News for April 17, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

66th Fleche Wallonne

Verbrugghe back for more

Last year's Criterium International and Flèche Wallonne winner Rik Verbrugghe will be back to defend his title in the 66th Flèche Wallonne. Verbrugghe, a local of the area, has not had as good a start to the season as last year: he could not repeat his success in last month's Criterium International and will only be an outside chance in this year's Fleche.

Don't miss Cyclingnews' Live coverage of the 66th Fleche Wallonne - starts at 14:00 local time (8:00am USA eastern time, 5:00am USA west, 10:00pm Australian east).

Preview
Start list
Map

5th Women's Fleche Wallonne

Rossner to defend lead in the Ardennes

The fourth round of the women's World Cup will take place in the Ardennes in Belgium, with the 5th women's Flèche Wallonne. The race is run on the same day as the men's classic (non-World Cup) but over a different parcours. The women have to tackle a 93.5 kilometre loop starting and finishing in Huy, with the well known Mur de Huy serving as the final climb.

Preview
Start list
Map

Wadecki on the mend

By Tim Maloney, European editor

Cyclingnews caught up with Piotr Wadecki of Domo-Farm Frites to see how he was recovering from his terrible crash last month in Tirreno-Adriatico. We spoke to Wadecki by phone in his home in Gdansk, Poland.

CN: How are you feeling these days, Piotr?
PW: Well I just had a CAT scan last week and the doctors have cleared me to ride again so I'm out on the bike again! I've got no pain; no problems with my head so I'm out for one or one and a half hours a day.

CN: What will be your comeback program?
PW: For now, I've got to build up my endurance and put in plenty of base miles. At this point, I hope to be able to return to racing in mid-May...about a month from now. I have to get back into good condition.

CN: How are things with Domo-Farm Frites?
PW: Oh, really great! I have gotten so much team support from them; I get phone calls every day from the team directors like Marc Sergeant and from the soigneurs...and Patrick Lefevere. It's unbelievable the way they take care of me.

CN: You must be disappointed about how things turned out so far this year.
PW: Yeah, well...I am because I trained really well this winter for the spring races; Tirreneo-Adriatico and all the classics. So everything in my program was destroyed (by the crash)...but now I'm trying to forget it.

CN: We know you are friends with Johan (Museeuw)...what did you think of his Paris-Roubaix win?
PW: When I was watching on the TV, it was...terrible! I was so nervous, my pulse was like 180 (bpm)...now I see that Museeuw is an even bigger example to me...the way he cam back after all the thing that happened to him so I know I can come back too...

Van Bon is back

Leon van Bon (Domo-Farm Frites) will make his much awaited return to racing in Thursday's Veenendaal-Veenendaal classic in the Netherlands. The Dutch classics specialist has missed the first three World Cup races this season and has not been able to race since February, due to an inflamed coccyx. He has trained for a month, and will "see how I go" on Thursday.

Domo's Koos Moerenhout will also make a return to racing in Veenendaal-Veenendaal. Moerenhout has been out of action since Paris-Nice due to a knee injury.

Lampre-Daikin for Flèche Wallonne and Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda

Flèche Wallonne, Belgium, April 17: Gabriele Missaglia (Ita), Sergio Barbero (Ita), Massimo Codol (Ita), Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita), Juan Manuel Garate (Spa), and Milan Kadlec (Cze). Team manager: Brent Copeland.

Settimana Ciclistica Lombarda, Italy, April 17-21: Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat), Simone Bertoletti (Ita), Jan Svorada (Cze), Marco Serpellini (Ita), Mariano Piccoli (Ita), Alberto Loddo (Ita), Manuel Quinziato (Ita) and Rubens Bertogliati (Swi). Team manager: Maurizio Piovani.

Nys signs for another three years

Belgian cyclocrosser Sven Nys has signed a preliminary contract with Rabobank for another three years. The 25 year old has ridden for the Dutch team since he turned professional in 1998, which means that he will be with Rabobank for at least eight years. This past season, Nys won the World Cup and Superprestige series, and finished third in the World Championships.

Fellow Rabobank 'crosser Richard Groenendaal has extended his contract until March 2003.

43rd Tour du Loir-et-Cher

This French stage race is designed mainly for younger riders (26 years and under) who have not turned professional, or are riding in Division III. The race takes place from April 17-21 and consists of six stages.

The teams

Crédit Agricole espoirs, Horsens, Team Krone, Vellutex (all division III), AVC Aix, CC Nogent, Jean Floc'h, Vendée U, UC Châteauroux, VC Oloron CAC 41, Go Pass, National teams from Holland and Scotland.

The stages

• Stage 1 - April 17: Blois - Chemery, 151.4 km
• Stage 2 - April 18: Mer - St.Laurent Nouan ,172.6 km
• Stage 3 - April 19: Villebarou - Vendome, 176.1 km
• Stage 4 - April 20: Chaumont sur Tharonne - Salbris, 181.7 km
• Stage 5 - April 21: Cour Cheverny - Contres, 102.3 km
• Stage 6 - April 21: Blois Ville - Blois Ville

Manning to defend Ras title

By Shane Stokes, irishcycling.com

FBD Milk Rás organiser Dermot Dignam has announced that the 2001 champion Paul Manning is returning to defend his title in this year’s race, which begins on May 19th.

Manning was the first English winner in the history of the event and with the backing of an impressively strong Great Britain team, is vying to take the 50th edition of the Irish tour. His bid will be backed by team-mates Chris Newton, Steve Cummings, Tim Buckle, Bryan Steel and Simon Jones, a squad which is strong and experienced enough to pose a serious challenge.

The task for the Irish riders aiming to take the Golden Jubilee edition of the race has been made more difficult with the news that a strong foreign entry is travelling in the hunt for precious world-ranking points. Dignam has confirmed that riders from 12 different countries will take part, attracted by the race’s reputation and its 2.5 ranking on the UCI International calendar.

Further details will be announced shortly as to the identities of those teams.

The 2002 FBD Milk Rás starts in Dublin on May 19th and features stage finishes in Ballinamore, Nenagh, Castletownbere, Midleton, Arklow, Baltinglass. The final stage will take place in the Dublin area on Sunday 26th May.

Burkina Faso cyclist to Spanish amateur team

One of Burkina Faso's top riders, Hamado Pafadnam (27), has joined the Cafés Baqué team, a well credentialed Spanish elite team. Pafadnam impressed the team organisation in last year's Tour du Faso in November, and offered him a place.

One of his first assignments in Spain was to watch the Klasika Primavera, and he was reportedly surprised by the severity of the climb to Autzagane, as there are not many mountains in Burkina Faso.

Menthéour climbs to 55th

Ex-professional Erwann Menthéour's singing career seems to have started well, with his first single reaching 55th position in France, based on sales up to April 6. The song entitled "J'aurais dû" will feature on his album, to be released this September.