News for January 24, 2003Edited by Chris Henry and Jeff Jones Cofidis responds to MillarFollowing David Millar's decidedly negative interview in l'Equipe, where he bemoaned the Cofidis team's incentive-based structure, team manager Alain Bondue provided the expected response in the paper's January 23 edition. It seems Millar and Bondue prefer to express their thoughts in print rather than face to face. "We spent several days together in December at a camp in Amiens, and he made no remark about the team's structure," Bondue told l'Equipe. "Granted, he did complain from time to time about (other riders in the team) who didn't provide enough support." Bondue, for his part, does not intend to change the team's structure, whereby riders are paid according to their individual UCI rankings. "We're all professionals, we run a business, and concerning salaries these men must accept being paid according to what they achieve," he explained. "The danger, it's true, is that each rides for himself. But if everyone is smart, they'll realize that what goes around comes around." Millar made it clear that he intends to leave Cofidis after 2003, the final year in his contract, despite a new three year deal offered by the team. Bondue accepts his decision, commenting at the same time on Millar's recent disclosure. "I realize there's a certain honesty in what he says since he admits that he hasn't given everything for his career," said Bondue, who then went on to add, "he has an enormous potential, but he doesn't behave like a champion, and it's easy to lay all the blame on Cofidis." "There's no point in complaining about the other guys. They need to take their responsibility and Millar needs to look at himself in the mirror. It's time for his habitual new year's resolutions to last longer than two weeks. And if his teammates don't always ride for him, perhaps it's also his fault." Source: l'Equipe Vuelta a Murcia routeThe 2003 Vuelta a Murcia will run from March 5-9, offering a first glimpse at several of the contenders for the year's grand tours, including Lance Armstrong, Roberto Heras, Levi Leipheimer, and Angel Casero. The race will feature plenty of climbing, including one mountain top finish, and concludes with an individual time trial on the final day in Murcia. Stages: March 5: Murcia-Ceuti, 162km Teams: Alessio, Team Coast, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Gerolsteiner, iBanesto.com, Kelme-Costa Blanca, Labarca2-Cafés Baqué, Lampre, Milanezza-MSS, ONCE-Eroski, Paternina Costa de Almeria, Phonak, Rabobank, Relax-Fuenlabrada, Telekom, US Postal, Vlaanderen-T Interim New start for Tirreno-AdriaticoThis year's Tirreno-Adriatico, the 38th edition of the Italian stage race, will depart for the first time from the Circeo National Park in Sabaudia. The new start location replaces Sorrento, which has hosted the race for six years. This year's event runs from February 13-19, finishing in San Benedetto. Vlaanderen-T Interim presentationThe Belgian second division team Vlaanderen-T Interim was presented on Thursday in Alden Biezen, Limburg. Managed by Roger Swerts, the team is largely composed of younger riders, mostly around 24-25 years old. Six day specialist Matthew Gilmore is in fact the oldest member of the team, and he is only 30. There will be five neo-pro's in the squad this year: Bart De Spieghelaere, David Meys, Jef Peeters, Kevin Van Der Slagmolen and Wouter Van Mechelen. Swerts has always tried to give his riders a chance to race professionally, and if they are good enough to join one of the bigger teams. Tom Steels started his career with Vlaanderen, as did Kurt Van De Wouwer and Paul Van Hyfte. The developmental aspect of the team is not conducive to winning many races however. Last year, Vlaanderen-T Interim notched up just one win. This year, Swerts is hoping that the team will rack up at least seven or eight. Alessio in trainingThe Italian Alessio team began thursday its training camp in Malaga, Spain, which will run until February 3. Following 12 days of hard work at the camp, Alessio riders will head for the roads of France for the GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise (February 4) and the first stage race test at Etoile de Bessèges (February 5-9). Following these, team managers Bruno Cenghialta and Dario Mariuzzi will take a team to the sun of the Vuelta a Andalucia (February 16 to 20). Riders not chosen to represent in Spain will head to Italy for the Trofeo Laigueglia (February 18) followed by the Giro della Liguria. Alessio counts twenty riders for 2003: Alessandro Bertolini Courtesy: João Cravo Team 5280/Subaru comes to fruitionJonathan Vaughters has announced the formation of his U23 and junior development team, 5280/Subaru. The team is based on Colorado and will be sponsored by Denver real estate magazine 5280 and all-wheel drive car manufacturer Subaru. Besides Vaughters' involvement, 5280/Subaru will have Colby Pearce as a team manager/rider/coach. Colby will race on the road with the team, as well as racing national track events with the Ofoto/Lombardi Sports squad. Tour de France veteran and Giro d'Italia winner Andy Hampsten will provide coaching expertise to the team as well. The team will be run in association with the professional Prime Alliance cycling team, and their director Roy Knickman will handle the sponsor relations for 5280/Subaru. The young six man squad will race in Colorado as well as National Calendar events throughout the US. Eleven time Junior National Champion Blake Caldwell (19), former National criterium and points race Champion Angetti Sheldrake (19), and collegiate cycling star Andrew Manart (20) make up the older half of the team. Three juniors round out the squad: 2002 Junior Track World Championship team member Ryan Lutrell (18), five time Colorado State champion Brady Kappius (16), and Peter Stetina (16), who was victorious in fifteen races throughout Colorado in 2002. As was previously reported, the will be funded in part by contributions from Jonathan Vaughters real estate, in association with Remax. A portion of each real estate transaction conducted by Vaughters real estate will provide financial support for the program. 5280 magazine has committed advertising space in each issue devoted to the properties listed by Vaughters real estate. The team has acquired an extensive list of private sponsors, including Jabber software, Basil Doc's pizzeria, Great Divide Brewing Company, Dickinson & DeKruif CPA, and will benefit from a cooperative relationship with the American Cycling Association. Team Roster: Blake Caldwell (19) Other sponsors: 5280 Magazine (www.5280.com) Equipment sponsors: Bikes: ABICI (www.abicibikes.com) HSBC for 2003The South-African team HSBC has presented its roster for 2003 at the Johannesburg headquarters of London-based HSBC Bank. The Division III squad will focus its attention on the local calendar but will also compete outside of South Africa. Team manager Martin Sanders is confident that 2003 will be the best year of HSBC team history, following Nicholas White's recent victory at the Tour of South China Seas (December 25-31, 2002). HSBC's roster for 2003: Jamie Ball Courtesy: João Cravo Cycle Science Racing TeamThe Cycle Science Racing Team has announced its 2003 team roster. The team will contest most major events on the east coast of the United States, the mid-west, and some events in the Caribbean. Category 1/2 Men: Raphael Clemente Category 1/2 Women: Tina Elliot Masters Men: Michael Ellner (Team Manager) Team sponsors include: Cycle Science Bicycle Shop, K2 Bicycles, Hincapie Sports Apparel, Texas Treasures Cruises, Applefield-Waxman Investments, Molex, Change Strategies Consulting, Malloy Chevron, Rosie's Crab Cakes, "The Gang". Dutch develop faster doping testResearchers at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen have developed a faster method for detecting drugs in blood and urine samples, paving the way for faster doping controls in sport. The test, developed by Mischa Van Hout can detect drugs in samples within five minutes, compared to the current time frame of between 45 minutes and an hour, and its accuracy is claimed to be at the parts per billion level. So far the method has been tested on beta 2 agonist clenbuterol and the corticosteroid prednisone. Van Hout believes that it will be a valuable tool in the fight against doping, as well having obvious benefits in other areas of medicine. It would be particularly useful for research in detecting new drugs in blood and urine samples, as the fast turnaround means that many more samples can be tested. Kashi Leuchs to ride TrekWorld Top 10 cross-country mountain biker Kashi Leuchs, who recently signed to ride with the Maxxis Factory Team, will in fact ride Trek bikes as part of the deal. Kashi, 24, has put together his own sponsorship whereby he will ride in Maxxis colours, but with his choice of bike and equipment. Trek Bicycles will supply Kashi with bikes and support throughout the year. Kashi can attract his own personal sponsors who can receive placement on Kashi's Team Maxxis jersey.
(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2002) |
|
January 2009 |
Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Dauphiné Libéré Photo ©: Sirotti |
