News for August 7, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Cipollini's back

It's almost as though he never left...

Turning the legs over in Stiphout
Photo: © Elmar Krings

Mario Cipollini is officially back in the saddle, having shelved his retirement plans for the time being. The Acqua e Sapone sprinter, who was spotted last week in a few post-Tour criteriums, will most likely officially make his return in the Vuelta España (September 7-29) as well as contesting the World's in Zolder.

Approximately three weeks ago, Cipollini announced his retirement, which came as a big surprise to everyone. At the time he cited his dissatisfaction at not being able to participate in the biggest race in the world (Tour de France), as well as a perceived lack of support from his team's sponsors. "I am retiring because there are not enough sponsors prepared to invest in me and because there is not the right atmosphere for me in the team," he said at the time. He also indicated that he could return in two weeks if he felt like it. That now seems to be the case.

Interestingly, sports marketing consulting group 'Immagine e Sport' recently measured the worth of Cipollini to his sponsors on the basis of his media exposure during the Giro d'Italia. Acqua e Sapone-Cantina Tollo RDZ won seven stages in total during the Giro: Cipollini won six, Giovanni Lombardi won one, and Michele Scarponi also enjoyed a fair amount of exposure during the race.

According to Immagine e Sport, the Acqua e Sapone brand gained 56 minutes and 52 seconds of TV time, viewed by approximately 500 million people. In economic terms, this was deemed to be equivalent to 3 million euros. In newspapers and magazines, the brand gained approximately 7,200 square centimetres of space, deemed equivalent to 250,000 euros.

The team's secondary sponsor Cantina Tollo was given a value of 250,000 euros for its TV exposure, and 152,000 euros for its print exposure.

The team's marketing manager Ivan de Paolis was more than satisfied by this report. "It's an important result since it rewards the efforts of our sponsors who helped realise the objectives of the team," he said.

In terms of his contractual worth, it's no wonder Cipollini was peeved at missing the Tour de France!

Lefevere calls for boycott of Meisterschaft von Zürich

Domo-Farm Frites team manager Patrick Lefevre has called for a complete boycott of the Meisterschaft von Zürich World Cup race on August 18 by all teams involved. It is unsure whether the race will go ahead, as the previous organisers (DPO) still haven't paid the teams their prize money from last year. The race is being organised by Upsolut this year, who have not been successful in persuading the AIGCP (teams association) to take part in the race.

"If it was up to me, we won't start in Zürich," said Lefevere to Belga newsagency. "It's high time that we put up our hands. It is a shame for the people who have taken over the organisation this year, but if I took over a business I would also look at what debts there are. We have twice given them an ultimatum and have not received an answer. We must as teams give a signal and show that we are in solidarity."

World Cup leader Johan Museeuw, also doesn't want to start if the affair is not resolved. "Where will it end?," he asks. "An organiser who still can't pay the riders, who have worked for them for a day. It is up to the team leaders to decide. We don't want to start in Zürich."

Blijlevens to come back in Oostvoorne

Domo-Farm Frites sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens, who has been absent from competition since the end of April due to an infection of his airways, will make his return to racing in the criterium in Oostvoorne on Thursday. That will be followed by a UCI race in Bochum, Germany on Sunday. Blijlevens is also (in principle) part of the Domo-Farm Frites team for the Ronde van Nederland on August 20.

Since recovering from the infection, Blijlevens trained with his teammates (including Johan Museeuw) in St Moritz, Switzerland. He said that it went well, but he will have to have a good second half of the season in order to secure a contract for next year.

Berry Floor to co-sponsor US Postal

Belgian company Berry Floor, producer of laminated floor coverings, will co-sponsor the US Postal team next season. Berry Floor has previously sponsored the Lotto and 05 Orbitel teams, and has signed a two year preliminary agreement, with the option of a third year, with the US team.

Rene Haselbacher with Gerolsteiner for two more years

Austrian Rene Haselbacher has extended his contract with the Gerolsteiner team for another two years. The 25 year old, who had some high stage placings in the Giro d'Italia, finished second in the Tour of Sweden and became the Austrian road champion, signed the contract on Monday.

"We have now established ourselves in Division I, participated in the Giro and all the World Cups. Essentially I grew up as a pro here and the team is now so large that for me it is the correct decision," said Haselbacher.

Belgium wants Cyclocross World's 2007

The Belgian cycling federation (KBWB) has asked the UCI's permission to hold the Cyclocross World Championships in Belgium in 2007. The Cyclocross World's were already held in Zolder this year, as will the World Road Championships in October.

A number of communities have been working in conjunction with the KBWB and Octagon-CIS to try and realise the bid, including Zolder, Genk, Hooglede, Koksijde, Wortgem-Petegem and Antwerp. One of these will be chosen by the KBWB in December as the sole Belgian candidate for the World's.

Saeco-Longoni Sport for upcoming races

The three Saecos
Photo: © Sirotti

After Igor Astarloa's close second behind Johan Museeuw in HEW Cyclassics in Hamburg, and Danilo Di Luca's late attack that was swallowed with 800m to go, the Saeco-Longoni Sport team will be trying to win its 20th race of the season at the GP di Camaiore in Tuscany on Wednesday August 7. Directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli has selected a strong team, including Gilberto Simoni, who made he return to racing in Hamburg, Danilo Di Luca and Mirko Celestino.

Di Luca showed he is in good shape by making the final selection in Hamburg, while Celestino demonstrated likewise by finishing second behind Astarloa in the Brixia Tour.

The rest of the team for Camaiore is Damiano Cunego, Austrian Gerrit Glomser, Alessio Galletti, Oscar Mason, Fabio Sacchi, Alessandro Spezialetti and Andrea Tonti.

The team's other directeur sportif Flavio Miozzo will be at the Regio Tour in Germany from August 7-11. The team for the race will be: Biagio Conte, Nicola Gavazzi, American Justin Spinelli, Cristian Pepoli, Lithuanian Marius Sabaliauskas and the three German riders Joerg Ludewig, Torsten Nitsche and Christian Wegmann.

Fassa Bortolo for upcoming races

GP Camaiore, August 7, Italy

Michele Bartoli, Ivan Basso, Wladimir Belli, Francesco Casagrande, Volodimir Gustov, Sven Montgomery, Oscar Pozzi, Gorazd Stangelj, Paolo Tiralongo, Marco Velo. Team Managers: Giancarlo Ferretti, Alberto Volpi.

Regio Tour, August 7-11, Germany

Kim Kirchen, Dmitri Konychev, Alessandro Petacchi, Roberto Petito, Matteo Tosatto, Denis Zanette, Marco Zanotti. Team Manager: Stefano Zanatta.

French (and Italian) stagiaires

The following riders have been granted stagiaire's contracts (trial pro contracts) to race from September 1 until the end of the season.

Ag2r Prévoyance: Lloyd Mondory (Fra), Mark Scanlon (Irl)
Crédit Agricole: Jeremie Dartus (Fra), Lilian Jégou (Fra)
Cofidis: Arnaud Coyot (Fra), Alexandre Saballin (Mda)
Jean Delatour: Guillaume Canet (Fra)
FDJeux.com: Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra), Freddy Bichot (Fra)
Team Colpack-Astro: Roman Luhovyy (Ukr)

Courtesy of globeros.com

European teams ready for Gamuda Eagle Tour of Malaysia

The Division III teams Jura Suisse of Switzerland and Team Krone of Norway are aiming to upstage their Asian rivals in the Gamuda Eagle Tour of Malaysia 2002, which takes place in Langkawi from August 14 to 18.

Team Jura Suisse, which recently gained a new sponsor, Nippon Hodo of Japan, will be led by the experienced Simone Mori, a former Selle Italia rider who is now plying his trade in Switzerland. Mori started his professional career in 1997 with Selle Italia, before moving to Spain to join Amica Chips in 1999, Team Coast (Germany) in 2000 and Kia Suisse of Switzerland last year.

Mori is no stranger to races in Asia, having made impact in this year's Tour of Japan. He consistently placed himself in the top five placings in Japan. He had also won stages in Tour of Serbia, Tour of Croatia was 5th in the GP de Winterthur in 2000.

Team mate Guiseppe Ribolzi is another name to watch. Having won 16 victories in amateur racing, Ribolzi signed up as neo-pro with Jura Suisse this year and has placed himself in the top 10 placings in the 2002 Tour of Siberia.

The team's other riders are Francesco Cipolletta of Italy, Canadian Bruno Nella, and Yamamoto Yahushiro.

Meanwhile, Team Krone of Norway will bring 25 year old Gabriel Rasch, who is aiming for some stage wins and possibly the overall title. Rasch made an impact in this year's Norwegian Championship where he emerged fourth overall. He was also second overall in the 2001 championship.

Apart from Rasch, the team's main men are Lars Breiseth and Rune Jogert, Kjetil Loitegaard and Roy Sonsterud.

National teams from Austria, Ireland and Albania are also out to gain valuable experience in the race.

Ireland will pin its hopes on Tommy Evans, who was third behind national champion Mark Scanlon and Ciaran Power in the Irish National Championship this year.

Belgian based Australian Team Down Under could also be a threat. With the presence of the 2000 Tour of Tasmania winner and recent runner up in the Qinghai Lake Tour of China, Glen Chadwick, the team could well cause some surprises. The team will have four Australians, a Belgian and an English rider.

Among the Asian champions who are in the running for top honours in the race are Wang Guozhang of China, Iranians Ghader Mizbani and Ahad Kazemi Sarai, Tonton Susanto of Indonesia, Tsen Seong Hoong and Musairi Musa of Malaysia and Jamsran Ulzii-Orshikh of Mongolia.

A total of 126 riders from 21 teams will compete in the five-stage 407.2km race which offers a total prize money of RM200, 000 (US$52,000). The race is organised by Clear Mission Sdn Bhd and under the patronage of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Teams: Japan, Iran, China, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Ireland, Austria, Team Krone (Norway) TT3, Team Jura Suisse (Switzerland) TT3, Team Down Under (Belgium), Team Malaysia, Team KL, Selangor Sweet Nice Team, Team NSC Malaysia, Giant-Asia Racing Team, Albania.

New Zealand Junior Tour to go International

By Alan Messenger

New Zealand's Junior Cycling Tour is to be held on a new course this year and will feature an official Australian team. The Tour has been held since 1980 over four Road Stages between New Plymouth and Palmerston North but Organiser Ron Cheatley said that this year's race will be centred around Wanganui, due to restrictions on using State Highways.

"It's become too difficult to use the main highways but holding all of the Stages around Wanganui will make it better for visiting riders. The Race Headquarters will be at a local Hotel Complex where the riders and Officials will be accommodated," Cheatley said.

The previous Winners list for the race reads like a Who's Who of New Zealand Cycling.Among the Winners are NZ Junior World Kilo Champion Alan Miller, Track Star Gary Anderson, Julian Dean, Greg Henderson, Karl Moore and Hayden Roulston.

The race has hosted Australians in the past but the only winner from across the Tasman was Warren Jennings in 1996.

This year's race will be held between September 27-29. For further information contact Ron Cheatley 0064 6345 6490 or Email ron.cheatley@bgh-group.co.nz

(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2002)