First Edition Cycling News for August 19, 2006Edited by Jeff Jones and Anthony Tan, with assistance from Susan Westemeyer Eneco Tour stage 2 wrap-upAlmost a bunch sprint
The second stage of the Eneco Tour was almost, but not quite a bunch sprint, even if sprinter/time trialist Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) managed to win it. Quinziato attacked with two kilometres to go in the 194.6 km stage between ’s Hertogenbosch and Sittard-Geleen, and successfully held of the peloton by four seconds to win. Leading the bunch home was Milram's Simone Cadamuro, whose consistency saw him take over the points jersey from Tom Boonen, while third place went to one of Boonen's lead out men, 21 year-old Wouter Weylandt. Tom Boonen retained the leader's jersey, but Quinziato is now just one second behind the world champion, with tomorrow's 23 km time trial likely to shake things up completely. "I really needed a victory," said Quinziato, "because in my five years as a professional, I have been close so many times, and I was worried I didn't remember how to win. And I think that now, I will race a different way. I needed the confidence to be ready to mistakes, but [also] to risk more to win." Simone Cadamuro won the second stage of the Eneco Tour last year, but since then has gone without a victory. "I don't have any more words to say about my placings," said the disappointed Italian. "Not until I succeed to win, and if you look at all my placings in detail, you'll see I've been a protagonist since January...But I have great condition, perhaps my best, and I still didn't succeed in getting anything." The stage saw a solo breakaway by Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com) go clear after 58 km, netting the Spaniard a maximum of eight minutes, but he was disqualified by the race jury after shooting through a closed railway crossing. After 120 km, a trio with Carlos Zarate (Saunier Duval-Prodir), Paul Martens (Skil-Shimano) and Carlos Abellan (Astana) got away, but they only lasted until 20 km to go. The final attack from Quinziato came at 2 km to go, and it was the one that worked. Click here for the Full results, report & photos from stage 2. Petacchi fighting, but survivingThe third stage of the Regio Tour between Schopfheim and Wehr, won by Michael Rogers (T-Mobile), was tough at the finish. Milram sprinter Alessandro Petacchi finished the stage in 88th place with a gap of almost five minutes to the winner, but he was with the main group until around 5 km to go. "I finished every stage very tired, but every day it’s better than the day before," said Petacchi. "I’m happy with this." German investigators raid doctor's office and homeBy Susan Westemeyer German police this week raided the office and home of a doctor believed to be involved in the Fuentes affair. But investigators fear that what they have so far uncovered is just the tip of the iceberg. It started with Dr. Marcus Choina, an anaesthetist, who is alleged to have supplied Fuentes with illegal doping products. According to the Rundfunks Berlin Brandenburgs radio station, "According to the investigation so far, Choina is the man who apparently provided medical products for doping purposes which are illegal in Germany to the Spaniard, through Ignacio Labarta." On Thursday, German police searched Choina's home and office at the local hospital, gathering "numerous pieces of evidence," they said. The Göttingen public attorney has opened an investigation of Choina on charges of violating the prescription drug laws. The hospital involved has said that the drugs did not come from or through it. "The clinic's infrastructure was not used. The products in question, Actovegin and Synacthen, were not delivered through either of our two central pharmacies. This can be proved by the orders," a Helios Clinic spokesman told the sid press agency. Choina, who obtained the products through private prescriptions, has been suspended from working at the clinic, and has not yet made a statement. "The doctor told the Bundeskriminalamt that he would have nothing to say," according to an investigation spokesman. Investigators fear that they could uncover a doping network in Germany similar to that run by Fuentes in Spain. "We are reviewing the documents we have taken into custody to see what products were involved and whether and how much money was involved. We cannot dismiss the possibility that other persons were involved," Hans-Dieter Apel, of the Göttingen public attorneys office told the dpa press agency.
Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operación Puerto' May 18, 2009 - Valverde to start Catalunya Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operación Puerto Hoffman leaves CSC to join T-MobileT-Mobile Team will be undergoing some big changes this fall, with Bob Stapleton taking the team over from Olaf Ludwig and former rider Rolf Aldag becoming a directeur sportif. He will be joined in that position by Tristan Hoffman, Team CSC announced Friday afternoon. Hoffman was with Team CSC for seven years as a rider and a Directeur Sportif. "It's been a tough decision to make, cause I've had a fantastic time at Team CSC," he said. "The team gave me a chance as sports director, when I suddenly had to stop my active career due to a serious injury, and that's given me the perfect experience regarding my future career within cycling. I've been with the team for seven years now, so I needed a new challenge, which I found at T-Mobile."
2007 Triple Crown dates released
Pro Cycling Tour, organiser of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling Benefiting Fox Chase Cancer Center, has announced the dates for the three events in 2007. The dates and cities are as follows:
Commerce Bank Tom Bamford Lancaster Classic: Sunday, June 3 Commerce Bank Reading Classic: Thursday, June 7 Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship: Sunday, June 10
This year, organisers claim the three events drew over 300,000 spectators, 400 athletes from 23 countries, close to 1000 amateur cyclists in ancillary events, over 60 expo exhibitors and attracted more than 50,000 visitors to the expos. The Philadelphia International Classic will celebrate its 23rd year and the women's race, The Liberty Classic, will take place for the 14th time.
"We had one of the most successful race series ever in our history," said David Chauner, Pro Cycling Tour director. "Thanks to our extremely enthusiastic sponsor, Commerce Bank, the tremendous support of the Commonwealth of PA, the cities of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Reading and a wonderful cause, Fox Chase Cancer Center, we have a great formula for success and we plan on making it bigger and better next year."
More information: www.procyclingtour.com
Panasonic signs with GB cycling team
British Cycling's 'Olympic Podium Programme' (a.k.a. the Great Britain Cycling Team) has announced that Panasonic UK has been selected to be their Official Audio Visual Supplier.
Dave Brailsford, British Cycling's Performance Director welcomed the announcement: "We are in the middle of our build-up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and to be able to announce a high-profile new supplier or supporter like Panasonic UK is obviously great news. Our Olympic Podium Programme sends riders and support staff to race all over the world, so having access to Panasonic's innovative products will no doubt help us in many ways, including the vital area of team communications."
Panasonic UK is a leading supplier of consumer and business electronics and has been working with the team to identify the products that can help enhance performance. Initially, a range of professional video cameras, large screen plasma displays and LCD projectors have been selected.
David Bonney, Advertising and Sponsorship Manager for Panasonic UK, stated "Our audio-visual products provide an excellent way for coaching staff to monitor and improve performance, and we are delighted to help British Cycling's Olympic Podium Programme train for the Beijing Olympic Games 2008."
The products will be used by both the Programme's riders and support staff in areas such as analysis and feedback (e.g. video and camera footage, playbacks, capturing performance data) to monitor and improve performance, helping to ensure that cycling continues to be one of the most successful sports for Great Britain at the Olympics.
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