Cycling News Extra for September 25, 2005

Edited by Les Clarke

Rogge wants new investigation into Armstrong

IOC chairman Jacques Rogge wants a new investigation in the Armstrong case to conclusively determine if he used doping substances or not. With this, Rogge wants to end the fighting between the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cycling Union (UCI). On top of that, two IOC members have also asked for a sanction against the WADA lab that analysed Armstrong's samples.

Jacques Rogge is tired of the quarrelling between the UCI, WADA and the IOC and shared his opinion with a journalist from Belgian Newspaper De Morgen. "We have to respect the assumption of innocence. It's not up to the athlete to prove he's not guilty, it is up to the sporting bodies to prove that he is. I'm in favour of a thorough independent investigation, accepted by all parties," the IOC boss said. "The IOC wants to retro-actively have the urine samples examined but first WADA has to determine the procedures to do this. Only then the discussion will stop."

Courtesy Sabine Sunderland

Cyclingnews coverage of the L'Equipe allegations

June 27, 2006 - Carmichael defends Armstrong, Armstrong answers L'Equipe & LeMond
June 26, 2006 - LeMond: "Armstrong threatened my life"
June 19, 2006 - Armstrong calls for Pound's exit
June 18, 2006 - Lance Armstrong's open letter against Dick Pound
June 4, 2006 - UCI hits back at WADA
June 3, 2006 - WADA slams the Vrijman report
June 2, 2006 - L'Equipe stands by its story, UCI supports Vrijman's findings
June 1, 2006 - UCI, WADA and Armstrong react to Vrijman's report
May 31, 2006 - UCI lawyer asks for Armstrong's name to be cleared
May 14, 2006 - Two more weeks for Armstrong investigation

Click here for full coverage of the L'Equipe allegations.

Den Bakker joins Zabel and Petacchi at Milram

Maarten den Bakker has signed with the new Italo-German outfit Team Milram, which already boasts sprinters Erik Zabel and Alessandro Petacchi. Den Bakker is contracted for one year. Dutchman Gerrie van Gerwen will be team manager of the newly-formed team, along with Gianluca Stanga.

A topic of controversy surrounds the hiring of German Jörg Strand, previously a Stasi officer in former East Germany, whose primary responsibility was to monitor and control political resistance. One of the branches of that organisation was to protect the secret doping programme that took place in the East German Republic. "I have spoken openly with Strand and management about his background," said Van Gerwen. "But what he actually did during that time I don't know. I am now working with him and have learnt that he's a driven and trustworthy man."

The new ProTour team will replace the Italian Domina Vacanze squad and has a contract with Milram, a brand under German dairy producer Nordmilch, for four years with an option for a fifth year. Den Bakker will be the only Dutchman riding in what will be a roster of Italian and German riders, where the team will ride Colnago bikes and wear Santini clothing.

Heras' golden bicycle auctioned for Katrina victims

The personalised gold bicycle on which Roberto Heras rode the final stage of his fourth victory in the Vuelta a España will be auctioned via the internet to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Liberty Seguros-Würth team director Manolo Saiz and Heras thought of the idea to auction the bike for charity, enabling them to show their solidarity with American-based sponsor Liberty Mutual in a time of hardship for some Americans. Next week, several Liberty Seguros-Würth riders, led by Heras, will travel to Boston, Liberty Mutual's central headquarters, to take part in a cyclo-tourist race. While there, Alberto Contador and Luis León Sanchez will also do aerodynamic tests in a wind tunnel facility.

The bike, which celebrates Heras' record of four Vuelta victories, will travel next week to the US to be exhibited at the Las Vegas Bicycle Show, before being auctioned on eBay. The day bidding begins, scheduled to be October 7, Heras and Saiz will hold a press conference in Madrid to announce the details of this initiative.

Women's World Cup podiums alongside men

In an important development for women's cycling, podium placegetters of women's World Cup races Fleche Wallonne, Tour of Flanders and Milan-San Remo will be presented alongside the men's placegetters. La Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas directeur sportif Walter Zini lobbied for the change, with the decision made in a recent meeting of the UCI.

Spijkerman to Skincare

Dutch sprinter Bertine Spijkerman has signed for Therme Skincare for next season. The 23 year-old rode for @Work this year, and won stages in the Trofee d'Or. She will be joined by countrywoman Marije Profijt.

Verheyen to Quick.Step

Belgian Gert Verheyen will leave Landbouwkrediet-Colnago for Quick.Step next season. Veryehen is an experienced rider, having started his career in 1994 with Vlaanderen 2002. He spent four years there before changing to Lotto for three years, then Rabobank in 2001-2002, Marlux in 2003, and Chocolade Jacques in 2004. This year, he rode for Landbouwkrediet-Colnago.

Five new velodromes for China

During a UCI evaluation visit from October 3-9, Mark Fulcher, UCI track technical delegate and Gilles Peruzzi, UCI sports coordinator for track, will go to China, at the request of the Chinese Federation, in order to evaluate the new velodromes constructed in Shanghai and Beijing.

These facilities should be granted approval, which will enable them to host international events. Four of the new tracks (Nanjing, Rizhao, Nantong, Tianjin) measure 250m, a new move for China, where the length of tracks is mainly 333.33 metres. The Nanjing velodrome will host the Chinese Games in October, at which young female track talent Guo Shuang has a good chance of winning a medal.

Fiordifrutta 'cross team for 2005/06

The Fiordifrutta 'cross team has added both Matt White and Michael Cody to the team this year - both having represented the US at the cyclo-cross world championships. Returning to the team for the fall cycling spectacle are veterans Johannes Huseby, Chris Peck, Jon Hamblen, and Curt Davis.

Fiordifrutta has also added former team member Shawn Milne to the programme for cyclo-cross. Milne has enjoyed great success on the road both domestically and in Europe over the last few years and looks to bring some of this experience into cyclo-cross. White, Huseby and Hamblen enjoyed frequent visits to the podium last year and will look to continue this trend over the course of the next few months. Cody had a shortened season last fall and looks forward to being a threat in both US Gran Prix of Cyclocross events and New England Championships of Cyclocross races. Peck returns from a fall off last year to a full campaign for 2005.

Team roster:

Michael Cody, Mike Dietrich , Josh Gewirtz, Jon Hamblen, Peter Hult, Johannes Huseby, Don Mills, Larry Perera, Chris Rozdilsky, Dan Timmerman, Matt White, Phil Wong, Curt Davis (rider/manager), Chris Peck (rider/manager)

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