www.cyclingnews.com news and analysis




			Tech Features Road MTB Cyclocross Track News Photos Feedback

Second edition news for January 14, 2002

Edited by John Stevenson

Tour Down Under news

By Karen Forman in Adelaide

Evans on borrowed wheels

Evans gets a loaner
Photo: © Tom Balks/CN

Newest addition to the Italy-based Mapei-Quick Step team , Australian Cadel Evans, donned his new team colours for the first time this morning and set off for his first training ride with his new team mates in Adelaide - on a borrowed bike.

Why borrowed? Click here for the full story

Tafi seeking a "good victory"

European super-veteran Andrea Tafi is looking for one more win before retirement. Could the Jacob's creek Tour Down Under be it? Click here for Tafi's comments from today's press conference

O'Grady: "Quietly confident"

He's the double defending champion on his home streets, but Stuart O'Grady is feeling good despite the pressure. Click here for more O'Grady goodness.

Kirsipuu Keen for Kudos Down Under

Estonian rider Jaan Kirsipuu loves Australia. And even more, he loves the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. Click here for the Kirsipuu story.

Tighello snags spot from McKenzie

Victorian rider Robert Tighello earned a ride the the JCTDU after McKenzie crashed in training three days ago. Click here for Tighello's words.

O'Neill sets sights on Giro & World's TTs

With a gold in the time trial and silver in the road race, Queenslander Nathan O'Neill was undoubtedly the Man of the Weekend at the Australian Road Nationals. After the race, O'Neill told Cyclingnews about the decisive breakaway that had netted him the silver and helped fellow Queenslander Robbie McEwen to the gold.

"I attacked about 30-40km in to the race, but to test the waters. It wasn't what you'd call a serious attack; that early in the race you don't commit. Michael Rogers came across and we worked together, then Mick punctured and I waited for him but a couple of laps later he just faded or something and I lost him."

"I thought 'It's a bit early still but we'll see what happens,' so I just rode tempo till Robbie came across at about 50km out; then it was time to commit."

Asked how the two shared the work in the final stages, O'Neill said, "By this time I was starting to fatigue, but somebody had to take the initiative. If we'd started to fight about who was doing what we'd have both ended up with nothing. At one point there was a group of six with just 90 seconds on us. So I buried myself."

"The way it ended… there was nothing more I could have done. As much as I wanted to win I had done as much as I could."

O'Neill's next outing will be the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia early next month, then back to Italy to join his team, Ceramiche Panaria for the early season Italian races such as Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo and the Settimana Coppi-Bartali.

April will see O'Neill preparing for the Giro d'Italia and the next target is the Commonwealth Games in July, followed by the Vuelta d'Espana in September and the world championships.

Showing well in the Giro is a major goal for O'Neill: "I'd like to score some good results in the Giro, especially in the time trials… I'd like to get on the podium."

"Tirreno-Adriatico is a big one for me too. I was eleventh overall last year so possibly I can do something big there."

However, he plans to be not quite as obsessive in 2002: "In 2001 I racing everything for the win, January to May. That was mentally very taxing so this year I'm going to pick and choose a bit more."

"I also want to improve on last year's eighth in the world's time trial and prove this past season was no fluke. This is my third year as a pro and it's time to show people what I'm made of."

Further down the track, O'Neill has his sights on the big one, the Tour de France. "I have a chance to ride for a Division I team in 2003, and that's everyone's aim, to ride the Tour de France."

The weekend just gone is certainly a solid start to his 2002 campaign.

Cyclingnews readers express support for Graeme Obree

The news that former hour record holder Graeme Obree was suffering from bipolar disorder and had attempted to commit suicide shortly before Christmas was a profound shock to all of us here at Cyclingnews, and to many people in the world-wide cycling community.

As the news spread we began to receive emails asking where people could write to express their support for Graeme in his battle against this illness; the logical thing to do was to offer to collect and post those messages here on Cyclingnews. We've collected the emails so far into a special edition letters page.

Click here to read your messages of support for Obree