First Edition Cycling News for October 23, 2005Edited by Jeff Jones Cyclo-cross World Cup opens in KalmthoutThe first round of the 2005-2006 Cyclo-cross World Cup will be held in Kalmthout, Belgium on Sunday. The 10 round series will visit seven countries, finishing in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands on January 22. The favourites for the first round will be the Belgians, with defending World Cup champion Sven Nys coming off a win in Lebbeke today and hoping to get his World Cup campaign off to a good start tomorrow. His nearest challenger is expected to be his compatriot Bart Wellens, who looks to be nearly back to his best after last year's disappointing season. Wellens already has a win in the first round of the Superprestige in Ruddervoorde to his credit, and will be gunning for another in tomorrow's likely to be muddy race in Kalmthout. Other Belgians to watch include Sven Vanthourenhout, Erwin Vervecken, and Wim Jacobs. For the Dutch, Gerben De Knegt and Richard Groenendaal will be the favourites, while France will be highlighted by Francis Mourey and John Gadret. America has two starters in Jonathan Page and Jeremy Powers, while the Czechs have Petr Dlask, Zdenek Mlynár and Jiri Pospisil in action. Italy's Enrico Franzoi and Switzerland's Christian Heule are the other outsiders. In the women's race, look for a battle between Hanka Kupfernagel (Germany), French Laurence Leboucher, and Dutch riders Marianne Vos and Daphny Van den Brand, while Belgians Niels Albert and Tom Meeusen should be the favourites in the U23 and Junior men's races. Program 10:00 - 10:40 Juniors 2005-2006 World Cup series Round 1 - October 23: Kalmthout (Bel) Gollan does the WarnyBy Mal Sawford
Only a handful of women have attempted, and completed Australia's infamous "Warny" (Melbourne to Warrnambool). Former Australian Champion Olivia Gollan, currently riding for the German Nürnberger team, can now be added to that select list, after finishing the 2005 edition strongly in the main chase group around 30 minutes behind race winner Jonas Ljungblad of Sweden. Cyclingnews caught up with Olivia moments after she had completed the epic 299 kilometre race, as she retrieved a damaged wheel from the commissaires, and asked what had prompted her to tackle an event three times longer than most women's events. OG: I've ridden the Grafton to Inverell before, and I just wanted to do the Melbourne to Warrnambool as well. After World's I had a fortnight off the bike, and I didn't really want to have a full month, or five weeks, off the bike in one shot, so I got back on the bike for a couple of weeks, and now I'm going to have another week off and just stagger my 'offy' (off season) like that. I've has a really good day actually. It's been fun." CN: How did the intensity compare to your usual races? OG: I was so lucky, like I'm lucky to have started today rather than into a howling headwind with pouring rain or something. There was not that much wind today, and actually it wasn't that intense - it was a long race. For me it wasn't a particularly hard race, just a long time on the bike, the longest I've ever ridden. CN: And you also had mechanical problems? OG: I broke a spoke at about the 240km mark, so I got another wheel and got back on, so that was cool. I think the boys kind of waited for me a little bit, so that was good. PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here Images by Mal Sawford/Cyclingnews.com
An interview with Mike WardMike and the Bike: A kid's guide to cycling
Grammy Award-winning guitarist Michael Ward, known mostly as a member of the band The Wallflowers and currently playing with Ben Harper, is not your typical rock star type. For one, he is a passionate fan of all things cycling - at times bordering on feverish. After immersing himself into the cycling world during Lance Armstrong's first wins at the Tour de France, Ward became a father. His son's books gave the artist a spark, and with the encouragement of friend Armstrong, Ward decided to create a children's book about cycling, called 'Mike and the Bike'. Cyclingnews' North American Editor (and now rock star interviewer) Mark Zalewski sat down with Ward at the 2005 Interbike to talk about the book and where it's going. More friends such as Phil Liggett and fellow musician Bob Thompson joined Ward and his project took off. The book has spawned a website which followed the Tour de France in 2005, giving younger fans their own perspective on the race and cycling. Now, with such quick success, Ward and his crew are riding the wave to create an entire series around the character, all with the goal of helping kids create a healthier lifestyle through involvement in cycling. Michael Ward came into cycling, or even riding a bike, rather late in life. "I didn't ride much as a kid," Ward admits. "When I started cycling it was the early 1990s - I was about 24." Up until that point, the guitarist and musician was what you would think a touring musician should be like - waking up late, playing music, drinking 'adult beverages' and then repeating that in a new city the next day. Click here for the full interview Unibet chasing O'GradyAfter Gilberto Simoni slipped through the fingers of Unibet.com team manager Hilaire Van der Schueren and signed for Saunier Duval on Friday, the Belgian now has his eyes set on another big name rider looking for a contract: Stuart O'Grady. The ex-Cofidis man is currently teamless after aligning himself with Giancarlo Ferretti's nebulous Sony-Ericsson squadra. Unibet.com has already signed Spaniards Carlos Garcia Quesada (ex-Comunidad Valenciana, 5th in the Vuelta this year) and Luis Pasamontes (Relax-Fuenlabrada, 20th in the 2004 Vuelta) and Italian Marco Serpellini (Gerolsteiner). Gonzalez de Galdeano joins EuskaltelThe now retired Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano will join the Euskaltel-Euskadi team next season as the right hand man of team manager Miguel Madariaga. The Basque, who rode for Euskadi, Vitalicio Seguros, ONCE, and Liberty Seguros during his career, is returning to his roots with the orange squad. Gonzalez De Galdeano's main role will be to help Madariaga with the team's planning and technical direction. He had a similar option from Manolo Saiz at Liberty Seguros, but turned that down in favour of remaining in the Basque country and allowing him to study at IVEF. O'Bee to Health NetAmerican fast man Kirk O'Bee has found a new team. O'Bee, who has ridden for Navigators since 2001, will be riding in Health Net colours next season, Cyclingnews has confirmed. Salerno to TenaxItalian rider Cristiano Salerno will turn pro and ride with the Tenax Nobili Rubinetterie team for the next three seasons, according to Tuttobiciweb.com. Salerno rode for Bottoli Artoni this year, and had signed a deal with Giancarlo Ferretti, but that did not come off and he found a spot with Tenax. New professional US women's teamA new professional women's team has been launched in the USA, sponsored by Colorado Premier Training and Colnago, and promoted by American Espoir Marketing. The CPT-Colnago Professional Women's Cycling Team will be based out of both Boulder and Durango, Colorado, with management in both locations. The nine-member team will compete in America's National Racing Calendar and other world-class events throughout North America. Team manager and director Steve Owens is also owner of title sponsoring company Colorado Premier Training. "I'm obviously going to wear a lot of hats within this program as owner of Colorado Premier Training, but having that relationship with the team is only going to add value to the organization," he said. "I'm really looking forward to a successful 2006 season. We have an exciting roster with a few finalizations yet to make. Thanks to our sponsors, things have come together and created a complimentary package." Splitting the duties of manager and director are Steve Owens and Chris Wentz, entrepreneurs, physiologists and coaches with collectively 23 years of experience in the sport. Their goal is to provide a professional and supportive atmosphere for a sustained number of years. Wentz commented, "Women's cycling in America is becoming more and more popular and we're proud to present this new team. An important part of our program is the support and partnership of its regional clubs, which are spread throughout the United States." Sponsors of the professional team also sponsor the regional clubs, which are open to men and women of all abilities. The team will ride Colnago Cristallo road bikes and Oval Krono HP time trial machines. Partial team roster Megan Monroe, Boulder, CO Sponsors Colorado Premier Training, coaching for dedicated endurance athletes More information: www.cpt-colnago.com Sergeant gets a teddy bearDavitamon-Lotto team manager Marc Sergeant has received a teddy bear. The prize is awarded by the Belgian media (written press, radio and TV) to the person who does their job in a professional, honourable, dependable and classy manner. Past winners have included Tom Steels and Walter Godefroot. Valverde awarded Pimiento de OroSpanish World's silver medalist Alejandro Valverde has been awarded the Pimiento de Oro in Llano de Brujas, Murcia on Saturday. The award was presented at the Casa Orene restaurant by Francisco Camps, president of the Generalidad Valenciana; Francisco Campillo, president of Campillo Palmera; and journalists Cristina López Schlischting and Angel Montiel.
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