Latest Cycling News for September 6, 2006
Cyclingnews will cover the 60th edition of
the Dauphiné Libéré live
as of stage 4 on Wednesday, June 10, at approximately 15:00 local Europe
time (CEST)/ 23:00 Australian time (CDT)/ 9:00 (USA East). Rebellin top, Strauss sick
Gerolsteiner directeur sportif Reimund Dietzen had hoped his captain Davide Rebellin would win Tuesday's stage, but was more than happy to settle for second place. "Davide almost had it," he said. "And of course it would have been great if he had won. But it's a great result, as it is, that we can be happy about." When eventual winner Sergio Paulinho attacked 1 km before the finish, Rebellin and two others went with him. But Paulinho took off again, about 200 km before the finish, and only the Italian could follow. He went out of the saddle to try and catch him, but was only able to follow the Astana rider over the finish line 2 seconds later. Rebellin was the most active rider in the finale, going with every attack out of the leading group in the last 20 km. "But they didn't want to let Davide go, they know how strong he is," noted Dietzen. Gerolsteiner had only eight riders on Tuesday, as Marcel Strauss did not start due to stomach problems. His teammate and Vuelta roommate Robert Förster said that Strauss "surely went over the limit" on Sunday's mountain stage," and that he was feeling poorly on the rest day. After being awakened by the blood-testing 'vampires' Tuesday, Strauss felt better, but was unable to eat more than a few bites of breakfast, and the team doctor ordered him to drop out "and not make any nonsense." Strauss had wanted to support Förster in the Vuelta, and "had a really guilty conscience" about quitting. "'Are you angry at me?," he asked. 'Don't be ridiculous!' I said. 'Go home and get well.'" (www.radsport-news.com) Freire and Menchov outBoth Oscar Freire and Denis Menchov (Rabobank) will not start in today’s stages of the Tour of Poland and the Tour of Spain. Freire is still suffering from neck problems. Physically and mentally Menchov is running on empty. Today’s decision means the end of the season for Freire. The triple World Champion will have to miss this year’s World Championships in Salzburg, Austria. Ullrich earned big from German TVGerman television sender ARD paid former T-Mobile star Jan Ullrich up to €195,000 year for special interviews and appearances, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. In addition, the contract called for bonuses of up to €65,000 based on performance. The latest contract, from dated 2003, called for €48,750 to be transferred quarterly to his Swiss bank account. In a statement released by the ARD, it said that Ullrich was paid for such extra things as "a daily 'diary' during the Tour de France, appearances in ARD entertainment programs." The contract did not call for exclusive interviews at the expense of other German TV senders. In addition to the base payment, the contract called for bonuses based on Ullrich's success. A stage win in the Tour de France was worth €20,000, the Olympic gold medal in Sydney €30,000 and the overall victory in the Deutschland Tour would have brought in €40,000. The contract is a source of controversy in Germany for several reasons. ARD was a co-sponsor of the the Team Telekom from 1997 to 2004, which raises questions of impartiality. In addition, the ARD is not a private station, but a public station, supported by government funds. Olympic official calls on Ullrich to "tell all"The head of the German Olympic Committee has called on Jan Ullrich to become more active in the current doping scandal. "Tell the truth, have a DNA test made and tell us everything!" Thomas Bach said in an interview with Sport Bild. "It would be liberating for him, and for the sport it would be a step towards winning back its believability." Bach, who is also vice president of the International Olympic Committee, also said, "We are suggesting lots of very strict laws against the background men in doping. They are the root of the evil. But we must also move against the athletes...In that case, it is better for the sport, with its system of punishment, to deal with that than the state."
Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operación Puerto' May 18, 2009 - Valverde to start Catalunya Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operación Puerto "Monty" stops riding"When I became a pro cyclist in 1998, I set as my goal to stay in the sport until I had come to the end of my physical and mental limits," said Gerolsteiner's Sven Montgomery. "After nine years of pro cycling at the highest level, I have decided that the time has come and that I will end my active career after the Meisterschaft von Zürich on October 1." "Monty" will stay active in the field, though. "As coordinator of the Swiss professional women's team Bigla Cycling Team, I will stay involved with cycling. This new position is a one-time chance for me and I challenge that I look forward to." In an open letter to the media, the Swiss rider thanked his family and friends for their support over the years. He also especially thanked Team Gerolsteiner, "which supported me in all my efforts and where I always felt well." He concluded, "I hope I can take a part of the Gerolsteiner spirit with me to the Bigla Cycling Team - and maybe a part of the success, too..." Montgomery, 30, rode with the teams Post Swiss (1998-99), La Française des Jeux (2000-01), Fassa Bortolo (2002-03) and Gerolsteiner (2004-06). He had three top ten finishes in the Tour de Suisse, and won a stage in the 2001 Midi Libre. He started the Tour de France four times but never finished it, and his career has been marked with a number of crashes and serious injuries. Aachen wants the Tour de FranceAachen, Germany, wants to host the Tour de France. The city, located in the far west of Germany on the Belgian and Dutch border, has applied for the start and finish of a stage, as well as a time trial through the three-country region. Aachen has experience with major sporting events, as it hosted the World Equestrian games this month. The city's slogan for the Tour is "Three Lands - One stage". Belgian and Dutch officials are cooperating in the application. The city is hoping to participate in the Tour 2008, says Mayor Jürgen Linden. The region expects that the combination of stage start and finish plus time trial would cost about €400,000. Field confirmed for UnivestThe organisers of America's Univest Grand Prix, which will be held over the weekend of September 9-10 in Souderton, PA, have announced a field of 28 teams for the UCI 1.2 classified event. Top US teams Navigators Insurance Company and Toyota-United Pro will headline the roster, along with Team TIAA-CREF, recent winners of the USPRO National Criterium Championships. Russian Vassili Davidenko (Navigators), now a resident of Mt. Arlington in New Jersey, will face tough challengers Argentinean sprinter Juan-Jose Haedo (TUP) and his teammate Ivan Dominguez. New Jersey-based Colavita Olive Oil Professional Cycling Team will also be sending a powerful team featuring former USPRO Champion Mark McCormack and Italian Davide Frattini. Strong international professional squads from Mexico, Germany, Poland and Canada will look to take advantage of the in-fighting between the U.S. teams and take the win in Souderton on Saturday and the lion’s share of the $20,000 prize list. Last year’s second-place finisher Amos Brumble, an Elite with CCB-Volkswagen, will return to the roads of Montgomery and Bucks counties to challenge the professional class of riders. Sunday’s Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown Criterium will feature the sprinters. Team TIAA-CREF will arrive in Doylestown with the past two winners of the 50-lap circuit race, Chad Hartley (2004) and Mike Friedman (2005). They will be looking to capitalize on their recent strong showing at the USPRO National Criterium Championships. Expect Haedo, Oleg Grishkine (Navigators) and former US Criterium Champion Frank Pipp of TargeTraining to also figure prominently in the flat, fast race. The weekend will also feature a 100 km cyclosportif event on Saturday, September 9, which will be led by former pro and cycling commentator Frankie Andreu, who will also be announcing the live television broadcast of the Univest Grand Prix on 69 WFMZ-TV. The recreational ride will benefit the Indian Creek Foundation for the developmentally disabled, and will take place on the Univest Grand Prix race-course, starting in Souderton at 8:00am. Full team roster: Navigators Insurance Cycling Team, Toyota-United Pro, Colavita Olive Oil-Sutter Home Wine, Sparkasse – Etta Maes Antiques (Germany), TECOS – Alderfer Auction (Mexico), MBK-Scout – Doylestown Hospital (Poland), Heinz von Heiden/Hanover – Wolf Block (Germany), Calyon-Litespeed, Canada, Team TIAA-CREF, TargeTraining, AEG-Toshiba-JetNetwork, Rite Aid , Priority Health, VMG Racing, Canadian National Team, Garneu-Optik, Jet Fuel Coffee, Ital Pasta transport Belmire, CRCA/Sakonnet Technology, Fiordifruitta, CCB-Vokswagon, GS Mengoni, LSV/Kelly Benefit Strategies, Kenda/Raleigh, Pactimo/Kane Bikes, GS Lombardi Sports, Nature’s Path presented by Fuji, Abercrombie & Fitch More information www.univestgrandprix.com UCI World Masters Track ChampionshipsThis year's World Masters Track Championships will be held in Manchester, Great Britain between September 11-16. It will be the last time that the event will be hosted in Manchester for at least the next three years, as it will be run in Australia between 2007 and 2009. Manchester will see an alternative event next year as the organisers are working with the European Cycling Union to start a European Masters Championships. A record 426 riders have entered this year's event, which organisers say is 100 more than usual. Not all the extras are from Britain either, as this year sees three new nations competing (Ukraine, Mongolia and Cyprus) with all the regular countries sending more riders than in previous years. This will be the last year that the British riders will have the home advantage, and they will be doing their best to topple the Americans off the top medal spot. America has the best masters track riders in the world, and has won the medal count every year except for 2000, when Britain managed to finish on top. Highlights of next week's racing should be the 45-49 years points and pursuit races and the Muratti Cup. The 45-49 Points race takes place on Wednesday and sees a full field including Shaun Wallace, Malcolm Elliott and Bernardo Figueroa. Sean Yates then joins Wallace and Figueroa on Friday evening in the pursuit race. Saturday sees the famous Muratti Cup round off the competition. Already signed up for this race are Elliott, Wallace and Figueroa. Adrian Timmis, Sean Yates, Christophe Nicolle, Jean-Phillippe Meret and Mike Zwingenberger could join these. The Championships are the official championships for riders over 30 years of age and riders are grouped in five year age categories with each age competing over four individual disciplines (time trial, sprint, pursuit and points race) with the men also competing in the team sprint. The event features over 50 world Championship events in the six days and finals will be 7pm each weekday evening (with a further final session on Monday 11th at 1.30pm). Saturday 16th will see the last day of the Championships starting with heats and some finals at 12.00pm with the main finals session starting at 6pm. Admission to the finals (heats are free) is £8 per day (£4 under 16's and over 60's). More information: www.cyclingmasters.com Renee Junga appeal launchedBicycle Motocross Australia (BMXA), Cycling Australia (CA) and Mountainbike Australia (MTBA) today jointly launched an appeal for injured athlete Renee Junga. The 20 year old, who won a silver medal at last year's World BMX Championships in France and was the 2005 Australian Female BMX Cyclist of the Year, crashed on August 22nd while training on the 4X course in preparation for the World Mountain Bike Championships in Rotorua, NZ. Renee broke the C1 and C2 bones in her neck and suffered spinal trauma at the T6 vertebrae. She also suffered two broken ribs and a fractured sternum. Surgeons operated to fuse together the bones in her neck and to insert a surgical rod and screws to stabilise her spine. Renee remains in Auckland City Hospital recovering from the surgery but is expected to fly back to Brisbane later this month where she will initially be admitted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital. "The purpose of the appeal is to raise funds to assist Renee with the challenges she faces in the future," said Cycling Australia CEO, Graham Fredericks. "A number of fund-raising efforts have already commenced in Australia and New Zealand and this support is greatly appreciated by Renee and her family." "Renee is a very strong and determined young woman and we all wish her well with her rehabilitation," said BMXA Australia President, Graham Arnold. Renee yesterday was visited by former motorcycle Motocross racer Niki Urwin who suffered spinal injuries in a racing accident in Horsham, Victoria several years ago. Urwin, who is paralysed from the chest down, is the coach of New Zealand mountain bike cyclist Vanessa Quin. "It was good to speak to someone who has actually been through what I am going through," said Renee. "He told me about what I can expect and shared some of his experiences with me." On Wednesday, Renee achieved a milestone when she sat upright for the first time. "I got onto the edge of the bed, feet on the ground and bent at 90 degrees," said Renee. "It only lasted for about five minutes because I got a bit dizzy but the physios were pretty happy with that. They are going to set me up with a temporary wheelchair later this week." Renee has been fitted with a brace, neck to waist, which she must wear for around twelve weeks but says the pain from her surgery is beginning to ease. "Today I also saw the dentist about my left molar which I cracked pretty badly in the crash," she said. "They'll probably try and put a temporary cap on it next week but there's not a lot more they can do until the brace comes off because it restricts my neck movement." People who wish to contribute to the Renee Junga Appeal can do so by: Cheque – payable to Credit Card – (Mastercard, Visa, Bankcard) Direct Deposit (Commonwealth Bank) (Please e-mail acf.info@cycling.org.au to advise of your contribution amount, time of deposit and contact details so they can record and respond to your valued support) Cyclingnews is hiring - Online production editors required
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 Dauphiné Libéré Photo ©: Sirotti |
