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News for February 9, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Salomone scores at Petaling, but Robert Hunter still in yellow

By Tommy Campbell in Petaling Jaya

As race leader of the Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi, Robert Hunter has created a piece of history by being the first competitor since the inception of the tour in 1996 to have led the race since day one. Admittedly there was never any danger on yesterday's flat stage from Port Dickson to Petaling Jaya - a distance of 95.39 km. His team Mapei-Quick Step are well co-ordinated to counter act any hiccups which may arise, but tomorrow will be a different story as we head to the Highlands, Genting at 6,000 feet above sea level.

Click here for the full results and report

On tour in Malaysia with Ryder Hesjedal

By Steve Thomas in Port Dickson

Ryder Hesjedal
Photo ©: Canadian Cyclist

Canadian racer Ryder Hesjedal is better known as one of the World's brightest young cross country mountain bike prospects. However this year the 21 year old from British Columbia has decided to kick his season off earlier than usual in Le Tour de Langkawi, a far cry from the dirty trails of the mountain bike World Cup scene.

Click here for the full interview

What's happening on Tour?

Today's Tour de Langkawi news from Tommy Campbell includes predictions for Hernan Dario Muñoz and Tonton Susanto, a new 2.6 race for Malaysia, and more.

D'Hollander & McEwen in Lotto 1-2

Stage 3 of the Etoile de Bessèges ended in a last gasp victory for Lotto's Glenn D'Hollander, who successfully held off the charge for the line by the sprinters, as his teammate and stage 1 winner Robbie McEwen led them home. Jo Planckaert (Cofidis) finished third while Alessio's Andrea Ferrigato retained his leader's jersey, although he lost time to McEwen.

Click here for the results and report

Simoni studies the climbs of the Giro d'Italia

Di Luca debuts at the Tour of the Mediterranean

The Saeco-Longoni sport boys are getting ready for the European season, with their 10 day training camp in Terracina (100km south of Rome) ending today. The first race planned is the Tour of the Mediterranean, which starts on February 13 and finishes on February 17.

While at the training camp, Saeco's stage race captain Gilberto Simoni checked out the roads which that be covered on the Benevento-Campitello Matese stage of the Giro (Stage 11 on Thursday, May 23).

"It's a typical Appennine climb," Simoni said. "It's not very steep but there's no chance to catch your breath. I think it'll have a serious affect on the overall classification of the Giro d'Italia."

Saeco's other leader, Danilo Di Luca, will make his official debut for the team at the Tour of the Mediterranean. Also riding in the South of France is Mirko Celestino, who is hoping to have a good start to the season just as he did last year, when he won the Trofeo Laigueglia.

Other riders in the team are Biagio Conte and Fabio Sacchi - who both have lots of miles in their legs after riding the Tour Down Under in Australia. The rest of the team, managed by directeur sportifs Giuseppe Martinelli and Guido Bontempi, consists of German Torsten Nitsche and Italians Alessio Galletti, Cristian Pepoli and Alessandro Spezialetti.

Etienne De Wilde's last Six

Belgian track cyclist Etienne De Wilde (43) rode his last Six Day race in Copenhagen, which finished last Wednesday evening. He received a standing ovation from the crowd who recognised his efforts over the past 22 years as a professional. De Wilde will ride a farewell race on February 23 at the Gent Kuipke before he finally hangs up his wheels.

His career started in 1980 with the Splendor team, when he won a stage of the Vuelta España. He continued winning regularly throughout the '80's, with stages and one day races in Belgium fairly abundant. He won his first Six Day race in Gent in 1983, a race that he was to win nine times. He won 37 Six Day races in his career total of 112 races.

De Wilde's most fruitful year was 1989, where he won 17 races. Apart from the Six Days of Paris, Gent, Dortmund and Munich, he also won the Etoile de Bessèges (and 3 stages), 3 stages of the Tour Méditerranéen, Omloop Het Volk, 2 stages in Paris-Nice, a stage of the Tour de France, and several more races. He was also a regular top 15 finisher in the classics, and came second in the 1987 Gent-Wevelgem.

His strength and speed, combined with the incredible endurance of a Six Day rider made him one of the most successful track specialists of this generation to also compete on the road.

Milk Ras 2002: More detail

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent

Race organiser Dermot Dignam intends making the fiftieth edition of the Ras which has the support of the National Dairy Council and FBD Insurances something to remember for supporters and competitors. Included in the climbing stakes are the Healy Pass, Luggala, Devils Glen, Coomakista Pass and Wicklow Gap which will be part of the 8 Day International Cycle Race, which takes place from May 19-26.

The route has now been finalised, and is an anti-clockwise course around the country. The top class field of international riders from at least 10 countries will cover almost 1200 kilometres of mountain climbs, breathtaking descents, Hot Spot Sprints and long, gruelling roads, all culminating in thrilling stage finishes in Ballinamore, Nenagh, Killorglin, Castletownbere, Midleton, Arklow, Baltinglass with the finish in Dublin city on the last Sunday in May.

A total of 25 major mountain climbs will be encountered, including premier category ascents of Kerry's Coomakista Pass, the spectacular Healy Pass straddling the Kerry Cork border and Wicklow's Luggala, Drumgoff, Devils Glen and Wicklow Gap.

Three stages will be in excess of 160 km each: Stage 2, 164 km of long energy-sapping roads through the midlands from Ballinamore to Nenagh; Stage 4 will bring the riders 170 km from Killorglin around the Ring of Kerry through Kenmare to Castletownbere. Along the way the riders will tackle seven mountain climbs including 2 premier categories, Coomakista Pass and, with 150 km in their legs, the Healy Pass. The following day's racing will bring the riders 170 km from the Beara Peninsula through Cork for the finish in Midleton.

A transfer from Midleton on Friday morning for a Dungavan start to 156 km of fast open racing through Waterford, New Ross and Gorey for a sprinter's dream finish in the seaside town of Arklow.

Baltinglass, however, will be challenging strongly for the honour of being the town where the toughest and most decisive stage of the race will finish. After 154 kilometres of torturous mountain climbing, including four premier category climbs at Devils Glen, Luggala, Drumgoff and the Wicklow Gap, and three Category 2 climbs, Sally Gap, Ballygannon Hill and Lugnagroagh, the race will finish in the town for the first time ever and the townspeople could see the winner of the stage receive the decisive Yellow Jersey of the 2002 FBD Milk Ras.

FBD Insurance and the National Dairy Council once again, for the twentieth year, combine to sponsor the race, and their financial backing along with the support of the Irish Sports Council makes this popular national, and international, event possible. The race is again on the International Calendar, making it eligible for the awarding of qualification points for Olympic Games and World Cycling Championships.

The stages

Stage 1 - May 19: Dublin - Ballinamore, 156 km
Dublin, Navan, Kells Hot Spot Sprint, Virginia Hot Spot Sprint, Cavan, Bellananagh, Crossdoney, Killeshandra Hot Spot Sprint, Newtowngore, Ballinamore + 10km lap.

Stage 2 - May 20: Ballinamore - Nenagh, 163 km
Ballinamore, Fenagh, Dromid, Roosky, Ballymahon, Longford, Feenagh, Ballymahon, Athlone, Ballinahown, Ferbane, Cloghan, Borrisokane, Nenagh.

Stage 3 - May 21: Nenagh - Killorglin, 156 km
Nenagh, Limerick, Adare, Barnagh Cat. 3 KOM, Abbeyfeale, Kilconlea Cat. 3 KOM, Glanshearon Cat. 3 KOM, Castleisland, Farranfore, Firies, Castlemaine, Milltown, Killorglin.

Stage 4 - May 22: Killorglin - Castletownbere, 171 km
Killorglin, Seefin Cat. 3 KOM, Glenbeigh, Drum West Cat. 2 KOM, Mount Foley Cat. 2 KOM, Cahirciveen, Waterville, Coomakista Cat. 1 KOM, Caherdaniel, Sneem, Kenmare, Tousist Cat. 3 KOM, Knockanoughanish Cat. 2 KOM, Lauragh, Healy Pass Cat. 1 KOM, Adrigole, Castletownbere.

Stage 5 - May 23: Castletownbere - Midleton, 168 km
Castletownbere, Adrigole, Traflask Cat. 3 KOM, Loughavaul Cat. 3 KOM, Glengarrif, Derrycreha Cat. 3 KOM, Ballylickey, Bantry, Ardyhoulihane Cat. KOM, Caherogullane Cat. 3 KOM, Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Ballineen, Enniskean, Coolfada Cat. 3 KOM, Bandon, Innishannon, Coolcullitha Cat. 3 KOM, Ballinahassig, Fivemilebridge, Ballygarvan, Jack Lynch Tunnel (Cork), Midleton.

Stage 6 - May 24 (Transfer to Dungarvan.) Dungarvan - Arklow, 155 km
Dungarvan, The Pike Cat. 3 KOM, Lemybrien, Waterford, New Ross, Enniscorthy, Ferns, Camolin, Gorey, Arklow.

Stage 7 - May 25: Arklow - Baltinglass, 153 km
Arklow, Rathnew, Ashford, Devils Glen Cat. 1 KOM, Roundwood, Luggala Cat. 1 KOM, Sally Gap Cat. 2 KOM, Glenmacnass, Laragh, Rathdrum, Ballygannon Hill Cat. 2 KOM, Glenmalure, Drumgoff Cat. 1 KOM, Laragh, Glendalough, Wicklow Gap Cat. 1 KOM, Valleymount, Britonstown, Lugnagroagh Cat. 2 KOM, Poulaphouca, Baltinglass.

Stage 8 - May 26: Dublin City Criterium, 50 km
Details TBA

TREK PLUS 2002 Women's Cycling Team

The 2002 TREK PLUS Women's Cycling Team is now in its 6th year of existence, and has expanded its roster to 10 riders. New to the Team in 2002 will be Laura Van Gilder, with over 150 career victories and 200 podium appearances, including winning the 2000 National Criterium Championships, (2nd in 2001) and Wendy's in 2001. In addition, Annie Gariépy (multi-time Canadian National Team member, past autotrader.com and Elita Pro Team member), Lara Kroepsch (2000 and 2001 Collegiate National Criterium champion) and Sophie St. Jacques (Multi-time Canadian National Team member and past Elita Pro Team member) have also joined Team TREK PLUS

The team will take part in the majority of the NRC events, North American World Cups, UCI races and major stage races. The prime focus of the Team's season will be the National Criterium Championship, Canadian and Philadelphia World Cups, Altoona, Fitchburg, Wendy's, and GP Transocean stage races, Twilight, Housatonic, Somerville, Capital Cup and Postal Cup criteriums and Bear Mountain road race.

Team roster

Katrina Davis (Captain)
Elisa Gagnon
Annie Gariépy
Alicia Genest
Lara Kroepsch
Odessa Osorio
Sophie St. Jacques
Emily Thorne
Laura Van Gilder
Janine Verstraeten