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News for January 31, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Saeco-Longoni Sport 2002

By Tim Maloney, European editor

Directors and riders
Photo: © Sirotti

"We're really pleased about the way Team Saeco-Longoni Sport has take shape for 2002," said team manager Claudio Corti at Saeco-Longoni Sport's team presentation at Milano's Spazio Sironi. "Don't doubt the quality of our top riders Simoni and Di Luca. This year, our objectives are bigger and more ambitious than in the past; with this team we're looking to be protagonists in all the races that count."

Click here for the full report.

Brochard out for a week

Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) has been forced to take a one week break from training after he strained a muscle in his thigh. He will be present at the Jean Delatour team presentation, to be held this Thursday, and also intends on starting in the Grand Prix La Marseillaise next week and the Tour Méditerranéen.

A taste of Langkawi: The riders' table

By Steve Thomas in Kuala Lumpur

For the riders and the followers of Le Tour de Langkawi this event is truly a culinary experience. For many this experience is a delight, though for those of the thoroughbred racing kind it can be a traumatic experience.

Click here for the full story

2002 US Pro Cycling Tour schedule

Threshold Sports has announced the 2002 schedule for the US Pro Cycling Tour. The prestigious US series features 10 races, from June through September, with several new events on the calendar this year.

The season kicks off in June with the 18th annual First Union Cycling Series. Highlighted by the First Union USPRO Championship on June 9, the week long series also includes races in Lancaster, Pa. (First Union Invitational, June 4), Trenton, N.J. (First Union Classic, June 6), and the women's First Union Liberty Classic on the same course through Philadelphia on June 9.

Also this season, BMC Software, USA Cycling and the PCT have decided to change gears from the BMC Software Grand Prix and instead focus on two large-scale road races in New York City and San Francisco. The inaugural New York City Cycling Championship presented by BMC Software is set for August 4, just six days after the conclusion of the Tour de France in Paris. According to the organisers, Lance Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team will head a star-studded field in a 100 kilometre race in Lower Manhattan.

BMC Software will again sponsor the San Francisco Grand Prix on September 14. The race is co-organised by Threshold Sports and Tailwind Sports, and was a huge success in its inaugural year last year. The women's component, the San Rafael Cycling Classic, will be held on September 14.

The 2002 PCT season will culminate with the season finale at the Miami Cycling Classic on September 28-29 with both a men's and women's race. The PCT final race of the season will run through hotspots in and around downtown Miami and will feature several Latin and South American teams. Concerts and celebrity events will round out the weekend cycling festival.

2002 Pro Cycling Tour schedule

June 4 - First Union Invitational, Lancaster, PA (Men Only)
June 6 - First Union Classic, Trenton, NJ (Men Only)
June 9 - First Union USPRO Championship, Philadelphia, PA (Men Only)
June 9 - First Union Liberty Classic, Philadelphia, PA (Women Only)
August 4 - New York City Championship, Manhattan, NYC (Men & Women)
September 14 - San Rafael Cycling Classic, San Rafael, CA (Women Only)
September 15 - San Francisco Grand Prix, San Francisco, CA (Men Only)
September 28-29 - Miami Cycling Classic, Miami, FL (Men & Women)

Chepe Gonzalez retires

Colombian cyclist José-Jaime "Chepe" Gonzalez Pico has retired from cycling, aged 33. A professional for 9 years, Chepe Gonzalez rode for Postobon, Kelme, Selle Italia and Mobilvetta. He won stages in the Tour de France (1996) and Giro d'Italia (1997 and 1999), as well as the Vuelta a Colombia twice (1994 and 1999).

In April 2001 he and team doctor Alberto Beltran were fired from Selle Italia after doping products were found in their hotel room. He was subsequently picked up by Mobilvetta, but chose not to continue his career this year.

Italians celebrate 1962 World's

A celebration of the winners of the 1962 World Championships (Brescia, Italy) will take place on Friday, February 1 from 7.30 p.m. in Paderno F.C., Brescia. On this occasion, the San Pancrazio Cycling Team will also present the programme of the 26th Trofeo Balestra, a UCI 1.6 race that will be run on Sunday, March 10 2002 in Palazzolo, Brescia.

Jeanson's RONA team extends until 2004

Canadian star Geneviève Jeanson's RONA team will continue in the peloton until 2004, a good sign for the emerging but struggling women's professional cycling scene. In an announcement made today, RONA and team manager André Aubut also introduced Quebecor World, the world's largest commercial printing company, as a new co-sponsor for the team.

"Our decision reflects the positive results we achieved last season," said RONA president/CEO Robert Dutton. "The 2001 season greatly exceeded our expectations, both in terms of sporting achievements and positive benefits for RONA. Geneviève and her teammates showed themselves to be standard-bearers of the very highest quality, and we're proud of them."

The team's increased budget means that it will be able to sign more riders, increase its technical infrastructure and compete in more races. This year the program will include the Sea Otter Classic in March and the 12 day HP Women's Challenge in June, as well as a few European events. The racing season will get under way with the Redlands Bicycle Classic in March.

The team roster has been expanded to eight riders, allowing for some more flexibility in determining who will ride in a particular race. Four riders (Jeanson, Manon Jutras, Amy Jarvis and Melissa Holt) remain from 2001, while another four have been added.

20 year old Geneviève Jeanson will remain as team leader, and hopes for more success after her 2001 season was cut short by injury. Wins in the Redlands Classic, Tour of the Gila and the Tour de 'Toona were coupled with an incredibly dominant performance at the Montreal World Cup, where she finished more than seven minutes ahead of her closest chaser. Unfortunately, tendonitis put paid to the rest of her season, but she will be back in action in 2002.

The team has also added former US champion Nicole Freedman, a sprinter who rode for the Crédit Suisse First Boston team in 2001. "The addition of Nicole Freedman to our lineup means we'll be taking a firmer stance in criteriums and in the massive sprints at the end of flat races," said Aubut.

Finally, "Andrea Hannos and Gail Longenecker will support Amy Jarvis and Meshy Holt to control the pack and work on breakaways. And Karen Bockel and Manon Jutras together will be able to give a hand to Geneviève on the climbs."

Photography

Courtesy of Jonathan Devich/Thefastrack.com .

Presenting the 2002 RONA Cycling Team
The team - fully decked in new clothes, cars, and the very nice Colnago CT-1's
The team - poses in their leasure wear
Genevieve Jeanson's - knee problems all seem behind her
The girls ride up from Bartlett Lake - on the same route the USPS team took two weeks earlier
Team rider Melissa Holt - sporting her new colors
Team manager and coach - Andre Aubut doesn't just tell the girls what to do, he shows them.

Team roster

Karen Bockel (Ger)
Nicole Freedman (USA)
Andrea Hannos (Can)
Melissa (Meshy) Holt (NZl)
Amy Jarvis (Can)
Geneviève Jeanson (Can)
Manon Jutras (Can)
Gail Longenecker (USA)
Directeur sportif: André Aubut
Website: www.ronateam.

USCF director Morris to retire

U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) Acting Managing Director Tara Morris has announced her retirement from USA Cycling as of February 8 to pursue a new career with Octagon, a global sports marketing company, in her home state of Connecticut.

"My time spent in Colorado over the past four years has been incredible but I've been offered an opportunity that is simply too good to pass up," said Morris, who will now be able to spend more time with her family.

Morris joined USA Cycling in 1998 as the USCF events assistant manager. She was promoted to national events director in 1999 and took over the USCF helm in 2001. Prior to working at USA Cycling, she was an intern for the United States Olympic Committee and also worked in the athletics department at the University of Connecticut. She has a masters in sports marketing from the University of Conneticut.

Renshaw/Milostic and Bates named NSW Cyclists of the Year

Mark Renshaw from Bathurst Cycling Club and Peter Milostic were today named joint winners of the 2001 NSW Cyclist of the Year award. The decision to award joint winners was based on both Cyclists' outstanding performances in Australia and internationally. Renshaw excelled on the track, winning the 1 kilometre time trial in the World Cup, while Milostic won both the NSW and Australian Roadman of the Year Awards.

Katherine Bates from the Parramatta Cycling Club edged out Women's Giro d'Italia stage winner, Rochelle Gilmore to take out the NSW Women's Cyclist of the Year award. Katherine edged ahead of Rochelle with her World Cup win in the 3000 metre Individual Pursuit event.

Other winners were Christopher Sutton in the Men's U19 category and Zoe Southwell in the Women's U19 category.