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News for January 16, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under news

Dean spends first wedding anniversary racing

Men are notorious for forgetting (or ignoring) wedding anniversaries, but not too many can get away with being in another country on the special day...particularly when it's the first one. Click here to find out the full story.

Macca takes it on the chin

Despite his training accident last week David McKenzie sends his good wishes to the Tour Down Under peloton. Click here for an exclusive chat with the iTeamNova.com team leader.

Robbie McEwen comments on the national championships

Robbie McEwen
Photo: © Tom Balks/CN

Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Adecco) is certainly the man in form at the moment, winning the Skilled Geelong Bay Classic, the Australian Road and Criterium Championships, and the first stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. The Australian Road Championship held last Sunday in Ballarat, Victoria, was an important race for him to win, as he told Cyclingnews.

"I'm really excited to have the honour of wearing the Australian National Champions' jersey for all of 2002 and taking it back to Europe to show it in the biggest races. I reckon you need three things going for you to win a national title (or any race these days). You need to be strong, smart and have a little bit of luck."

McEwen also benefited from the work of Australian time trial champion Nathan O'Neill (also from McEwen's state of Queensland), who worked with the sprinter to ensure that the pair stayed away. "I had the perfect partner in Nathan O'Neill in the break. He had been out there all day and was still driving all the way to the finish, he did most of the work setting the tempo on the climb. I had to dig deep just to follow him uphill."

"I got the Australian Champions jersey but Nathan should get a jersey with a big 'S' on the front. He was more powerful than a locomotive, as the saying goes."

Giro Blitz: Alexia riders heard by police

Two Alexia riders have become the first two riders to be heard this year in relation to the Giro d'Italia raids in June 2001. Dario Andriotto and Marco Magnani were questioned for approximately an hour by members of the Italian Narcotics Squad (NAS), the first of many riders and technical staff to be heard this month.

It has not yet been decided when Marco Pantani will be questioned, although his masseur Roberto Pregnolato will be heard next Monday.

After the preliminary questioning has finished, public prosecutor Luigi Bocciolini will determine who will be the subject of a full investigation.

Ferrari trial continues

In other Italian doping trial news, there was continuation in the Dr Michele Ferrari case in Bologna today. Ferrari is accused of supplying illegal doping substances to athletes, including several high level cyclists, in the early 1990's.

Today, Sandro Donati of the Italian Olympic Committee, told the court that in 1996 he had seen a prescription for a number of illegal products signed by Dr Ferrari. The substances were stimulants, according to Donati. In addition, a pharmacist who was questioned via telephone said that "Ferrari came by and emptied my pharmacy."

Ferrari's defense asked judge Maurizio Passarini to dismiss this evidence on the grounds that it did not constitute proof, but this was rejected by the judge.

Two current professional cyclists, Axel Merckx and Gianluca Bortolami, were invited to provide evidence at the trial today, but they did not appear. The case will be heard again on February 12.

Spanish team for Cyclo-cross World's

Elite Men

David Seco (Euskadi), Zugaitz Ayuso (Euskadi), Isaac Suárez (Cantabria), Fernando Fernández Magán (Galicia)

U23 Men

Julen Zubero (Euskadi), Sem Mujica (Cantabria), Narciso Piñeiro (Galicia), Egoitz Murgoitio (Euskadi)

Juniors

Eladio Sánchez (Cantabria), Oinatz Munduate, Xabier Goenaga, Asier Corchero (Euskadi), Néstor Rodríguez (Galicia)

Women

Aida Nuño, Rocío Gamonal (Asturias) and Nekane Lasa (Euskadi).

No decision yet in Groenendaal case

After Richard Groenendaal was disqualified from a Superprestige race in Diegem last December 30 for hitting a fan during the event, the matter was referred to the UCI to determine whether he should be suspended. The UCI has decided to hear Groenendaal's explanation of what happened, with a meeting to take place on February 8. This being after the World Championships means that Groenendaal will be able to ride them. Possible sanctions range from between one to six months.

Mapei's Belgians to ride Ronde van Vlaanderen

Mapei-Quick step team leader Eric Vanderaerden has indicated that three Belgians who ride for the team will start in the Ronde van Vlaanderen on April 7. A return to racing is eagerly awaited from Tom Steels, who will ride with Fabien De Waele and Kevin Hulsmans in the RVV. Steels will also ride in the tour Mediterranean, Classic Haribo, Omloop Het Volk, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Paris-Nice.

Mapei spotting in California

Not all of Mapei's riders are training in Italy or racing in Australia. News has come from several readers that Stefano Garzelli and Charly Wegelius were spotted riding the roads of Northern California, USA for the past two weeks. It certainly would be difficult to miss them, given their striking new team kit.

Lampre-Daikin to hold two press conferences on Thursday

Italian squad Lampre-Daikin have scheduled two press conferences for this Thursday, January 17. The first will be held at 9:30am in Rotterdam (The Netherlands), and the second at 3.30 pm in Oostende (Belgium).

The press conferences will be attended by the riders Ludo Dierckxsens, Johan Verstrepen, Pavel Tonkov, Raimondas Rumsas, Jan Svorada, Maximilian Sciandri, Juan Manuel Garate, Mariano Piccoli together with general manager Giuseppe Saronni and team manager Pietro Algeri.

Housatonic Valley Classic returns

The second edition of the Housatonic Valley Classic and the inaugural Saturn-Timex Women's Classic will be held on Sunday, May 19 in southwestern Connecticut, USA.

The 190 kilometre (120 mile) Housatonic Valley Classic is part of the National Racing Calendar. The race features a slightly shorter course than last year, but more hills were added to make the "Ten Town" finishing circuit more challenging. This year's race will also feature the Belimo Air Control Best Hill Climber Award.

Last year's race was won by the 2001 NRC number one Trent Klasna. He will return with his Saturn Team to challenge some of the world's best racers.

The Saturn-Timex Classic will welcome an international field of women racers for the first time. The course is currently being finalized but will take place on a portion of the men's race course on the same day. A bid is being developed to apply for World Cup status in 2003.

World number one Anna Millward and Team Saturn, the world's highest ranked women's team, will bring a full squad to compete for the title.

The weekend will also include a Shimano-sponsored event for school children, and a charity ride sponsored by Cannondale to benefit the Red Cross of Western Connecticut.

Fund to help Al Stern

The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has started a fund for people who wish to make donations to Al Stern, a 52 year old Chicago cycling fixture who was injured by a car earlier this year. Donations can be made by visiting the CBF web site at www.biketraffic.org.

Clif Bar sponsors two Minnesota cyclists for RAAM

Minnesota-based cyclists Ben Popp, 27, and Dana Olson, 24, today announced that Clif Bar Inc. has signed on as the lead-sponsor of their 2002 Insight Race Across America (RAAM) bid. RAAM is considered the ultimate challenge for an ultra-endurance rider to complete, it being 4808 kilometres (2983 miles) of non-stop racing from Portland, Oregon, to Pensacola, Florida.

Proceeds raised by Popp and Olson/Team Clif Bar will benefit the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC). MASC has partnered with Team Clif Bar as part of a statewide effort to increase bicycle safety and help under-privileged children receive bicycles at no cost.

Team Clif Bar hopes to eclipse the record of seven days, one hour set last year by Team Powerbar/Carrera from Brazil. Popp is an accomplished cross-country ski racer and USCF category 2 racer. Olson is a Graduate student at Penn State University and a USCF category 2 racer with more than 20 wins.

I.Martin/KB Home Elite Cycling Team for 2002

A Californian road and MTB team, the I.Martin/KB Home Elite Cycling Team, has announced its roster for 2002. Nine riders will compete in events such as the Tour of the Gila, Cascade Cycling Classic, Sea Otter Classic and California District Championships. Primary sponsors include KB Home home builders and Los Angeles bike shop I.Martin Imports.

Team Roster

Scott Wilson (Team Director/rider)
Ian Settlemire (Team Manager/rider)
Ricardo Specchierla (Team Race Coordinator/rider)
Mike Anker
Greg Bourque
Cameron Brenneman
Robert Polski
Bobby Verenna
Andy Wilson