News for July 23, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Reactions to the Quick Step-Davitamon-Latexco team

After the announcement of the Quick Step team's co-sponsors earlier today, the reactions have come from a number of riders currently involved with Lotto or Domo. Patrick Lefevere's decision to walk away from the Lotto-Domo merger in favour of the Quick Step-Davitamon-Latexco team was surprising, given that he was one of the main men behind the merger in the first place. However he did not want to battle with Christophe Sercu, the current manager of Lotto, and chose to go back to his former sponsor Frans De Cock.

Omega Pharma (Davitamon) told the Belgian VRT that their decision to step into cycling has got everything to do with having Patrick Lefevre managing the team. His experience and charisma was vital to them said their spokesman. Also for Quick-Step it was important that Patrick Lefevre would join them. It wasn't a priority for Frans De Cock but he made contact with Lefevre after he noticed the co-operation with Sercu wasn't fluent.

Luc Maes from Latexco is a personal friend of Lefevre and is proud that Omega Pharma has joined them. "Mostly thanks to Patrick" Luc Maes said. Museeuw, Virenque and possibly even VDB are on the long list of riders the new team is interested in.

Johan Museeuw said from his training base in St Moritz said that, "I read in the paper that Sercu thinks I'm too expensive as a rider and that he would have had to find a co-sponsor for me alone. I think, publicity wise, I'm still interesting enough to spend that money."

"Quick Step is a blessing for cycling in general and particularly for Belgian cycling. Instead of one super team we'll now have three teams, which takes the insecurity away for a lot of people. I know Quick-Step's boss Frans De Cock; he'll want to be the number one team in the world. I thought Lotto-Domo was a good idea indeed but there was no clarity possible between Sercu and Lefevre. Myself, I don't know yet what I want to do. I haven't decided if and how long I will keep on riding. But the creation of the Quick-Step team can speed up that decision. I have got a proposition from one team, inclusive a job-description of a position I'd fill after my active cycling career has finished."

Rik Verbrugghe says that he has "not yet signed for Lotto-Adecco", although Christophe Sercu does not agree. "The option with the National Lottery has been lifted one way before the deadline of the 30th of June" says Sercu "Officially he's ours."

"The most important is that there is the possibility of building a team around me for the stage-races," reacted Verbrugghe. "The team that can reassure me of that, whether it is Lotto-Domo or Quick-Step, will have my preference. The team manager himself is not that important to me, but the director sportif is. I want a guy like Criquelion. And also important is which cyclists form the team."

Peter Van Petegem commented that "On the rest day, my manager Paul De Geyter is talking to Christophe Sercu. I have a few teams interested in me but I'm not that interested in most of them. I'm not in the mood for another adventure. I wouldn't know why I would choose to change teams again. Lotto is a top team. The economical situation has brought the two sponsors together. If this will be for the best, we'll know at the end of 2004. That Patrick Lefevre is preferring to go with Quick-Step is a normal manoeuvre for a top manager fighting for his team. Suddenly there were two managers for one team, so he's chosen to go."

Finally for Robbie McEwen, who already had an oral agreement with Christophe Sercu before the merger, and thus with the disappearance of Lefevre, all obstacles suddenly have been lifted.

"I did have an oral agreement with the team-manager, but the coming of Lefevre changed everything because of what happened with Domo last year. Him leaving for Quick-Step is extremely good news for me personally. I have never believed for one second in the possibilities of this merger. Last week already I heard Lefevre was thinking about stepping out of the project. I am a very happy man," said the little Australian sprinter who was planning on closing the deal with Sercu on the rest day.

Telekom probable through 2005

Germany's national telecommunications giant, Deutsche Telekom, will more than likely stay in cycling at least until the end of 2005. Team boss Walter Godefroot made the announcement during the Tour's rest day on Monday, saying that the team has committed for 2003, but "not yet for the next two years." However, he has good reason to believe that they will continue for that period.

Godefroot also specified that the decision had nothing to do with the Jan Ullrich situation. Ullrich has been under fire in recent months from both within and outside his team, after being penalised for leaving the scene of an accident that he caused while driving under the influence; and testing positive for amphetamines that he took while out partying.

Mercatone Uno to continue

Marco Pantani's Mercatone Uno team will continue for at least another year, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The team will be managed by Davide Boifava, and will keep Pantani as the main rider. His popularity in Italy remains undented, even if his results have been virtually non-existent for the last two years. However, Mercatone Uno can certainly capitalize on the former.

The team may also end up with the services of Romans Vainsteins (Domo) and Francisco Mancebo (iBanesto), although this is not confirmed yet.

Freire to CSC-Tiscali

World Champion Oscar Freire (Mapei-Quick Step) may be riding for Bjarne Riis' CSC-Tiscali squad next year. Riis confirmed that he has been in contact with Freire and his agent, and a decision will be made shortly.

"We are interested in signing him, even though a two year contract is difficult in the present conditions," said Riis to ANSA newsagency. It's possible that Freire will agree to a two year deal, with the possibility of rescission in case of financial problems.

Garzelli heard by Swiss disciplinary commission

Stefano Garzelli, who tested positive for the diuretic Probenecid during the last Giro d'Italia, was heard today (July 22) by the Swiss cycling federation's disciplinary commission, who have the authority to sanction him for the positive test. The commission's president, Henry Peter, said that "In the best possible case, Garzelli will be able to return to competition in September."

Bad EPO

Het Nieuwsblad carried an interesting article today about a drug that does the opposite of what it needs to do. This is what's more or less been happening with a form of EPO produced by Johnson&Johnson, and an investigation has now been started by the US Food and Drug Administration into Johnson&Johnson's Ortho Biologics plant in Puerto Rico.

EPO is a natural bodily hormone that enables the production of red blood cells. Artificial EPO can be used to treat cancer patients who have anaemia or people who have to undergo kidney dialysis. It is also used in endurance sports to increase the body's red blood cell count and therefore improve oxygen carrying capacity.

However, the Johnson&Johnson product EPREX (as it is marketed in Europe) has seemingly had the opposite effect: since 1999, over a 140 cases of aplastic anaemia have been diagnosed after the use of the product EPREX. In these cases there is no longer any production of red blood cells. In other words, the drug is doing the opposite of what it needs to do. Most of the victims were European or Canadian patients.

The American government has now started an investigation into the Johnson&Johnson factory in Puerto Rico. The research was started by Hector Arce, who told the Food and Drug Administration that he had been forced over a 100 times, to falsify data submitted to the FDA to hide manufacturing problems.

Johnson&Johnson market EPO as Procrit in the USA, but no cases of aplastic anaemia have been reported as a result of using Procrit. (Note: This was the drug that was advertised for some time during the OLN coverage of the Giro d'Italia in the US, before complaints from viewers caused it to be removed.)

Johnson&Johnson has been manufacturing Eprex SINCE 1988. According to the spokesperson of Johnson&Johnson, no trace of pollution or irregularity in the process has been found and they pointed out the EPREX ampoules have been packed in Europe. Investigators have not yet identified the difference in formulations between Eprex and other erythropoeitin formulations that causes aplasia.

Patients who are suffering from aplastic anaemia are experiencing acute serious anaemia. The genetically manipulated EPO is not being recognised by the body and the immune cells are thus not only destroying the EPO but also their own red blood cells. This can also happen with 'clean' EPO use and one of the reasons why it's extremely dangerous to use as a performance enhancer.

One patient has already died from aplastic anaemia. In the best case it is sufficient to stop using the medication immediately, but in most patients there is need for other medication to stop the own immune system from attacking the blood. Often this results in blood transfusions. More than three million patients and an unknown number of athletes have used, or still use this EPO.

Driedaagse De Panne to start in Middelkerke

Middelkerke will be the new starting place of the 27th edition of the Driedaagse De Panne-Koskijde in 2003. For the last four years, Moeskroen has been the starting town, but the organisers have signed a three year contract with Middelkerke.

Trittico Regione Lombardia

This year's Trittico Regione Lombardia takes place between August 20-22, consisting of three prestigious one day classics. The winner of the series (decided on a points score) will take home 10,000 euros in cash.

The 82nd Tre Valli Varesine will start the series, starting in Campione d'Italia and finishing in via Sacco in Varese, a total of 189.8 km. The race includes a circuit around the Dogana of Fornasette, followed by the climb of Grantola and four laps of a finishing circuit with the climb of Ronchi a Schiranna each lap.

On August 21, the 56th edition of the Coppa Agostoni will see the riders tackle the climb of Lissolo five times, with the race finishing in Lissone after 197 kilometres. The circuit will not include the part through the Parco della Villa Reale di Monza, due to environmental reasons.

Finally on August 22, the Trittico Regione Lombardia will conclude with the 84th Coppa Bernocchi, run over five laps totalling 199.7 kilometres, including the Gornate (aka the 'Piccolo Stelvio') each lap. The race finishes with two laps of a circuit in the center of Legnano.

The presence of Paolo Bettini, Savior Commesso and Danilo Di Luca has been confirmed.

Team up with Tinker Juarez at 24 Hours Of Adrenalin

Want to partner with the ultimate ringer at the Idyllwild 24 Hours Of Adrenalin on September 28-29? Five-time NORBA National Champion and two-time Olympian Tinker Juarez is the 'prize' donated by Cannondale for the winner of their latest contest (see www.cannondale.com/bikes for more info).

Besides teaming with Tinker in the race's two-person class, the winner also gets free air fare to California from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, an overnight stay at Tinker's house (with an authentic Mexican dinner cooked by Rose Juarez), mechanical support, swag, and the use of a high-end, full-suspension Cannondale Scalpel for the race.

The winner will be chosen at random, and the deadline for entries is August 16th. Three second-place winners will receive a free Volvo/Cannondale jersey signed by Tinker. All winners will be announced August 23rd.

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