News for September 28, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones & Chris Henry

Tour 2003 prologue in Paris

According to French TV, the prologue of the Centenary Tour de France will be ridden around La Maison de la Radio in Paris. The first stage will start at the Stade de France, north of the city, aiming south to pass by the café Réveil Matin in Montgeron where the first Tour began in 1903. The race will visit Meaux, east of Paris, before moving north to Charleville-Mézières.

The route celebrates the original 1903 Tour, and will visit many of the same cities, including Lyon, Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Nantes. The mountain stages will tackle the classic climbs of the Galibier, Izoard, Alpe d'Huez, Tourmalet, and the Aubisque. Sunday, July 27 will see the traditional finish back in Paris on the Champs-Elysées.

The full 2003 Tour de France parcours will be presented in Paris on October 24.

Zolder preparations continue

Charly Mottet, technical deputy of the UCI, will begin inspection of the World's parcours starting Monday, September 30. Mottet will tour the various courses (road, TT) along with the alderman of public works for the Heusden-Zolder municipality.

Circuit Zolder, the host organization for the World Championships, will also sign a charter next week with local authorities in Hasselt and Heusden-Zolder, designed to ensure environmentally-friendly operation of the events. Organizers have endeavoured to limit waste, control litter, and promote bicycling and public transport as a means of accessing the event sites.

Paternina to replace Jazztel in 2003

The Paternina wine company will replace Jazztel as the main sponsor of the Jazztel-Costa de Almeria team in 2003 and 2004. Team director Miguel Moreno gave a press conference at the Vuelta today together with Marcos Eguizabal, director of Paternina, to make the announcement. Jazztel will remain as a minor sponsor.

Yates signs with Quick Step

2000 World Junior Road Champion Jeremy Yates has signed his first professional contract with the new Belgian team Sweet Paradise-Quick Step-Davitamon, the Division III branch of Patrick Lefevere's Quick Step-Davitamon team. Yates signed on Wednesday, and says that he is "ecstatic with this exciting development in my career" which will certainly give the 20 year old New Zealander a big boost.

Yates has been based in Oudenaarde, Belgium this season, training with the RDM-Flanders team and racing locally. "Signing a pro contract was my main objective when I came to Belgium, and in only two short months I have proved myself worthy of joining such a well drilled squad," he said.

Next up for Yates will be the World U23 Championships Time Trial and Road Race in two weeks. After this he will return to New Zealand to contest the National Titles and the Tour of Southland there.

Clerc injured in crash

Swiss rider Aurélien Clerc (Mapei-Quick Step Espoirs) has been injured in a heavy fall during the second stage of the Circuit Franco-Belge. Clerc came down along with race leader Kevin Hulsmans (Mapei) and Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole), and suffered head wounds. Hulsmans and O'Grady were ok, but Hulsmans lost the leader's jersey to Christophe Von Kleinsorgen (Team Coast).

Blood checks at Track Worlds

On Friday morning before the fifth session of the World Track Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, 30 riders were blood tested by the UCI. The riders tested were from France, Germany, Australia, USA, Spain and Canada. No-one was prevented from starting.

Earlier this week, the UCI tested riders from the Ukraine, Great Britain, Mexico and Slovakia, with similar result.

Ultra Cyclist of the Year Award

Jim Pitre, director of the Race Across America (RAAM) has announced the 2002 Ultra Cyclist of the Year. Unsurprisingly, 75% of the votes were cast for Rob Kish of Port Orange, Florida, 17 year veteran and 3 time winner of the Race Across America. Rob finished in second place in RAAM 2002 behind Austrian Wolfgang Fasching.

Rob will be introduced and honoured at the 20th annual El Tour de Tucson as the "2002 Ultra Cyclist of the Year" and will be included in the "El Tour Dedication Dinner" celebration on Thursday, November 21st which honours The World's Greatest Woman Cyclist, Jeannie Longo. Greg LeMond is also expected to be in attendance at the dinner. Rob will then ride his first "El Tour" on Saturday, November 23rd.

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