Latest Cycling News for October 14, 2005

Edited by Jeff Jones

Sony Ericsson confirms: no team

The Sony Ericsson company has confirmed the news that it will not be sponsoring Giancarlo Ferretti's new cycling team. In a brief statement on its website, Sony Ericsson said, "There have been a number of press reports across Europe speculating that Sony Ericsson will sponsor a cycling team. Sony Ericsson can confirm that these reports are not true and we have no intention to be involved in sponsoring such a team."

Riders such as Gilberto Simoni, Stuart O'Grady, Matt White, Salvatore Commesso and Cristian Moreni will now have to find another team for next year, after the deal vanished.

Capelle appeals

Belgian rider Ludovic Capelle, who was given an 18 month suspension by the disciplinary commission of the Flemish Community for testing positive for EPO, has decided to appeal his ban. "Because he has the right and because he is certain of his innocence, Mr Capelle has instructed his lawyers to lodge an appeal," read a statement from his lawyer. "Since the Beke affair and the dropping of the cases against two Spanish triathletes suspected of EPO doping in September 2005, the validity of the EPO tests is clearly questionable. Capelle sees himself as one of the innocent victims of the system. The way that he was tested and punished, is also contrary to the European Convention of Human Rights."

Capelle tested positive for EPO on June 7 after a pro kermis in Gullegem, Belgium. He had been to the dentist the previous day, and according to La Derniere Heure, his lawyers will also argue that his red blood cell count increased as a result of the dental treatment.

LPR gets ready for Lombardy

The Swiss registered Professional Continental team LPR is one of the wildcards for tomorrow's Giro di Lombardia, the final race of the ProTour. Team director Orlando Maini realises that it will be difficult for his riders to figure among the top placings, but reckons that they will make the most of the opportunity.

"We have to be realists," said Maini. "This race is extremely difficult and for us it would be very nice of a few riders could finish in Como. I'm confident that Muraglia can have a big day, although he has been affected by a muscular problem. In this case he should show that he deserves the trust that the team has placed in him. Of the others, I expect a courageous race. I want a team that's always on the move, ready to give everything from the first to the last kilometre of racing."

The LPR team for Lombardy is: Aitor Hernandez, Pavel Tonkov, Ivan Degasperi, Daniele Masolino, Mauro Santambrogio, Luca Nardello, Giuseppe Muraglia, Mikhaylo Khalilov.

Euskaltel for Lombardy

The Euskaltel-Euskadi team director Gorka Gerrikagoitia will lead the following riders in the FGiro di Lombardia on Saturday: Gorka González, Gorka Verdugo, Joseba Zubeldia, Antton Luengo, Aketza Peña, David López and Roberto Laiseka.

Euskaltel has also announced that Roberto Laiseka will renew his contract for another season, as will Markel Irizar (one year) and Aketza Peña (two years).

Emma Davies in hit and run

Great Britain's leading female track endurance rider Emma Davies (Vlaanderen-Capri Sonne-T Interim) was involved in a hit and run accident last Monday, October 10. Emma was riding to the Manchester Velodrome for a training session. She was on a cycle path when a car turned directly across her. "I turned to try and avoid the vehicle but he turned directly into me," said Emma.

The driver left the scene of the accident and despite another vehicle chasing him, managed to escape. Fortunately a witness took the registration number and police subsequently arrested the driver.

Emma was initially taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary, and then on the advice of her Orthopaedic Consultant she was transferred to the Spinal Injury Unit at Hope Hospital, Salford, where she is making excellent progress and is under the care of Consultant Neurological Surgeon Mr James Leggate - who expects Emma to make a full recovery.

Emma's father John Davies said, "She is making excellent progress, and the support of everyone at the British World Class Plan and Vlaanderen has been superb and I am convinced it's helping greatly in the recovery process. The medical team are ruling nothing out in terms of the speed of recovery, and so Emma is very positive."

Emma was recently married and will subsequently be known as Emma Davies Jones.

Any enquires or messages can be sent via john@jdpifa.co.uk or text +447989306554.

Melbourne to Warrnambool: a long day in the saddle

By Rod Morris

At 110 years old, the Melbourne to Warrnambool cycling race is one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious. And at 299 km, it is ranked as the longest UCI one day race in the world. The 2005 version is now just days away - October 22 in fact - and at the close of entries earlier this week, a total of 143 riders were primed to take on the grueling event.

Headlining the race field will be current Swedish National Champion, Jonas Ljungblad, winner of the 2004 Herald Sun Tour and Tour of Queensland multi-stage events. Ljungblad raced in the 2004 Melbourne to Warrnambool where he finished 10th, a result he expressed disappointment in and vowed to do better this year.

Race promoter, John Craven has also announced that Bianchi Bicycles had assumed the mantle of major sponsor. The Melbourne to Warrnambool will start outside the Kooringal Golf Club at Altona at 7.30 a.m. and is expected to finish at around 3 p.m.

Whilst Ljungblad has been afforded the status of pre-race favourite and the No. 1 saddlecloth, there will be no shortage of genuine quality opponents. Leading the Australian charge will be Victorian David McKenzie. The popular Ballarat rider won the event in 2001 and is the only former champion in the huge field.

Other Australians to watch for will be 1992 Barcelona Olympian, Robert McLachlan, South Australia's Russell Van Hout, NSW's Trent Wilson, in-form VIS rider Bradley Norton and winner of the recent Tour of the Murray River, Simon Clarke. The field also includes a list of high profile internationals from Finland, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, England, Scotland and Ireland.

Dean Downing, Kristian House, Ben Greenwood and Shaun Snodden are all members of Britain's Commonwealth Games squad and will be using the Melbourne to Warrnambool event as a valuable guide to their form for next year's Melbourne Games. Poland's Artur Krzeszowiec is no stranger to Australian cycling and only this week, scored a podium placing in the 54th Herald Sun Tour.

Another name to watch with interest will be Shaun Higgerson of NSW. Higgerson (21) won this year's revamped Tour of Tasmania, which formed the second of three legs of the Tattersall's Cup series. All Australian States will be represented in the event, which will pass through Werribee, Lara, Corio, Geelong, Beeac, Camperdown and Allansford, before reaching Warrnambool mid-afternoon.

NSW female riders Olivia Gollan and Laura Bortolozzi will face the odds against the men and will be hoping to complete the course in less than nine hours.

This will be the biggest field of riders since the event became a massed start event in 1996 and will carry $17,000 in total prizemoney. There will also be a Sprint and King of the Mountain Championship within the race. The following day, Warrnambool will play host to the inaugural Grand Prix Criterium, an $8000 race for a 30 lap event.

Riding for teen charity

Five professional athletes will join 40 cyclists to take the ride of their lives, over five gruelling days and 722km. Cyclists will ride from the Australian towns of Coffs Harbour (NSW) to Mooloolaba (Qld) to raise $100,000 for Teen Challenge.

In its 5th year, the Bicycle Australia Teen Challenge will start on Sunday, October 30 at Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour, travel up the Dorrigo range, through Dorrigo and cycle along the Nymboida River into Grafton. From there cyclists will ride to Ballina, Byron Bay and Kingscliff. Once in Kingscliff the cyclists will ride through the Gold Coast and along the Lindsay Highway into Brisbane and then finish at Mooloolaba on Friday, November 4 for a well deserved break.

Major sponsors include Volkswagen, TREK cycles, Outrigger Resorts, Bicycle Australia, and Clarence St Cyclery.

For over 32 years Teen Challenge has been restoring hope and creating a future for young people with life controlling problems. With over 440 training centres around the world, Teen Challenge is a world leader in eliminating self-destructive habits and giving young people a second chance at life.

Featured athletes

Michael Voss: Nine-year captain of the Brisbane Lions, a triple AFL premiership captain (2001-02-03), 1996 Brownlow Medallist, former All-Australian captain and five-times club champion.

Jason Akermanis: Triple Brisbane Lions AFL premiership player (2001-02-03), 2001 Brownlow Medallist, dual club champion and Australian International Rules representative.

Chris Scott: Dual Brisbane Lions AFL premiership player (2001-02), six-year Lions vice-captain, club champion and Australian International Rules representative.

Daniel Collins: A four-times Olympic kayak paddler (1992-1996-2000-2004) who won a bronze medal at Atlanta in the K2 500 and a silver medal in the same event in Sydney. Also competed in the K2 1000 and is a former world champion.

Greg Shaw: Six-year Australian swimming representative (1997-2002) who is now one of Australia's leading sports dieticians, working with the Brisbane Lions, Queensland Reds, Queensland Academy of Sport and Australian Swimming.

Twin Peaks wants you

Twin Peaks Racing, one of the oldest racing teams in Colorado, is expanding. The team, largely comprised of men's and women's ACA category 2, 3, 4 and masters racers, has openings for a few riders. Based in Golden, Colorado, the team has long promoted the historic Longmont Criterium and Colorado State Criterium Championships.

Potential candidates must have a positive, team-oriented attitude, a belief in supporting bicycle advocacy and grass-roots developmental cycling, and a strong desire to compete in 2006.

If you live in Colorado, are looking for a team and want to have more fun racing in 2006, please visit twinpeaksracing.com and/or forward a letter of interest to info@twinpeaksracing.com.

Floyd Landis at the 2005 Gord Fraser Cycling Camp

Tour de France star Floyd Landis will be dropping in for a ride at this year's Gord Fraser Cycling Camp in Tucson, Arizona, USA, between November 13-20. Floyd's distinctive sense of humour will surely be enjoyed by all campers as he joins the group at the end of the week.

To find out more about the camp, visit www.gordfrasercycling.com

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