News for October 17, 2002Edited by Jeff Jones & Chris Henry Kelme 2003 with two leadersSevilla and Botero stay, Aitor goes
Kelme-Costa Blanca will race with either 23 or 24 riders in 2003, including two of its top stars Oscar Sevilla and, more than likely, Santiago Botero. Despite reports in the last few weeks that Sevilla and Botero could both leave the team for more money, the fact that they have existing contracts with Kelme, and no doubt a few words from the UCI, have persuaded them to stay with Vicente Belda's squad. Sevilla said that he was discontented with the team "not because I didn't feel as though I was the team leader, but because of small things that I prefer not to comment about. They did not occur in the Vuelta España, but before. I spoke with [Pepe] Quiles, with whom I have a good relationship and he told me he would try to find a solution." Botero's future isn't 100 percent sure with Kelme, as his asking price after winning the World's time trial has risen, but the high price of buying out his contract may dissuade other teams such as Telekom, who have reportedly made him an offer. At the moment, he should stay with Kelme. On the other hand, it's certain that Vuelta winner Aitor Gonzalez, who didn't have an existing contract for 2003, will leave the team, perhaps bound for another Spanish team, or Mario Cipollini's team or even Patrick Lefevere's Quick Step team. Gonzalez did not reveal his destination at a team press conference today, but did say that he would leave many friends in Kelme. "He has sporting ambitions that would be difficult to serve in Kelme," said Belda at the press conference. "He wants a team for solely him and with two riders such as Botero and Sevilla under contract there would be a fight for the leadership." Belda added that the "Botero-Sevilla pair does not create any problems for us," and he would aim to have them both race the Tour de France and the Vuelta. For the Giro, Kelme would go with Jesus Manzano or Carlos Garcia Quesada as team leaders. The team has its future secure for the next three years due to the ongoing support of Kelme as well as several Valencian interests. Earlier this year the team was in some trouble after financial problems hit the parent company. However, the Generalitat Valenciana and the Diputación de Alicante came to the rescue with much needed funds. Florent Brard explainsCrédit Agricole's Florent Brard has responded to his positive doping control (corticoids) from this year's Tour de l'Ain in August. Brard maintains his innocence, explaining that he accepted treatment from his local doctor for his back, which he injured in a bad crash in this year's Midi-Libre. Brard has accepted the fact that he committed an error in not consulting his team doctor, but maintains that the treatment was prescribed by his personal doctor and was not for performance enhancement. "It's stupid," Brard acknowledged. "I was simply at home and my back was hurting from my accident. I went to consult my local doctor who's just down the street. I didn't have my UCI book with me, and that was an error, but the doctor did provide justification on paper." Brard's actions didn't do much to please team director Roger Legeay, who criticized Brard for not having informed him after being notified by the UCI of his positive test. Brard offered his apologies to Legeay, but noted that he was not obligated to contact his director with the information, according to an AP report. "Nothing against Roger Legeay, but a bit I'm upset. I know he's gone through a difficult period after a year without results and the Stoïcheff affair. He didn't need a second blow." "But want I want to say above all," Brard continued, "to the people who support me and who now will pose questions, is that I have no reason to dope. Absolutely none. I have no pressure from the team, I've just come back from serious injuries, and I am happy just to be riding." Giro del Piemonte previewFollowing Milano-Torino, the peloton faces one more test in Italy prior to the World Cup finale at the Giro di Lombardia. The 96th Giro del Piemonte will once again feature protagonists from the World Championships, and those who missed out on the action in Zolder. Michele Bartoli, winner of yesterday's Milan-Turin, will be among the favourites, although those aiming for victory at the Giro di Lombardi may wish to keep something in reserve for the weekend. The race begins in Novi Ligure, and covers 193km before the finish in Casale Monferrato. TeamsCofidis, Acqua e Sapone-Cantina Tollo, Alessio, CSC-Tiscali, Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo, Crédit Agricole, Domo-Farm Frites, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Fassa Bortolo, Formaggi Trentini, Gerolsteiner, iBanesto.com, Index-Alexia, Lampre-Daikin, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, Mapei-Quick Step, Mercatone Uno, ONCE-Eroski, Phonak Hearing Systems, Rabobank, Saeco-Longoni Sport, Tacconi Sport, Team Coast, Team Colpack-Astro, Team Telekom Previous winners 2001 Nico Mattan Pantani interested in collaboration with CipolliniAfter his win in Zolder, newly crowned world champion Mario Cipollini offered his support for Marco Pantani and insisted the troubled Italian climber still had a place in the international peloton. to this Pantani has replied expressing his own interest in joining Cipollini in a new team. "Me and Cipollini together? It would be a dream for many, and we're talking," said Pantani, who also offered a statement expressing his compliments to Cipo and the Italian national squad at Zolder. Casagrande and Belli to LampreFrancesco Casagrande and Wladimir Belli (both Fassa Bortolo) will ride for Lampre next season, according to sources close to the riders. It will be Casagrande's sixth team in his 11 year pro career, during which he has ridden for Mercatone Uno (1992-95), Saeco (1996-97), Cofidis (1998), Vini Caldirola (1999-2000) and Fassa Bortolo (2001). Lennie Kristensen joins CSC-Tiscali34 year-old Lennie Kristensen will join CSC-Tiscali from next season. The team has made a one year deal with the versatile and hardworking Danish rider, who rode for EDS-fakta for the past few seasons. "Lennie has lots of qualities and is a type of rider that fits the team well. He will be a good card to play in one day races and in lesser stage races, and I would not be surprised to see him featuring in one of the big circuit races as a secondary rider. When he gets his chance, he won't be afraid to ride aggressively up front in the peloton, which is the way we prefer to compete," said director Alex Pedersen. Kristensen, who comes from the town of Hammel in Denmark, said that "I am pleased to get the opportunity to feature in a big first division team. It can be a motivating factor to change your surroundings and I need that after a few good years with fakta. Sporting wise, I look forward to fulfilling the expectations of the team. I am proud to have been given the offer, which I am about to sign." Høj comes homeEDS-fakta has signed a deal with Danish classics specialist Frank Høj for 2003. This gives the Danish team a top name after the departure of Marcus Ljunqvist, who will ride for Credit Agricole. Lennie Kristensen is also leaving (to CSC), while Norwegian Bjørnar Vestøl stays another year. Frank Høj is a classics specialist who has gone the long way from kermesses and small Belgian teams via one year stints at US Postal and Francaise des Jeux to Team Coast in 2001. The contract sum is within the team budget with the current sponsors. The team management names Frank Høj, Kurt Asle Arvesen, Magnus Bäckstedt, Scott Sunderland, Jørgen Bo Petersen and Allan Johansen as its top riders for next year. Frank Høj's palmares 1995 (Collstrop) 1997 (Collstrop) 1998 (Palmans) 2000 (La Francaise des Jeux) Arvesen wanted by CofidisEDS-fakta's Kurt Asle Arvesen was contacted right after the World's by Alain Bondue, manager for French first division team Cofidis, according to Norwegian web site syklingensverden.com. Cofidis needs one more rider, and while several riders from Spain, Italy and France have been in contact with Cofidis, Arvesen is topping the list for Bondue. Arvesen has the same contract as Marcus Ljungqvist who is leaving EDS-fakta for Credit Agricole: If he gets an offer exceedning his EDS-fakta salary by more than 30 percent he is free to go. Arvesen is currently ranked 33 on the UCI list. Arvesen's wins this year are as follows: Schynberg-Rundfahrt Coen Boerman stops25 year old Dutch rider Coen Boerman has retired, his final race being in Putte-Kapellen in Belgium yesterday. Throughout his career, Boerman has ridden solely for Rabobank, spending three years in the amateur team followed by three years as a pro. His contract was not renewed this year and he has opted for a career in business. Boerman won the time trial stage in this year's Guldensporentweedaagse, beating no less than his teammate Erik Dekker. However, he knew in August that there was no spot for him in the team for next year, and decided to retire. iteamNova to go Cat 2 in 2003?iteamNova is undertaking discussion to become a Category 2 team in 2003. A possible merger is on the cards for the team, with the opportunity to further develop the radical membership concept that funded the team this year. Team manager, Susan Stewart, sees this as an exciting and very positive step. "All the discussion has been really good, however, we still need to confirm the funding to cover the bank guarantee which is a necessity for a cat 2 team", she said. "We are on the right track, however, we're not past the post just yet." The new team would be guaranteed starts in some of the biggest races and become a truly global team to appeal to a wider audience for the membership. "We got off to a great start in 2002, now we can build on what we have to understand our audience better and bring more benefits to our members," Stewart said. iteamNova members recently tasted success in Australia last weekend, with Jamie Drew winning the Melbourne - Warrnambool in Victoria on Saturday, and Trent Wilson winning the Hornsby to Swansea in NSW on Sunday, two of Australia's better known one day races. New Dutch trade team IIIThere will be a new Dutch division III team next season, after the APAC Cycling team upgrades from the amateur ranks. New riders joining the team are: Folkert de Haan, Maint Berkenbosch (NWV Groningen), Peep Mikli (Axa), Harm Bronckhorst (HSK Trias), Corne Castein (Rietveld), Dennis de Jong (Van Vliet), Ronald Schur (Tegeltoko), Bas Hendriks (WIN). Existing riders include: Henne van Zanten, Pascal Arts, Marcel Alma, and Martin Bekking. Sally Spicer cyclo-cross teamSally Spicer, a handbag and hat company based out of San Francisco, is the title sponsor for a Northern California based elite cyclo-cross team that will concentrate on domestic (US) UCI races, The Redline Cup, and their local series: Surf City and Central Coast. Team Roster Christine "Peanut" Vardaros (top 10 in two World Cups this year) Sponsors Sally Spicer (www.SallySpicer.com) O'Grady, McGee and Cooke go way Down UnderThree of Australia's top road cyclists will have their final race of the year chasing $20,000 around the streets of the northern Tasmanian city of Launceston, on December 27. Doherty Hotels Launceston International Classic will see the three Tour de France "veterans", take on Australia's best road riders over 80km in a kermesse style event. The field is also expected to include several top international track and criterium riders who will be in Tasmania for the traditional Christmas Carnival series. The course will start and finish at Doherty Hotels Launceston International and make a large circuit around the city's picturesque park. A small rise in the first part of the course may take its toll over the 30 lap event, however the 1km straight leading into the two 90 degree left hand turns that bring riders to the finish will see exciting, high speed racing throughout. A guaranteed $AU10,000 first prize will be complemented by lap primes, including $500 at 2 laps to go. Immediately following the race, O'Grady, McGee and Cooke will be guests at a special dinner at the Hotel where they will recount their year which has seen Australia climb to the top flight of international road cycling. Accommodation packages are available for both competitors and spectators with entry details also available from the Cycling Tasmania web site www.tas.cycling.org.au . Last year's winner back for Tour of SouthlandBy Alan Messenger, Cyclingnews correspondent Last year's Tour of Southland winner Karl Moore is back home from Italy and ready for another shot at the big one. The 23 year old from Te Awamutu in the North Island has spent the season in Italy where he rides for the Parmense Amateur Team. "I've had ten or eleven top ten placings, that's what my team is after," Moore said. Before the Tour Moore is riding the New Zealand National Road Championship at Invercargill in two weekends time. Last year he won the Under 23 Title and this will be his first start in the Elite Senior Category. "I hope to have a good Nationals and to win the Road Race," he said. In the Southland Tour Moore will ride in the Robobank Team with fellow Kiwi Internationals Ryan Russell and Glen Mitchell and two overseas riders, an Australian and an American. Last year Moore's win was regarded as something of a surprise but this year he will be a marked rider. "It would be great to win again but I'd be just as happy if we come up with a victory for the Team," he said. The Tour of Southland starts from Invercargill on November 4 and finishes back there on the 9th. Australian Junior Women's Team to New ZealandTen Australian Junior female cyclists have been selected in the National Development Team to travel to New Zealand for the Oceania Junior Women's Development Camp and 2002 New Zealand National Road Cycling Championships. The camp will be held on the October 20-23, and the National Championship on October 24-26 at Invercargill on New Zealand's South Island. The contingent consists of two under 19 riders and eight girls from the Under 17's Division, of which four come from NSW, three from Victoria, and one each from SA, ACT and WA. The selections where announced after the recent Australian Road Championships on Queensland's Sunshine Coast were all the girls claimed a top 10 ranking in one of the three titles contested (Individual Time Trial, Road Race and Criteruim titles). The team departs Australia on the 19th October, and will spend four days in camp before the New Zealand Championships, where they will receive practical advice, and lectures in a range of subjects to prepare them to meet the increased and changing demands they can expect to face in the future. The girls will be under the guidance of Coach Mark Windsor of NSW, who has been coaching the Oceania Development Program for the last 3 years, and assisted by Victorian Lynda Heritage who has enjoyed outstanding success in her coaching of several members of the recent World Junior team. Armstrong jersey auctionUK-based BikeBiz.co.uk, a trade-only website, will auction a jersey signed by Lance Armstrong to raise money for CTC's Cyclists' Defence Fund. The fund was established last year to help cyclists innocent victims of road crashes, and seeks to fight potential legal precedents that could erode cyclists' rights on the road. Armstrong signed the jersey at the Interbike trade show last week, accompanied by Trek president John Burke and Carlton Reid, editor of BikeBiz.co.uk. For bid for the jersey, click here. For more information, contact CTC Cyclists' Defence Fund at 69 Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3HS, call 0870 873 0060 or email defence@ctc.org.uk.
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