First Edition Cycling News for April 3, 2004Edited by Chris Henry and Jeff Jones Fassa for Frank
Giancarlo Ferretti's Fassa Bortolo team has left no doubt about the unified front it will show at Sunday's Tour of Flanders, ready to work for its new leader for the northern classics, Frank Vandenbroucke. The Belgian, twice second at Flanders, will enter the fabled race with his best form in years and a team dedicated to his success. Strong performances in Paris-Nice and the Setmana Catalana have served as a good base for Vandenbroucke before this first crucial test. "Our leader for Sunday is definitely Frank, because he's in great condition, he's worked hard, and because he has the experience," Ferretti said at a press conference Friday. "He deserves our confidence. But of course, race conditions can change quickly so we won't rule out other options." Those other options could include young Italian star Filippo Pozzato, even if Pippo is keeping his own ambitions in check. "I and the whole team can see that Frank is in good shape and he really wants to do well. We'll all do everything we can to make the race for him. As far as I'm concerned, this is a race that really appeals to me, but I still need more experience to do well." Vandenbroucke, meanwhile, appeared confident and relaxed, eagerly awaiting a showdown at one of the toughest one-day races of the year. Vandenbroucke and the team went for an 80km spin on Friday to loosen the legs. "With respect to last year, my condition is surely better," Vandenbroucke explained. "I haven't been sick and I haven't crashed, and this will clearly be the race where I have a real chance of success. This year I have a team and guys who understand the situation, which helps me stay calm. Plus, the confidence that Giancarlo Ferretti and the team have in me is exciting and makes me want to do everything to repay them." Cipollini skips Flanders
Mario Cipollini has opted not to start in Sunday's Tour of Flanders, nor next week's Gent-Wevelgem, which the Italian has won three times in his career. Even if the Domina Vacanze team did not offer an explanation for Cipollini's withdrawal, the decision follows a less than spectacular performance in his beloved World Cup opener, Milan-San Remo.
Vasseur's lawyer frustratedCédric Vasseur, placed under judicial investigation in France and subsequently suspended from competition by his Cofidis team, maintains that he has never used cocaine despite a preliminary positive test returned on a hair sample taken at the time of Vasseur's first questioning by French authorities in January. Vasseur submitted a sample to a different laboratory after the initial cocaine result was announced, and this second test came back negative. He is currently awaiting the results of a counter-analysis being performed on the original sample taken in January. "Any time a judge asks for a counter-analysis it shows that he has doubts about the expertise of the original," Vasseur's lawyer Bertrand Wambeke commented Friday, adding that he would have preferred to see the court wait until this result was returned before officially placing Vasseur under investigation. As a result of the investigation opened, Vasseur is no longer eligible to represent France at the 2004 Olympic Games. Belda's malaiseVicente Belda, director of the Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme team, checked himself into the hospital in Alcoy Thursday after what he described as a 'general malaise'. "They said I was suffering from anxiety, but already I'm feeling much better and I'll direct the team at the races this week in Navarra and the Basque Country," Belda said in a Europa Press report. "We're under a lot of pressure, but in this case my conscience is calm." Up against the sweeping allegations made by Jesus Manzano about doping within the Kelme team, Belda insists that his former rider was motivated only by vengeance and money. "[Kelme] is working to bring its version of the story and put truth where there have been lies," he said. Teams for Liège-Bastogne-LiègeThe Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), organiser of "la doyenne", Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 25), has announced the 25 teams for this year's classic in the Belgian Ardennes. Last year's event was won for the first time by an American, Tyler Hamilton, riding for Team CSC. Hamilton will represent his new Phonak team this month as he lines up in defense of his title. Teams: Ag2r-Prévoyance France for Manchester World CupThe French national team has been announced for the third round of the Track World Cup, scheduled for April 9-11 in Manchester, England. Veteran Florian Rousseau will lead the charge, taking part in the individual and team sprints as well as the keirin. Men: Baugé, Haddou, Ladagnous, Merciris, Neuville, Perque, Pervis, Rousseau, Sanchez Women: Moncassin, Nivert, Sanchez, Vandekerckhove Obree ready for first testGraeme Obree of Scotland is preparing for his first serious test at the Manchester, England velodrome in advance of his attempt to reclaim the world hour record, currently held by England's Chris Boardman. Obree has not set a date for his record attempt but Sunday will provide an indicator of his condition. "If the test goes well, I plan to attack the world record fairly quickly," Obree said. "Boardman's distance [49.441 km] won't be easy to beat, but I'm hopeful. I've followed a very strict training plan and even if I'm two kilos heavier than I was in 1993, it's two kilos of muscle." Chris Boardman set the current hour record on October 27, 2000, following UCI regulations requiring a standard bicycle frame. Obree himself had made his mark in cycling by developing new aerodynamic positions, including his famed 'superman' position. Eadie at Clarence Street Cyclery CupThis Saturday, April 3, will mark the staging of the Clarence Street Cyclery Wheelrace Cup, to be held at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney, Australia. One of the big attractions for the meet is 2002 sprint World Champion Sean 'Big Man' Eadie, who will go head to head with 2003 Australian kilo time trial Champion, Ben Kersten, in the keirin and derby events. Eadie is on the comeback trail for Olympic selection after a knee injury forced him off the bike last year and prevented him from mounting a defence of his World Title. Last weekend he raced in the NSW Titles, his first event in twelve months, and was second behind Kersten in the sprint qualifying but defeated his rival in the final to claim gold. "In the qualifying I was happy to be so close to Ben's time because he's had scintillating form since the Mexico World Cup and has been tearing everyone's legs off," said Eadie who qualified over the 200m in a time of 10.763 with Kersten posting 10.682. Kersten, a member of the Olympic Shadow Team, claimed bronze in the time trial at the Mexico World Cup last month and last weekend claimed the NSW time trial title and silver in the individual pursuit, sprint and scratch race. "After last week's success at the State Titles I'm really looking forward to Clarence Street as my return to international style racing," said Eadie. "It's good to be back. We wanted to make sure the knee was never going to be an issue again so we've been very cautious about it. But I'm now putting out almost the same horsepower as before and at this early stage of my comeback I'm further along that I'd anticipated." More than eighty riders will line up on Saturday night for a full program of events including the men's and women's Clarence Street Cyclery Wheelrace the NSW Derny Championships and the women's and U19 women's NSW Keirin Championships. Surgery for PecharromanQuick.Step-Davitamon's José Antonio Pecharroman underwent surgery Friday to correct problems with his right wrist, injured in a crash in the Ruta del Sol. The surgery was performed by Professor Vestreken at the Antwerp Hospital in Belgium. Pecharroman's recovery time is expected to be around four weeks, meaning he should be back in competition in mid-May. Heart problems for LandrieBelgian rider Jurgen Landrie (Flanders-Afin.com) was forced to stop in the third stage of the Driedaagse van De Panne after experiencing problems with an elevated heart rate. He was taken to a nearby hospital for examination. "I also felt it on Wednesday, but now there was no more holding out," he told Het Nieuwsblad. Last winter I also had a bit of trouble. Three cardiologists examined me completely, but found nothing. If the problem showed itself again, they were going to look at the heart via the groin. That will now probably happen as quickly as possible. UCI newsJapan confirms its interest in cycling The UCI recently signed a 3 year contract with the Japanese Media International Corporation (MICO) to broadcast the UCI Track and Road World Championships. The programs will be broadcast on the NHK channel and on the flights of Japan Airlines. Doping newsStefan Steinweg, acquittal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 15th
September 2003. Murphy & Gunn get involved with Shay ElliotBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent Twelve months ago, Murphy & Gunn were subsidiary sponsors of the Shay Elliott Classic League event. The event, which is a 1.5 classed event on the UCI calendar, takes to the roads in the 'Garden County of Ireland' Wicklow on April 25. Murphy & Gunn are now the title sponsors of the race. "Last year we came on board as a subsidiary sponsor, but now we are the principals," said Stephen Murphy of the Murphy & Gunn organisation. "The race one of the most prestigious in the country, and since being recognised by the UCI, has certainly grown in stature within European cycling. Last year the event was won by an Italian, which to me indicates that there is interest abroad. "Presumably the ranking points make it more interesting and it is good vehicle for our company to help promote cycling and hopefully we'll benefit in our business. Also we now have a Team Murphy & Gunn that was formed this season. So along with sponsoring the race we have now have a sporting chance of doing the business on the day. I mean that! We'll be in with a shout of victory." He would not be the first or the last sponsor to win the trophy.
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