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Edited by Jeff Jones
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If Johan Museeuw wants to break the record of Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni and Eric Leman, he will have to do so on Sunday, the 7th of April. The 86th edition of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) could be his last chance to win once more...Johan Museeuw "The Lion of Flanders" won in '93, '95 and '98. While riding in Mallorca, Museeuw commented on the presentation of the renewed parcours of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen yesterday.
"I think it's cool that the Koppenberg is on the parcours of my last Ronde Van Vlaanderen. As soon as the restoration of this climb is finished completely I will scout it completely, first by car. The Koppenberg gives this World Cup race a special cachet, because this climb is part of the Ronde legend."
But Museeuw wouldn't be Museeuw if he didn't tone down his "my last Ronde Van Vlaanderen" remark right away: "Well, what I'm saying is that at this moment I'm of the opinion it will be my last Ronde Van Vlaanderen. I'm thinking about stopping after the World Championships in Zolder this year. But that isn't a definite decision yet..."
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The Koppenberg is currently still under restoration (the complete climb is being repaved by hand, cobble by cobble) and it will without doubt add another challenge to the already tough parcours of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. The narrow climb was the point of controversy in 1987; when Jesper Skibby, alone in the lead, got knocked off his bike by one of the organiser's cars.
Jesper nonetheless thinks it's a good decision to include this climb again. "I only went up it once, half that is, it was my first year as a pro. But even though the first acquaintance I made with this climb was quite painful I think it's a good thing that the organization of the Tour is leading the race over it once again. We might have a more interesting finale than previous years!"
The Koppenberg has an average rise of 11.44 %, with a maximum of 18.51%. It was part of the parcours of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen on 12 occasions (1976 - 1987). It used to be a nasty and very narrow climb, with the spectators forming a real hindrance to the riders, as there was little room to manoeuvre. For this year's edition, the organizing committee has taken the necessary precautions. The climb will be reserved solely for the riders and no team cars and motorbikes will be allowed to pass over. Those caused the most famous "berg" of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen to be eliminated from the parcours 15 years ago.
Peter Van Petegem, without doubt one of the favourites for this year's Tour, has never ridden over the Koppenberg during his training rides as a pro.
"Once I went there, as a young rider. Pure curiosity really. I love cobbled climbs so I'm not objecting to riding over this Koppenberg. It will be in a better state than before and we have to go over it in the later part of the race. By then the peloton will have broken up so the chaotic situations of the old days will be avoided."
Eddy Merckx, winner of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen in '69 and '75, didn't like the Koppenberg while he was still an active pro.
"When there were only 5 to 10 riders capable of actually riding over a hill and the rest had to go on foot; this climb wasn't worthy of being in a road race. On top of that, some domestiques really tried to falsify the outcome of the race by letting themselves fall off deliberately and thus block the road. But now, the restored Koppenberg will be easily ridden over and in this case, I have nothing against it being in the Ronde Van Vlaanderen."
Eric Vanderaerden, winner of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen in '85 commented, "Nothing wrong with it, now the cobbled road will be completely renewed. It's just another hard climb, like the Paterberg."
Vanderaerden doesn't deny that some less sporting practices were used by the team-mates of the favourites, by sliding all over the road once their team captain had safely passed over the climb, and so preventing the other riders to ride up.
"So what? Yes, that way they had to go over it on foot. They should have been in the front hey, like us!"
This year, the Koppenberg is the seventh climb in the race, and comes after 206 kilometres of the total 264 kilometres. The climb is wedged between the very tough Paterberg and the Steenbeekdries. The finishing climbs are traditional: Berendries (km 233), Tenbosse (km 238), Muur-Kapelmuur (km 249) and the Bosberg (km 252). There are 16 climbs in total, 9 of which are cobbled.
During the race, 4 big screens will be strategically placed along the parcours of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. In Aarsele, on the Kwaremont, in Geraardsbergen and at the finish in Ninove.
The Tour for cyclosportif riders will be ridden one day before the actual World Cup Race, on Saturday the 6th of April. Every participant gets to choose one of the three routes mapped out: it's possible to ride the same parcours as the elite riders (264 km - ouch), or pick one of the two shorter versions starting from Ninove (140 km or 80 km).
Editor's note: I opted for the 140 km ride last year and it was fantastic, including the embarrassment of being passed by a guy sitting bolt upright on a farm bike while I was struggling up the Paterberg. Make sure you've got a bike that can handle the cobbles because there are a lot of them. The Sunderland Classics Tours provides you with the opportunity to do this ride with technical support, as well as seeing the real race the next day.
The Telekom team has confirmed that one of its former riders, Alberto Elli (37), is under suspicion of doping in relation to last year's Giro raids. Telekom PR spokesman Olaf Ludwig, citing an Italian laboratory report, said that Elli, who is now riding for Index-Alexia in Langkawi, had "used syringes containing traces of insulin, a banned substance" in his hotel room last year.
"Elli did not have any medical authorization to use this product and violated the rules of the team," added Ludwig, who has instructed the team's lawyer Giovanni Flora not to continue the defense of Elli. He said that it was a big shock to the team which had worked in confidence with the Italian warhorse for the last three years.
With just a few days to go until the 27th Vuelta a Cuba (February 12-24), one of the favourites for the race is shaping up for a third successive victory. Pedro Pablo Perez will lead the Cuban national team, which also contains Luis Alberto Romero Amarán, climber Rolando Basulto, sprinter Yosvany Falcon, experienced Eliecer Valdés and the young Alexander Clavero.
The Cubans will have some tough opposition from the Italian Mapei-Quick Step U23 squad, featuring the likes of Russian Evgeni Petrov, Fabián Cancellara and Graziano Gasparre. They should provide some opposition for the locals along with teams from Germany, Spain and the USA.
The race is 13 stages and covers 1,888 kilometres, including 5 mountain primes, 36 intermediate sprints and one individual time trial.
By John Stevenson
For 2002 the CSC-Tiscali team is once again aboard Look bikes, in the form of the all-black KG381i team issue carbon fibre model, each one of which is custom-built for the individual rider. This particular rig belongs to New Zealander Julian Dean, who joins the team this year from US Postal along with Tyler Hamilton.
Click here for the full review
After 12 years, Team Ritchey, one of the most successful teams in mountain bike racing, has come to an end. Its biggest star, Swiss Thomas Frischknecht has therefore decided to start his own team sponsored by Swisspower, an energy company in Switzerland. He is keeping Ritchey as a co-sponsor, along with Credit Suisse, Scott, Lexmark, and Oldo.
Frischknecht wants the team to help develop young Swiss up and comers, using his experience to good advantage. The team will be coached by Andi Seeli, a long time national coach, who also will be the team director. Res Aeschlimann will continue as team manager.
The team is aiming to become number one in Switzerland, as well as a strong force on the World Cup circuit.
Riders
Thomas Frischknecht (Captain)
Florian Vogel (U23)
Julien Girard (U23)
Valentin Girard (U23)
Sonja Traxel (Elite women)
Emilie Siegenthaler (Junior women)
Staff
Director/coach: Andi Seeli
Team manager: Res Aeschlimann
Soigneur: Jürg Bieri
Mechanics: Backyard and Markus Ryf
Nova Cycle Sport has announced its roster for the 2002 ISCorp Cycling Team, an elite amateur cycling team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA). For 2002, the ISCorp Cycling Team has added Master, Junior and Espoir class team members. Since 2001, Nova Cycle Sport has enlisted USCF Elite Coach Gary Achterberg to assist Junior team members in reaching their goals. New for this year has been the formation of an Espoir team, consisting of a mix of "homegrown" former Junior team members, as well as a several new faces.
The ISCorp Cycling Team's primary focus will be to compete in regional events held throughout the Midwest. The 2002 racing season will begin with local events, building to regional and national events throughout spring and summer. Tentatively scheduled events include the Lance Armstrong Junior Race Series, International Cycling Classic, Junior and Espoir National Championships, Tour de l'Abibiti, a racing exchange trip to Germany and World Masters Road Championships.
Masters
Gary Achterberg
Chad Boyles
Tom Downing
Steve Gainer
Phil Godkin
Bert Hall
Brian Hill
Randy Hill
Mike Kitzman
Aeon Lange
John Larson
Pat Lob
Rick Oberst
Bill Ochowicz
Chris Poepping
Jim Rocheleau
Kevin Schmitt
Todd Shaw
Chris Vitrano
Espoirs
Mike Anderson
Jordan Carr
John Devine
Jason Fryda
Bret Glembocki
Chad Kilawee
Chris Pelto
Nick Reistad
Jordan Rossingh
Juniors
Andrew Bettinger
Adam Biwan
John Eggebrecht
Chris Goettig
Dan Wisniewski
Sponsors
ISCorp (www.iscorp.com)
Trialtir USA (www.trialtir-usa.com)
Siegel-Gallagher ONCOR International Worldwide Real Estate Services (www.siegel-gallagher.com)
Rudy Project Sunglasses (www.rudyprojectusa.com)
Shimano American Corporation (www.shimano.com)
Speedplay Pedals (www.speedplay.com)
The annual Computer Village Roller Racing Grand Prix will be held in Chippenham, Wiltshire (UK), on February 23. The event carries a first prize of £1000, and the organisers are looking for 32 elite competitors to race. The event attracted members of the British Olympic medal winning track team last year, and hopes to maintain its profile.
It will be held in the surroundings of the Olympiad Sports Center, with heats starting at 10am. The roller racing will continue all day until the final in the evening.
Entry fee is £10 for adults and lower for other competitors and spectators. Those interested should contact Andy Cook as soon as possible via email or by telephone: 01249 653845.
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