News for July 11, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Cipollini's retirement: is he for real?

Mario Cipollini's announcement yesterday that he would retire caught many by surprise, as many expected him to finish the season as he began, with a swag of stylish wins as only Cipollini knows how. This includes riding the Vuelta and the World Championships, but Mario's message on his website seemed to indicate that he would stop immediately, despite the fact that he has a contract with Acqua e Sapone for 2003.

Most can't believe that he would pass up the opportunity to win the World Championships, when the parcours in Zolder suits him down to the ground. Even Tour de France boss Jean-Marie Leblanc, who Cipollini indirectly credited for his early retirement, said that "I'm still convinced that he was right to say that [riding the Giro and Vuelta as preparation for the World's], because he could become the world champion on the course at Zolder."

According to Leblanc, Acqua e Sapone weren't invited because they had a slim chance of making it to Paris, given that the team was made up of sprinters and lead out men. "We preferred to choose a 21st team which had a better chance of making it all the way to Paris," said Leblanc in an interview with AFP.

Cyclingnews has learned from team sources that Acqua e Sapone general manager Vicenzo Santoni was also caught completely by surprise by Cipollini's announcement. Cyclingnews understands that Santoni will be discussing Cipollini's decision and is adamant about Cipollini fulfilling his contract to his sponsors and to his teammates.

Is it bluff? Recall that Johan Museeuw wanted to retire after the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (and several other times in the past) then came back to win Paris-Roubaix. Cipollini gives the impression that his team didn't push hard enough for him to gain a start in the Tour.

Italian selector Franco Ballerini said to La Gazzetta dello Sport that "Only Mario can explain his motives. But I want to put a big 'if' in front of this decision. I don't believe that his character as that soft in his best season, when he needs just one win in the Giro to equal the record of Binda, and there is a World Championship to race. Without him, the national team has no point of reference for the sprint."

"I hope that Cipo takes a step back. A champion like him cannot ignore our movement. Especially in times as difficult as these for cycling."

Laurent Roux protests his innocence

Jean Delatour's Laurent Roux, who was suspended by his team over a non-negative amphetamine test on April 28, has taken his case to the French Cycling Federation. Although many teams now suspend riders immediately following a first positive doping test, Roux believes that the results of the B sample should have been analysed before he was stopped from racing. The ban meant that he was unable to compete in the French Championships and of course the Tour de France.

Roux issued a statement saying that he was "astonished to learn of this matter by way of the press...as it is a matter of a presumed positive to a substance, the nature of which could not have had any effect on his performance, or the outcome of the race."

The race in question was the Tour de Vendée, and Roux did not finish.

Roux added that he should have the right to a proper disciplinary procedure, but now believes that process has been marred by what has transpired. He hopes to prove this to the FFC and get any sanction cancelled.

Walter Planckaert not too keen on Lotto-Domo

Before the new baby of Belgian cycling, the Lotto-Domo team will see the light of day, there will be a few hard moments to get through for Patrick Lefevre and Christophe Sercu.

Lotto team director Walter Planckaert, who is in Austria for the UNIQA classic, didn't have any nice words for Jef Braeckevelt, Patrick Lefevre nor Lotto-Domo. Planckaert already suspects there will be no spot for him in the new team.

"This fusion is bad for Belgian Cycling," he said to Het Nieuwsblad. "There are some victims of it already. Take D'Hollander, who was promised a Tour Team spot; he's refusing to touch his bike right now. I had to comfort Van de Wouwer here in Austria...The current team for the Tour was composed by Braeckevelt. I would have preferred Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke."

The reaction from Braeckevelt on Tuesday: "Well, Planckaert has chosen a bad day to spit gall; when you see how this team has worked together for the victory today...and besides, I refuse to comment on that "

ABX to put in 2 million into Demeulenaere's new team

Lotto-Adecco's current co-sponsor ABX will enter the pro peloton next year as a top sponsor, investing 2 million euros into a new Belgian first division team. The man behind the team is Noel Demeulenaere, who hopes to announce the second top sponsor of the team by the end of July. The team will contain between 8 to 10 Belgian riders.

Fassa Bortolo will continue

The Fassa Bortolo team has strongly denied rumours that its sponsorship will cease at the end of 2003. The team issued a short press release as follows: "In 2000 the company decided to commit itself to cycling with the clear aim of creating a competitive sporting group for a period long enough to achieve important results in all seriousness. For this reason the company wants to continue sponsoring the team (some riders have a contract till 2005!)."

Landbouwkrediet-Colnago adds

Belgian-Italian division II squad Landbouwkrediet-Colnago has added several new riders to its roster, to make up for the absence of Malderghem (knee injury), Jurgen Vermeersch (glandular fever) and Filip Meirhaeghe (racing MTB at the moment). The new additions are Frenchman Vincent Cali, Ukrainian Ruslan Grischenko (U23 bronze medalist at the World's), Russian Mikhail Timochine and Italian Domenico Puzzovivo.

New events in Australia to get riders on track

A three race series in Australia in August aims to get more people into cycling. The series is entitled the "2002 PowerTel/The Bulletin Corporate Cycle events", offering race distances for hardened racers to relative novices, with all racers being issued with CA licences.

The Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane events will be staged on a 2.5km road circuit at some of the best known venues these cities have to offer.

The Sydney event will be staged at the Centennial Park. The Melbourne event will be held at St Kilda and the Brisbane race at South Bank.

Melbourne - Sunday 4 August, St Kilda
Brisbane - Sunday 11 August, Southbank
Sydney - Saturday 17 August, Centennial Park

For all the events there are two distances: The 50km 'long' course (40km Brisbane only), and the 25km 'short' course, for novices of any age, keen to give it a go.

There are prizes on offer for all categories, which are supplied by Giant and all who finish will receive a certificate of recognition. All cyclists will also receive a participant's pack, which will include a quality, event T-shirt, water bottle and a copy of The Bulletin magazine.

For entry information: www.corporatesportseries.com.au Contact: info@corporatesportseries.com.au
Phone: 1 800 420 444

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