News for March 30, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Freire clears the air

World Champion Oscar Freire has spoken (or written) out against reports that he wants to leave Mapei-Quick Step at the end of the season. Following Freire's fifth place in Milan-San Remo, the Spanish press were particularly harsh on his team, saying that he had been isolated in the finale when he needed them the most. Freire's brother Antonio was quoted in El Mundo as saying "I don't know what is going to happen but a lot will have to improve if Oscar's going to race with Mapei next year after what happened at Milan-San Remo."

Mapei manager Alvaro Crespi responded to some of the criticisms last week, defending the team's tactics (Bettini's attack on the Poggio) and pointing out that they had lost key support riders due to crashes.

There were also reports that Freire's request to renew his contract for the next two seasons had been ignored by Mapei, despite having initiated the negotiations at the end of last year. This was not quite the case, as Freire wrote in his online diary.

"They took the first step and offered me one more year, or the same as until the end of 2003, because they didn't know what was going to happen with the team after that date...Here is where the others have not told the whole truth, as I only asked to improve my conditions for this year and one extra season. I want to clear up the fact that I certainly didn't ask to renew for two or more seasons, as has been reported in some newspapers."

Freire reiterated that he was disappointed with the outcome of the Milan-San Remo, and he didn't understand why his trusted domestiques Pedro Horillo and Elia Aggiano were not selected. "Milan-San Remo is a race in which the team is 80% of the victory. I did not have it and I believe I am justified in showing my disagreement with what happened. But from there to say that I have broken off relations...The Italian team remains my first option, but if nothing has been finalised with regards to the [contract] renewal...from now until May when the Giro d'Italia begins, I will have to think about other possibilities that do not exist now."

Freire's next objective will be the Tour of Flanders on April 7. "If I finish first or second I will be the leader for the World Cup which remains my main objective for this season.

Fabio Sacchi back in Saeco team

The Saeco-Longoni Sport team has lifted its suspension of Fabio Sacchi, whose house was found to contain banned drugs, including the hormone gonadotropin, after a police search 11 days ago. At the time, Sacchi was given a "precautionary suspension from racing, with a consequential freezing of all wages," until he could explain himself to the team, and "investigations were carried out to discover the true facts."

After consulting with the rider and their lawyers, the Saeco team decided that "there are currently no reasons which allow them to continue to suspend the rider."

The team has not absolved Sacchi, but "has to respect the codes which regulate work contracts and the clauses relevant to the interruption of these contracts for fair reasons."

Team manager Claudio Corti said "I think the decision to suspend Sacchi was a decision we had to take. In the same way we are obliged to follow the laws and allow the rider to continue his professional career. I naturally hope that light can be shed on what happened to allow Sacchi to continue his season, which started off so well, with the right mentality and in complete serenity."

Many teams now have clauses in their contracts with riders that allow for immediate suspension or sacking of a rider who is guilty of illegal performance enhancing drug use or possession. To appease the sponsors, the team management have to act quickly to suspend a rider, who is basically guilty until proven innocent.

Unfortunately the courts take much longer than this to reach a decision, and if the rider does turn out to be innocent, then they have to deal with the damage to their character and loss of earnings/points while out of competition.

Boogerd re-signs with Rabobank

Michael Boogerd will again ride next season with the Rabobank team. He he has not yet signed a contract, but is expected to do so in the coming weeks. That means he and Erik Dekker, Rabobank's top two riders, will remain with the team until the end of 2003, which is as much as the team is prepared to commit at the moment.

In the next few seasons, the team will be under pressure from the sponsor to produce a podium finisher in the Tour de France. To that end they signed last year's third place finisher in the Vuelta, Levi Leipheimer, who has all the right qualities to achieve this. However, Leipheimer's place is also not secure.

"If the American is disappointing, then Jan Raas [team manager] will look out for another candidate," said team management spokesman Piet Hubert to AD. "That demands a new solid investment. And since Tour specialists are long-lasting, the bank will not contract Boogerd and Dekker for longer periods."

Gotti and Rebellin to answer CONI next Friday

Italians Ivan Gotti (Alessio) and Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) have been convened to appear in front of the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-disciplinary commission next Friday morning, April 5. The pair will be questioned by CONI's magistrate Giacomo Aiello, in relation to the recent police raids in Tirreno-Adriatico.

At the end of next week, CONI's disciplinary commission will give the names of 15 riders to the Italian Cycling Federation, who are in danger of not being allowed to compete in the next Giro d'Italia. The 15 are part of the much larger investigation into last year's Giro d'Italia, that is being conducted (in part) by Luigi Bocciolini in Florence. The FCI will determine whether any of these athletes are deserving of sporting sanctions, with their procedures likely to take significantly less time than the courts.

Kivilev out of Criterium International

Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) has withdrawn from tomorrow's Criterium International due to a viral infection, according to his team. Several other good riders have also chosen not to start, including Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel), Dave Bruylandts (Domo), Oscar Camenzind (Phonak), Alex Zülle (Team Coast), Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) and Abraham Olano (ONCE).

Pantani donates jersey to Amnesty

Marco Pantani has donated one of his Mercatone Uno jerseys to an Amnesty International auction to help their campaign against torture. The auction will take place from April 3-10, and Pantani is inviting everyone via his official site, www.pantani.it, to participate in the auction to "give value to this initiative that surely has a high ethical and moral significance."

A week off for McEwen

One of this season's most successful riders has been Australian Robbie McEwen, who has nine wins to his credit so far, including the Australian Championship, four stages in the Tour Down Under, a stage plus the overall GC in Etoile des Besseges, and two stages in Paris-Nice. The Lotto-Adecco sprinter has earned a week of rest, and will be back in action for the GP Pino-Cerami on April 12.

Kemmelberg closer to finish in Gent-Wevelgem

Gent-Wevelgem's most notorious climb, the Kemmelberg, will be 7 kilometres closer to the finish of this year's race. The riders actually tackle the Kemmelberg twice during the course of the race, and organiser Patrick Sercu hopes that moving it closer to the finish will help make the race more selective.

North-West Veterans Cycling Club Sesqui-Centenary Race

By Rod Morris

The North-West Veteran Cycling Club (Tasmania) will stage its inaugural Road Classic this Monday, April 1 as part of the Ulverstone 150 Sesqui-Centenary celebrations.

The 35 km road race will take place on Monday afternoon between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m. The event will start and finish outside Midway Furniture in Reibey St, Ulverstone and will encompass two loops of a circuit passed Poynton's Nursery and the Forth Hotel.

More than $400 in prizemoney, sashes, medallions and certificates will be on offer and a field of more than 50 riders are expected to take part. Whilst the race will he handicapped, meaning any amount of potential winners will face the starter, the early favourites include Darrell Eaves of Burnie, Tim Hicks (East Devonport), Justin Clements (Devonport), Stephen Horbury (Ulverstone) and former Austral Wheelrace winner, Craig Price of Ulverstone, who is also acting as the race director.

Other notable riders compete will include Steven Boon (Devonport), Les Davison East Devonport), Steve Gilmore (NSW), Phillip Hays (Don), Peter Jamieson (Ulverstone), Terry Shepherd (Devonport), David Walker (Ulverstone) and Shane Warren (Latrobe).

World champion veteran cyclist Bernard Astell has been afforded the honour of being appointed the official race starter. Assisting him will be Lindsay Walker, a former senior track handicapper with the Tasmanian Cycling Federation.

Race sponsors include Craig Price Cyclery, Von Bibra Motors, Midway Furniture, BJR Chain & Engineering Supplies and Morris Media.

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Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini