News for August 4, 2002Edited by Anthony Tan and Jeff Jones Panaria Fiordo stays in cyclingItalian tile manufacturer Panaria Fiordo has decided to continue its involvement in cycling for at least one more year. Company president Giuliano Mussini has renewed his confidence in Panaria Fiordo team manager Bruno Reverberi despite the doping problems that seriously affected the morale of the team during this year's Giro d'Italia. Heading the line-up will be Mexican climber Julio Perez Cuapio, a dual stage winner in the 2002 Giro, as well as Classics specialist Giuliano Figueras, Australians Graeme Brown and Nathan O'Neill, and Ukrainian Sergiy Matveyev. Says Reverberi: "From this nucleus of riders, we already have a strong yet interesting young group of riders that are professionals of the highest level." The manager also made a salient point that the team will not sign any riders who have been convicted of using performance-enhancing drugs in the past: "I am grateful to the Mussini family for continuing their involvement in the sport and will aim to renew their confidence and our mutual love for cycling with a strong team for 2003 after a difficult season," confidently stated Reverberi. Rumsas' lawyer to pay a visitRaimondas Rumsas' lawyer, Alexandre Varaut, will travel to Italy today to visit his client, recommending that he goes to the France to sit as an "assistant witness" in the trial of his wife, Edita Rumsas. At this stage, Raimondas Rumsas is unwilling to return to France in the fear of being locked up, and has remained in Italy to stay with his children. "I will listen to what he has to say, and then discuss various options with him, outlining their advantages and disadvantages," Vermaut told Reuters yesterday. However Rumsas' wife has expressed concern in her husband coming to France, and does not want Raimondas Rumsas to find himself in the same predicament she is in. If found guilty, Edita Rumsas faces a five to seven year prison term and a fine of 150,000 Euros. Doping watchdogs welcome - sometimesPresident of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Dick Pound, strenuously denied claims revolving around the refusal of the international cycling union (UCI) and the international football federation (FIFA) to accommodate its independent observers during the Tour de France and World Cup respectively. In Manchester for the Commonwealth Games, Mr Pound did however make his views known on the refusal of FIFA to disallow WADA's non-medical personnel to supervise the work of qualified doctors during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. "It is quite simply absurd. One can observe all kinds of things to see whether procedures are being followed, whether one is a doctor or not," said the president of WADA. "The event was splendid, but there remains a question mark on the following subject: would they not benefit from this assistance?" The president continued in his forthright opinion in allowing its independent observers by citing the recent case of Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano during the Tour de France: the Spanish rider tested positive for salbutamol but was allowed to continue after his medical certificate allowed him to use the product to treat his asthma. "We discussed the possibility of providing the same service during the Tour to the UCI that we proposed to FIFA during the World Cup - that of independent observers, but we received the same response which was: 'We have complete confidence in our procedures - why we would need independent observers?'" "The case concerning Galdeano perfectly shows why they would need independent observers," said the World Anti-Doping president. "Many federations use this kind of denial - they say: 'there are no preoccupations with a doping in certain sports and therefore it is not a problem for us,' but I do not think that there is a sport or one country where the risk does not exist, and it is madness to claim otherwise", vigilantly stated Pound. San Francisco GP returnsTitle sponsor BMC Software has announced the return of the San Francisco Grand Prix and the participation of four-time Tour de France victor Lance Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service Team. To be held on September 15 this year, the event will involve a 109-mile road race on the streets of San Francisco, and is one of ten official events of the 2002 Pro Cycling Tour (PCT). The men's race is limited to 120 professional riders and will start and finish on the Embarcadero at the end of Market Street, across from the Ferry building. The scenic course will wind through North Beach, along Fisherman's Wharf and the Marina, up the gruelling Fillmore and Taylor Street climbs and back to the Embarcadero. Last year's winner, George Hincapie, will be competing again with his U.S. Postal Service teammates in an attempt to capture prizemoney worth $75,000, including a Saturn Vue. One day before the men's road race on September 14, a professional criterium race for the women, the San Rafael Cycling Classic will be held in downtown San Rafael, 20 miles away from the men's race. The San Rafael Cycling Classic is one of four races on the 2002 Women's Pro Cycling Tour. The event has proven to be enormously popular, drawing crowds estimated at 400,000 people since its inception a year ago. "I'm excited to announce the return of the San Francisco Grand Prix presented by BMC Software," said Mayor Willie Brown. "Last year's race proved to be one of the most exciting races in the world - just ask any of the 400,000 people that lined the streets to watch it, and we are expecting even better things this year." For information on the PCT visit www.procyclingtour.com. La Grande Boucle Féminine previewBy Jeff Jones Starting in 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands on Sunday August 4, La Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale 2002 promises to be one of the toughest women's stage races on the calendar. Spanning two weeks, LGBF will feature the world's top teams in action, vying for the prestige of winning the 'women's Tour de France'. This year marks the 11th edition of the race, which was launched in 1992 following the demise of the Tour Féminine in 1989. At this year's race there will be five past winners of LGBF, including Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, Valentina Polkhanova, Diana Ziliute, Edita Pucinskaite, and the defending champion, Joane Somarriba Arrola. The main absentee will be French legend Jeannie Longo, three time winner of the old Tour Féminine. There will be plenty of challengers for Somarriba's crown, including the Saturn squad led by Judith Arndt, with plenty of strong support including Cathy Marsal, Kim Bruckner, Anna Millward and Petra Rossner. Alongside Zijlaard-van Moorsel in Farm Frites-Hartol is the world's number rider Mirjam Melchers, who is a strong candidate for one or more stage wins, as well as a good place on GC. Her team includes Arenda Grimberg, Madeleine Lindberg and Kirsty Robb, all strong riders. Acca Due O look to have a number of candidates, with the Polikeviciute twins and Nicole Brandli all very capable climbers. Finally, the US national Team T-Mobile is getting better as the season progresses, with riders such as Amber Neben, Dede Demet, Kim Anderson and Mari Holden sure to try and make an impact. The parcoursBeginning in the Netherlands with two stages (a road race and a team time trial) in 's-Herogenbosch, La Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale passes through Belgium on the stage 2 between Brussels and Valenciennes (159.5km), then takes a couple of stages in north eastern France, before the transfer down to St Vallier for the Stage 5 individual time trial, finishing in Montceau les Mines. Then there is the relatively hard Stage 6 from Lyon to Villard de Lans, with an uphill finish, followed by the much tougher 163 km leg from Aix les Bains to Courchevel, containing the Col de la Madeleine with another uphill finish in Courchevel. Stage 8 from Courchevel to Vaujany is shorter, at 113.6 km, but takes the riders back over the Madeleine, then up the very tough Col du Glandon, before finishing at the ski station of Vaujany. After the preceding two days, this will certainly be a brutal stage. Stage 9 is for some reason split into two: a 34.6 km Grenoble-Grenoble (via the Col de la Colombiere) in the morning followed by a 71 km stage from Grenoble to Lac d'Aiguebelette, via the Cote de Portet. The final five stages are essentially flat, finishing in Paris with another individual time trial. TV coverageFrance 2 (on August 10) and France 3 (on August 18) will cover parts of the race live, while Pathé Sport will provide 60 minutes of daily coverage. The teamsAcca Due O, Equipe Nürnberger, Itera, Saturn Cycling Team, USC Chirio, CA Mantes la Ville 78/Lido de Paris, Fédéración Catalana, Power-Plate Bik, T-Mobile, Vlanderen-T Interim, Deia Pragma/Colnago, Figurella Dream Team, SC Michela Fanini, Team Aliverti, Edilsavino, France, Sabeko Bizkaia, Team Farm Frites. The stages
Steels back in Ronde van NederlandBelgian sprinter Tom Steels (Mapei-Quick Step) will make his return to racing in the Ronde van Nederland, which takes place from August 20-24. Steels had a bad Tour de France after stomach problems at the beginning forced his early retirement from the race, before he had a chance to show his form. 20th Annual Gene Moriarty Cup Cycle RaceBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent Listowel, Co. Kerry or to more precise in the "Kingdom" as the organiser of the Gene Moriarty Cup, Tadhg Moriarty would have us believe, breaks new ground on Sunday, August 4 when the 20th edition takes to the roads around the beautiful town. To say that the event is the highlight of many a cyclist would be understating the case. The Listowel Cycling Club in memory of one of Kerry's top grass track cyclists of the 40's and early 50's and an administrator and promoter of the sport in Kerry promote it for many years. He is grandfather of current Irish International Eugene Moriarty, who was a previous winner of the race in 1996. The roll of honour is very impressive indeed and many a cup would love to bear the name of previous incumbents on their trophy. The inaugural winner in '83 was Phillip Cassidy, he also won in '88, Stephen Spratt in '91, John Sheehan won 10 years ago, Brian Kenneally also had double victories in '98 and '99, Martin O'Loughlin won in 2000 and last years winner was Micheál Fitzgerald. All winners have represented Ireland on many occasions. O'Loughlin will try to keep the title in Co. Tipperary for the 5th year in a row and he can go close, others with an eye on the top prize will be O'Loughlin's Cidona teammates Eddie O'Donoghue and Timmy Barry. Cork's rider Richard Cahill has always been in the shake-up in Listowel and his day will come to lift the trophy. Vincent Gleeson, of West Clare the Banner County's top cyclist for many a long day will try to add to his recent win in Sligo. The Dublin flag will be flown by Paul Healion, 3rd last year. Mick O'Donnell makes the trek home from his base in France. Currently racing and commuting around France to various top class events, O'Donnell has been securing very high placings in the last couple of weeks. His showings in the recent weeks have attracted scouts to take a closer look at his talents. He must be considered as one to take note of. What a fairy tale it would be if Aidan Crowley a top rider were to win in Listowel. Not many would have raced here from U/12 up to senior level. I don't think there would be a dry eye at the presentation if Aidan were to win. Unfortunately local hero Eugene Moriarty is unlikely to compete as he is currently in Belgium with the Cycling Ireland Project where he is co-ordinator; he was 6th in a top class event there last week. Gabriel Howard will send the Stamullen M.Donnelly team to the 'Kingdom' in the hope that they can round off what has been a great season for them. The Earl of Desmond team of Paul Griffin, Kieran McMahon and Sean Lacey will try to keep the cup in Kerry. Kieran won back events last weekend and should be pencilled as a likely candidate. The one I would plump for is Stephen O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan has been in tremendous form of late. Currently competing as an unattached, he shows no lack of conviction without team support, which in my opinion is critical if you are to win races. He always supports this event and I have a feeling on Bank holiday Sunday, he'll do the business. This year's race is on 7 laps of the usual circuit that has been used on 16 of the previous years. It is a 10 mile (16K) circuit that has a hilly two to three mile stretch leaving the town. It is not an easy lap by any means and this year it is on the Classic League Table, the 7th of the nine events on this League. Points to be awarded to the first 10 over the line. There are prizes for the first 15 over the line, and a team prize also. The Listowel Grand Prix will be a separate race for Senior 3, Vets, Juniors and ladies. Prizes for the first 6 here. The race will be 5 laps of the circuit (50 miles). A great day for all in Listowel. Yet again Cycling is doing its bit to support tourism and bring bed nights. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2002) |
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