News for April 24, 2002Edited by Jeff Jones 26th Internationale Niedersachsen Rundfahrt120 riders from 15 teams will contest the 26th Internationale Niedersachsen Rundfahrt, starting on Wednesday, April 24 and running through until Sunday, April 28. The big names include Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) who is coming back to competition after being laid low by a virus four weeks ago. Jalabert won two stages and the mountains jersey in last year's Tour de France, but will presumably be using this race for training only. Team coast will see Vuelta winner Angel Casero lead the way, as part of his preparation for the Giro d'Italia. Casero has been out of action due to knee problems but will start this race along with Thorsten Wilhelms (coming back after breaking his shin), Sascha Henrix, Andre Korff (Erfurt), Malte Urban, Thorsten Rund, Christoph von Kleinsorgen and Stefan Adamson. Team Telekom will be without star rider Jan Ullrich, who is also recovering from a knee injury, but is at least training again. Instead, Telekom will take a team containing several younger riders. Led by the experienced Giuseppe Guerini, Jan Schaffrath and Ralf Grabsch, the rest of the team includes Dirk Reichel, Stefan Schumacher, David Kopp, Robert Bartko and Sergei Yakovlev. The 852 kilometre race runs between Melle, Einbeck, Wolfsburg, Duderstadt, Hannover and Bückeburg. The stages
Lampre-Daikin for upcoming racesApril 24 - Grote Scheldeprijs, Belgium Ludo Dierckxsens and Jan Svorada will lead the Lampre-Daikin team in Wednesday's Grote Scheldeprijs in Antwerp. The two are perfectly suited for the flat, fast race that often ends in a bunch sprint. Svorada is in good form, winning two stages in the Settimana Ciclista Lombarda. The team: Ludo Dierckxsens, Jan Svorada, Johan Verstrepen, Zbigniew Spruch, Alberto Loddo, Luciano Pagliarini, Alessandro Cortinovis. Team manager: Pietro Algeri. April 25 - GP de Denain, France A similar team, including Raimondas Rumsas, will line up the following day in the GP de Denain in France, which has been won in the past by both Svorada and Dierckxsens. The team: Ludo Dierckxsens, Jan Svorada, Raimondas Rumsas, Johan Verstrepen, Zbigniew Spruch, Alessandro Cortinovis, Alberto Loddo, Luciano Pagliarini. Team manager: Pietro Algeri. April 25-28 - Giro del Trentino, Italy The Giro del Trentino, from April 25-28, will feature Lampre's likely Giro d'Italia team, led by Pavel Tonkov. The team: Pavel Tonkov, Massimo Codol, Mariano Piccoli, Sergio Barbero, Juan Manuel Garate, Simone Bertoletti, Milan Kadlec, Manuel Quinziato. Team manager: Maurizio Piovani.
Mapei-Quick step for upcoming racesApril 24 - Grote Scheldeprijs, Belgium Riders: Laszlo Bodrogi, De Fabien Waele, Paolo Fornaciari, Pedro Horrillo, Luca Paolini, Tom Steels, Stefano Zanini DS: Eric Vanderaerden April 25 - G.P. de Denain, France Riders : Laszlo Bodrogi, De Fabien Waele, Paolo Fornaciari, Pedro Horrillo, Luca Paolini, Tom Steels, Andrea Tafi, Stefano Zanini. DS: Eric Vanderaerden April 25-28 - 26th Giro del Trentino, Italy Riders: Elia Aggiano, Davide Bramati, Dario Cioni, Stefano Garzelli, Miguel Martinez, Luca Scinto, Gerhard Trampusch, Charly Wegelius. DS: Roberto Damiani
Crashes in stage one of Castilla y LeonA series of crashes in the aggressive and windy first stage of the Vuelta Ciclista Castilla y Leon Feminas (won by Cathy Marsal) forced a number of riders to abandon. A big fall with 10 kilometres to go took out early mountains leader Trixi Worrack (Germany). Worrack was unconscious for a short period on the roadside, and after being taken to hospital for precautionary tests and X-rays on a sore shoulder, she was later cleared and released. Australian Hayley Rutherford was positioned well near the front of the chase group at the 4km to go point, when a quick switch at the front of the bunch found her planted on the front of a parked car. A badly bruised shin from the impact of the bumper bar she hit at 60km/hr, had Rutherford unable to stand for some time, and she was also taken to hospital for a precautionary Xray. Rutherford was also cleared of any major injuries, and returned to her team hotel a little bruised. Rhonda Quick (Figurella Dream Team) came off the worst of the peloton today, after being involved in the massive crash with Trixi Worrack. She regained her bike soon after and was chasing through the convoy, but with team cars taking care of their wounded riders, Quick was soon back on the ground after coming in contact with a team car. Quick also taken to hospital, has sustained a broken collarbone and badly bruised hand.
Peter Vries back in actionAfter an operation to his groin, Dutch rider Peter Vries (Bankgiroloterij-Batavus) made his season debut in the Rund um Düren last Sunday, a 1.5 event won by Lubor Tesar). Vries finished the race in 41st place. Courtesy of Daniel Schamps
Grand Tour bosses to meet in GroningenThe bosses of the three major tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta España) will meet in Groningen on May 8, three days before the start of this year's "Euro" Giro d'Italia. Carmine Castellano (Giro), Jean Marie Leblanc (Tour) and Enrique Franco Alvarez (Vuelta) will discuss the important issue of television rights and their cost, as well as the question of a "Tour of Europe" in the future. In other Giro news, Dutch Railways will increase the number of trains between Zwolle and Groningen by two per hour on May 11, to cope with the likely increased number of people travelling to the prologue. UCI Track World Cup Round 2 at Sydney's Dunc Gray VelodromeA host of World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games cycling champions will do battle at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome when they line up for Round 2 of the UCI Track World Cup from May 10 to 12. Sixteen countries have so far confirmed their attendance including the five strongest Commonwealth cycling nations, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Great Britain and New Zealand. All are keen to gauge their form and that of the opposition ahead of the Manchester Commonwealth Games. The full list of countries competing is: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Ukraine and the USA. Cycling Australia today announced its team to take on the rest of the world. Heading the Australian male sprint contingent is reigning world keirin champion, Ryan Bayley (WA), who will be joined by Wollongong's Ben Kersten (NSW), newly crowned Australian sprint champion and Olympic bronze medallist, Sean Eadie (NSW) and three time Olympian, Shane Kelly (VIC). The Men's endurance group is 1995 World teams pursuit champion, Rod McGee (NSW), former junior world champion and winner of three gold medals at the recent Australian Titles, Mark Renshaw (NSW), Peter Dawson (WA), Darren Young (TAS) and Stephen Wooldridge (NSW). Two time Olympic silver medallist, Michelle Ferris (VIC), Queenslander Kerrie Meares, who claimed four gold medals last week, and Rosealee Hubbard (SA), who yesterday claimed the Australian keirin crown, will line up in the sprint events. The women's endurance group is teenage sensation Rochelle Gilmore (NSW) and Amy Safe (SA), who represented Australia in rowing at the 1996 Olympic Games. While the Australian team is strong it will face tough opposition from the international contingent. Olympic gold medallist Arnaud Tournant (Fra) (Team Sprint 2000 Olympic champion) comes to Sydney as the reigning world champion and record holder in the one kilometre time trial. Tournant wrested the world crown from three time world champion and former record holder Kelly in 1998 and has held it since then. Safe will face 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Sarah Ulmer of New Zealand in the 3000m individual pursuit. Anthony Peden (NZl), the 1999 world keirin silver medallist who has already been named in the New Zealand team for Manchester, will be keen to gain a psychological advantage with a sprint win over his Australian rivals before the Commonwealth Games. (Keirin is not a Commonwealth Games event.) Goodwill Games points race gold medallist, Erin Mirabella, will lead the way for the American team while Canada has named Goodwill Games sprint silver medallist, Lori-Ann Muenzer in their start list. Information on other starters will be released as team lists are confirmed by the competing countries.
Irish champion Frank McKeown diesBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent Former multi All Ireland champion in both track and road, Frank McKeown died on Monday, aged 81. A life member of Kings Moss CC, Belfast, he always had a smile for those that came into contact with him. A measure of the man was that he was always forthcoming with information on a sport that he had a strong passion for. Many aspiring cyclists can thank the knight of the road for the encouragement that he proffered to them in their search for betterment on the trusty steed. Frank was a prolific Time Trialist in his day and won the Irish Championship on several occasions on the Navan Road in Dublin. Before travel was taken for granted back in the 40's and 50's. Frank along with members of the club would travel down by steam train to race. On a lot of occasions, when funds were in short supply his companions cycled down the day before with their "good wheels" strapped to the bike. Frank also enjoyed the touring side of the bike and would often go Youth Hostelling all over Ireland. He would also compete and win many distance races such as the Dublin to Belfast with his great friends Billy Reilly, Tommy Taylor, Ossie McKillen, Cecil Ford and many more. In the latter years Frank was still heavily involved with the administration of cycling, both with Kings Moss and the Vets Association, holding committee positions in both organisations. He could be seen at the roadside, rain, hail or shine, pushing riders off in club, vets or championship time trials. He would always have an encouraging word for you no matter how badly you felt you had performed. His presence will be sadly missed as he left a lasting impression on many people with warmth and kindness who came in touch with him. He is survived by his wife Dorothy and sons Billy and John, both successful competitors. 2002 People's Cycling TeamFounded in 2000, the People's Cycling Team is non-profit organization that develops athletes to national and world-class levels. A large part of it is funded through private donations, fund-raisers and even sales of Jittery Joe's Coffee. The elite teams' program focuses on major under 23 events in the U.S., including Four Bridges of Elgin, and the Elite and Under 23 National Championships. However, the team will also race a limited international schedule, which includes the FBD Milk Rás in Ireland. In addition to its cycling team, the People's Cycling Team has partnered with CDI Racing, an inline speed skating program from New York. As the 2002 Winter Olympics showed, inline skating can be a great, and affordable way to get kids into athletics, not to mention providing adolescents an affordable path into cycling. Elite Team Roster Mark Anderson (23) - Athens, GA Team manager: Chris Harnish Primary Sponsors: Stonyfield Farm, Aegis Infiniti Group-Marketing and Management Services, American Express Financial Advisors, Jittery Joe’s-Choco Andean Eco Coffee Co-Sponsors: Olbas, Celtic Trails, Hammer Nutrition, Tri-Marketing Group Frames: Quattro Assi Affiliates: The Major Taylor Foundation (www.mtfoundation.org), The New Dream (www.newdream.org), CDI racing (www.cdiracing.com) Team Website: www.peoplecycle.org
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