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Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti

News for August 31, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones and Chris Henry

Petacchi eyes Zolder

With or without the return of Mario Cipollini to the peloton, Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) has his sights set on this year's World Championships in Zolder, Belgium.

"Cipollini's return to racing changes nothing for me," Petacchi told la Gazzetto dello Sport. "I cannot say that it makes me happy or it makes me sad. Mario is a champion, and it's an honor that he himself mentioned me as his successor. But I never believed he was retiring."

Noting his improved results and stature over the past few seasons, Petacchi has made clear his desire to contest the World's in Zolder. And while he's willing to put himself at the service of the Lion King on the Zolder circuit, past history of cooperation- or the lack thereof- within the Italian World's teams may give a hint of things to come.

"Besides," Petacchi continued, "if it is true that Cipollini has beaten me many times, it's also true that I've beaten him twice this year." Petacchi upstaged Cipollini in the final stage of this year's Tour of the Mediterranean, as well as stage 2 of the Vuelta Ciclista Comunidad Valenciana.

Circuit Zolder Gearing up for World's

Dierckxsens, McEwen, Wauters and Aerts
Photo: © Circuit Zolder
Click for larger image

Circuit Zolder, organiser of this year's World Road Race Championships, gave a press conference to outline its plans for the series of events, including spectator amenities, planned entertainment and festivities, and the all important traffic and public transport plan. Journalists were offered a view of the region, the circuits and the public car parks from the vantage point of a podium that was elevated 60 meters in the air.

Four helicopters also took off from the circuit's "compass points" (four car parks), each with a professional cyclist aboard, to help release 4,000 balloons in the colors of the rainbow. On hand for the occasion were Marc Wauters, Ludo Dierckxsens, Mario Aerts, and honorary Belgian Robbie McEwen. Capping the day was an on the ground preview of the race course.

Dierckxsens wants to take part

Ludo Dierckxsens would very much like to take part in the World Championships. "If José De Cauwer, the coach, doesn't include me in the selection, then it will be a disaster for me," he said. Ever since the Tour I have been making a special effort to keep up to scratch so that as of 1 September, I can really build up for the World Championship. "

"If the decision really turns on a sprint, as many people are predicting, then I don't stand a chance in hell. I am fairly sure that the selection won't be made on a sprint and then the situation will not totally lost for me. I am prepared to make a early breakaway of it," promised Flanders' popular racer.

McEwen has complete faith

Robbie McEwen, Australian Champion and green jersey in the Tour just got to grips with the World Championship circuit in Zolder. Robbie rode two laps and saw that it was good.

"The ideal circuit for me. Only problem is that I can only win if the race ends in a mass sprint. I hope that the Germans, the Italians, the Spanish and the Australians will stand together and neutralise each breakaway. Leave Zabel, Cipollini, Freire and myself at the back, but we can work out among ourselves who will get the jersey" stated Robbie.

Wauters wants to ride the Time Trial

Marc Wauters will test his Time Trial bike on the circuit this evening. "I am taking things easy right now for two weeks which gives me the time to try out my Time Trial equipment. I have always had it in the back of my mind to take part not just in the individual road race, but also to participate in the Time Trials. I know every metre of the circuit like the back of my hand. Who knows, I may well get to stand on the podium," hopes Wauters who lives five kilometres from the circuit.

Aerts doubtful about being selected

Mario Aerts, close to the polka dot Jersey in the latest Tour de France, would also like to take part, but he is very doubtful about being selected.

"I still want to make the team however. I am going to take part in a series of races in Italy, which I hope will earn me my selection. The conditions are still good. I am convinced that I can do that little bit better and I really want to prove this" said Aerts.

Downhill MTB World's preview

By Tim Maloney, European editor in Kaprun

Tomorrow's World DH MTB Championships are run down the Schaufelberg on a 3.2 km course that loses 775 meters of elevation from top to bottom. It starts at the Maiskogelbahn ski station. The course is quite steep and technical at the top through the Schaufelberg woods and then picks up speed in the wide open middle part of the course. In the Weisengrat the top riders will hit 100 km/h on their way to finish just outside the village centre of Kaprun which is a quaint attractive Austrian ski station, where Loden and Lederhosen are mixing with lycra and full face helmets this weekend.

The top three qualifiers in the men's downhill are all 20-something Frenchmen, led by world number one ranked downhiller Cedric Gracia from Volvo-Cannondale. He's followed by Mikael Pascal (Be One, ranked number 3) with mega-multiple champion Nico Vouilloz, currently ranked 6th in the world qualifying in third.

Fourth placed qualifier, Spaniard Tomas Misser is followed by a trio of Aussies in 5th, 6th and 7th: Mick Hannah (Haro/Lee Dungarees), Chris Kovarik (Intense) and 20 year old talent Jared Graves. Top American is Kurt Voreis (Haro/Lee Dungarees) in 8th with NORBA winner, Kiwi John Kirkaldie only seeded 14th.

On the women's side, nothing new in the downhill category with Anne Caro Chausson (Volvo Cannondale) qualifying fastest ahead of Missy "Missile" Giove (Global Racing) and a pair of young French riders Nolvenn Le Caer and NORBA winner Sabrina Jonnier. Watch 37 year old Marla Streb who qualified 9th to try and move up on the fast course.

Weather is expected to be nice, with beautiful late summer clouds overseeing the proceedings.

Tune into Cyclingnews tomorrow at 14:30 CEST for live updates.

Turpijn distraught

After her hematocrit was measured at greater than 47 percent at the World MTB Championships in Austria yesterday, Dutch rider Laura Turpijn has been prevented from racing for two weeks, in accordance with UCI rules. Her hematocrit level was measured at 47.6 percent, and her haemoglobin at 16.2, both of which fall outside the UCI's healthy range.

Turpijn is reportedly devastated by the result of the test, and has submitted to an EPO urine test at the request of the KNWU, the Netherlands' national cycling body. The results of this will be made public when they are available.

According to KNWU spokesman Gudo Kramer, "the team doctor of the KNWU and coach Leo van Zeeland fully trust Laura and are confident that the result of the EPO test will be negative. Laura Turpijn was very happy with her selection for the world's and is not a top rider. She has a job as a teacher and cannot believe what happened to her."

Team Wiesenhof wants Heppner

Another of Team Telekom's old guard, 37 year old Jens Heppner, would rather join a new team than hang up the bike. Heppner, like fellow German Udo Bölts, was not offered a renewal of his Telekom contract. But as Germany's number one team looks to inject some youth in its roster, other national teams are expressing keen interest in the experience of the soon to be ex-Telekom pros.

German Division II Team Wiesenhof has made clear its interest in Heppner, though the deal has yet to be sealed, as reported by Radsport-News. For a team like Wiesenhof, Heppner can offer his years of experience, while receiving in return the opportunity to carry on riding at a somewhat advanced age. Heppner already has close ties with the team, as Wiesenhof captain Enrico Poitschke is a close friend, training partner, and former German national team member.

Cycling community not amused by Rumsas affair

"We can say a big thank you to Rumsas,'' Jean-Rene Bernaudeau, manager of the French Bonjour team, said sarcastically. Commenting on the latest doping headache to hit the sport, Bernaudeau added, "this affair comes up whenever cycling is discussed now. We are all sullied."

In addition to riders and team management, the UCI also finds itself in an uncomfortable position regarding Rumsas, and what remains at this point mere speculation of a doping offense. "For us, he's a rider who has a problem with his wife,'' said Enrico Carpani, a UCI spokesman. "We have absolutely nothing against him; he's failed no tests. The situation is a bit embarrassing for us. We can only act if he admits cheating or if the French authorities file charges."

"My riders were sickened when the Rumsas news broke,'' said Bernaudeau in an interview with Darren Tullet of Bloomberg News. "We're all under suspicion again."

Musing on the variety of explanations for this year's doping scandals, from Gilberto Simoni's dental visits and South American candies, to Stefano Garzelli's tainted chicken, to Frank Vandenbroucke's cache of medications for his dog, former professional and team director Cyrille Guimard said simply, "it's been a good year for excuses."

Mapei-Quick Step for upcoming races

Giro del Friuli, August 31:

Paolo Bettini, Laszlo Bodrogi, Davide Bramati, Dario Cioni, Luca Paolini, Luca Scinto. Directeur sportfi: Fabrizio Fabbri

GP Jef Scherens en stad Leuven, September 1:

Fabian Cancellara, Fabien De Waele, Paolo Fornaciari, Kevin Hulsmans, Pedro Horrillo, Robert Hunter, Michael Rogers, Tom Steels. Directeur sportif: Erik Vanderaerden

GP Châteulin, September 1, and Tour du Finistere Quimper, September 2:

Giampaolo Cheula, Bernhard Eisel, Graziano Gasparre, Evgueni Petrov, Filippo Pozzato, Patrik Sinkewitz. Directeur sportif: Matxin Fernandez Rodriguez

Phonak stagiaires

The Swiss Phonak team has announced the addition of two stagiaires for the end of this season. The riders are Markus Joho and Gregory Rast, both from Switzerland. Joho is a climber nearing his 23rd birthday, while 22 year old Rast has been tapped as a rouleur.

The two new recruits will participate in the upcoming Rheinland-Pfalz race in Germany, as well as Paris-Corrèze in France. Provided they show good form and inspire confidence in the team management, they will be offered professional contracts with Phonak for next season.

For a look at other young riders getting what could be their big breaks, Cyclingnews has compiled a list of this season's stagiaire contracts.

Nicole Reinhart Memorial Fund Collegiate Cycling Scholarships

The Nicole Reinhart Memorial Fund has established a collegiate scholarship fund, for top young track and road cyclists to help them pursue top level participation in the sport, as well as a higher education. A dinner dance silent auction in 2001 raised $10,000, with an additional $1,000 being donated by private donors. The Penn State women's cycling team received a direct donation of $3,000, while $8,500 was awarded in scholarships. Seventeen cyclists were selected to receive the scholarships, each worth $500 for the 2002 academic year. The scholarships were awarded during the National Track Championships on Friday, August 30th, at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.

Nicole Reinhart died at the age of 24 in September 2000, after a tragic accident in the Tour of Arlington, in Arlington, Massachusetts. Prize money from the race was donated to Nicole's family to establish a memorial fund, and ultimately this scholarship fund.

More information is available at www.nicolesbench.com

Duane Dickey suspended

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has suspended 33 year old cyclist Duane Dickey for a period of 1 year for doping. Dickey tested positive at the 2001 Tour of Guatemala on Oct. 28, 2001 for boldenone, nandrolone and phentermine, which are banned substances under UCI regulations. Boldenone and nandrolone are anabolic agents, while phentermine is a stimulant under UCI rules.

Dickey was suspended through September 1, 2003, and will be disqualified from his finish at the 2001 Tour of Guatemala.

Memorial benefit ride in Georgia

A benefit bicycle ride in memory of a Georgia, USA cyclist who was killed Sunday, August 25 will be held Wednesday, September 4th. Cyclists will ride a 20-mile loop in honor of Roger Baruch, who was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle on Beaverdam Road in Oglethorpe County. Baruch was an avid recreational cyclist who regularly participated in Monday and Wednesday night group rides. The ride will begin from the parking lot of the Athens Country Club, 2700 Jefferson Road, in Athens, Georgia. Riders who drive to the country club will be allowed to park in the parking lot.

Memorial donations may be offered to the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support of Athens, as well as the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Donations will be accepted at the ride.

Nineteen year old Belgian cyclist found dead

Nineteen year old cyclist Johan Mannaert from Grembergen, Belgium, was found dead in his bed, victim of an apparent heart attack. A minute's silence was observed in Mannaert's honro before the start of a local race in Haaltert. Mannaert rode with the Rupelspurters from Boom.

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