Paolini is go

Quick.Step rider Luca Paolini will be able to participate in Saturday's Giro di Lombardia after all. The Italian injured his right hand in a collision with the T-Mobile team car in Paris-Tour last Sunday, and was feared to have broken its scaphoid bone.

Nevertheless, further x-ray examinations yesterday revealed that Paolini only suffered a severe contusion and that he will be able to attend his last race alongside his Quick.Step teammates. "I'm very happy to race wearing a Quick.Step jersey for the last time," Paolini told tuttobiciweb.com. "What pleases me above all is that I'll be able to support Paolo Bettini in the race, hoping that he will do a great Lombardia. It would be well-deserved."

Southam and Wegelius blasted for performance at World's

British Cycling's Performance Director Dave Brailsford has released a statement following the British team's performance in the Elite men's race at the 2005 Madrid world road race championships, slamming the lack of teamwork within the squad, particularly riders Charly Wegelius and Tom Southam and manager John Herety.

Brailsford said, "the Elite Men's Road Team for the World Championships in Madrid was chosen with a clear strategy, which identified a single team leader. The remaining riders in the team were expected to totally dedicate their efforts to supporting him. In the event, both Tom Southam and Charly Wegelius ignored this team strategy and instead chose to ride for themselves, an act which was totally unacceptable." Southam and Wegelius both abandoned the race, with Roger Hammond finishing in 41st position and Bradley Wiggins 112th.

Brailsford has contacted the pair, and has taken drastic action, saying, "I have spoken at length to Tom and Charly and they both recognise that they made a grave error of judgment. Whilst they have both apologised for their actions, this type of behaviour by a GB rider will not be tolerated now or at any time in the future. As a consequence of their actions, I cannot foresee the circumstances under which Tom or Charly would ever be selected for GB or England again. Both riders have agreed to repay the costs associated with their participation in the event."

Not just Wegelius and Southam felt the force of Brailsford's wrath: John Herety, national road race manager, has tendered his resignation, and this has been accepted. Brailsford placed a large amount of responsibility for what happened on Herety's shoulders, and he's paid the price for Great Britain's poor performance in the elite men's race. No comment was made as to who Herety's successor would be at this early stage.

Junior World Champion turns pro

Roman Kreuziger, Junior World Champion in Verona, Italy, has reached an agreement with Italian team Liquigas-Bianchi for the next three seasons. After only one year as a U23 rider, Kreuziger will become a professional bike racer within the ProTour peloton as of next year. The Czech scored two victories this season, as well as the second overall placing in the Giro delle Regioni.

Liquigas to debut at 2006 Tour Down Under

Italian team Liquigas-Bianchi has been the first confirmed team by the organiser to start at next year's Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, taking place from January 17-22. Magnus Bäckstedt, the winner of 2004 Paris-Roubaix will lead the ProTour squad around South Australia's shores for the first time.

"We are delighted to have a Paris-Roubaix winner on the race," said Race Director, Mike Turtur. "Bäckstedt is no stranger to the event having competed here in 1999 and 2000 as Stuart O'Grady's teammate with Crédit Agricole."

Joining the tall Swede in the Liquigas line-up will be Stefano Zanini, who has also competed on the streets of Adelaide with his former outfit Quick.Step. Other riders named to participate are Daniele Colli, Alberto Curtolo, Mauro Da Dalto, Manuel Quinziato, Michael Albasini and Nicola Loda.

Further teams and riders competing in the Tour will be confirmed as they become available. For further event information please visit www.tourdownunder.com.au.

Herald Sun Tour: more injuries

Shinichi Fukushima (Bridgestone Anchor)
Photo ©: Mark Gunter

In the fifth stage of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Australia won by Baden Cooke, Japanese rider Shinichi Fukushima was an unlucky man, crashing at high speed on the descent between Seville and Wandin. His steerer tube snapped, and fortunately the Bridgestone Anchor rider had the nerve to roll out of the fast-moving peloton when the problem occurred, thereby avoiding a bunch crash.

The 34 year-old still suffered a broken collar bone from the incident and was transported to hospital in Ringwood where he joined Wednesday's major casualty, Jayco VIS cyclist Patrick Shaw, who underwent facial surgery today. Shaw, 19, has a broken nose, a possible broken jaw and a suspected chipped pelvic bone after crashing into a wall on the stage four descent into Eildon.

Revolution 9 this week-end

Revolution 9 will kick off Series 3 of the UK’s premier track cycling series on Saturday, October 15 at the Manchester Velodrome. With eleven World Champions on the line-up, the event includes a Great Britain verses Holland sprint clash, the women's sprint omnium, world class endurance racing and the new generation of Future Stars.

In the sprint racing, Chris Hoy, Jason Queally and Craig MacLean will come head to head with Theo Bos, Tuen Mulder and Tim Veldt to settle scores from the World Championship earlier this year. The sprint rivalry will continue in the women’s elite racing as Victoria Pendleton and Anna Blyth battle for national pride against Willy Kanis and Yvonne Hijgenaar in the women’s sprint omnium.

Youth will take on experience in the endurance events as up and coming British stars Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas and Ed Clancy will challenge the likes of Rob Hayles, Chris Newton and Magnus Bäckstedt, with graduates from the Future Stars competition Steven Burke and Junior World Champion Andy Tennant bolstering the competition.

A full rider list and race programme is available online at www.cyclingrevolution.com . Tickets are available on the door or by calling 07005 942 579.

Kersten fast in training for Sydney Thousand

Sydney rider Ben Kersten, whose pet event, the Kilo TT, has been scrapped for the next Olympic Games in Beijing, has been in training for next month's Sydney Thousand track carnival at the Dunc Gray Velodrome.

The 24 year-old from Kiama has split from the A.I.S. training squad in Adelaide and is now doing all his training in Sydney under the guidance of NSWIS Head Coach Garry Sutton. In motor-paced training this week he recorded the fastest speed ever recorded at the velodrome - 75km/h - and believes he has gone from strength to strength since relocating from Adelaide to Sydney.

Keep checking Cyclingnews in the coming days for a full interview with Kersten and Sutton as they prepare for this summer's track carnivals and next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Warrnambool Classic sponsored by Bianchi

Bianchi Bicycles is the new major sponsor of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic held in Australia on Saturday, October 22. Both enterprises look back on a long and eventful history, which is one of the reasons of the cooperation. "The 'Warrnambool' is an Australian sports institution celebrating its 110th year," said the Australian distributor for Bianchi bikes, David Cramer of BikeSportz Imports. "It is therefore an ideal event for Bianchi Bicycles, which is in its 120th year of existence."

Geoff Rollinson, president of the Warrnambool Citizens’ Road Race Committee, welcomed Bianchi’s involvement. "We are delighted to have such a prominent member of the bicycle industry as our major sponsor," Rollinson said.

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