News for April 15, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

100th Paris-Roubaix news

Post race quotes

Johan Museeuw (Domo, 1st)

Johan Museeuw Photo © AFP

A calm and relaxed Museeuw answered the questions of the press after his win in the 100th Paris-Roubaix, where he attributed his success to a "flash" of inspiration on a sector of pavé. "I don't know why I attacked at that moment. I felt good. I did not think about it. I simply accelerated and rode hard for the next 10 kilometres. And, when my advantage reached 1'10, I told myself that it was possible to win. Nevertheless, if I had not known the disillusionment of last Sunday, I would not be here to comment on my victory."

Museeuw was of course a heavily marked man last week, and threatened to retire after finishing second in Flanders. "Yes, I had to cry. Everyone knows me as a solid rider, but I am only a man, with my emotions. Fortunately I had a meal with my family and drank a good Italian wine with Patrick (Lefevere) and it passed."

Regarding Mapei, "I do not want to say that I was on top of them. All that I can say is that this is a race that you don't win just through the power of your legs. There is equally a small luck factor involved."

"When you are afraid, you lose ten percent of your power. A 36 year old racer is therefore airtight. I was certainly vigilant, because the road was very slippery, and I finished very tired."

What inspired you to this 10th World Cup victory? "I have often said in the past that I am not obsessed by numbers and statistics. I have not changed my opinion. The day when I change my mind, I will stop."

To the next, rather obvious question: "I have fixed myself on the World Championships in Zolder as a limit. Between now and then, we will see. I have been at the top for ten years, I have not undergone too much pressure, and that won't start now. I was very surprised to learn of the eventual finish of my career. But when I stop, it is because I will have lost the motivation."

Steffen Wesemann (Telekom, 2nd)

German Steffen Wesemann finally had things go his way today and he recorded his best ever finish in Paris-Roubaix. However, things are never in your favour all day in Paris-Roubaix:

"I am hyper happy. Still I thought that bad luck was going to hit me like last year, because I again fell before the first sector. I came back two or three times to the leading group. But, I had to change shoes and my bike. Finally, I don't think I would have been able to mark the attack from Museeuw: he was already three minutes in the lead. It was over."

Tom Boonen (US Postal, 3rd)

A remarkable ride by this 21 year old up and coming star from Belgium. Tom Boonen already has good experience in the U23 version of this race, but today was another big step up for him.

"Third in Paris-Roubaix...Again I can't believe what has happened. Has a neo-pro ever realised a similar performance? And what fantastic riders rode in the hell around me!"

"It was unbelievable that I felt so strong. It was bad that George Hincapie did not feel similarly strong. I rode in the lead for 230 km. Again I don't know my limits. Even when George fell, I continued to believe in my chances."

"This is the height of my season. Now, I will take three weeks of rest and I will resume in the Four Days of Dunkerque."

Lars Michaelsen (Team Coast, 5th) :

"I was surprised by spectators after a bend. I fell. Next I was handicapped because I could not use my derailleur normally. I suffered too from my wrist. Museeuw possesses a solid team, this is what makes the difference".

Thierry Gouvenou (Big Mat, 7th)

"That was really hard. Fortunately, I know Paris-Roubaix really well because it was my 12th. I wanted to hang on until the end. Today, I did not think of the Tour de France; Paris-Roubaix is sufficient to motivate yourself."

"My fall was bad. I was one of the better guys in the group. I had the motivation to be present and this is important. Museeuw was stronger but he did not crush us either. He went at the right time. Still, he is the conqueror necessary for the 100th edition."

Nico Mattan (Cofidis, 9th)

"I was not really good on the pave. When Museeuw attacked, I was on his wheel. But, I did not feel confident enough. I saw a patch of oil and I was afraid of these cobbles. Without that, I maybe could have stayed with Museeuw because I felt really good".

Andrea Tafi (Mapei, 17th)

"I have had bronchial problems this week after the Tour of Flanders; I have not been able to train normally, I had to look after myself due to the antibiotics. On such terrain, Museeuw was logically the favourites. I don't have any regrets. I finished as a point of honour on my part."

Christophe Mengin (FdJ, outside time limit)

"Paris-Roubaix is never easy. But, with the conditions today, that does not help; I did not want to take too many risks in Arenberg. I was behind. The attack went: it was too late. This is the one of the worst Paris-Roubaix I have known. This is a crazy race".

Patrick Lefevere (Domo manager)

"We adopted tactics that have suited us for years. For me today, this is the most beautiful that Johan has won. I know all the sacrifices that he has made to finish here. You have only to look at his face and you don't have to add anything more. The expression is the same as the one that I have seen in Roubaix in 2000."

"This is a great champion. At the classics level, there is Eddy Merckx and Johan Museeuw, then...A champion like that, I need again in the team; it is not necessary for him to stop."

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Johan Museeuw bio

Born: October 13, 1965
Place of birth: Varsenare, Belgium
Height: 1.84 m
Weight: 71 kg
Teams: ADR (1988-1989), Lotto (1990-1992), GB-MG (1993-1994), Mapei (1995-2000), Domo (2001-)

Wins (in brief)

1990
2 stages Tour de France
Stage Driedaagse van De Panne
Stage Quatre Jours de Dunkerque

1991
2 stages Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol
Stage Quatre Jours de Dunkerque

1992
Stage Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol
2 stages Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana
G.P. E3 Harelbeke
Belgian road championship

1993

Stage Paris-Nice
Dwars door Belgie
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Stage Tour de Suisse
Paris-Tours

1994
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Amstel Gold Race
Stage Tour de Suisse

1995
Trofeo Laigueglia
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Quatre Jours de Dunkerque + stage
Meisterschaft von Zurich

1996
Brabantse Pijl
Paris-Roubaix
Belgian Road Championship
World Road Championship

1997
3 stages Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol
Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne
Stage Tirreno-Adriatico
Driedaagse van De Panne
Quatre Jours de Dunkerque + stage

1998
G.P. E3 Harelbeke
Brabantse Pijl
Ronde van Vlaanderen

1999
Dwars door Belgie

2000
Omloop Het Volk
Brabantse Pijl
Paris-Roubaix

2002
Paris-Roubaix

Museeuw leads World Cup

Johan Museeuw has grabbed the lead of the World Cup by the throat after his impressive win in Paris-Roubaix. He holds a 50 point lead over Mario Cipollini, who will more than likely not contest the overall, and a 61 point lead over Andrea Tafi. Further down is George Hincapie on 82 points, nearly 90 points behind the Lion of Flanders.

Now the question is can Museeuw take his third overall World Cup win, which would constitute a record?

World Cup rankings after round 3

1 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites              170 pts
2 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua & Sapone Cantina      120
3 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                109
4 George Hincapie (USA) Us Postal Service            82
5 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites              79
6 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Team Telekom                70
7 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto-Adecco               61
8 Jo Planckaert (Bel) Cofidis                        55
9 Tom Boonen (Bel) Us Postal Service                 52
10 Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                       51

Museeuw 'strongest by far' - Johan Bruyneel - US Postal Service

After near misses the last three years, the US Postal Service team finally made the podium at Paris-Roubaix today. However, it was the USPS rider who reached the podium that was the biggest surprise.

First year professional Tom Boonen, just 21-years-old, turned in the race of his life in finishing third in the 261 kilometer event while teammate George Hincapie placed sixth - his fourth straight top-six finish at the "Hell of the North."

"We did everything right today," said Johan Bruyneel, the USPS team's director sportif. "Everything went right for us except for one thing...Museeuw was too strong. Nobody was going to beat him today."

Museeuw, the winner of the 1996 and 2000 editions of Paris-Roubaix, attacked the lead group - one containing Boonen and Hincapie - with just over 40 kilometres remaining and rode clear to victory. Boonen, fourth in last year's espoir version of Paris-Roubaix, and Hincapie took up the chase of Museeuw and dropped the rest of the leaders yet were unable to gain ground of Museeuw.

"We had two guys working together and he (Museeuw) was still putting time on them every 2-3 kilometers," Bruyneel said. "The team did a big race today. George had a big race, Tom had a big race, but Museeuw was too strong, that's all. There is nothing to say, there are no excuses, he (Museeuw) was the strongest by far."

While riding alongside Boonen in the final 20 kms, Hincapie slipped of the road and fell into a ravine, dropping off the pace. He was eventually absorbed by a hard charging chase group while Boonen, riding in the lead group for nearly the entire race, was caught by Telekom's Steffen Wesemann in the final 10 kms and was outsprinted by the German for second place.

"Tom was much better than expected today," Bruyneel said. "As a first year pro, he has shown well in the all Classics this year but today was over 260 kms, it's an impressive result. He needs to keep going and keep both his feet on the ground. But for a 21-year-old in his first Paris-Roubaix, he was amazing.

"George looked great and he was very comfortable the whole day," Bruyneel added. "The only thing I think happened was that when Museeuw attacked and George saw how strong he was - and that nobody was going to have a chance to stay with him - he had a little breakdown mentally, which I think is normal. He is disappointed, but I know how difficult it is to win."

Yet, despite not reaching the top step of the podium, Bruyneel was pleased with the team's performance, especially after last year's Paris-Roubaix, when the team was criticized after failing to provide Hincapie with support in the final stages of the race.

"We had the right guy (Boonen) in the early break and he was able to sit on, while the rest of the team worked to keep the break within 2-3 minutes," Bruyneel said. "The whole team did a great job on all of the sections (of cobblestones), grouping at the front. It was almost always 5-6 USPS riders at the front every time. We had a very successful Flemish campaign and here, especially after what happened last year, was great. All eight guys rode great today, they all did an amazing job."

No doping controls at Roubaix

There were no anti-doping controls practiced in Roubaix after the finish today, due to the lack of a doctor according to official information. Jean-Marie Leblanc said that "We will send a letter of protest to the Ministry of Youth and Sports with a copy to the UCI and the French Cycling Federation.

The organizers announced after the race that Johan Museeuw, winner of the 100th edition, did not have to undergo the normal controls.

UCI's Centre Mondial du Cyclisme inaugurated in Aigle

The UCI's new home, the "Centre Mondial du Cyclisme" was officially opened in Aigle, Switzerland on Sunday, April 14. Those present included president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, as well as his predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch and UCI president Hein Verbruggen.

An "open doors" day was held yesterday to start the festivities, along with the inauguration of a "Hall of Fame" which honours 44 champions of cycling in all disciplines, including Anquetil, Bahamontes, Bartali, Bobet, Coppi, Hinault, Indurain, Merckx and Poulidor.

A 200 metre indoor velodrome was also built as part of the centre, at a cost of 16.5 million euros. Its aim is to assist track riders from all countries (not only Switzerland) who do not have good facilities at home.

Treto recovering again

USA National Team member Nathan Treto is recovering from his second catheter surgery on his heart after being diagnosed with tachycardia arrhythmia last month. The surgery was performed at San Diego Scripp's Hospital in La Jolla by Dr. Steven Higgins, a cardiac electrophysiologist who has treated many athletes. Dr. Brent Kay of Temecula, Calif. will be monitoring Nathan's recovery.

Nathan (who is coached by Eddie B., 1984 U.S. Olympic Coach) will soon begin training and should be racing within 2 - 4 weeks. He will be racing in the U.S. and would like to join the Espoir National Team in Europe later this year.

Nathan and his family would like to thank USA Cycling and the cycling community for all their support. Also a big thank you to Bobby Julich of Team Telekom for all of his advice.