News for July 26, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Verbruggen on Ullrich, Armstrong and drugs

Armstrong and Verbruggen
Photo: © AFP

UCI president Hein Verbruggen visited the Tour de France yesterday (Stage 16) along with IOC president Jacques Rogge. He spoke to the press on a variety of issues, including Lance Armstrong's performance in the current Tour de France, the media's portrayal of drugs in cycling, and Jan Ullrich's recent suspension for a positive drug test.

"His suspension, even if I didn't really study the motivation, is covered under the rules," said Verbruggen. "But one could ask questions about Ullrich. It's a little sad to see a rider with his enormous potential, his physical possibility but he's not mentally focussed. He doesn't have the discipline of an Armstrong all year long. I followed on TV his press conference where he said a number of times 'I've got to find myself again'. Maybe he's understood that he also has to be mentally focussed and have internal discipline to do cycling."

"If he concentrates on his sport, he can come back. He only is 29 years old. It's not too late. The only problem is the way he's behaved over the years."

On the other hand, he had high words of praise for Armstrong, who he said "has shown he's the best in the race...it's been an incredible performance so far."

He also spoke with Armstrong about the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where he would like to see the American in action. "The Olympics in Athens is in the month of August, that's during the heat of Texas! This would be fine for him. For Lance is an ambitious boy. He will probably win his fourth Tour de France, the absolute record is five victories. It would not astonish me if he tries to win six."

Verbruggen added that he had previously spoken with Armstrong to convince him to participate in the Classics, which he did so this year. "He showed that he could do both, with the Tour de France."

The subject of the Hour Record was also raised, but Verbruggen believed that this was impossible without several months of specific preparation. "It is for this reason that the Hour Record is attacked more and more by riders who are nearing the end of their careers, as Boardman did."

Turning to the subject of Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and his supposed 'non-negative' to salbutamol earlier in the Tour, Verbruggen said that "Our anti-doping commission judged that this case was completely justified." Galdeano has medical documentation to prove that he has asthma.

"I am anxious to point out that it is false to say that there are a lot of asthmatics in the peloton," added Verbruggen. "A report was published that showed that seven out of 100 racers use salbutamol, compared with 10 to 15 per 100 in the normal population. We are under the average."

Vandenbroucke's return

Frank Vandenbroucke (Domo-Farm Frites) has done his first race since February 17, riding in the GP Ninove, an elite kermesse in Belgium. The comeback was as expected, with VDB lasting 72 of the 169 kilometres. He commented afterwards on the large number of corners in the race, which was won by Björn Leukemans (Palmans-Collstrop).

VDB's next appointment is the Tour de la Region Wallonne, starting August 29.

CA Mantes-la-Ville for LGBF

The only professional women's cycling team in France, CA Mantes-la-Ville, has selected its six riders for la Grande Boucle Internationale Féminine (women's Tour de France), which takes place from August 4-18. After the downgrading of the Giro donne to a national calendar event this year, LGBF is the only two week stage race for women that carries UCI points. This year's LGBF starts in 's-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, and finishes in Paris with an individual time trial.

The CA Mantes-la-Ville team is as follows: Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra), Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Swi), Miho Oki (Jpn), Sylvie Riedle (Fra), Emma James (Aus), and Cynthia Compain (Fra).

Tattersall's Cup 2002

The Tattersall's Cup, Australia's premier road cycling series, will again conclude in Tasmania, with the 150km Tour of the Tamar. The first four races in the series will be conducted in regional Victoria, commencing on Wednesday, July 31, with the fifth and final leg to be staged in Launceston on Wednesday, August 28.

Each Tattersall's Cup race is conducted as a separate classic with its own prizemoney (a total of $25,500 is up for grabs). However, an accumulative points system operates over the five events to provide an overall Tattersall's Cup champion. The top 10 overall point-scorers guaranteed automatic selection in the Herald Sun Tour, to be held from October 18-27, 2002.

Tattersall's introduced the Sid Patterson Rider of the Future award in 2000, in memory of one of Australia's greatest cyclists. This award is presented to a rider (under 23 years of age at the commencement of the first race) who represents and displays some of Sid's tenacity, strength and ability.

The Tattersall's Cup started in Victoria in 1996, as a three-race event, and has been supported by Tattersall's since its inception. The success of the concept necessitated the move to a four-race program in 1997, and then to the current five-day format in 1998. The series is now one of Australia's most competitive, attracting an average 100 competitors each week from across the country and overseas.

The five races scheduled in 2002 are:

Tour Of The Ballarat Goldfields, Ballarat, 127.6 km
Wednesday, July 31
Supported By City Of Ballarat / Events Ballarat & Beyond

Tour Of The Goulburn Valley, Shepparton, 124.6 km
Wednesday, August 7
Supported By Greater Shepparton City Council

Tour Of The Southern Grampians, Hamilton, 130.3 km
Wednesday, August 14
Supported By Southern Grampians Shire Council

Tour Of Latrobe Valley, Morwell, 127.8 km
Wednesday, August 21
Supported By The Morwell Club

Tour Of The Tamar, Launceston, 150 km
Wednesday, August 28
Supported By Launceston City Council

Rathmoylan and Robinstown GP previews

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent

On the GAA playing fields of Co. Meath, all is not well after last Sunday's exit from the All Ireland series, but this weekend in the Co. cycling will be to the forefront with a promotion tomorrow and on Sunday the action will switch to Robinstown.

First off the blocks will be Rathmoylan.

The inaugural BH Raleigh Grand Prix takes place today at 12:00, in Rathmolyon, County Meath. The race is being organised by the BH Raleigh cycling club, and although being run at short notice, a strong field is expected. There will be 3 races - A&B (60 miles), C,J,V (45 miles) and Ladies (30 miles).

This circuit has never been raced before, and the course selection includes Agher, Cloone, Summerhill and back through Rathmolyon, with primes each lap. Although a draggy circuit in places, the approach to the finish has a classics feel about it, and with local interest at a high, it is hoped that the competition will see a worthy winner, be it a small group gallop, or solo victory - an aluminium frame is the reward for 1st!

Race sponsors include Eurotrek Raleigh Ireland ltd., walls cycles, did electrical and Harnans Pub, Rathmolyon. Sign-on from 11:00, music courtesy of Joe Magill.

On Sunday the action switches to Robinstown for the Grand Prix, were Larry Clarke of the promoting club Navan tells me that the race was first run back in 1976. Tony Brady got the wheels turning back in the '70's, but now erstwhile promoter and former star competitor; Noel Clarke is at the helm.

Interest is very much to the fore with a number of locals from the promoting club expected to do well among them being Robert Whelan, Ken Maloney and Seamus Kennedy.

"The course is five miles in length which will be covered 12 times. Basically it is over a flat course, which should all, and sundry. Our priority is to cater for all. Last year Vincent from Clare triumphed and is expected to do well again this year," according to Larry Clarke.

Recent winner in Stamullen on the eve of the Road Championships, Jonathan Cruise of the Bray Wheelers CC is one to watch.

I caught up with Jonathan during the week in Co. Dublin, "Yes I'm enjoying my cycling again. I'm back racing with the Wheelers and that has given me the edge to do well in open races. There are 15 seniors racing every Thursday night plus the juniors which makes the racing very competitive. Personally the open races are slightly that bit easier. In the club races you are at a disadvantage because there is no remission after you have contributed to the pace," said Jonathan.

With a number of weeks left for open racing, the name of Cruise should figure in the results.

Racing in Robinstown gets under way at 11 o'clock with the underage, followed at one o'clock with the Grand Prix.

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