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News for February 16, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

FCI to fine Ferrari patients

The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) is getting tough on controversial sports doctor Michele Ferrari, currently on trial in Bologna on charges of sporting fraud and illegally practicing as a pharmacist. Earlier this week, Italian cyclist Filippo Simeoni testified against Dr Ferrari, saying that the doctor had prescribed him banned products such as EPO and testosterone when he was racing in 1997.

Simeoni's comments, as well as the advice of Italian Olympic Committee anti-doping president Giacomo Aiello, have prompted the FCI's disciplinary commission to take stricter measures against Ferrari, and they have said they will fine any (Italian) cyclist who has dealings with him.

Dr Ferrari is also known to have worked with three time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, which caused considerable controversy at the start of the 2001 Tour. Armstrong said at the time that "I believe he's an honest man, I believe he's a fair man and I believe he's an innocent man. I've never seen anything to lead me to believe otherwise."

Yesterday, Armstrong's team director Johan Bruyneel commented to Dutch paper De Telegraaf that "The trial still has a long way to go and therefore it is still too early to reach any firm conclusions. Ultimately it is Lance Armstrong himself who will decide if he will continue to work with Ferrari."

The Ferrari court case continues next week, with Gianluca Bortolami due to give evidence on February 19, and Alberto Elli on February 20.

Lombardi takes two for Acqua & Sapone

Giovanni Lombardi
Photo ©: Sirotti

Italian sprinter Giovanni Lombardi has followed on from his Acqua & Sapone teammate Mario Cipollini's victory in the rain soaked stage yesterday, to win today's third stage from Villeneuve-Loubet to Hyeres. Lombardi surprised everyone in the final 200 metres of the stage when instead of leading out Cipollini, he jumped himself for the win and did it convincingly. In second place was Robbie McEwen (Lotto) while another Australian, Baden Cooke (Francaise des Jeux) was third.

Click here for the results & report

More classics for Armstrong

Lance Armstrong's program for the early season looks to be taking more of the spring classics than in previous years. Starting with Milan-San Remo and the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, he will then ride Gent Wevelgem and the Amstel Gold Race. According to USPS assistant sport director Dirk Demol, Paris-Roubaix is not on his schedule, and neither are the Ardennes classics La Flèche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Following the Amstel Gold, he will begin his preparation for the Tour de France with training rides over some of the critical stages.

Saeco at Trofeo Laigueglia

The Saeco-Longoni Sport team will make its Italian debut on Tuesday when their four star riders will take part in the Trofeo Laigueglia on the Italian coast near San Remo.

Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni and classics rider Salvatore Commesso will ride their first race of the season along with 2001 Laigueglia winner and 'enfant du pays' Mirko Celestino and Tour of Lombardy winner Danilo Di Luca, both of whom are riding in the Tour of the Mediterranean.

The rest of the team which will have Giuseppe Martinelli as directeur sportif includes Fabio Sacchi, 1999 Junior world champion Damiano Cunego (making his debut as a professional), Alessio Galletti and Alessandro Spezialetti.

After the Trofeo Laigueglia, the team will also ride the Giro della Riviera Ligure di Ponente race, from February 20-23. The team will be captained by Gilberto Simoni and Mirko Celestino, with the support of Fabio Sacchi, Leonardo Bertagnolli (first race as a pro), Damiano Cunego, Brad Davidson, Gerrit Glomser and Marius Sabaliauskas.

Van de Wouwer breaks collarbone

Kurt Van de Wouwer (Lotto-Adecco) has broken his collarbone as a result of a pileup in stage 2 of the Tour of the Mediterranean. The heavy rain contributed to a massive fall near the end of the stage, and the Lotto train attempting to leadout Robbie McEwen was derailed. Kurt Van de Wouwer, Serge Baguet and Stefaan van Dijck all came down, with Van de Wouwer the worst hurt with a broken collarbone. He has since returned home.

Erik Lievens injured

Belgian cyclist Erik Lievens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) has been forced to fly home to Belgium after injuring himself while training in Mallorca. The 22 year old neo-pro broke his collarbone and sustained several grazes after a bad crash. He will be operated on over the weekend.

One year anniversary of Otxoa tragedy

Friday, February 15 marked the one year anniversary of the tragic accident that killed Ricardo Otxoa and seriously injured his brother Javier. The pair were hit by a car whilst training near Malaga on the exit of freeway A-357. Ricardo was killed immediately while Javier went into a coma for 64 days, and few thought that he would ever recover.

However, Javier did manage to come out of his coma and, with the help of a number of doctors, family and benefactors, has gradually recovered.

The tragedy prompted a reopening of the debate about the safety of cyclists on Spanish roads, with the result that a new Law of Road Safety was recently passed.

Cyclingnews teams database updated with division III teams

The third tier of professional cycling teams has now been added to the Cyclingnews teams database. You can find team rosters, sponsors and contact information for all the teams from 7Up-NutraFig to Weltour. The database will be updated with new information as it comes to hand, but it is essentially complete now.

Cicli Casati Cycling Team

There is a new team in Colorado for the 2002 season. The Cicli Casati Cycling Team is proudly sponsored by Casati Bicycles of Monza, Italy. The gold and black Casati colours will be seen in races from Arizona to Idaho in 2002.

Team Roster

Category 1/2

Joseph (Joby) Siciliano
Ryan Starr
Brian Ellis
Brand LeMaitre
Greg Hunt
Brian Fuentes
Eric Schwartz
Chris McGee (Co-Manager)

Category 3

JJ Rudman
Pauly Leichtle
Mark Adams
AJ Eschwig (Co-Manager)
Todd Ovard
Blake Mourer
Greg Eddy
Ron Czarnecki
Lance Miller
Matt Upton
Rick Jones
Amy Thomas
Tracy Laboa