News for September 24, 2002Edited by Jeff Jones and Chris Henry Freire and CSC: No preliminary contractThe Oscar Freire soap has not finished, despite a report in the Spanish newspaper Marca on the weekend that he had signed a one year contract with CSC-Tiscali. Team spokesman Brian Nygaard confirmed to Cyclingnews that there was no such agreement, and negotiations between CSC and Freire have all but ceased, although there's still an outside chance that he could sign with them. "If there was a preliminary agreement then it would have been signed in Valencia the day before the Vuelta started," said Nygaard, who added that further negotiations would depend on the team securing another co-sponsor for next season, as it's quite possible that Tiscali will stop. No Cofidis for Garcia CasasBigMat's Felix Garcia Casas, who was reported as going to join Cofidis along with current teammate Jeremy Hunt, has denied that it is the case. Garcia Casas told Cyclingnews that he still has a one year contract with BigMat, which may continue to exist next year despite an earlier announcement that it would stop. According to Garcia Casas, the team management is "very optimistic about the future of the team, which I desire to continue with under the same sporting conditions as at the moment." Landbouwkrediet-Colnago contractsTwenty four year old Wesley Van Speybroeck has signed a one year contract with Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. Van Speybroeck has been professional for two years, riding with Lotto-Adecco. Developing as a sprinter, Van Speybroeck has three victories to his credit, this year's GP Rudy Dhaenens, as well as Paris Corrèze and Grote Sluitingsprijs Putte-Kapellen in 2001. Belgian Johan Verstrepen , who currently rides for Lampre-Daikin, is expected to sign with Landbouwkrediet-Colnago after his return from the Vuelta a España. Coppa Sabatini previewThursday, September 26 will find 26 teams lining up to contest the Coppa Sabatini, held around Peccioli in the province of Pisa, Italy. The race will cover a distance of 197km run over two circuits, the first a 22km circuit repeated 8 times, followed by two laps of a shorter finishing circuit. As this year's World Championships in Zolder approach, the Coppa Sabatini will present the Italian hopefuls with perhaps their final chance to impress national selector Franco Ballerini. In addition, Dr. Renzo Macelloni, the mayor of Peccioli, has announced that he hopes to promote the candidature of Peccioli for a future world championships. Not surprisingly, this year's event is drawing an all-star cast, including two time winner Dimitri Konyshev, Paolo Bettini, Laurent Jalabert, Michael Boogerd, Andrea Tafi, and a host of other contenders. Previous winners: 2001 Dimitri Konyshev Team rosters for upcoming Italian racesThis week will find the Italian peloton in action for two events. First up is the GP Industria & Commercio di Prato on September 24, followed by the Coppa Sabatini on Thursday, September 26th. GP Industria & Commercio di Prato (September 24)Lampre-Daikin: Ludo Dierckxsens, Sergio Barbero, Alessandro Cortinovis, Gabriele Missaglia, Marco Pinotti, Manuel Quinziato, Maximilian Sciandri, Marco Serpellini. Acqua e Sapone: Claudio Astolfi, Lorenzo Cardellini, Massimiliano Gentili, Massimo Giunti, Agustin Pena, Filippo Simeoni, Kyrylo Pospeev, Roberto Conti, Cristian Gasperoni, Simone Masciarelli. Directeur sportif: Pino Petito. Mapei-Quick Step: Paolo Bettini, Cadel Evans, Paolo Fornaciari, Daniele Nardello, Luca Paolini, Eddy Ratti, Luca Scinto, Andrea Tafi. Directeur sportif: Fabrizio Fabbri. Coppa Sabatini (September 26)Lampre-Daikin: Ludo Dierckxsens, Rubens Bertogliati, Sergio Barbero, Alessandro Cortinovis, Gabriele Missaglia, Marco Pinotti, Maximilian Sciandri, Marco Serpellini. Acqua e Sapone: Claudio Astolfi, Lorenzo Cardellini, Massimiliano Gentili, Massimo Giunti, Agustin Pena, Filippo Simeoni, Kyrylo Pospeev, Roberto Conti, Cristian Gasperoni, Simone Masciarelli. Directeur sportif: Pino Petito. Mapei-Quick Step: Paolo Bettini, Paolo Fornaciari, Daniele Nardello, Andrea Noè, Luca Paolini, Eddy Ratti, Luca Scinto, Andrea Tafi. Directeur sportif: Fabrizio Fabbri. USOC Announces doping positiveThe U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) of New York cyclist Juan Pineda's positive test for a controlled substance. According to USADA, Pineda tested positive for 19-norandrostestosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone on June 4, at the First Union Invitational in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Pineda is currently disputing the result through the USADA adjudication process. The imposition of any sanctions would depend upon the outcome of this dispute. Swedish World's selectionSwedish national director Hans Falk has announced the selections for the World Championships in Zolder. Leading the way will be Marcus Ljungqvist (EDS-fakta), who will ride both the time trial and road events. His teammate Magnus Bäckstedt will ride the TT, while Stefan Adamsson (Team Coast) will contest the road race. Among the women, Susanne Ljungskog (Vlaanderen-T Interim) will surely be a favorite, fresh off her overall victory and three stage wins in the Giro di Toscana this week. Ljungskog will ride both the time trial and road events. Year 2000 bronze medallist Madeleine Lindberg (Farm Frites-Hartol) will concentrate on the road race. The full team selection is as follows: Elite men: Marcus Ljungqvist (EDS-fakta) ITT and road race Elite women: Susanne Ljungskog (Vlaanderen-T Interim) ITT and road race Men U23: Gustav Larsson (Team Crescent) ITT and road race Men junior: Thomas Lövkvist (Ulricehamns CK) ITT and road race Women junior: Monika Holler (Laxå CK) ITT and road race New UK cyclo-cross teamA new cyclo-cross team is taking shape in the UK, sponsored by James Hay Pension Trustees. Dubbed the James Hay Racing Team, the new 'cross formation will be based in northwest England. The team will be managed by Stefan Wyman, and will compete in both the National Series and North West league races.
(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2002) |
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