News for October 27, 2002

Edited by Chris Henry

Armstrong already focused on win #5 in 2003 Centennial Tour de France

By Tim Maloney

Cyclingnews spoke to Lance Armstrong following his return home to Austin, Texas after a quick trip to Paris, France for the 2003 Tour de France presentation and a special dinner the evening before honoring all the living Tour de France winners. "It was a huge honor to be there with 21 Tour de France winners together," Armstrong told Cyclingnews. "Forty Tour wins in all...!" Armstrong further explained to French sports daily L'Equipe that "(attending the dinner) was truly a pleasure and an honor for me to share that moment."

As for the 2003 Tour de France, Armstrong explained to Cyclingnews that "I think this is a traditional Tour, actually. It's back to focusing the key mountain days in the middle. The biggest difference (next year) is that there are only 3 actual uphill finishes which doesn't suit us necessarily. I like the route though. It has an enormous amount of historical perspective while also being very modern."

Lance's bottom line: "Like I always say, the Tour de France changes every year, but in the end the results are pretty consistent, and that is that the best man normally wins."

Armstrong's interview with L'Equipe's Jean-Pierre Bidet, published last Friday following the Tour presentation, also revealed additional perspectives about the four-time consecutive Tour winner's take on his quest for the fifth in a row.

Overall approach:
"I'm going to approach this Tour as if it were my first, and not a possible fifth victory in my palmarès. It's historic, sure, but for me it's a new Tour with all of the usual dangers. I only have one regret: there's no Mont Ventoux. But I've already asked Jean-Marie Leblanc if he plans to include it in 2004."

"(US Postal) is going to have some work to do next spring. So long as you're not out there getting a sense of the route, the sharpness of the curves, the direction of the wind, (the parcours) is just a drawing on paper."

Stage 4 / Team time trial:
"...The first real selection, as usual. But now I'm convinced we'll never win it. In my career I've finished in second place five times! I don't think we've ever concentrated enough on it. A team like ONCE thinks only about (the team time trial); it's an obsession for Manolo Saiz."

"For (USPS), I'm the only one who obsesses about it. For the others it just makes them nervous. They don't want to suffer in front of their teammates, and most of all they don't want to fail. So it's important, you can lose minutes. And if you arrive at l'Alpe d'Huez with a deficit of several minutes, it's not the same..."

Time trials:
"It's too bad the time trials are notably shorter (in '03) than in other years, even if the differences there are usually played out in seconds rather than in minutes like in the mountains. (Stage 12's TT) is in a region that I know a little bit, and it's fairly hilly. It's not too far from (Girona), so I'll probably drive up and check it out."

Mountains:

Stage 8 / l'Alpe d'Huez:
"Two years ago we did the Madeleine and the Glandon before l'Alpe d'Huez. I think that was harder and more compact, even though the Galibier is a very long and difficult climb, with the Telegraphe right before it. On paper it seems easier, but when you're on the bike you forget about that."

Stage 9 / Col d'Izoard (north face):
"I've never done it from that direction. It doesn't seem as steep, but maybe it's longer. Either way we'll have to go look at it. What matters is the fact that there are no climbs after that, and the finish is 60km from the summit. If you're isolated or in difficulty, you can wait for some teammates to come up and help get back in the game."

Pyrénées:
"This year, the Pyrénées are rough. Sixteen cols in four days, what a program! Plus, they arrive at the end of the Tour. The team will have to still be very strong to get through that."

Stage 13
"It's the gradient of (Col de Pailheres) that worries me. On paper, it's more difficult than the Galibier. On the other hand, Bonascre is short and more rolling."

Gonzalez "99%" for Fassa Bortolo

Vuelta a España winner Aitor Gonzalez (Kelme), announced Saturday in Valencia that his next move will be to Fassa Bortolo. Although still not a done deal, Gonzalez was quoted in Marca as saying "my transfer to Fassa is 99% sure. I have a definitive agreement, and there are just a few small details to work out before I sign."

"I did my time with Kelme," he added. "I'm looking for a new motivation and this change will give my career a new start. It's too bad that no other Spanish team was in a position to make an offer." Gonzalez and Kelme director Vicente Belda have exchanged words in the press following Gonzalez's somewhat individualistic performance in the Vuelta, and there appears to be no overwhelming desire on either part to continue their sporting collaboration.

Dufaux looks for new team

Swiss rider Laurent Dufaux is on the hunt for a new team for 2003. Dufaux was offered a contract renewal with his Alessio team, but for roughly one third of his current salary, prompting a search for a more fulfilling offer elsehwere. That offer may come the French Jean Delatour formation, which has reportedly shown interest in Dufaux. Despite the urging of Richard Virenque, Patrick Lefevere has shown no interest in signing Virenque's former Festina compadre Dufaux to Quick Step for 2003.

Vainsteins against the ropes

World champion in 2000 at Plouay, Romans Vainsteins (Domo-Farm Frites) has not tasted victory since September 2001. As a result, the Latvian rider is facing 2003 without a contract , and has looked to his former Vini Caldirola roots for a new chance next year. However, the reception has thus far not been favorable, as Tacconi Sport's cloudy economic outlook has prevented an agreement between Vainsteins and team director Vittorio Algeri.

Cyclecomponents.com looks ahead

As reported earlier, Cyclecomponents.com will end its co-sponsorship with Sollerö IF, which has decided to end its elite program. Prior to the start of the 2003 season, Cyclecomponents aims to form its own U23 team in co-operation with other partners, although specific sponsors have not yet been named. The team will consist of four leading riders, including the 20 year old talent Christofer Stevenson. The team will be based in Säffle, Sweden, and the race program is expected to focus primarily on (Swedish) national competitions, although the team will also compete in Norway and throughout Europe. One of the team's goals is to become a UCI Trade Team 3 (TT3).

Neckermann-Benelux folds

Neckermann-Benelux, the second Belgian women's professional team behind Vlaanderen-T Interim, will fold its operations after just one year, as reported in Velomania. The team featured ten riders, including Mélanie Mansveld and Sandra Dequeldre. All ten will now find themselves in search of a new contract for 2003.

Verbruggen testifies on Giro raids

Hein Verbruggen, president of the UCI, testified Saturday before the public prosecuter in Padua, Italy on the matter of the police raids during the 2001 Giro d'Italia. Verbruggen served as a witness for the investigation, remaining roughly two hours and providing information concerning the charges levied against the riders following the raid. "I am satisfied after this hearing," Verbruggen said, "which was constructive and well run, to have given the Italian magistrate my contribution and the UCI's technical work on the subject."

Illawarra Cycle Club track open

The Caesar's Illawarra Cycle Club will hold its Annual Track Open on November 16, 2002, at Wollongong Velodrome, Princes Highway Unanderra. As in previous years, the main event will be the Wheelrace, a handicapped event covering 6 laps of the 270 meter track, along with points races, eliminations, sprints, and scratch races.

For more information and a full competition schedule, please contact Andrew Telford at 04 1816 5174 or by e-mail: andrew@telfordinternet.com.au.

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