News for April 13, 2002

Edited by John Stevenson

Paris-Roubaix: "Hell of the riders"

Museeuw & Domo on the pavé
Photo: © AFP

Former world champion Jean Stablinski says Paris-Roubaix's nickname - 'the Hell of the North' - should be recast as 'the Hell of the riders' to reflect who really suffers in Sunday's pavé-fest. Stablinski, who rode Paris-Roubaix eleven times, memorably told historian Pierre Chany that each section of pavé "constitutes a trench."

"Stab" was one of the people responsible for shaping the modern Paris-Roubaix. In 1968 "[race organiser] Jacques Goddet had asked Albert Bouvet to unearth pavé," he remembers. "I immediately thought of the Arenberg, and Goddet responded 'I am talking about pavé, not quagmires'."

Now 69, Stablinksi appreciates the trenches of the Arenberg pavé with a gourmet's relish.

"This section is very straight and very hard. You enter it on a descent, very fast, then arrive at a pinch. It's a little for from the finish so that not just one man can benefit from it. Paris-Roubaix is not won in Arenberg, but from there the group with the winners is selected."

Arenberg remains a 'secret garden' of Northern France because the area is cordoned off around a disused mine. As well as the pave, riders may have to contend with the wild boar that inhabit the area, a hazard that has caused the race to skip the Arenburg in previous tears.

As the for the unseasonably good weather, Stab says it's not an advantage: "You roll more quickly under the sun and the falls are only more painful," he said.

Paris-Roubaix's secret

Why does Paris-Roubaix have such a hold over riders like Stablinksi and modern heroes like Franco Ballerini and Johan Museeuw? At the time of the event's centenary in 1996, former race director Jacques goddett summed it up:

"It's because the cyclist's most terrible adversary is the wind, the air, the atmosphere," he said. "The rider who is well-protected in a paceline or group expends much less energy than one who is leading the race. However, in Paris-Roubaix, with the paving stones, it is impossible to stick to a wheel. It is necessary to avoid the large holes and the great shocks." In Paris-Roubaix, there is nowhere to hide.

Stablinski's tips for this year's race? Andrea Tafi, Johan Museeuw, Peter Van Petegem American George Hincapie are the riders he sees as fitting the template for a Paris-Roubaix winner: "A big, strapping man who knows how to 'roul' in the wind because, even in fifth position, you take the gusts."

But he doesn't give much for French chances. "I think that the Belgians will still beat the French," he insists. "Why do the the Belgians wait until Monday? To make sure the French finish, of courseÉ"

Paris-Roubaix Full Preview
Course map & profile
Start list.

Cyclingnews' Live coverage of the 100th Paris-Roubaix will start at 11:00 local time (5:00am USA eastern time, 2:00am USA west, 7:00pm Australian east).

Paris-Roubaix by numbers

1cm - the smallest winning margin (Plankaert ahead of Bauer, 1990)
2 - Wins by Johan Museeuw, 1996 and 2000, hot favourite this year
3 - Number of times teams run by Patrick Lefevere have occupied the whole podium
4 - Most victories by one rider, Roger De Vlaeminck
5:21 - Greatest winning margin - Eddy Merckx over Roger De Vlaeminck in 1970
8 bar - Typical tyre pressure at the start of the race
11:00 - Start time at the Palais àCompiègne
12:15 - Henri Pélissier's winningtime in 1919 on roads wrecked by the Great War
16 - greatest number of Paris-Roubaix finishes, Raymond Impanis between 1947 and 1963 (15 for Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle)
25 - teams scheduled to start
26 - sectors of pavé
30 - victories by French riders
34 seconds - gap between winner Servais Knaven and Johan Museeuw last year
37.704km/h - Knaven's 2001 winning average speed
38 years (and eight months) - age of the oldest winner, Gilbert Duclos-lasalle
45.129 km/h: record average speed, peter Post, 1964 (the course has changed a bit since then... )
48 - victories by Belgian riders
49.1km - total length of pavé in 2001
55 - finishers last year from 190 starters
99 - number of editions of Paris-Roubaix to date
100 - number of winners - Andre Mahé and Serse Coppi were equal first in 1949
222km - the length of Dirk De Mol's successful solo escape
261km - from Compiegne to Roubaix velodrome
385 Euros - the prize for 15th place
1000 francs - the prize for the winner of the first edition. Equivalent to seven times the monthly wage of a miner at the time.
1968 - the year of the introduction new route and start at Compeigne
2400m - length of the Arenberg pavé
30,000 Euro - the winner's prize money

Mobilvetta replaces ONCE in Giro

The organisers of the Giro d'Italia have invited Italian team Mobilvetta to take the place of the Spanish ONCE outfit after ONCE withdrew from the race earlier this week. The Mobilvetta team for the Giro is likely to include Tour de France stage winner Mario Traversoni and Moreno Di Biase.

Mobilvetta's early season results were a factor in the decision to invite them, according to Giro organisers.

ONCE and iBanesto.com announced their withdrawal from the Giro earlier this week, citing the lack of race coverage on Spanish free-to-air television. The only remaining Spanish team in the race is Kelme.

José Maria Jiménez suffering from depression

Spanish rider José Maria Jiménez (iBanesto.com) is out of competiton for the foreseeable future after a 'nervous breakdown', according to his team.

Jimenez was a significant player in last year's Vuelta, taking four stage victories, but did not ride the Tour of the basque country this week, a race where he was expected to figure strongly.

iBanesto.com directeur sportif Eusebio Unzué told a press conference Friday, "He is going through a very bad time, as are we. He is a rider is a vital part of the peloton to provide spectacle, but he is at a very low ebb. I have spoken with him and he has not improved. I do not know when he will return."

Unzué said that Jiménez had suddenly stopped riding, and had even considered giving up cycling, but had rallied and continued training. He has been undergoing psychiatric treatment for a month but the team is not counting on his return for either the Tour de France or the Vuelta.

Pantani questioned

Italian police have questioned Marco Pantani about illegal substances allegedly found in the Italian's hotel room during the raid on the Giro d'Italia on June 6 last year.

Pantani was questioned for an hour and a half about a syringe containing insulin that police claim was discovered in Pantani's hotel room in Tuscany after the 17th stage of last year's race. He is one of over 50 riders still under investigation after the raid.

Pantani told Italian news service ANSA "The syringe they found does not belong to me and I do not understand how they can think that the room where they found it was mine. For privacy reasons my team never gives out the details of the rooms where the riders sleep."

"I am not worried and I am preparing for the Giro d'Italia, which starts on May 11," he added.

Asked if he was worried about being suspended before the Giro, Pantani answered, "If I don't fall off my bike I will be at the start."

On Monday Pantani will face the Italian anti-doping commission. Last week the commission suspended 13 riders for periods of up to four and a half years, based on police recommendations.

Insulin, usually used to treat diabetes, enhances the effects of human growth hormone, which is illegally used by athletes to enhance muscle growth and endurance.

Braikia back on track - coaching

The Danish Cycling Federation has appointed two coaches for the national track programme after the death of national track coach Kim Refshammer some weeks ago. The main goal of the season is of course the World Championships at home in the new Ballerup Siemens Arena on September 25-29.

Tayeb Braikia will work with the established riders towards the Worlds. Braikia is only 28 years old and had to stop a promising career after a heavy fall a year ago when he rode for Lotto-Adecco on the road. Braikia has four Worlds behind him as active rider with a fourth place in the Madison with Jakob Piil in 1997 as top merit. He has two national titles in pursuit and seven pro wins on the road. Braikia has already started his job leading the national track team in the road stage race Cinturion de Mallorca.

Claus Rasmussen has been hired to take charge of the talent programme with 20 riders launched at the opening of Ballerup Siemens Arena this winter. Rasmussen is 44 years and holds ten national titles, six World's starts, with a sixth place on the kilometre in 1983, and also participated in the Olympics 1984. He coached the junior national track team 1993-97

Austin gears up for Ride for the Roses

By Ted Arnold

Lance Armstrong is home in Texas and ready for a big weekend as the Lance Armstrong Foundation plays host to thousands of cyclists and cancer survivors from around the globe. Thousands that will raise millions of dollars during the foundations annual Ride for the Roses weekend. The event brings survivors, friends, and cycling luminaries to Armstrong's hometown of Austin, Texas each April.

In addition to Sunday's charity ride a benefit concert, gala dinner, and a 5 kilometre fun run will all serve in meeting the foundation's goals. The weekend will also offer the participants opportunities to attend cancer survivorship discussion panels that feature cancer survivors and experts in the field of research. Expect a complete wrap-up on cyclingnews.com early next week.

French selection for Mexico

Arnaud Tournant will lead the French team for the first round of the track world cup in Monterrey, Mexico next weekend, April 19-21. The world kilometre record holder will also ride the team pursuit.

Men

Kilometer: Arnaud Tournant
Individual pursuit: Arnaud Dublé, Franck Durivaux
Olympic sprint: Arnaud Tournant, Arnaud Dublé, Franck Durivaux
Keirin: Arnaud Dublé
Individual pursuit: Damien Pommereau
Team pursuit: Franck Perque, Cyril Bos, Damien Pommereau, Fabien Merciris
Points race: Franck Perque
Madison: Franck Perque, Damien Pommereau
Scratch: Benoît Genauzeau

Women

Sprint, 500 m and keirin: Céline Nivert
Pursuit, points race and scratch: Cathy Moncassin

Capital Cup cancelled

Arlington Sports, organiser of the June 1 Capital Cup round of the US National Racing Calendar, has announced the cancellation of the event because of delays in the construction of a bridge that affects roads used by the race.

Construction delays on the 23rd Street Bridge overpass will prevent Virginia Avenue from being used before June 1, leading to the cancellation. "We held out as long as we could to make a decision regarding the Capital Cup," said Race Director Robert Laybourn, "but the delays kept coming."

Although Virginia Avenue repaving is completed, work on the bridge is behind schedule and traffic on Virginia Avenue is currently limited to one lane under the bridge.

Arlington Sports also organises the Clarendon Cup criterium on the same weekend, and will now focus its energies on making a big success of the weekend's one remaining race. The two day format will be back next year.

Lehigh Velodrome to host Spirit of Women

On June 1 Lehigh Valley Velodrome, Pennsylvania will play host to the 2nd Annual Spirit of Women Ride for Cancer. All proceeds from the ride will benefit women's cancer programs at Lehigh Valley Hospital's Cancer Center. The annual ride is dedicated to the late Nicole Reinhart, in memory of her sportsmanship, kindness and dedication to cycling and fitness.

This year the ride introduces a five mile option to encourage novice riders. "If you can pedal a bike, you can ride five miles," said Karen Bliss, former national cycling champion. Women of all ages and fitness levels are invited to join in the fun and camaraderie of the ride as they select among 5-, 14-, 21- and 30-mile ride options.

Last year nearly 300 women participated, ranging in age from 7 to 73.For information on riding, volunteering, or to have a registration form sent to you, call 610-402-CARE or go to www.lvvelo.org.