News for March 8, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Van Bon will miss classics

Leon van Bon will have to forget about the early season classics. The Domo-Farm Frites rider has an inflammation in his coccyx and has been unable to ride for six weeks. He will be treated in a hospital in Leuven in Belgium and hopes to be training again within two weeks.

"Maybe I can do the Amstel Gold, but I think the Tour de France will be my first big race," said Van Bon after his first treatment.

Corticoids the basis for holding Sainz

Corticosteroids found in the boot of Bernard Sainz's car when he was booked for speeding last week are the reason he is being held in custody by police in Dendermonde, according to De Standaard in Belgium. Police found a number of other, as yet unidentified, substances in his car as well, which Sainz claims are for homeopathic use.

Corticoids are not banned outright in cycling, but may be used with authorisation from a doctor for therapeutic means.

Meanwhile, there are hopes that Frank Vandenbroucke can start in the Guldensporentweedaagse on Saturday, if his blood and urine tests turn out to be clean. Division II teams Palmans-Collstrop and Marlux-Ville de Charleroi are ready with the pen and paper once they learn the results. It is only a theoretical possibility that Domo-Farm Frites would want him back, and would depend on VDB's explanation of the events last week.

Jacques de Ceaurriz: Nesp easily detectable

The director of the French national anti-doping laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry, Jacques de Ceaurriz, has said that Nesp (short for Aranesp, a blood boosting drug which contains darbepoetin-alpha) is "easily detectable."

"It has a very characteristic profile and it is less complicated than the other recombinant EPO forms," said De Ceaurriz in an interview with AFP. "We have been working here for two years with the manufacturer, and we developed the test last year in vitro."

The Châtenay-Malabry laboratory has been working on the test since last September, when reports of the drug's use in cycling and other endurance sports were first made public. Nesp was detected in three cross country skiiers' urine samples during the recent Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, all of whom had won medals.

Nesp was designed to help patients with chronic renal insufficiency who were suffering from anaemia. It is more effective than EPO and lasts for longer. It is not produced by the body, and is therefore easy to detect.

Professor De Ceaurriz also indicated that since the start of this year, corticosteroids are now being tested for in all anti-doping controls in all sports.

Hidden cameras used in Giro 2001

Italian newspaper La Repubblica has reported that hidden TV cameras were used during the 2001 Giro d'Italia to identify potential illegal doping practices. Over 400 hours of tape are being examined by judge Paola Cameran in an investigation that is running parallel to Luigi Bocciolini's police raids inquiry in Florence.

The tapes allegedly reveal cyclists asking for drugs in the presence of their teammates and doctors. For example: "Tomorrow we're in the mountains so I need some Kena (Kenakort, a banned corticosteroid) to pick me up," said one cyclist.

Former Liquigas doctor Enrico Lazzaro was named in the La Repubblica report as a key figure in this investigation, as is two-time Giro winner Ivan Gotti, whose parents' caravan was raided during the race where police allegedly found banned substances.

Brard out of Paris-Nice

Florent Brard will not be part of Crédit Agricole's team lineup for Paris-Nice, which starts on Sunday, March 10 and finishes on March 17. Team manager Michel Laurent said that Brard hadn't finished a race this season. "He is behind in his preparation and is not in form," said Laurent.

Credit Agricole will consist of Thor Hushovd (Nor), Frédéric Bessy (Fra), Sébastien Hinault (Fra, Chris Jenner (Fra), Christophe Le Mevel (Fra), Anthony Morin (Fra), Benoît Poilvet (Fra), and Jens Voigt (Ger).

Lampre-Daikin for Sicilian races

Lampre-Daikin will use the upcoming Sicilian races as preparation for Tirreno-Adriatico next week. Lithuanian Raimondas Rumsas will captain the team for Trofeo Pantalica (Saturday, 9 March), Trofeo Arancia Rossa (Sunday, 10 March) and Trofeo dell'Etna (Tuesday, 12 March).

"I've never raced in Sicily, so I don't know the routes," said Rumsas. "Pietro Algeri has said that the Pantalica suits my characteristics in a special way: I'm going to show him to be right".

Lampre will also take Alberto Loddo, Sergio Barbero, Raivis Belohvosciks, Alessandro Cortinovis and Manuel Quinziato.

French team for La Primavera Rosa

The third round of the women's World Cup will be held on March 23 with the Primavera Rosa in Italy. The French cycling federation has selected Sophie Creux, Virginie Moinard (Dauphiné-Savoie), Elodie Touffet (Pays de Loire), Sandrine Marcuz (Midi-Pyrénées) and Alexandra Le Hénaff (Bretagne), as well as either Aline Camboulives (Provence) or Alexandra Jaunatre (Bretagne).

The team will hold a one week training camp in La Londe-les-Maures prior to La Primavera Rosa.

Serotta and Xgirlsport sponsor women's team

Serotta Bicycles and Manhattan-based Xgirlsport today announced plans for a five-member women's cycling team, which will compete in national and international events in the United States and Canada during 2002. The Serotta/xgirlsport.com Cycling Team will feature some of the USA's best young talent, "helping to fill a perceived void in women's cycling," according to the official release.

"All too often, women's teams either don't have the resources or the interest in developing up-and-coming racers," said Lori Hoefer, Marketing Director of Serrotta. "And the sport has suffered as a result. That's why we at Serotta are so pleased to be involved with this, in helping to create a positive environment in which promising young women can flourish."

Xgirlsport.com is an online magazine devoted to promoting "extreme sports" such as skateboarding or surfing. While the definition of cycling as an extreme sport is debatable, the sponsorship certainly allows Xgirlsport.com to promote itself via a cycling team.

The trio of Ashley Kimmet, Rebecca McClintock and Grace Taylor (with two additional riders to be announced shortly) has an average age of 21, and certainly fits into the development category in women's cycling.

Ashley Kimmet is a track specialist who placed second in the 2000 Junior World Championships Points Race, and last year represented the U.S. at the Goodwill Games.

Rebecca McClintock is a pre-med student at the University of Florida who won National titles in 1999 and 2000. A crash last May resulted in a broken jaw, otherwise she may well have won the title three times in a row.

Grace Taylor is a student teacher from North Carolina, and entered her first bicycle race just one year ago. She has already won three State Championships, and has emerged as an outstanding climber and multi-day race prospect.

The Serotta/xgirlsport.com Cycling Team will compete in most of the US National Racing Calendar events in the eastern part of the country, including the First Union Liberty Classic, Saturn-Timex Women's Classic, Tour de 'Toona, and Univest Grand Prix. Another big date on the team's calendar is the Xgirlsport Women's Challenge, June 8 in New York City.

Sponsors

Serotta Bicycles (www.serrotta.com)
Xgirlsport.com (www.xgirlsport.com)
Michelin Tires (www.michelin.com)
Open Road Bicycles, Jacksonville (www.openroadbicycles.com)
Pedro's Bike Cleaners & Lubricants (www.pedros.com)
Rudy Project Eyewear & Helmets (www.rudyprojectusa.com)
Sparky's Neonworks (www.sparkysneonworks.com)
Sparta Cycling (www.spartacycling.com)
Time Sport USA Shoes & Pedals (www.timesportusa.com)

More information: John Alsedek

Auction to raise money for Brain Tumor Foundation For Children

The Fulton Flyers Cycling Club in Atlanta, USA, will auction a full suspension mountain bike and two unique autographed pro cycling jerseys in an effort to raise money to fight the battle against pediatric brain tumors. All proceeds will go to The Brain Tumor Foundation For Children.

The items to be offered at auction include a U.S. Postal Service team jersey worn by George Hincapie in the 2001 Tour de France. The jersey has been signed by eight members of the 2001 TdF US Postal team, including winner Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Tyler Hamilton and others.

The second item is a Saturn Cycling Team jersey signed by both the men (#1 in North America) and women (#1 in the world) of the Saturn Cycling team. Autographs include former world number women's cyclist Anna Millward, Lynne Bessette, Petra Rossner, Trent Klasna, Mark McCormack, Frank McCormack and others.

Finally, a brand new, carbon fiber, full suspension EPX Reef mountain bike in the size of the winning bidder's choice will be offered.

The auction begins on March 8, 2002 and will end at midnight (EST) on March 17. For more details or to place a bid on these items, log onto the Fulton Flyers Cycling Club online auction site at: fultonflyers.org

More information about Brain Tumor Foundation For Children can be found at: www.btfcgainc.org/

Who can beat Carrick Cidona?

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent

The big question on everybody's lips at the moment is the dominance of the Carrick Cidona cyclists who have literally taken the start of the Irish season by storm.

They opened their account in the Lacey Trophy in Tralee by scooping the honours with an emphatic win by Eddie O'Donoghue and followed up last Sunday in the Cycleways Cup with Martin O'Loughlin dominating the proceedings. In Cork in the Ken O'Keeffe also last Sunday they narrowly missed out when new recruit to the team Timmy Barry failed by the narrowest margins to record a win. Albeit, Timmy was second.

Such is the strength and numerical numbers of the club that they are in a position to have representatives at each of the listed events this weekend.

Surprisingly, they will not be concentrating on the Duhallow event in Kanturk, but according to organiser of the Commbes/Connor, Greg Campbell, "Yes, the Carrick boys will be town for the event which has had a change of venue because of road works. They have already indicated that they will be staying in Stamullan the evening before. That to me is an indication that they are not travelling to make up the numbers."

"Also Eddie O'Donoghue is in defence of the trophy that he won two years ago. Last year it was cancelled because of the Foot and Mouth Disease but this year everything is in order. Maybe last weeks winner, Martin O'Loughlin will play a support role to Eddie."

Philip Cassidy may after last week's outing be in a better position to counteract the strength of O'Loughlin and O'Donoghue when he went clear in what was the deciding break of the afternoon. Philip along with his Cycleways team may in a better position to counteract the strength of the Co. Tipperary boys.

Due to ongoing road works on the By Pass in the Drogheda area, the race will now take place in Donore and the details are as follows:

Sunday 10th March; Drogheda Wheelers C.C. Promote Commbes/Connor Memorial Races for S1,2,3,J,V.L and underage.

Venue: sign-on in St. Mary's G.F.C. Hall in Donore - (2 miles from Drogheda and located opposite the interpretative center). Senior race will start at 1:00 p.m.

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