News for March 27, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Cipollini to ride Ronde Van Vlaanderen

Other teams miss out

The final two wild cards for the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) on April 7 have been awarded to Mario Cipollini's Acqua & Sapone team and La Francaise des Jeux, which features previous RVV winner Jacky Durand. Other candidates such as Jean Delatour, Bankgiroloterij and a few Italian division I teams did not make the final 25 team selection.

There are five Belgian teams in the selection, including the second division squads Vlaanderen-T Interim, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, and Palmans-Collstrop, which often gain selection in this race. The rest of the field is made up of six Italian, four French, three German, three Spanish and four teams from other countries.

Although in recent years two-time Gent-Wevelgem winner Mario Cipollini has preferred to stay away from Belgium, he will return to defend his World Cup leader's jersey. La Francaise des Jeux was a slightly more controversial selection, but the organisers pointed out that they had achieved some good results so far this season: Jimmy Casper in GP Breukink and GP Cholet, as well as former winner Jacky Durand.

Cipollini stands a good chance of holding the World Cup jersey after RVV, as he is strong enough to get his 1.90 metre/78 kg frame over the bergs of Flanders and pick up some more World Cup points. It depends how the challengers, such as Fred Rodriguez (Domo), Marcus Zberg (Rabobank), Jo Planckaert (Cofidis), Oscar Freire (Mapei), Andrei Tchmil or Peter Van Petegem (Lotto) fare.

Teams for Ronde Van Vlaanderen

Domo-Farm Frites
Lotto-Adecco
Vlaanderen-T Interim
Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
Palmans-Collstrop
Tacconi Sport
Acqua & Sapone
Lampre-Daikin
Mapei-Quick Step
Fassa Bortolo
Saeco-Longoni Sport
Cofidis
Credit Agricole
Bonjour
La Francaise des Jeux
Telekom
Team Coast
Gerolsteiner
iBanesto.com
Kelme
ONCE
Rabobank
US Postal Service
CSC-Tiscali
Phonak

Simoni crashes in Setmana Catalana

Saeco-Longoni Sport's fortunes in the injury department have taken a turn for the worse this week. After Danilo di Luca's crash in Milan-San Remo, today Gilberto Simoni hit the ground just one day after his return to racing in the Setmana Catalana in Spain. Simoni crashed during the first half-stage of the second day: Lloret del Mar - Empuriabrava (107 km) won by Erik Zabel (Telekom).

"There was about 40km to go," explained Simoni. "The Telekom team were on the front setting the pace. I hit a hole in the road and my handlebars twisted and I didn't manage to stay up. We were on a slight descent and I rolled for a few metres, hitting the road hard with my right knee."

Simoni was helped back up by his directeur sportif and managed to finish the stage, escorted by his team mates. He was checked out by team doctor Daniele Tarsi in the hotel who reassured him that he hadn't suffered any serious damage.

"Fortunately I got off lightly," Simoni said. "But my knee hurts a bit and so does by right thigh."

In the afternoon Simoni took part in the time trial in Empuriabrava even though his knee was swollen. He will decide whether to carry on racing in Spain tomorrow morning after another check up from the team doctor and talks with directeur sportifs Bruno Vicino and Flavio Miozzo.

Armstrong to ride Paris-Camembert

Lance Armstrong will remain in France following the Criterium International this weekend (March 30-31) to race in the 63rd Paris-Camembert (April 2), where he finished second in 2000. The following Sunday (April 7) he will start in the Ronde Van Vlaanderen as well as Gent-Wevelgem on April 10.

No E3 for Tchmil

Andrei Tchmil (Lotto) will not be riding in the E3-Prijs Harelbeke (March 30), a race that he won in 1994 and 2001. In his final few months as a pro, he is aiming to fill a few gaps in his palmares, meaning that he will instead ride in Brabantse Pijl on MARCH 31, a race that he has never won.

The race distance for the E3-Prijs has been reduced from 213 to 207 kilometres, after the Berg Ten Houte climb in Schorisse was removed from the parcours. This means that there are only 11 climbs instead of 12 in the race, which is normally a good form tester for the Ronde Van Vlaanderen.

Jalabert's health OK

Medical tests carried out on French cyclist Laurent Jalabert on Monday have revealed that nothing serious is wrong with him. Jalabert was concerned after experiencing health problems last week in the lead up to Milan-San Remo. He started the 287 kilometre classic but abandoned halfway, and decided to check whether there was anything amiss. There wasn't, and he resumed training yesterday in preparation for this weekend's Criterium International.

Van Moorsel and Melchers open cycling clinics in Rotterdam

Triple Olympic gold medallist Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel and last weekend's Primavera Rosa winner Mirjam Melchers will officially open the cycling clinics hosted by the wielerclub Ahoy' in Rotterdam tomorrow, March 27.

For the last two years, Rotterdam Cycling in cooperation with the City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam Department of Recreation, and Rotterdam Topsport have conducted these clinics to bring 8-14 year olds in contact with the sport of cycling. 80 girls have signed up for the first meeting tomorrow, which will also feature Michael Zijlaard, Michael van der Wolf, Sandra Missbach, Kirsty Robb and Sissy van Alebeek.

Team Bornholm 2002

By Frank Rud Jensen, www.cykel-sport.dk

Danish elite amateur Team Bornholm is ready for the new seson with interesting new names on the roster and a good quality race program. After Jimmi Madsen and Thomas Bruun Eriksen left to join CSC-Tiscali, manager Fritz Mogensen put together a team with a lot of U23 talent as well as some more experienced riders.

The team is as follows:

Jimmy Hansen, 23 yrs. 2000 U-23 Danish Champion, National track team rider, 6 day rider, second in GC in Post Cup 2001.
Lars Bo Lomholt, 31 yrs. A strong rider from Ordrup CC
Thomas Petersen, 25 yrs. Team Bornholms most experienced rider.
Lars Frederiksen, 20 yrs. U-23 national team rider with several victories in 2001. Danish Junior champion in 1998
Michael Demin, 22 yrs. U-23 national team rider from ABC
Niclas Slot, 19 yrs. U-23 national team rider
Lasse Froberg, 19 yrs. U-23 national team rider
Henrik Simper, 22 yrs. Still suffering from long term injury.

Program

March 30: Zesbergenpris, Belgien, Cat. 1.5
March 31: Trofee Van Haspengouw, Belgien, Cat. 1.6
April 20: ZLM Tour, Holland, Cat. 1.5
April 21: Rund um Düren, Germany, Cat. 1.5
May 4: Grand Prix Midtbank, Cat. 1.3
May 5: Grand Prix Århus, Cat. 1.3
June 7-9: OZ Wielerweekend, Holland, Cat. 2.5

The Danish elite and U23 championships and the Post Cup also have a priority for Team Bornholm

Entries sought for season final track cycling fixture

By Karen Forman in Melbourne

Cyclists International is urgently calling for entries for the final fixture in its five-event 2001-2002 international track cycling season - The Sid Patterson Grand Prix. To be held on the ultra-modern and super-quick board velodrome at Melbourne's Vodafone Arena on Saturday, April 6, the $10,000 event will be the last chance Australian track riders have to race in elite company this season.

Similarly, with the international cycling focus set to move away from the track and onto the road, it will be the last opportunity for spectators to see Australia's best in action until the start of the 2002-2003 track season in December.

Held in the memory of arguably Australia's greatest ever track cyclist, Sid Patterson, the Grand Prix may not be as well known as other events promoted by CI (like the famous Austral Wheel Race), but it has attracted some top names - including winners of most of the major wheel races held during the season so far - and promises spectators some thrilling cycling action.

Entrants include Austral winner Darren Young, Clarence St Wheel Race and Maurie Kramer Wheel Race winner Mark Renshaw, Warragul and Bendigo wheel race winner, (Olympic madison gold medallist) Brett Aitken and Shane Kelly, who placed in every wheel race this season without a win.

Kelly will no doubt be trying hard to grab that elusive first place in the $5000 Champion of Champions Wheel Race on Sid Patterson Grand Prix night. The event - one of two main events in a program of around 30 - is open to all riders, but entrants who have won or placed in a major wheel race this season will gain direct entry to the final. Others will have to prove their worth in a series of hotly contested qualifying heats.

The other major event will be the Sid Patterson Grand Prix, a final made up of the winners and placegetters in graded scratch races scattered throughout the program. Last year's winner was Tommy Nankervis of the Carnegie Cycling Club in Melbourne.

CI promoter Barry Langley said the grand prix provided an opportunity for cyclists of all abilities to win a major event.

"Sid Patterson often spoke with his colleagues at CI about having an event where all cyclists could gain a chance of winning a Big One, which is not always achievable with vagaries of the race handicapping system." he said.

"Sadly, Sid passed away in November 1999 so CI has attempted to create an event to honour his dream, by devising a series of graded events that give all riders a chance of making the final."

Place-getters will start in the final on handicaps based on their competition grading.

There are some treats for spectators, too. Anyone who has pre-booked for a cycling event through Ticketek in the past will have the opportunity to buy one ticket to the Sid Patterson Grand Prix and receive one ticket free. Each unreserved ticket purchased will entitle the buyer to a $20 ticket free.

Interested people should ask for the 'Kierin' offer when booking. For more information about the Sid Patterson Grand Prix, contact Barry Langley on 0417 508 049 or 03 9525 1318. Entries close this week.

Tasmanian track team for National's

By Rod Morris

Winning medals and national glory is high on the priority list for all members of the Tasmanian Cycling Federation's State junior track team, when it heads to Northern Territory tomorrow (Thursday, March 28). The powerful Tassie team will compete at the Australian Junior Track Cycling Championships, which are to be hosted by the Alice Springs Cycling Club and will run from March 29 to April 4.

Heading the list is the State's No. 1 ranked junior, Matthew Goss, who will compete in the Junior 1 (under 17) age group category. Goss is a true all-rounder and will tackle the sprint, pursuit, elimination and derby titles, whilst partnering Ty Winduss, John Rayner and Wes Sulzberger in the teams pursuit.

Devonport rider Natasha Mapley is the reigning silver medallist in the Australian Under 15 Girls 2000 m Individual Pursuit, but will step up to the Under 17 age group at Alice Springs.

Hobart's Samantha Masters, Riana's Ben Fielding and Launceston's Will Robinson are other Tasmanian team members, who will head to the Northern Territory expecting to return home with a medal of any colour.

Tasmanian junior team

Under 17 Men: Matt Goss, Ty Winduss, John Raynor, Wes Sulzberger.
Under 17 Women: Samantha Masters, Natasha Mapley, Kim Hogarth.
Under 15 Men: Ben Fielding, Will Robinson, Sean Oliver.
Under 15 Women: Angela Klyne, Grace Sulzberger, Sarah Eaves.

Meanwhile the Tasmanian senior and under 19 track team is still preparing for its national championships, which will be held at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome in mid-April.

The team will include:

Senior Men: Darren Young, Stephen Rossendell.
Senior Women: Louise Yaxley, Emily Williams.
Under 19 Men: Mark Jamieson, Jarrod Burr, Abram Manion, David Klyne, Ryan Sullivan.
Under 19 Women: Belinda Goss, Kirby Piscioneri, Lisa Strange, Stephanie Williams.

Lea Valley Cyling Club looking for women

The Lea Valley Cyling Club (UK) is actively seeking lady riders for its women's racing team in time for the Eastern Counties Festival weekend at the start of May. The club has three female racing members including coach Karenm McKenzie (BC Level 2 coach), and has separate facilities for women at its meeting hall in Walthamstow and racing HQ on the E1 racing course.

Interested persons should contact Peter Chilton, Membership secretary Lea Valley C.C. with any questions.

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