News for March 13, 2002

Edited by John Stevenson

O'Grady operation a success

Stuart O'Grady yesterday underwent an operation to correct a problem with his iliac artery. According to his team, the operation was a success, fixing an 80 percent obstruction in the artery.

The operation was performed by Professor Knight, a recognised specialist in this type of surgery.

O'Grady will probably be hospitalised until Saturday or Sunday, according to his team manager Roger Legeay, who went to visit the rider after yesterday's second stage of Paris-Nice. Legeay said O'Grady was in good spirits.

O'Grady will be off the bike for a month, and should be able to return to racing after a further month.

Rumsas injured, out of Tirreno-Adriatico

Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre-Daikin) was injured in a crash in Tuesday's Trofeo dell'Etna and will miss Tirreno-Adriatico.

Rumsas sustained severe multiple cuts and bruises to his legs and buttocks. Thought to be in critical condition he was was immediately taken to Patern˜ hospital where surgeons applied 30 stitches to his wounds.

He will be off the bike for ten days and is reported to be "devastated" at missing Tirreno-Adriatico. Rumsas was a favourite for the race and Lampre's designated team leader.

The incident happened 25km from the end of the stage on a descent near Patern˜. The group unexpectedly skidded near a bollard causing Rumsas and his team-mate Sergio Barbero to fall.

Rumsas' place in Lampre's team for Tirreno-Adriatico will be taken by Rubens Bertogliati.

Ferrari trial: Bortolami accused of perjury

The prosecution in the trial of Italian sports doctor Michele Ferarri has accused Gianluca Bortolami of giving "false evidence" when he testified on February 19.

In a deposition on February 16, 1998 the Tacconi rider said that asterisks on the training schedule prepared for him by Ferrari indicated courses of EPO. But on July 13, 1999 Bortolami changed his story, saying the asterisks meant vitamins, saline and amino acids.

In his evidence in February Bortlami stuck to the second version of his story, despite the contradictions being pointed out by court president Maurizio Passarani.

The trial resumes on March 19.

Juliá injured in crash

Kelme rider José Cayetano Juliá is in hospital after a collision with a car while training. Juliá is not believed to be seriously injured, but is being kept under observation after sustaining back injuries and bruising.

Juliá was hit by a vehicle that was attempting to pass a truck, according to his brother.

Spanish hit-and-run driver gets six years

A Spanish court has handed down a six year prison sentence to a driver who killed a cyclist in a hit-and-run incident in 1999. The court found that Manuel C.M. was responsible for the death of 70 year old cyclist 'A.R.V.' in a crash on October 15, 1999.

Sentencing Manuel C.M. to the maximum six years, the presiding magistrate said the defendant had acted with "total scorn for the most elementary norms of traffic, as well as for the other users of the public roads."

The magistrate noted that Manuel C.M. did not have a licence, but nevertheless habitually drove, despite having been banned previously for driving under the influence of alcohol. He said Manuel C.M.'s behaviour showed "a tacit desire to ignore judicial orders and remain outside the law as regards traffic."

The court also took into account the seriousness of Manuel C.M.'s actions after the crash, saying that he "left [his victim] dying, with serious injuries, in the middle of the road where he could be hit again by other vehicles." For this reason, the magistrate doubled the three year sentence requested by the prosecution.

Manuel C.M. was also ordered to pay his victim's widow 63,454.54 euros and 7,050.50 euros to each of his four children.

The jury unanimously found that Manuel C.M. had been driving his Mercedes van at over 100km/h and attempted to overtake two trucks at the same time, hitting the cyclist who died from his injuries the next day.

The magistrate described as simply "false" Manuel C.M.'s claim that he had been unable to stop but had returned to the scene of the accident five minutes later to see what he had hit and had found nothing. The police were at the scene for an hour afterwards, he noted.

Brussels to name station after Merckx

Eddy Merckx' is to be honoured by the Belgian capital of Brussels which will name one of four new metropolitan stations after the champion.

City councilman Jos Chabert announced yesterday that the station in the Anderlecht area would be named after Merckx, who is universally considered to be the greatest Belgian sportsman of all time.

Merckx was selected in preference to Belgian poet Maurice Careme, the original candidate to be honoured by having the station named after him.

Australian Madison championships this weekend

By Karen Forman in Melbourne

The Australian Madison Championship to be held in Melbourne on Saturday night is shaping up as an international affair, with riders from the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Japan travelling Down Under for an event organisers promise will be fast, thrilling - and extremely competitive.

While Sydney 2000 Olympic Games gold medallist and recent Bendigo Madison winner Brett Aitken will enter the event as favourite with last month's Austral Wheel Race winner, Tasmanian Darren Young, promoters are warning spectators to expect the unexpected.

"We have a pretty classy field and quite a bit of rivalry, particularly between Aitken and the team of (former world champion) Eric Weispfennig from Germany and Mark Renshaw from New South Wales," said Barry Langley, spokesman for promoter Cyclists International.

"Aitken won last Sunday night's Bendigo Madison with his Olympic partner Scott McGrory, but Weispfennig and Renshaw were fighting hard to reverse the previous year's result at Bendigo, when they were second on countback to Aitken. I think we can expect some pretty hot competition at the Vodafone Arena on Saturday night."

Adelaide- based Aitken has already won the Australian championship four times with various partners (including Europe-based Victorian McGrory, in 1995) and despite his decision this year to race domestically instead of in the European six-day events with McGrory, has been exhibiting good form this season. McGrory said in Bendigo he wanted Aitken back for the Commonwealth Games this year because they were a "proven team".

Still, the Australian Madison event, to be held as part of a full program of racing starting from 7pm, with European style in-field dining and a bar adding to the atmosphere for spectators, will be far from a walkover for any of the teams.

Japanese rider Kouji Yoshii has been teamed with Victorian Tim Decker. Two visiting Americans - Jame Carney and Mike Tillman have been teamed up and are expected to be flying. Carney showed aggression and fitness at Bendigo, while Tillman has been impressing with classy form during the summer track season in Victoria and NSW. And two riders from Hong Kong - Ho Siu Lun and King Nin Lau, although a bit of an unknown quantity, will be doing their best to take the prize money home. There is also a Swiss rider, Markus Kammermann, teamed with Victorian Brad Edmunds.

Meanwhile, other competitors will travel from throughout Australia to try to win the championship. They include Stephen Wooldridge (NSW) and Jon Davis (NSW); Melbourne Cup on Wheels winner Nicholas Sanderson (Vic.) and Warragul second placegetter (with brother Hilton) Johnny Clarke (Vic); Chris Sutton (NSW) and Matt Farmer (NSW); Luke Roberts (SA) and Russell Van Hout (SA); Leigh Deluca (Vic) and Todd Wilksch (Vic); Peter Dawson (WA) and Brodie Cullen (WA); Ben Jackson (Vic) and Richard England (Vic); Ben Brooks (NSW) and Australia's own Francaise Des Jeux trade team member Rodney McGee (NSW); and Matt Rice (Tas) and Daniel Cutting (Tas).

The Australian Madison Championships program is the fourth of five conducted by Cyclists International as part of its 2001-2002 international track cycling season on the 250-metre board track at Vodafone Arena in Melbourne's inner city Olympic Park district.

Next up is the Sid Patterson Grand Prix on Saturday, April 6.

Cycling action in the southern city doesn't end there, however. Langley is gearing up for the 2002 Junior Track Cycling World Championships to be held at the Vodafone from August 21-25 and the World Masters Games - which includes road and track events - will be held in Melbourne in October.

"There is a lot going on," Langley said. "And we are working to make it better and better. What we need is the support of riders."

One week left in charity auction

There's just under a week left to bid for the mountain bike and autographed pro jerseys being auctioned by the Fulton Flyers Cycling Club to raise funds for The Brain Tumor Foundation For Children.

The jerseys are a U.S. Postal Service team jersey worn by George Hincapie in the 2001 Tour de france and a Saturn Cycling Team jersey. The USPS jersey is autographed by eight of the nine members of the 2000 Tour de France squad including Lance Armstrong, and Hincapie. The Saturn jersey is signed by both the men and women of the Saturn team, including world #1 Anna Millward.

Also on offer is a brand new, carbon fiber, full suspension EPX Reef mountain bike.

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

Team BGI-Trane continues Midwestern cycling tradition

Team BGI-Trane, a racing team of the Speedway Wheelmen, today announced its sponsorship and roster for 2002. Bicycle Garage Indy and Trane Heating and Cooling (through Indiana Supply), both of Indianapolis, have signed on to continue their title sponsorship of a team considered by many to be a Midwest tradition. Joining BGI and Trane are associate sponsors Cannondale, Sonny's Pizza and TrueSport.com.

One of the team's goals for 2002 is junior development, and the roster has already been augmented to include three new 16-year-old riders who join the existing junior talent. In addition to coaching and a new academic support program for team members, children will be introduced to cycling through the team's one-week summer camp known as "Pedal Power." The camp focuses on bicycle safety and basic skills as youngsters ride bicycles provided by Cannondale.

"The past several years have been a bit sad for junior cycling in Indiana, and I'm thrilled that we're one of a few area teams working to turn it around," said Rob Clendening, club president. "The fact that we're hitting the road with a solid junior squad to complement our men and women is exciting. Although I will say that these fast kids make me feel old!"

While Team BGI-Trane typically concentrates on races in the Midwest, team members are expected to compete in events as far away as Florida and New Jersey in 2002. Racing goals include the Hoosier Cup racing series, now in its second season, as well as the Indiana Race Series and major events around the Midwest. The team returns to the Hoosier Cup as the defending champion in category III and V men with Doug Robinson and Mike Conaway respectively. Team members will also be active on the track at the Major Taylor Velodrome, off-road in Mountain Bike events, as well as adventure races, charity rides and touring events.

Another summer tradition is the team's annual criterium at Brookside Park near downtown Indianapolis, currently slated for Sunday, August 11. The race will be part of the Hoosier Cup Series. Of course, when speaking of tradition there is another important one that will continue-the familiar orange and blue team uniforms, worn by team members since the 1960s.

Team roster

Junior

Dave Hallander, 16, Indianapolis, Ind.
Madison Hart, 7, Indianapolis, Ind.
Shane Meadows, 16, Indianapolis, Ind.
Tyler Reynolds, 13, Noblesville, Ind.
Ben Schuster, 13, Noblesville, Ind.
Kyle Williams, 16, Carmel, Ind.

Women

Michelle Folz, 35, category V, Indianapolis, Ind.
Valita Fredland, 36, category V, Indianapolis, Ind.
Cindi Hart, 39, category III, Indianapolis, Ind.
Diane Peek, 42, category V, Anderson, Ind.
Lauren Rider, 28, category III, Indianapolis, Ind.

Men Category II & III

Paul Arlinghaus, 31, Fishers, Ind.
Ken Hart, 43, Indianapolis, Ind.
Tim Konrad, 36, Indianapolis, Ind.
Darren Reno, 32, Indianapolis, Ind.
Steven Rider, 28, Indianapolis, Ind.
Doug Robinson, 35, Indianapolis, Ind.
Tim Robison, 35, Morgantown, Ind.

Men Category IV & V

Jason Arthur, 25, Muncie, Ind.
Jeffrey Brown, 45, Greencastle, Ind.
Rob Clendening, 31, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mike Conaway, 34, Indianapolis, Ind.
Tom Davis, 24, Indianapolis, Ind.
Bob Dorris, 71, Anderson, Ind.
Gary Dudley, 46, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mike Konrad, 34, Indianapolis, Ind.
Travis Massey, 35, Indianapolis, Ind.
Tom Peek, 39, Anderson, Ind.
Bill Stewart, 31, Beech Grove, Ind.
Dave Sunshine, 33, Indianapolis, Ind.
Aaron Turner, 29, Bloomington, Ind.
Gregory VanDuesen, 29, Indianapolis, Ind.
Reid Westphal, 38, Indianapolis, Ind.

Sponsors

Bicycle Garage Indy, Trane Heating & Cooling, Cannondale, Sonny's Pizza Café, TrueSport.com Equipment: Giro Helmets, Louis Garneau Clothing, Continental Tires

Staff

Rob Clendening, president; Lauren Rider, Vice President; Michelle Folz, Secretary; Tom Davis, treasurer; Tim Konrad, race director; Ken Hart, web master; Doug Robinson, coach; Tim Robison, coach

Website

www.speedwaywheelmen.com

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