News for August 29, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones and Chris Henry

Edita Rumsas remains in prison

The court of appeals in Chambéry, France rejected on Wednesday a request for the release of Edita Rumsas from custody in the Bonneville prison. Lawyers for Mrs. Rumsas submitted a petition for her release on August 7, which was rejected on August 13, prompting a subsequent appeal. Alexandre Varaut, one of Edita Rumsas's lawyers, announced Wednesday that a new appeal for her release from custody would be submitted Friday, August 30, after a hearing before a judge that morning.

Alexandre Varaut spoke out about the latest appeal. "We hope that the evolution of this case and this new hearing will permit the judges in Bonneville to consider one month of incarceration sufficient, and that it will not be necessary to go beyond that."

Mrs. Rumsas has been held in prison since July 30. Meanwhile, French authorities continue to express interest in speaking to Raimondas Rumsas, who has remained in Italy, maintaining his innocence concerning any connection to doping during the Tour de France.

Concerning whether or not he would eventually submit to questioning in France, Raimondas Rumsas told the Lithuanian news agency ELTA, "I cannot say. I would have to consider everything thoroughly." Rumsas also denied that he has had any contact with French or Italian officials regarding possible questioning in Italy.

Simoni puts scandal behind him, looks forward to Vuelta

"I'm not looking for revenge after my forced time off, only to repay those who showed faith in me." Such was Gilberto Simoni's declaration to Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport. After his ejection from the Giro d'Italia, and Saeco-Longoni Sport's subsequent exclusion from the Tour de France, the Vuelta has become a primary objective for Simoni.

Winner of two stages from previous editions of the Vuelta, including the Angliru climb in 2000, Simoni now has overall victory in mind. Though he has admitted a lack of climbing form in the recent one day races in Italy, Simoni remains optimistic. "I am hopeful (for the Vuelta), because I feel the condition is coming, even if I have not yet been able to really measure myself."

The Saeco leader's final preparation for the Vuelta will come in this week's Trofeo Melinda on Thursday and Giro del Friuli on Saturday. Simoni will have added motivation for the Trofeo Melinda, as it is held in his home region near Trento in northern Italy. The Saeco-Longoni Sport team expects to announce its team for the Vuelta a España on September 1.

Saeco-Longoni Sport for Trofeo Melinda and Giro del Friuli

The Saeco-Longoni Sport team of Gilberto Simoni has announced its selections for the Trofeo Melinda and Giro del Friuli. The two Italian races are considered for many the final warmups prior to the Vuelta a España, which begins September 7th.

Trofeo Melinda (Thursday, August 29)

Gilberto Simoni, Leonardo Bertagnolli, Damiano Cunego, Jorg Ludewig, Cristian Pepoli, Igor Pugaci, Marius Sabaliauskas, Justin Spinelli. Directeur sportif: Bruno Vicino

Giro del Friuli (Saturday, August 31)

Gilberto Simoni, Salvatore Commesso, Biagio Conte, Nicola Gavazzi, Jorg Ludewig, Cristian Pepoli, Igor Pugaci, Marius Sabaliauskas. Directeur sportif: Giuseppe Martinelli

Index Alexia for Trofeo Melinda and Giro del Friuli

Italian formation Index Alexia has announced its rosters for this week's Trofeo Melinda and Giro del Friuli.

Trofeo Melinda

Luca Barattero, Marco Battiston, Fabiano Ferrari, Damiano Giannini, Gianluca Valoti, Mauro Zinetti. Directeur sportif: Ennio Vanotti

Giro del Friuli

Luca Barattero, Marco Battiston, Fabiano Ferrari, Damiano Giannini, Bo Hamburger, Paolo Savoldelli, Gianluca Valoti Mauro Zinetti. Directeur sportif: Leonardo Levati

Mapei-Quick Step for Trofeo Melinda

Alvaro Crespi, Mapei-Quick Step Team Manager, has announced the roster for the Trofeo Melinda. The team will include GP Eddy Merckx winners Laszlo Bodrogi and Fabian Cancellara, as well Daniele Nardello, winner of the Coppa Bernocchi on August 22. The full team is as follows:

Laszlo Bodrogi, Fabian Cancellara, Fabien De Waele, Paolo Fornaciari, Robert Hunter, Kevin Hulsmans, Daniele Nardello, Luca Scinto. Directeur sportif: Fabrizio Fabbri

Acqua & Sapone - Cantina Tollo for Trofeo Melinda

Cristian Gasperoni, Massimo Giunti, Simone Masciarelli, Alexander Kolobnev, Agustin Pena, Filippo Simeoni, Michele Scarponi. Directeur sportif: Franco Gini

Gerolsteiner considering Bölts

While a firm contract has yet to be signed, indications are strong that veteran German super-domestique Udo Bölts will join the Gerolsteiner team next season. Bölts did not receive a contract extension from his Telekom team, and thus has been shopping for a new employer. Gerolsteiner's Hans-Michael Holczer told Radsport-News on Tuesday that he has not reached a decision with Bölts, but "there is a mutual interest between us." Holczer added that he wanted to sit down with Bölts to discuss the rider's goals for the coming season, as well as projections of whether or not he would ride beyond one additional year.

Braeckevelt unlikely in Lotto-Domo

After 14 years as a team leader for Lotto, it seems that Jef Braeckevelt will no longer have a place there when the team combines with Domo next year. Currently, Marc Sergeant, Claude Criquielion and Hendrik Redant are Lotto-Domo's team leaders, with Braeckevelt likely to be given a golden handshake, according to Belgian TV1.

In 2001, Braeckevelt was named as "Team Leader of the Year".

Sixth Trophée d'Or Féminin

This week marks the sixth Trophée d'Or Féminin, a five day, six stage race held in the Saint-Amand-Montrond region of France. Coming on the heels of the World Cup race in Plouay, the Trophée d'Or is well placed on the women's calendar. The race includes stages to favor both sprinters and climbers, and surely the toughest day will be Saturday's loop from Cosne-sue-Loire to Sancerre and back, tackling the hills of the Sancerre region, including the Montée du Graveron. The race's final test will be Sunday's individual time trial in Saint-Amand. Last year's edition was won by Edita Pucinskaite.

Zijlaard-Van Moorsel to miss Holland Ladies Tour

Team Farm Frites-Hartol will start the Holland Ladies Tour on Friday, August 30, without Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel and Sonja Pfister-Van Kuijk. Van Moorsel has been tired ever since La Grande Boucle Féminine, and it was decided that resting would be better in order to prepare for the World Track Championships in Denmark at the end of September, followed by the World Road Championships in Zolder.

Sonja Pfister-Van Kuijk is still suffering from a tendon injury in her knee. The injury is serious enough that she will be out of action for the rest of the year. Finally, Anouska van der Zee will not start as she is also preparing for the World Track Championships in Denmark.

Team Ton van Bemmelen Sports-Novilon will also not send a complete team to the start. Wendie Kramp has a problem with her liver, Daphny Van den Brand riding in the MTB World's in Austria, and Caroline Slikker has not recovered her condition yet after breaking her collarbone. Two riders have been brought in to compensate: Swiss Annette Beutler and Belgian Godelieve Janssen.

Team Farm Frites-Hartol

Mirjam Melchers, Arenda Grimberg, Sissy van Alebeek, Madeleine Lindberg, Elsbeth Vink, Kirsty Nicole Robb, Team leader: Michael Zijlaard

Team Ton van Bemmelen-Novilon

Sandra Missbach, Soraya Bartels, Sonja van Velzen, Catharina Mulders, Annette Beutler, Godelieve Janssen, Team leader: Michael van der Wolf

Van Bon and Knaven to ride Amsterdam Six Day

Leon van Bon and Servais Knaven will probably start in the Amsterdam Six Days, which takes place from October 21-26. The pair last rode together on a track 10 years ago, when Knaven and Van Bon combined to win the Dutch madison championship in 1992. Van Bon went on to win a silver medal in the points race in the Barcelona Olympics that same year.

The Amsterdam Six is relatively new event on the calendar and has been moved from September to October this year, due to the fact that the organisers can now provide heating for the velodrome.

Van Dooren to lead new MTB team

Dutch mountain biker Bas van Dooren will captain a new Dutch based mountain bike team in 2003. The team will be managed by the experienced Jan ten Tuscher, who has found enough sponsors to support the squad. It will contain eight riders, including Van Dooren, Erwin Bakker, Corine Dorland and Bernadine Boog-Rauwerda. Another strong prospect is Thijs Al, who rode with Van Dooren in BankGiroLoterij this year. Al is also negotiating with Giant.

The sponsors have yet to be named, but the team's goals are to work towards the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

Minnaar out of MTB World's with broken collarbone

South African Greg Minnaar (Global Racing) suffered a broken left collar bone while training for the downhill in the MTB World Championships in Kaprun, Austria. The break did not require surgery, and Minnaar is expected to recover in the next four weeks. Though he'll be out of competition for the next few weeks, Minnaar does plan on conducting his Big Air Training Camp in Spain in October.

Quagliarello suspended for doping

At the recommendation of CONI, the Italian Cycling Federation's disciplinary commission has suspended Domenico Quagliarello (Team Marchiol Hit Casino's), who tested positive for EPO after the June 19 stage of the Giro d'Italia U26. The rider has immediately been suspended from all racing, and will be heard by CONI on September 4th in Rome.

National Bike Week preview

By Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com

With just a few days to go until the start of the National Bike Week, Cycling Ireland and Hibernian Insurance are combining their efforts to run one of the most ambitious sporting/exercise projects in recent memory. From this Sunday, September 1st until the following weekend, their goal is to encourage people from all backgrounds - be they racing, leisure or commuting cyclists, even couch potatoes - to each wheel their bike out of the shed and take part in some of the many activities planned around the country.

Irish society has in recent years become a lethargic, car-clogged entity, hampered by expanding waistlines and dwindling energy levels. The goal of the Hibernian National Bike Week is to counteract this, to promote two-wheeled exercise and increase the numbers of cyclists out on the roads. Simply enjoying the sport is the primary aim, and so a wide range of activities have been planned in order to cater for every level of ability.

National Bike Week begins this Sunday with a series of Pedal Picnics and Family Day Cycles to be held throughout the country. These events are intended to bring big numbers of cyclists together through enjoyable activities, and are being run in conjunction with Dœchas as part of their own National Heritage Week. Pedal Picnics are taking place nationwide, with the bulk occuring this Sunday. Dublin, Tralee, Wexford, Naas, Dunlear, Drogheda, Galway, Arklow, Limerick, Skibbereen, Mullingar, Waterford and Tullamore are the 13 venues, while four more will follow on Sunday week in Monaghan, Dundalk, Sligo and Kilkenny.

The biggest of these Pedal Picnics takes place in the Phoenix Park this Sunday, with Cycling Ireland, Hibernian Insurance, 2FM and Dœchas all joining forces to put on a full programme of events. Starting at the Papal Cross at 2 pm, the day will feature bike safety and skills shows, trials and stunt riding, celebrity races, a Cycleways bike clinic, plus a 5 kilometre circuit for individuals and families to pedal around in what is one of Europe's best city parks.

DJ Damien Farrelly will broadcast his show from the 2FM roadcaster, adding to the party atmosphere.

On Friday 6th of September Cycling Ireland and Hibernian turn the focus to the commuting benefits of cycling with the running of a National Bike to Work day. Given that cycling is often the quickest and most inexpensive form of transport when getting around major cities, the hope is that the initiative will show people the benefits of this commuting method, plus also the feel-good rewards of the exercise itself.

A secondary aim of the Bike to Work day is to raise money for charity and so cyclists have been asked to donate the money they saved on transport to the cause of their choice. Employers are urged to encourage their staff to cycle to work on the day and it is hoped that they too will consider donating money to a worthy cause, as well as facilitating regular commuting by providing secure parking areas for bikes and, if possible, showers and changing rooms for their employees.

In order to highlight National Bike to Work day, RTE broadcasters Shane O'Donoghue and Ryan Tubridy have undertaken to cycle to work on Friday 6th of September. 'The two of us will be cycling in that morning', confirmed O'Donoghue, while speaking at the Cycling Ireland - Hibernian National Bike Week launch last week. 'It is a great idea and I am looking forward to doing it.' Indeed RTE has been recognised as one of the leading institutions in this regard, awarding higher mileage to employees who cycle than to those who drive to work.

Cycling Ireland president PJ Nolan has highlighted the importance of such an approach, especially in the context of ensuring that people come away from the day determined to continue using the bike for their transport. "We hope that the participants of National Bike to Work Day will enjoy the experience and be encouraged to become more regular bike commuters. But facilities and reward schemes need to be put in place for them to remain enthusiastic, such as those provided for by RTE and Oracle."

In addition to the other events taking place around the country, a tougher challenge is on offer for those with more experience and fitness. On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of September the Coast to Coast challenge will take riders from Dublin to Galway and back, travelling along a newly-designed heritage cycling route which was chosen by Navan Avonmore CC's Joe Roche as being both flatter and safer than the main road between the two cities.

Called the 'Esker Riada' route, the journey measures 132 miles each way and is a good challenge for all who sign up to take part. Alternatively, riders can do the challenge in relay groups in order to break down the distance. Registration for the event costs eighty euro, which includes food stops along the way, baggage transport, a 'time-out' bus, a t-shirt and goody bag, plus an evening meal and entertainment in Galway on September 7th. It is hoped that the riders will use the trip as an opportunity to raise funds for charity.

"It should be a great trip," said Cycling Ireland CEO Eamon Duffy. "The cycle is a tough challenge but it will also be a very rewarding experience for those who take part."

Indeed the whole week should be a rewarding experience. Rewarding for those who take part in one of the many activities, rewarding for the charities who benefit from the funds raised and rewarding for cycling in general. More bodies on bikes translate into growth for the sport, and that is something which will benefit every discipline of cycling, from racing to leisure to commuting, and have a positive effect on Irish society too.

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