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Edited by Jeff Jones
By Sergei Kurdukov, Russian Eurosport commentator
The legendary coach Alexander Kouznetsov, who has taught 37 World and 6 Olympic champions (including dual Olympic Gold medalist Viatcheslav Ekimov), was in no mood to organize a team presentation in the conventional sense of the word. It was not that he felt disappointed with the results of ITERA, the very first 100 percent Russian pro squad, in its opening season. He actually felt rather satisfied. He was just certain that the time was not right for a great ceremony held. Not yet, not this winter.
Click here for the full interview
Just eight days after Australian triathlete Luke Harrop was killed by a car on the Gold Coast, comes news of another serious incident involving a triathlete in that area. 30 year old Burleigh Waters resident Darren Carson was bashed on Wednesday evening by two carloads of men after a minor altercation at a set of traffic lights.
Witnesses say that after beating Carson into unconsciousness, the men got into their cars, drove around the corner and went surfing at the nearby Miami beach.
The attack happened at approximately 5pm on Wednesday, January 23 on the Gold Coast Highway. According a report in the Gold Coast Bulletin, Carson had stopped at traffic lights in Miami when a car pulled up beside him and "started yelling at me about how much of the (expletive) road did I want and I told him to get stuffed."
"That's all I said or did, apart from just riding and then he said, 'I'll (expletive) have you'. Then he drove at me and sideswiped me, so I got off the bike in Hythe Street just beside the tennis courts. These two carloads of guys pulled up and this driver who had been abusing me got out and ran at me like a bull at a gate."
"He punched me in the face and I went down and I can remember pulling my bike on top of me for some protection. But it was pulled away from me and I must have started to lose consciousness, because all I can remember was heaps more punches coming down on me."
Carson went to the Gold Coast Hospital for treatment for deep cuts, abrasions and shock. Meanwhile, people who witnessed the attack contacted police who have now charged a 20 year old man with assault, and will appear in the Coolangatta Magistrates Court on February 1.
In addition, a 41 year old New Zealand woman, Sandra Jaye Wilde, has been charged with manslaughter and dangerous driving over Luke Harrop's death.
By Rod Morris
American Jame Carney has held on to win the inaugural Cycling Tasmania Rider-of-the-Season for 2001-2002. Carney made a significant impact on the Basslink Tasmanian Carnival Series, winning seven races, including the Devonport and Hobart wheelraces and Latrobes A. J. Clarke and Sons Handicap on Boxing Day. Carney amassed 45 points for the summer of cycling but didn't have much room to spare when the points award was wrapped up after the St Helens Carnival.
Hobart cyclist Jason Johnson - who also recorded seven wins, needed to score six points to topple Carney. After finishing third (1 point) in the St Helens Lightning Handicap and then second (2 points) in the St Helens Wheelrace, Johnson then had to win the A Grade Scratch - the final event on the programme. But a luckless puncture forced Johnson out of contention, handing Carney the prestigious win.
Sheffield rider Belinda Goss won CA's Female Rider-of-the-Season with a clear lead from fellow Tasmanian Emily Williams.
Rider Pts 1sts 2nds 3rds Jame Carney 45 7 1 1 Jason Johnson 42 7 3 4 Ron Crawford 28 3 6 4 Abram Manion 25 3 1 5 Michael Wood 25 3 2 2 Shane Kelly 24 2 3 0 Gareth Atkins 20 5 1 1 Keiichi Maruyama 20 3 0 1 Andrew Taylor 20 2 1 2 Mark Jamieson 18 2 2 0
Rider Pts 1sts 2nds 3rds 1 Belinda Goss 42 4 3 6 2 Emily Williams 20 2 2 1 3 Tanya Lindenmuth 18 2 1 1 4 Louise Yaxley 18 1 2 2 5 Kristine Bayley 16 1 2 1 6 Lisa Strange 12 1 1 1
Volvo-Cannondale Cycling today announced its mountain bike racing team that will focus on UCI World Cup, NORBA NCS and other high-level events for the 2002 season.
The roster, consisting entirely of returning athletes from the successful 2001 campaign, includes Anne-Caroline Chausson (World Champion, DH and Dual), Tinker Juarez (U.S. National 24 Hour Solo Champion), as well as Christoph Sauser (Winner - WC XC #4), Cedric Gracia, Kashi Leuchs and Lance Trappe.
In a year that has seen many changes in the cycling industry, including team cutbacks, the Volvo-Cannondale Team also announced new additions and changes to the organisation. The main change for 2002 is the elevation of the Volvo-Cannondale Professional Mountain Bike Racing Team to a fully encompassing cycling program with a new name, Volvo-Cannondale Cycling.
The team will have an expanded focus on all levels of mountain biking with U.S. and European grassroots festival participation and 24-hour racing at events such as Roc D'Azur, Sea Otter Classic, 24 Hours of Adrenaline and 24 Hours of Moab.
An important addition to VCC, premiering in 2002 will be expanded community outreach and an extensive consumer focused Volvo test drive and Cannondale demo program. This means that riders, racers and anybody can come to the races, visit participating Volvo dealerships or Cannondale bike shops and take a spin in or on some of the same cars, bikes and equipment that the Volvo-Cannondale professional athletes use.
The team hits the single-track in early March with a training camp in sunny Sedona, Arizona at the Hilton Sedona Resort. Here the riders will learn about their new team equipment, corporate and marketing policies of the sponsors and interactions with the media. They will also be issued their new Cannondale team issue bicycles: the Scalpel, Gemini and Jeckyl along with their race clothing and other products.
After camp, the team will head to early season events with stops at the Redlands Classic and the Sea Otter Classic and will then continue on to UCI World Cup, NORBA NCS and other high-level events all over the world.
Christoph Sauser (Swi) Cross Country
Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Cross Country
Tinker Juarez (USA) Cross Country and 24 Hour
Anne-Caroline Chausson (Fra) Downhill, Dual Slalom and FourX
Cedric Gracia (Fra) Downhill, Dual Slalom and FourX
Lance Trappe (USA) Trials
Team Director: Tom Schuler
Team Manager: Eric Wallace
Assistant Team Manager/Head Trainer: Stephanie Graham
Head Mechanic: Mike Napieralski
Downhill Technician: Doug Dalton
Title Sponsors
Volvo - Team Vehicles
Cannondale - Team Bicycles
Equipment
Shimano - Shifters, Deraileurs, Chains and Downhill Cranks
Mavic - Wheel Systems
Fizik - Saddles
Hutchinson - Tires
Pedro’s - Lubes, Grease and Bicycle Cleaning Supplies
Park Tools - Tools
ODI - Grips
THE Fenders - Fenders
Cat Eye - Cycling Computers
Magura - Disc Brakes
Innovations In Cycling - Air Canister Inflation Systems
Thule - Bicycle Roof Racks
Fox Shocks - Downhill Rear Suspension
DT Swiss Inc. - Spokes
Athlete Soft Equipment
Cannondale - Competition Clothing
Peak Performance - Active and Casual Wear
Bell Helmets - Helmets
Azonic - Gloves
Golden Ratio Woodworks - Massage Tables
Biotone - Massage Products
Brave Soldier - Skin and Wound Care
Champion Nutrition - Nutritional Supplements and Energy Drink
Cat Eye - Heart Rate Monitors
GU - Energy Gel
Oakley - Eye Wear
USA Cycling's opening National Racing Calendar event, the McLane Pacific will be held on March 2-3, 2002. The race has already confirmed teams such as Mercury and Prime Alliance, and expects to see the Saturn and Navigator teams participate.
The latest team to confirm is the new U.S. road team Sierra Nevada, directed by former 7-Eleven and Autotrader.com director Mike Neel. The 10 man team hopes to figure in the top placings at the event, with their sprinter Greg Walker, a former street sprint winner at the Wendy's International Cycling Classic. Sierra Nevada also will count on former Tour of China winner Chad Gerlach in the road race.
Last year's McLane Pacific road race was marked by winds in excess of 30 miles per hour, downed power poles and trees. The race, held in typically sunny Merced, California, was won by the then Mercury-Viatel Aussie rider Baden Cooke.
Mary Grigson, the current Australian XC mountain bike champion, world number 7, and recently announced Australian Mountain Biker of the Year heads an impressive field of 120 riders competing in the inaugural Wildside MTB, from Cradle Mountain to Strahan in western Tasmania on February 3 - 6.
Whilst the men's open and masters have attracted the strongest interest with almost half the riders entered in these categories, some of the hottest competition will come from the men's under 23 category. This includes current Australian U23 and U19 Australian Champions Sid Taberlay and Jai Crawford, both of Hobart.
Taberlay, who recently won an invitation stage event in New Caledonia is also early favourite for overall event honours with Mary Grigson, the clear favourite in the women's category.
Australian National and Olympic Coach, Damian Grundy, has also entered and is excited about the prospect of competing in the event that he has been patron to since April last year. His assessment of the course, having ridden it last April, is that it is equal to any he has ridden in the world.
The event covers over 200km, comprising seven competition stages linked by seven cruising stages. The riding is diverse and the landscapes stunning.
"We put a huge amount of effort into creating the right image for the event and marketing it here and interstate and its gratifying to see that effort rewarded with mountain bikers supporting the event from right around Tasmania and Australia" said Race Director, Nic Deka.
Over 50% of entries received so far are from mainland states, with international entries from as far afield as Switzerland.
More information is available on the event website www.wildsidemtb.com or by contacting the Race Director, Nic Deka on 6434 6358 (bus) or 0418 352255 (mob)
Day 1 - February 3
Cruise 1 - Pencil Pine, 5 km
Competition 1 - Cradle, 16 km
Cruise 2 - The Vale, 15 km
Competition 2 - Que River, 19 km
Cruise 3 - Boco, 16 km
Day 2 - February 4
Cruise 4 - Murchison, 5 km
Competition 3 - Stirling Valley, 8 km
Cruise 5 - Mt Black, 4 km
Competition Stage 4 - Montezuma Falls, 28 km
Cruise 6 - North East Dundas, 7 km
Day 3 - February 5
Competition Stage 5 - Spray Tunnel, 4 km
Cruise 7 - Trial Harbour, 14 km
Competition Stage 6 - Granville Harbour, 20 km
Cruise 8 - Heemskirk, 8 km
Day 4 - February 6
Competition Stage 7 - Hells Gates, 31 km
A round of the British Cycling Premier Calendar Series comes to the Highlands for the first time on May 18-19 this year. The Ness Monster 2 Day stage race is being promoted in conjunction with the Highland Council's bid for Inverness City and the surrounding region to be the European City of Culture, Sport, Environment, Science and Heritage in 2008.
The 3 stage cycle race will cover around 185 miles over the 2 days through some of the best racing country in Britain. Quiet roads, beautiful scenery and demanding terrain are what former Commonwealth Games competitors Kenny and Roddy Riddle are promising. Indeed Roddy, currently in retirement, does not discount the possibility of being on the start line himself for the big event. He still keeps himself in good shape with regular training miles.
The £20 entry fee for the event will include a Cash Back Plus Scheme which will assist competitors with their travel or accommodation expenses by returning their entry fee plus some more besides.
Organiser: John MacMillan
Tel. 01463 791856 evening
01463 665337 day
Mobile: 01780 388 3481
Email: john.m.macmillan@btinternet.com
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