News for April 27, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Amstel Gold Race data

Distance: 254.4 km
Start: Maastricht at 10:15 local time
Finish: Maastricht approx. 16:30
Number of climbs: 33
Important climbs: Cauberg (km 55, 166, 235), Eyserbos (km 215). Last climb: St Antoniusbank (km 246).
Teams: Rabobank, Mapei-Quick Step, Lotto-Adecco, Fassa Bortolo, Domo-Farm Frites, Cofidis, Telekom, iBanesto.com, Alessio, Team Coast, Acqua e Sapone, US Postal Service, Saeco Longoni Sport, Kelme, Phonak Hearing Systems, CSC-Tiscali, Gerolsteiner, Tacconi Sport, Lampre-Daikin, Index-Alexia, Jean Delatour, Bankgiroloterij-Batavus, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, Palmans-Collstrop, EDS-fakta (25 in total)

Favourites: Michael Boogerd, Markus Zberg (Rabobank), Lance Armstrong (USPS), Paolo Bettini, Oscar Freire (Mapei), Erik Zabel (Telekom), Peter Van Petegem, Serge Baguet (Lotto),

Notable absentees: Erik Dekker (Rabobank), Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo), Jan Ullrich (Telekom), Laurent Jalabert (CSC), Andrei Tchmil (Lotto), Gilberto Simoni (Saeco).

Victories: In 36 editions, 17 have been won by Dutchmen, including 5 by record holder Jan Raas (1977-1982). The other wins have been 9 for Belgium, 3 for Switzerland, 2 for France and Germany, 1 for Australia, Denmark and Italy(!)

Local participation: 17 Dutchmen will ride in the 2002 edition: Michael Boogerd, Jan Boven, Bram de Groot, Karsten Kroon and Marc Lotz (all Rabobank), Bert Hiemstra, Vincent van der Kooij, Bram Schmitz, Jan van Velzen, Remco van der Ven, Bart Voskamp Pieter Vries (BankGiroLoterij-Batavus), Tristan Hoffman (CSC-Tiscali), Servais Knaven and Max van Heeswijk (Domo-Farm Frites), Aart Vierhouten and Stefan van Dijk (Lotto-Adecco).

Saeco for Amstel

The Saeco-Longoni Sport team are aiming to better their 'disappointing' fourth place in last weekend's Liege-Bastogne-Liege, in Sunday's fifth round of the World Cup, the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands. Danilo Di Luca will be looking for revenge as team leader and will have the in form Mirko Celestino and Igor Astarloa with him. The rest of the team which managed by Bruno Vicino includes Salvatore Commesso, Biagio Conte, Torsten Nitsche, Fabio Sacchi and Alessandro Spezialetti.

Live coverage

Don't miss Cyclingnews' Live coverage of the 37th Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, April 28. It starts at 10:00am local time (4:00am Eastern, 1:00am Pacific, 6:00pm Australian east).

Full preview
Start list
Course map

Dierckxsens looking to improve

Lampre's Ludo Dierckxsens is not satisfied with his season so far, where he has been conspicuously absent from the results sheet. Dierckxsens is known as a strong rider, always near the front and getting in the breakaways. In past years, especially in the classics, this netted him a number of top places (but few wins). However this season he hasn't even been able to manage that.

"I achieved an acceptable level in 'my' races," he said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad's Paul de Keyser. "It's the little numbers that matter. I got my share of bad luck, with punctures at the worst moments and those sorts of situations. But that will be forgotten soon. Only the results count and I haven't got any so far."

"I'm not making excuses, but the weather was not on my side this year. Last season I found out I'm plagued by terrible allergies. Tree pollen especially is a torture; certainly if it's dry, sunny weather like we had the last few weeks. It's not a positive thing; but don't let it sound as an excuse, it just wasn't good. Full stop."

"I've got something to put right; especially for myself. But the season is long; if you allow me to use that cliché. It continues with the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, if things go my way a bit. There's rain and wind predicted, isn't there? And then on to the Tour of Belgium, the Tour,... there's still so many occasions to colour my season by the time the bill is really made up."

"At 37, I know some people say that I'm 'worn out'. But let them say what they want. People who say things like that only speak their own mind. They don't feel my legs; I do! Age doesn't mean everything; there's enough examples in the peloton to illustrate that. I'm one of those!"

Look out for smilin' Ludo at the front on Sunday, especially if the weather is bad.

Andrei Tchmil interviewed

Andrei Tchmil (Lotto) gave an interview with Belgian TV about his truncated spring and hopes for the rest of the season. He has missed all of his favourites, which is a shame for both him and his fans, who would have loved to have seen a Museeuw-Tchmil battle in Paris-Roubaix.

"It's a real pity I have not been able to ride the Spring Classics. Now, with Amstel Gold being ridden on Sunday it comes to a finish. My goals now are the Belgian National Championships and trying to obtain selection for the World Championships in Zolder this year. I'll see what happens after that."

Tchmil is now a very popular guy in Belgium - a lot different to before when he was known as a closed, quiet rider, with little to say to the press and no time for small talk.

The disappearance of Lotto manager Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke from the team has changed Tchmil markedly, according to current team manager Jef Braeckeveldt. "He's changed so much, turned around completely. Because of the attitude Jean-Luc had of 'I'm the boss' no-one in the team dared to ask him for anything, some guys had a real hard time because of that. It influenced Andrei immensely and that worsened the atmosphere in the team even more."

Tchmil commented on his popularity, that "It comes with results and the right attitude. In '94 the Belgian public saw me in a different light. I was an Eastern rider, coming over here to ride for a Belgian team. Of course the people would have rather seen a Belgian rider do better; it's normal."

"Winning the Tour of Flanders in 2000 is definitely my most favourite memory so far. I had been chasing victory in that World Cup for 6-7 years. At that stage, I was afraid I would never make it, that it wasn't meant for me. When I won it was a confirmation for myself, of my abilities. It made me part of that select group of riders who can win World Cup races; it's very special."

"The World's in Plouay the same year were the biggest disappointment I have known so far. I did everything right, rode a perfect race. It's just that there were riders there from different countries who could give each other a hand ...But this year, I'm going to try once more to win the World Title."

Operation for Peers?

Chris Peers (Cofidis) has not yet fully recovered from the injuries that he sustained in his Kemmelberg crash three weeks ago. "A severe hemorrhage in the hip even prevents me from walking normally," he says. "I keep on going but if things aren't better by the 1st of May, I'm afraid I'll have to undergo an operation."

Back problem for Van Bondt

In more injury news, CSC-Tiscali's Geert Van Bondt is suffering from a back problem. "In fact, it should be operated on. But that might just mean the end of my career. I have thought about it, but I haven't given up hope just yet."

Giro 2001 blitz news

FCI disciplinary commission to meet on May 7

The disciplinary commission of the Italian Cycling Federation will meet again on May 7 to decide the fate of seven cyclists who were recommended for sanctioning by CONI in relation to the Giro 2001 blitz. Originally there were 13 Italian cyclists who CONI said should be suspended from between 6 months and 4 and a half years, but five of these were cleared by the FCI this week, and a sixth (Guisseppe di Grande) was given a six month sentence but has already served it.

The FCI commission has asked for more information on the following riders: Giuliano Figueras, Ermanno Brignoli, Daniele Paolo, Marcello Siboni, Giampaolo Mondini, Alberto Elli and Endrio Leoni. They will re-examine the case on May 7. In effect, this allows these riders to participate in the upcoming Giro d'Italia. The delay has been criticised by CONI president Mario Pescante.

Out of competition testing in Trentino

Riders due to compete in the Giro del Trentino were subjected to out of competition drug tests on Wednesday, April 24, the day before the race started. A total of 15 riders from three teams (Mapei, Lampre and Saeco) were selected. The tests were similar to those performed between La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege in Belgium last week.

UCI postpones decision to suspend Italian federation

The UCI has postponed its decision to suspend the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) from mid-June, 2002. They made the decision at a UCI congress in Zolder in February, due to the as yet unresolved case involving Luc Leblanc and his unpaid wages (360,000 euros). Leblanc is owed the money by his former employer Polti, and has taken both Polti's proprietor Il Gabbiano and the FCI to the Civil Court in Bergamo.

In February, the UCI had proposed to prevent Italians from racing next season, and to take away their rights to hold international events. They gave the FCI a deadline of June 1 to pay Leblanc, but this will not likely be met. Reportedly Giancarlo Ceruti, chairman of the FCI, has been trying to get hold of the bank guarantee in order to pay Leblanc.

The final decision will be taken by the UCI during their congress in October in Zolder.

Tour in Tenerife?

Tour de France boss Jean-Marie Leblanc paid a visit to the Spanish island of Tenerife on Wednesday. Leblanc is looking into the possibility to hold the prologue and the first stage of the Tour in Tenerife, possibly in 2006 or 2007.

Smaller field for GP de Wallonie

The GP de Wallonie, held on May 8 (Ascension Day) will more than likely have a smaller field this year, due to clashes with several other races. The 1.2 category race is on at the same time as the Four Days of Dunkirk, Hasselt-Spa-Hasselt, the Peace Race, with the Giro d'Italia starting three days later.