News for May 12, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Giro d'Italia: Post stage comments

Juan Carlos Dominguez (Phonak, 1st)

Juan Carlos Dominguez
Photo: © Sirotti

"I was surprised at the turnout of the public. I already saw a lot of people when I rode the course four times in the morning. Then, in my hotel room, I tried to envision it mentally and to memorize it. But I do not think that I won by being the best in the corners, it is more that I took the right lines at the correct time."

"It is by far the best result of my career. After the Vuelta a Aragon last month, Oscar Camenzind had to forfeit the Giro due to a virus. Alvaro Pino [DS] convinced me. At first I was not keen because a three week race such as the Giro does not suit me. But I thought that if I had a good result, it is important for the team as I have had confidence in Alvaro for a long time."

"At the beginning of last season, I was in contact with an Italian team after the disappearance of the Linda McCartney team for which I had signed for. But, finally, I went to Spain. Now, I hope to keep the pink jersey for two days. Beyond that is another question."

Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto-Adecco, 2nd)

Rik Verbrugghe
Photo: © Sirotti

"Of course, I am disappointed. One second less...I slipped on the first corner, no doubt due to being too nervous. I lost also time on two or three other corners. But Dominguez is a specialist in these kind of efforts. The gaps are small and bonuses can change a lot of things, with McEwen in our team, who is equally well placed."

Mario Cipollini (Acqua e Sapone 13th)

Mario Cipollini
Photo: © Sirotti

"The condition is good but I lost time due to a puncture. In the final few corners, I saw the seconds disappearing. Now, to take the pink jersey, I must win the intergiro (intermediate sprint) and the stage. I will try."

First casualty: Gorazd Stangelj

Slovenian Gorazd Stangelj (Fassa Bortolo) became the first casualty in the Giro when he crashed and broke his collarbone during the prologue in Groningen. He took a corner badly acting on advice from his team [proof that radios aren't always useful] and fell heavily on his left side. He eventually finished the race more than five minutes behind the winner. He was taken to hospital where was diagnosed with a minor concussion as well as a broken left collarbone.

Other riders also fell during the prologue, including CSC's Tyler Hamilton, who crashed into a barrier after slipping on a corner. He remounted and finished the race 34 seconds behind Dominguez, and suffered no major damage.

New Italian national jersey to be revealed during Giro

The jersey to be worn by members of the Italian national team for the next World Championships in Zolder will be presented during stages 15 and 16 of the Giro (Terme Euganee-Conegliano and Conegliano-Corvara in Badia) at the end of May. Contrary to the last few years, the jersey will once again be completely blue, and supposedly made with a new high tech fabric.

Prologue coverage

Full results & report,
Live report
Photos

Botero returns to Europe

After 18,000 kilometers of training in the mountains of Colombia during the past six months, Santiago Botero returns to Europe to ride in the Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas, Spain. He returns to Kelme in transition, but hopes to enter four races before the TDF: Subida a Naranco, Vuelta a Asturias, Bicicleta Vasca, Vuelta a Cataluña or the Dauphiné Liberé. Botero is looking for a podium position this year in the TDF. With 18,000 kms in his legs Botero brings better fitness to his performances this year.

Courtesy of Haroldo Camacho

Domo invited to Midi Libre

The Richard Virenque factor has earned the Domo-Farm Frites team an invitation to the next Grand Prix du Midi Libre, May 22-26. At first, Domo wasn't among the 15 invited teams, but last Friday Patrick Lefevere received word from the organisers that his team was invited. Lefevere promised that French favourite Richard Virenque would be present. Virenque will also take part in the Tour de Picardie next week.

Happy birthday Tafi: nice Porsche!

Andrea Tafi will be seen driving a Porsche from now on. His loving wife Gloria Tafi bought him the newest model, a Porsche 996, for his birthday last Tuesday!

"Be careful" said Frans De Cock jokingly :"You know what happened to Ullrich with a toy like this".

Frans De Cock, boss of Quick Step shouted the winner an exclusive dinner, accompanied by exquisite wine for the occasion.

Irish Team out of Lincoln GP

By Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com

The Irish team due to take part in the Lincoln GP this weekend has been forced to pull out of the race after the squad was hit by illness and injury. Three of the four riders due to take part in the world-ranked British event have been temporarily sidelined due to the after-effects of the recent Circuit des Mines race in France.

National road manager Declan Byrne explains that Paul Griffin has a touch of tendonitis, while David O'Loughlin and Brian Kenneally are still suffering from the flu and crash-induced injuries which led to their respective retirements from the French event.

"It is a big pity but three of the guys have been off the bike since the Circuit des Mines. It is a pity that there will not be an Irish team in the race on Sunday, but there was little point in just throwing together a squad for a race as tough as that."

"I think the three guys should be okay for the FBD Milk Rás next week. Paul is in touch with me every day about the tendonitis and hopefully it will be gone soon. Brian is still in a bit of a heap after his crash on the first stage of the Circuit des Mines but he is recovering, while David still has the after-effects of the flu."

The Team Ireland-Stena Line national squad for the FBD Milk Rás - which starts Sunday week - is Griffin, Navigators professional Ciarán Power, Mark Scanlon, Tommy Evans and Timmy Barry.

Also see: Lincoln GP preview