News for March 16, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Lance Armstrong replies to Vasseur accusations

By Tim Maloney, European editor

Lance Armstrong spoke with Cyclingnews earlier this week to shed some light on the recent accusations from former USPS rider Cedric Vasseur concerning his non-selection to the TdF and related issues.

In a phone interview from his home in Girona, Spain, where the three time Tour De France champion is preparing for his '02 racing debut in Milano-San Remo next week, Armstrong emphatically stated that, "I have nothing personally bad to say about Vasseur; I don't want to knock the guy, but we (USPS) didn't do anything wrong here. And I don't deserve this… I've gone out of my way to do things in this sport that are non-traditional to motivate my fellow team members." (Full story)

Wadecki operated on

Polish rider Piotr Wadecki, injured in the mayhem that was the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, has been operated on in Cardarelli Hospital in Naples. In yesterday's sprint, the Domo-Farm Frites rider collided with Antonio Salomone who had hit a lamp post on the run into the finish. He was taken to a hospital where they diagnosed a fractured skull as well as facial wounds and the onset of haemorrhage. His condition stabilised and he was transferred to Naples for the operation.

Wadecki is being kept in a drug-induced coma for the next few days until he improves.

This is the latest early season blow for the Domo team, which has lost Leon Van Bon (coccyx inflammation), Romans Vainsteins (scrotum operation), Frank Vandenbroucke (drug investigation) and now Wadecki. These riders were all key members of Domo's classics campaign, which will now hope for a miracle (or two) from Johan Museeuw.

Moerenhout DNS

In another, hopefully minor, blow to the Domo-Farm Frites team, Koos Moerenhout did not start the fifth stage of Paris-Nice, due to an inflammation in his right knee. Team leader Hendrik Redant told Moerenhout not to ride, and he will return home for physiotherapy. He hopes to be back in competition by March 20 for the Nokere Koerse.

Conconi in court

Well known Italian sports scientist Professor Francesco Conconi was questioned on Thursday in Ferrara as part of a preliminary investigation into whether he supplied doping products to athletes. Although not a full blown trial, the case is similar to that involving his colleague Dr Michele Ferrari, who is also accused of supplying drugs to endurance athletes.

The prosecution claims that Conconi artificially boosted the blood of 63 athletes, including top cyclists Marco Pantani, Claudio Chiappucci, Stephen Roche, Francesco Moser, Gianni Bugno and Maurizio Fondriest. Two haematologists submitted a report to judge Piero Messini D'Agostini last month, in which they concluded that the varying blood values were drug induced.

Professor Conconi had to answer the judge's questions on Thursday, and denied all the accusations in a lengthy defence. He claims that the differing blood values were due to the extraction of plasma from the athletes' blood.

The next hearing of the preliminary trial is set for April 18. After the defence replies in early May, judge D'Agostoni will determine if there are grounds for a full trial.

The case is another in the seemingly endless investigations into doping in Italy, few of which have resulted in any convictions.

Where's Hincapie?

Not in Tirreno-Adriatico it seems after he was KO'ed by a 24 hour stomach virus, possibly similar to the one that prevented Lance Armstrong from starting in Murcia. "I was pretty much knocked out for 2 days, and while I feel better now, unfortunately I will not be starting at Tirreno - Adriatico," he said on his website, www.hincapie.com.

Equipe Nürnberger presentation

The German Nürnberger insurance company is one of the few sponsors to support both a men's and women's professional team. While the men's team is battling for points in the second division, the women's team hopes to become one of the top ranked teams in the women's peloton.

The team is spearheaded by Hanka Kupfernagel, who wants to return to her best this year after a problem filled 2001 season. She is already in good form, climbing from 45th to 24th in the UCI rankings since the start of the year, courtesy of some consistent performances in the southern hemisphere.

Importantly, there is plenty of depth in Equipe Nürnberger, with riders such as Vera Hohlfeld, Tanja Schmidt-Hennes, Jenny Agelid and Margaret Hemsley all very capable athletes. Young talent is present in the form of former junior points race World Champion Cornelia Cyrus and Yvonne Schröder, while the team is directed by recently retired pro Jens Zemke.

Full team roster

Dauphiné Libéré to start in Lyon

The 54th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré will take place from June 9-16, 2002. The race is one of the major tests prior to the Tour de France (July 6-28), and will feature top French riders Laurent Jalabert and Richard Virenque, and possibly Lance Armstrong.

The race will start in Lyon and finish in Geneva, and will include the mythical Mont Ventoux on the third day. The full course details will be announced in April.

Treto operated on

Under 23 US National Team Rider Nathan Treto is scheduled to have catheter ablation surgery on his heart Friday, March 22nd. This will correct a condition which causes his heart rate to rise up to 250 B.P.M. while training and racing. The surgery will be performed at Mercy Hospital in San Diego. Recuperation will be three to seven weeks and Nathan is hoping to return to Europe to race with the US Team as soon as the doctors release him.

Man charged in Mike Howarth accident

A 38 year old man was charged last week in relation to the hit and run accident involving Sydney cyclist Michael Howarth. The man was charged with dangerous and negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm, as well as not stopping and rendering assistance after an injury collision. He will appear in Parramatta Local Court on April 11.

Howarth was hit on Wednesday, March 6 at around 11:30pm on the M2 motorway while riding home from work. A traffic camera showed that white Toyota Dyna van had suddenly veered to the left (off the main road) and hit Howarth, sending him flying into the air. The van then swung to the right and resumed its course.

Howarth was taken to Royal North Shore hospital where he is still undergoing treatment.

Ronel and Jago Liss DQ'd from Argus

Cyclists Ronel and Jago Liss have now both been disqualified from the Cape Argus/Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour. Organisers ruled that both riders had not completed the full 109 km course, as neither had registered on the timing mat at the Ou Kaapseweg, the highest point in the race. In addition, a fixed video camera at that point failed to pick either of the two riders.

Jago was initially thought to have won the men's A division, while his wife Ronel claimed that she won the women's C division by 15 seconds. After Ronel's protest was thrown out, judges investigated Jago's ride, and declared that he too had not completed the course.

Freddie Fu Cycling Team

The Freddie Fu Cycling Team is a US women's team competing in the National Racing Calendar events, US Saturn Pro Races and the American Velodrome Challenge. The main focus of the team will be the criterium races and "The International" which starts in Pittsburgh, PA this July.

The five member team is oriented towards sprinting: Becky Conzelman placed 3rd at the Housatonic Crit and 4th in the Martinsville Stage of Tour de 'Toona in 2001. Charm Breon finished as the 5th American at First Union 2001. Tania Duff-Miller has been the New Zealand Criterium Champion along with competing at Worlds on the track. Kelly Yoder leads in the domestique role and as a GC rider. Carolyn Fisher has been added for her domestique skills in the criteriums.

Dr Freddie H. Fu is the David Silver Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Fu is the medical director of the UPMC Health System Center for Sport's Medicine. He is an avid cyclist and a leading figure of cycling in Pittsburgh.

Team Roster

Kelly Yoder
Becky Conzelman
Charm Breon
Tania Duff-Miller
Carolyn Fisher
Manager: Kelly T. Yoder

Sponsors
Dr. Freddie H. Fu
Aircast, Inc.
Smith and Nephew, Inc.
Kennametal, Inc.
Hanger Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc.
PRS Pharmacy Services, Inc.

Equipment
Dean Bicycles- Frames/Forks
Rudy Project USA - Technically Cool Eyewear
Voler Team Apparel - Team Apparel
Chris King - Headsets/Hubs
Speedgoat Bicycles - Bike Parts/Helmets/Socks
Dicks Sporting Goods - 2-way radios
Nike Cycling - Cycling Shoes

Website: www.gopolar.com/teamfu

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Mont Ventoux Photo ©: Sirotti