First Edition Cycling News, August 30, 2008Edited by Laura Weislo Cavendish to race Missouri
Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish took his third straight win in the Tour of Ireland, this time taking the 201km stage from Ballinrobe to Gallway. The win was the Manx-man's 16th of the season, his 15th sprint win on the road, and 25th professional victory. This, along with four Tour de France stage wins this year have confirmed him as the sport's top sprinter. But despite his ever growing popularity, his home crowd will not see him in the upcoming Tour of Britain. Instead, Cavendish will head to the United States for the Tour of Missouri.. Team Columbia confirmed that Cavendish would take on the September 8-14 event. He will be joined by former world time trial champion Michael Rogers, George Hincapie, Michael Barry, Bernhard Eisel, John Devine, Craig Lewis and Giro d'Italia stage winner Marco Pinotti. Other notables on the surprisingly strong Tour of Missouri start list are Liquigas' young stand-outs Tour de Suisse champion Roman Kreuziger and Vincenzo Nibali, Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie, Tony Cruz (BMC), Rory Sutherland (Health Net) and Dominique Rollin (Toyota). See also Cyclingnews' full coverage of the Tour of Ireland. Lancaster ends drought in GermanyBy Susan Westemeyer
It's been a long time between wins for Milram's Brett Lancaster – more than three years to be exact – but the drought ended Friday for the Australian in the prologue of the Deutschland Tour. His last victory came in May 2005, while he was wearing the jersey of Ceramica Panaria – Navigare. Then, he thundered his way through the 1,150 meter prologue of the Giro d'Italia, winning it by 29-hundredths of a second to take the pink leader's jersey. More than three years later, he repeated that effort, winning the opening prologue of the Deutschland Tour by one-tenth of a second. "It was good to win again finally," he admitted to Cyclingnews Friday evening. "I had a little time off after the Olympics so I guess I was pretty fresh." He must have been, as he covered the 3.6km in only 3.59.85, but then again, winning the prologue "was definitely the plan." The Australian, however, wasn't even supposed to ride this race. "I was originally down to to the Vuelta, and [directeur sportif] Vittorio [Algeri] called me three or four days ago and said there was a change of plans. With my track work, this was a better race for me, and with Milram being a German team, it was important to do well here. 'Come here and win that thing', he told me! And I am very, very happy," Lancaster said. He is realistic enough to know that he won't defend the jersey Saturday in the race's Queen stage. "No, on that one. It will be nice to wear the yellow jersey tomorrow," but that is all the 28 year-old expected of the day. But he definitely plans to ride the Tour through to the end.
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time (CEST)/ 23:00 Australian time (CDT)/ 9:00 (USA East). Lancaster came to Milram to lead out Alessandro Petacchi. who was dismissed by the team in May after the Court of Arbitration for Sports ruled that he would be suspended on doping charges. "After Petacchi left, I was really disappointed. I loved working with him. One of the best experiences of my life was leading for him in the Giro last year. But we have parted ways. That's life." Petacchi's departure has made significant changes in the team. "Now there is more responsibility for everyone, and guys are using their chances, like Christian [Knees] winning in Bayern and Björn [Schröder] in the Regio Tour." Things have changed for him, too. "I will still do that next year, leading out some sprinter, but I think I will change my main focus to specializing in prologues." And which sprinter will he be leading out, perhaps a famous young German sprinter who might come to the team? "I can't say right now," Lancaster answered, laughing. "That would be nice, but we'll have to wait and see." See also Cyclingnews' full coverage of the Tour of Germany. Sunderland's Vuelta diaryCSC-Saxo Bank's Directeur Sportif, Scott Sunderland, will be guiding the Danish team's nine riders – including Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre – through the hot and testing three-week Vuelta a España. Back with years of experience and just off a win in this year's Tour, he will be providing Cyclingnews' readers with an exclusive insight to one of the most dominant teams. Not wasting any time
Greetings from sunny Spain! It is nice and warm here, really warm! It was 35°C yesterday and about 30°C again today, just perfect for this time of year. We arrived Wednesday evening. Thursday all the riders went out for a training ride, nothing specific, just riding their bikes. They did a few climbs before returning to the hotel for massages and visits to the osteopath. This is a good time to take care of those little problems, before they become big ones. Today [Friday] they went out with their time trial bikes for two and a half hours. We did a little work on their positions on the bike, who will ride behind who, stuff like that. It was mainly to get a feel for the whole thing and for the bikes and the positioning. Then they changed over to the regular road bikes to spin their legs out. Tonight is the team presentation, and we are the very last. We go on at 8PM. Then it will be back to the hotel for a late dinner. Tomorrow is the day, the opening day of the Vuelta! Continue to the full diary entry. Stamsnijder, Garate to Rabobank in 2009Team Rabobank has announced two more new riders for the coming season, Tom Stamsnijder of Gerolsteiner and Juan Manuel Garate from Quick Step. For the 23 year-old Stamsnijder, it is a return to the blue-and-orange jersey. The Dutch youngster rode for the Rabobank Continental Team from 2004 to 2006 before turning pro with Gerolsteiner in 2007. Garate, 32, is coming to the team as helper, one who can support the team's captains in the Grand Tours. "His experience will probably be of great value to us," said team director Erik Breukink. The Spaniard turned pro with Lampre in 2000, and rode for Saunier Duval for a year before joining Quick Step in 2006. In leaving Quick Step, Garate said, "I've had some great years with this team. I've achieved some great results, like winning the green jersey in the 2006 Giro d'Italia." But, he concluded, "It was time for me to seek out new motivation and try new experiences." Stamsnijder and Garate will join Nick Nuyens (Cofidis), Maarten Tjallingii (Silence-Lotto), Stef Clement (Bouygues Telecom), Jos van Emden and Lars Boom (both from Rabobank's Continental squad) as newcomers to the 2009 Rabobank ProTour team. Volksbank adds Corratec as sponsorTeam Volksbank added the German bike manufacturer as a second name sponsor to become Team Volksbank-Corratec, the squad announced Friday. The change is effective immediately, and the contract runs through 2009. Announcing the change at the end of the Deutschland Tour prologue, team manager Thomas Kofler said, "We are working towards a long-term cooperation and will intensify our work together and our synergies for the future. The material has proved itself to be good. I am looking forward to a successful partnership." "After two years of cooperation we decided to increase our engagement in Team Volksbank-Corratec and we are happy that the brand name of Corratec will now internationally represented in the team name," said Konrad Irlbacher of IKO Sportartikel Handels GmbH. "For us of course the important thing is to increase the recognition of our brand name. At the same time it is also important to develop products with a competent partner." Volksbank-Corratec is an Austrian registered Professional Continental team. IKO Sportartikel produces bikes and related products under the Corratec name. UCI ProTour re-signs five racesAfter a tumultuous year of battles with the Grand Tour organisers, the UCI's ProTour series will continue on in 2009, and the series has re-signed five of the current races through the 2012 season. The UCI announced that its Licenses Commission approved the contracts of the Spanish races; Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, and Clasica Ciclista San Sebastián, and the GP Ouest France-Plouay and Tour de Pologne. The races will join the Tour Down Under and the Tour de Romandie, which already have a license for the next season. The UCI's statement said that the Licenses Commission still has yet to decide on the applications of some other UCI ProTour organizers who wish to continue to be a part of the series. The ProTour will be a part of the new "UCI World Calendar" which includes the major races of the Grand Tour organisers. World hour record holder positive for dopingCzech rider Ondrej Sosenka, who holds the current world hour record, tested positive during his national time trial championships in June, the CTK news agency reported Friday. His PSK Whirlpool - Author team was informed that the rider tested positive for the banned stimulant methamphetamine and its metabolites. He faces a suspension which could end the career of the 32-year-old time trial specialist. The team has suspended Sosenka pending the outcome of the counter-analysis. Team manager Vladimir Vavra said that should the second test come back positive, it would be the end of Sosenka's employment with the team. "All our competitors are under contracts in accordance with the International Cycling Union clause on penalties in the case of the use of banned substances," he said. "The PSK Whirlpool-Author fights hard against doping and all the riders are trying to present themselves in the best light only through hard training. Sosenka, however, seriously violated the rules, and caused the most damage to himself, because it probably means the end of his career," said Vavra. Sosenka finished the time trial in which he returned the positive sample in eighth place, 2'18 behind winner Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia/High Road). Another year with Cofidis for Duclos-LassalleCofidis rider Hervé Duclos-Lassalle has prolonged his contract with Cofidis for another year. 29 years old, he has been with Cofidis since 2005. He started this season with an all time high winning the GP Marseillaise that kicks off the European season in February. In the Tour de France he had the misfortune to crash on the first stage so badly that he had to abandon with a broken wrist. Hervé Duclos-Lassalle is the son of double Paris-Roubaix winner Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle. Team Type 1, Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast for US PROTeams will line up for the United States' professional national championship races this weekend in Greenville, South Carolina in search of the covered stars and stripes jerseys in the time trial and road race. Team Type 1 and the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast squads will face off against the powerhouse teams Garmin-Chipotle, Bissell, BMC and Health Net, but have vowed not to curtail their aggressive style in this strong field. Team Type 1 Assistant Sport Director Vasili Davidenko thinks four of his riders will have a good chance at the win. Last year Shawn Milne and Chris Jones placed sixth and ninth, respectively and will be protected riders. "Dan (Holt) and Ian (MacGregor) have also shown excellent form lately (so) they have to be protected up to a point too," Davidenko said. "But to win, we have to race aggressively. We can't wait until the end." In addition to those four, Team Type 1 co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge will also be among the 113 professionals who line up for Sunday's 1 p.m. start. They are believed to be the first competitors with Type 1 diabetes to ever compete in the national championship road race. For Southerland, it will be his first major race since undergoing surgery in May to repair a constriction in the iliac artery in his left leg. "Obviously this is a new, great experience for Joe and Phil to be part of the pro team at nationals," Davidenko said. "Joe needs to be active in the early part of the race and if any break goes, he will need to be there. For Phil, this is his first race with the team after his surgery, so he will be helping the guys from the beginning until the end." Eldridge will also compete in Saturday's 20.7-mile (33 km) individual time trial at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast will be looking to get revenge for its near miss and second place at the USPRO Criterium Championship. Director Jonas Carney said his team is ready to challenge for the title of US Pro champion. "Our preparation for these events has been perfect and we are eager to see what our team can do on such a difficult course," said Carney. "The USPRO races are important and significant races on our calendar. We will be racing to win." "Our guys have had a busy, intense race season," says Jonas Carney, performance manager. "They're racing the best they have all year and we're coming into Greenville with some tremendous momentum and accomplishments under our belt. We're here to take podium placements and give the stars and stripes jersey our best shot." Among the squad are Alex Candelario, who took second in the Downer's Grove USPRO Criterium just a few weeks ago, Andrew Bajadali who was second overall in the Tour des Pyrenees, France, and Ben King, who placed in the top ten in both the USA Cycling U23 Road Race and Time Trial. Dan Bowman, who won the KOM jersey at the Tour de Nez this season is also in the squad. In the Time Trial, KBS/M will be represented by Reid Mumford and Justin Spinelli who who rode alone to success this season taking second overall on the GC at the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Doppmann retires
Swiss rider Priska Doppmann of the Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team has announced that she will retire from the sport at the end of the season. The 37-year-old from Zug made the transition from triathlon to cycling in 1998, and rode her first of eight World Championships in 1999. Doppmann, a time trial specialist, represented her country in three Olympic Games, and placed top ten in the Athens time trial (9th) and at the Beijing Games, where she placed seventh in the road race and eighth in the time trial. At World Championships, she finished a total of five times in the top ten. In 2006 she was edged out of the podium and took the fourth place in the time trial. Her best results also include two World Cup victories, as well as two team overall World Cup victories and two stage-races overall victories. "I had a long and awesome time in women's cycling," said Doppmann. Her results in Beijing allow her to end her career on a high note. "[This] means a lot for me and capped my career. "All my great results and success would not have been possible without the support of several persons like my coach and partner Thomas Campana, my entire family, all the team members and staff around Swiss Olympic and Swiss Cycling as well as my sponsors, supplier and patrons. I would like the say "thank you" to all of them for their tireless support." Doppmann will continue to work in the cycling industry. In the future, she will be more involved in her own business - the company Cycling United Bikes & Components AG - which she founded in 2007. Beside this engagement, Doppmann will be also involved in the planning and organization of her cycling Team Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling, which will try again to call attention with great performances in the cycling sports in this year's World Championships and as well in the season 2009. Join the Cyclingnews team!Cyclingnews.com online production editor required - North AmericaWork on the world's leading cycling web siteCyclingnews, the world's leading cycling web site, is expanding and is looking for a full time online production editor based in North America. The position requires applicants to have a keen interest and thorough knowledge of competitive cycling, as well as editorial or writing experience with excellent English skills. The position will involve producing reports, results, photos and features from the world of cycling, so fluency in a second language is also an advantage, as is a familiarity with online production techniques, experience in journalism and attention to detail. The applicants will need to be self-starters as the position involves regular liaison with production editors in all Cyclingnews offices. As Cyclingnews is a 24/7 daily news operation, the position will require regular weekend work. The weekend duties are handled on a rotating shift basis with other production editors, so the applicant must be flexible in their work schedule. However, the majority of work will be done during normal business hours on week-days. The online editors will be required to have familiarity with online production applications (a good working knowledge of HTML and Photoshop are important skills) and could also be required to attend major cycling events in each region. However, the primary responsibility is the production of content for publication on the web site. Training in online production techniques can be provided to the right applicant, ability to handle the technical processes involved and an ability to communicate are required. Please send your CV with a covering letter via e-mail to recruit@futurenet.com with "Cyclingnews online editing position - " in the subject line. Deadline for applications is September 2, 2008. Future Publishing Australia seeks Online Sales ManagerFuture Publishing Australia is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Online Sales Manager for its market leading sport website - Cyclingnews. Future is an international special-interest media company creating over 180 publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the technology, games, music, automotive and sports sectors. The company already enjoys a well established presence in the Australian market through its distribution of market leading titles, as well as an existing portfolio of locally published print mastheads including Xbox 360, T3, Windows Vista, and Guitarist, plus the regional homes for Bike Radar and Cyclingnews both of which sit within our market leading sports portfolio of magazines and websites. A new and exciting opportunity exists for an Online Sales Manager, with a knowledge and passion for competitive cycling and sport generally, and a thorough understanding of the commercial online environment. Already in a similar role, you will be looking for the next career move and ready for a new challenge and opportunity. Initially focused on the Australian market, this varied and exciting role focuses on maximising revenue opportunities and relationships. Interested? Please e-mail for the attention of Karl Penn, include a brief cover letter, CV and salary expectations. All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. Applications to be received by 2nd September. (No agencies please. Thank you) (Additional editorial assistance provided by Susan Westemeyer, Tomas Nilsson and Monika Prell.) (All rights reserved/Copyright Future Publishing (Overseas) Limited 2008) |
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