News for October 28, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Botero getting closer to Telekom

Colombian Santiago Botero says that he has a "magnificent offer from Telekom" with negotiations with the German team "very advanced" at the moment. Botero is currently contracted by Kelme-Costa Blanca for another season, meaning that if he chooses to break this contract he will have to pay a large buy out fee (reported as 750,000 euros) to his current team. Botero also has an offer from Italy.

"I have a great deal to thank this team for, and they me," said Botero about Kelme. "But it is clear that I would find it easier to succeed in other teams than this one."

The World Time Trial Champion will travel to his homeland soon where he has "many commitments to celebrate my world title, among them a meeting with the president of my country. I want to relax a little and enjoy a deserved holiday."

Cipollini wants to break Giro record

World Champions
Photo: © Bettini

World Champion Mario Cipollini says that he wants to break the record of 41 stage wins in the Giro d'Italia held by Alfredo Binda. Speaking at "Binda Day" in Varese on Sunday, Mario said that "In the next Giro d'Italia I will try to beat the stage victory record of Alfredo Binda. He has been an extraordinary champion and for me, with 40 stages, it will be a new challenge to equal and even surpass it in the corsa rosa."

Tour de France boss Jean-Marie Leblanc even had some kind words for Cipollini: "My compliments to Cipollini, he is a great champion marked by a personality that stands out. But in the past we have had some communication problems, true Mario?"

Cyclo-cross in Vossem cancelled due to bad weather

The UCI Category 2 cyclo-cross event in Vossem (Bel) programmed for Sunday, October 27, was cancelled due to a terrible storm in the region. The extremely strong winds and rain forced the organisers to call off the race late on Saturday, much to their disappointment. It has not yet been decided whether to hold it at a later date this year.

Lotto riders get some of their prize money

The Lotto-Adecco riders have received their prize money split up to and including the Tour de France, 150,000 euros in total. According to a team spokesman the rest of the money is on its way.

Braeckevelt to Marlux

One of the team directors for Lotto-Adecco, Jef Braeckevelt, will transfer to second division team Marlux next season. Braeckevelt was hoping to work with Andrei Tchmil in the Itera first division team, however those plans appear to have been shelved until 2004. Braeckevelt is now negotiating with Lotto about his retirement package.

François Simon retires

30 year old Frenchman François Simon is retiring this season, after not being able to find a team for 2003. Simon's last victory came in a stage of the 2000 Paris-Nice, although he did enjoy success in 2001 when he finished 6th in the Tour de France and carried the yellow jersey for several days. Simon has been a pro since 1991, riding for Castorama, Gan, Credit Agricole, and Bonjour. He has five victories to his credit, including a stage in the Giro (1992) and the French championship (1999).

Pellizotti married

The happy couple
Photo: © Massimo Bolognini

Alessio cyclist Franco Pellizotti was married to Claudia Basei on Saturday October 26 at 11:30 am in the Santa Lucia di Piave church in Treviso, Italy. Present at the ceremony were some of his Alessio teammates including Pietro Caucchioli, Alberto Vinale, Stefano Casagranda, and director Dario Mariuzzo, as well as Italian U23 World's rider Mirco Lorenzetto and the directors of the Rinascita Orrmelle club, where Pellizotti started as a Junior.

On Sunday the couple departed on a two week honeymoon to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

D'Hollander's father dies

Eddy D'Hollander, the father of Glenn d'Hollander (Lotto) has died at the age of 60 from a heart attack. Eddy was also a professional cyclist like his son, riding for three years in the pro ranks.

Highland Park Cyclocross preview

The 3rd Annual Highland Park Cyclocross will be held on Sunday, November 3rd, in Highland Park, New Jersey, USA. Promoted by the Highland Park Hermes and Rutgers University cycling teams, the race is round seven of the 2002 Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Championship Series.

The Highland Park Cyclocross will be held the day after the Sportsbook.com Lancaster UCI Cyclocross, and will feature many of the same top racers from that event. Confirmed riders for the Highland Park Cyclocross include Todd Wells and Marc Gullickson of the Mongoose-Hyundai pro team. Wells is the current US Cyclocross National Champion as well as the NORBA STXC National Champion. Gullickson is a former US Cyclocross National Champion and SuperCup Champion.

Also competing will be cross-neophyte Mark Walters of the Navigators pro team. Walters is a five-time Canadian Road Race National Champion and won the First Union USPRO Championship in Philadelphia this year. The Highland Park Cyclocross represents a rare opportunity for local riders without UCI licenses to compete with the best cross racers in the nation.

The Highland Park Cyclocross is set in a park overlooking the Raritan River, is fast and varied, with road, sand, grass, barriers, and a steep run-up. In addition to an $1800 cash purse, racers will be competing for unique prizes such as home-baked pies, coconuts, and all-natural loofahs.

Race sponsors Highland Park Cyclery, Trialtir USA, Pacific Health Labs (Accelerade & Endurox R4), Jamis, Trek, and the New Brunswick Farmers Market will also be donating merchandise prizes.

For more info see, www.geocities.com/dyg2001/hpcross2002.html

Tour De France E-Book

"The Tour Within The Tour de France" is an e-book written by veteran journalist James Raia. The 9,000-word book includes 24 essays about the cyclists, the rolling countryside, the ambiance, the restaurants, the uniqueness of the race villages and the people who live and work near the sunflowers, ancient castles, the fields of expansive vineyards and the big cities of the Tour de France.

The Tour Within The Tour de France is available in several downloadable formats. For more information and/or to purchase the e-book for $4.95, visit: http://www.hadami.com

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