News for March 23, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Sean Kelly to race again

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

The Gorey Three day cycling event scheduled for the Easter Weekend will have one of the most illustrious names in the world of cycling on the start line on Saturday week.

Out of retirement comes none other than the King of the Classics, Sean Kelly. He has been in retirement for the last seven years with the exception of the Hamper Race in Carrick-on-Suir, every Christmas, which is a fun event.

Ten years on, after one of the greatest and last Classic win of his career in the Milan San Remo comes this announcement that he will participate in this stage race, which was first run in 1967.

The event does not cater for Senior A participants, but with the introduction recently of a third category licence which is aimed specifically at attracting newcomers and former competitors who have been absent from the sport for a number of years.

So a relatively inconspicuous event will now have the full glare of publicity as one of the greatest exponents of the sport re-emerges. Surely the Tour of the North and the Fexco Munster organisers scheduled for Easter will be envious of the Gorey Coup that has taken everybody by complete surprise.

Obviously once a competitor always a competitor.

Milan-San Remo preview: Oscar Freire's comments

The Spanish World Champion hopes to become the first Mapei rider to win Milan-San Remo, which has seen only two Spanish victories in its 95 year history. Freire finished 3rd in 2000 and will be a man to watch on San Remo's Via Roma tomorrow.

"I like this race because it is perfectly adapted to my characteristics," he said in a pre-race interview. "The length doesn't scare me, the opposite in fact, neither do the climbs."

"Ideally for me would be a group of 40 to 50 riders at most at the finish. In this kind of sprint, I have a card to play, if Zabel is there or not. I especially hope that it will be sunny and the race will be selective. In that case, I will be there in the move."

Freire ruled out a possible conflict between him and Paolo Bettini, who is also a good chance of winning. "The options are clear: I don't attack on the Poggio and he will not do the sprint, if there is a sprint. We are both racing and the team will help whoever is better."

Danilo Di Luca's comments

Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) will be racing in his third Milan-San Remo, and many consider him to be one of the favourites for the race. "I am happy to be considered among the favourites," said Di Luca. "I am not someone who suffers mentally under pressure. In fact when I am in condition and my name isn't included amongst the possible protagonists of a big race I get annoyed."

Di Luca's last two attempts haven't been brilliant: "In 1999 I finished with the second group, the next year I got sick in Tirreno-Adriatico and did not ride. Last year I missed the cut due to a fall that split the peloton in two on the descent of the Cipressa."

He believes that this year there will be a selection on the Cipressa. "My team and I will do everything to arrive at the Poggio with a group of no more than 30 riders. I would prefer it if the race was hard from the start, so as to put the sprinters in difficulty in the decisive moments."

"I think that other teams will try and make a selection on the Cipressa: Fassa Bortolo, Mapei and Rabobank in particular. These teams need to make it hard because men like Petacchi, Bettini and Freire can all climb well. The Cipollini I saw in Tirreno-Adriatic is not the same as in the Tour of the Mediterranean and could suffer on the climbs."

"I will be at the start of the World Cup in 100% condition. I will be supported by a very competitive squad. I will have at my side, besides Spezialetti, men of great experience like Biagio Conte and Alessio Galletti, with supporters for the crucial moments such as Mirko Celestino and Igor Astarloa."

Giancarlo Ferretti's comments

The manager of Fassa Bortolo, Giancarlo Ferretti, has enjoyed a good deal of success already this season, with many of his riders winning races and showing good form, for example Bartoli, Petacchi, Basso, and Baldato. Also important is that the team's injury list has been small, unlike Domo-Farm Frites which has to field a second string team for MSR.

Can Fassa Bortolo do it in Milan-San Remo, a race that nearly every Italian wants to win? Ferretti believes it will be tough, despite the talent at his team's disposal. "Milan-San Remo is one of the most beautiful races in the world," he said on the eve of the race. "The team is highly motivated to contest it. The parcours is always the same. It is not very difficult, very fast."

"The problem is the unbelievable number of favourites who can win it. Everyone wants to shine and this is what makes it difficult race, sometimes uncontrollable. But I think the race will finish in a sprint. Petacchi will then have his chance."

"Petacchi is a good racer but it is not the best. Zabel, Cipollini and Freire are at a superior level again. It is necessary to wait to see if he is capable to beat them all. He has to obtain more experience. We will wait, but Petacchi has time on his side."

Ferretti's favourites for Saturday are Zabel, Freire, Cipollini and Jalabert, to name but a few.

Milan-San Remo data

Full preview
Start list
Course Map
Live coverage

By numbers

1: Number of victories of Erik Zabel this season
2: Number of feed zones - Ovada (118 km) and Ceriale (216 km)
4: Wins by Erik Zabel in this race
4.1: The average gradient (in percent) of the Cipressa
5.7: The distance (in kilometres) from the top of the Poggio to the finish
7: Wins by Eddy Merckx in this race, the most of any rider
17: Years between sprint victories in 1980 (Pierino Gavazzi) and 1997 (Erik Zabel)
21.6: The distance (in kilometres) from the top of the Cipressa to the finish
25: Number of teams
36: The age of the oldest winner, Andrei Tchmil, in 1999
38.852 km/h: Erik Zabel's average speed last year
46: The number of Italian victories in this race
93: The number of editions of Milan-San Remo, including Saturday
162: The height of the Poggio in metres
287: The distance (in kilometres) of Milan-San Remo
773: The highest point of the race, Bric Berton (143.6 km)
1907: The first year that Milan-San Remo was held

Principal difficulties

Bric Berton (km 143.6, 773 m)
Capo Mele (km 235, 65 m)
Capo Cervo (km 240, 77 m)
Capo Berta (km 247, 130 m)
Cipressa (km 265, 240 m)
Poggio (km 281, 162 m)

The teams

Acqua e Sapone-Cantina Tollo, Alessio, Index-Alexia, Cofidis, Crédit Agricole, CSC-Tiscali, Domo-Farm Frites, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Fassa Bortolo, Gerolsteiner, iBanesto.com, Kelme, Lampre-Daikin, Lotto-Adecco, Mapei-Quick Step, Mercatone Uno, Mobilvetta, ONCE-Eroski, Panaria, Rabobank, Saeco-Longoni Sport, Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola, Team Coast, Telekom, US Postal Service

The favourites

Erik Zabel (Ger), Oscar Freire (Spa), Robbie McEwen (Aus), Alessandro Petacchi (Ita), Paolo Bettini (Ita), Mario Cipollini (Ita), Danilo Di Luca (Ita), Peter Van Petegem (Bel), Laurent Jalabert (Fra), Erik Dekker (Ned).

Live coverage

With only selected TV stations broadcasting the 93rd Milan-San Remo outside of Italy, you can still follow the action on Cyclingnews with regular updates as the race unfolds. Coverage starts at 9:30 local time, finishing at approximately 16:30. Just click here for the latest update.

25th Cholet-Pays de Loire

Taking place in France this Sunday (March 24) in France is the 25th edition of Cholet-Pays de Loire. The 201 kilometre race is the third round of the Coupe de France and has attracted a solid lineup, despite the absence of the injured Jaan Kirsipuu, a three time winner of this race. There are 145 registered riders from 17 teams including three former champions of Cholet: Florent Brard (2001), Jens Voigt (2000) and Stéphane Heulot (1996).

Favourites include Belgian Serge Baguet (Lotto), who has spent the week training at home after withdrawing from Paris-Nice. The course suits Baguet, and he can expect strong challenges from Didier Rous (Bonjour) and Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), both who performed well in Paris-Nice.

Saturn-Timex Women's Classic

Sparta Cycling has announced the course details for the inaugural Saturn-Timex Women's Classic, a women's road race that is part of the Housatonic Valley Classic race weekend.

The women's race will be held on the same day but a shortened version of the men's road course. Both events are part of the National Racing Calendar and will be held on Sunday, May 19 in southwestern Connecticut.

The Saturn-Timex Women's Classic covers 112 kilometres of tough roads on a challenging point-to-point course. Starting in New Milford, the course winds its way over numerous climbs before it climaxes with a finishing circuit in Danbury. Highlights include four demanding sprints for the Belimo Queen of the Mountain prize and five intermediate sprints. The organisers are also aiming to bid for World Cup status in 2003.

The race will feature Anna Millward and her Saturn team, who, after reviewing the course description and profile commented that, "It looks like a really tough course. It seems that as the women's World Cup develops and really takes hold that the courses are becoming more and more challenging, to ensure that the overall winner is a true bike racing champion who can excel on all types of courses. The Housatonic course fits well into this plan, providing a very challenging course."

The race will be televised nationally on the Outdoor Life Network on May 30th at 9:00 PM and will be broadcast live on WLAD Radio (80 AM).

Mapei-Quick Step Espoirs for upcoming races

March 24: G.P. Stausee Rundfahrt, Switzerland

Riders: Fabian Cancellara, Aurélien Clerc, Allan Davis, Evgueni Petrov, Michael Rogers, Frederik Willems. DS: Luca Guercilena

March 25 - 31: Tour de Normandie, France

Riders: Giampaolo Cheula, Aurélien Clerc, Graziano Gasparre, Dmitriy Muravyev, Filippo Pozzato, Pavel Zerzan. DS: Rodriguez Fernandez

2002 VeloClips/Sun & Ski Sports Cycling Team

The VeloClips/Sun & Ski Sports Cycling Team is pleased to announce its 2002 roster. VeloClips has taken over title sponsorship from the YMCA for 2002, while Sun & Ski Sports has increased its commitment to the team which is in its third year.

The team has started its season at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA where it has fielded an elite team of six riders in the Pro races, as well as one rider in the Cat. 2 field. For the rest of the season, the team is also fielding squads in nearly every category, developing riders from Cat. 5 to Elite, Junior to Master.

The elite team will compete in many of the top national calendar events, with a large focus on the USCF Elite National Championships. Managing company, Trinity Sports Group, will be hosting the Elite National Time Trial and Road Race championships in the team’s hometown of Nashville, TN, July 18-21, held in honour of 2001 team member, and recent casualty of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, Sgt. Philip Svitak. The event will also host the 2002 Military National Championships alongside the Elite events, additional criterium races, 5K competitive run, kid’s events, family festival, expo and more.

Team roster

Cat 1

Justin Gilmore
Kevin Miller
John Green
Stephen Spencer
Kenny Baker
Paul Read
Kenny York
Kevin Kremke
MArty Pierce

Pro/Semi-Pro Mtn. Bike

Ford Waterstrat - Pro Mtn / Cat. 2 Road
Greg Dunn - Semi-Pro Mtn / Cat 2 Road
Kevin Caldwell - Semi-Pro Mtn / Cat 2 Road
Kevin Miller - Semi-Pro Mtn / Cat 1 Road

Cat 2

Dan Underwood
Steve Carpenter
Jason Peters
Michael Olheiser

Cat 2/3 Women

Rebecca Falls - Cat 3
Chris Hall - Cat 2
Julie Mallette - Cat 2
Sue Beck - Cat 3

Juniors

Dustin Greer - Junior/Cat 4
Nathan Brown - Junior
Bennett Farkas - Junior

Masters 35+

Mark Beck - Cat 2
Johnny Pryor - Cat 2
David Brown - Cat 2
Steve Ryan - Cat 2
Gino Leone - Cat 4
Kerry Garner - Cat 4
Lem Stevens - Cat 4

Masters 45+

Rick Wiggins - Cat 4
Fred Marino - Cat 3
George Allen - Cat 4
Gerry Hayden - Cat 4
Bob Lunsford - Cat 3

Masters 55+

Eshigan Fakhoorian - Cat 3

Cat 3

Curt Cadwell
Jim Sharp
Hoyt Halvorson
Brent Faulk

Cat 4

Philip Martindale
Mark Rankin
Stacey Cumberland
Russell Workman
Josh Renkins
Aaron Yancey
Gregory Byerline
Brian Davis

Cat 4 Women

Sherri Hurley
Katelyn Wells-Fahling
Susan Adkins
Teri Miller

Cat 5

Dustin Anderson
Alan Mittelsdorf
John Hudson
Jeff Grinkevich
Tom Briggs
Tom Faerber

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