Cyclingnews - the world centre of cycling Cyclingnews TV   News  Tech   Features   Road   MTB   BMX   Cyclo-cross   Track    Photos    Fitness    Letters   Search   Forum  

Recent News

January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008

2007 & earlier

Recently on Cyclingnews.com


Mont Ventoux
Photo ©: Sirotti

News for May 15, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Giro d'Italia: Post stage comments

Mario Cipollini (Acqua e Sapone, 1st stage)

Mario Cipollini
Photo: © Sirotti
Click for larger image

"It looked like a simple view from the helicopter but I assure you that it was not easy. Since December, we have worked to create a spirit in this team, to form a collective unit. There is a mood, an extraordinary understanding, even for those who are amongst the last to finish in the peloton."

"The record of Binda seems inaccessible for me this year. I will try as many stages as possible, I do not set myself any particular objective. This is already a satisfactory Giro. We could maybe already have won three stages without that unlucky puncture in the prologue."

Stefano Garzelli (Mapei, 1st GC)

Stefano Garzelli
Photo: © Sirotti
Click for larger image

"It was dangerous in the rain. It was for this reason that I requested my teammates to go to the front. Robert Hunter rode, because he told us that he did not want to dispute the finishing sprint."

"The pace was not very high because the stage was long and the wind was against us. To arrive in Italy in pink would be very nice. There is only one more day to get through."

Injured Boogerd still going strong

Rabobank's Michael Boogerd injured his elbow, hand and thigh in a crash in stage 1 of the Giro, but opted to continue the race anyway. He not only showed up for stage 2 from Cologne to Ans, he also figured strongly in the finale, finishing sixth.

"When the race got faster, it hurt like hell," said Boogerd to Het Nieuwsblad after yesterday's stage. "But I didn't want to quit this Tour in bed, if I do have to leave, it will be on the bike. In the meantime I'm taking pain killers. I'm allowing myself four days to function normally again; if I'm not better by then, I see no other solution than to quit."

The Euro Giro goes to France

Tomorrow's fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia takes the riders from Luxembourg to Strasbourg in France, the fifth country to be visited by the race. At 232 kilometres, it's the longest stage of the Euro-Giro so far although Stage 8 from Capannori to Orvieto is even longer at 237 km.

It will be the fifth time that the Giro has visited France - 29 years since its first time there when there was a stage from Verviers (Belgium) to Strasbourg. Since then, the Giro has crossed the French border on a number of occasions: in 1994 to Les Deux-Alpesm in 1995 (start in Briançon), 1996 (finish in Briançon), 1998 (prologue in Nice), and 2000 (finish in Briançon).

The fourth stage is again fairly flat, with the Intergiro sprint coming earlier than usual at Saarbrücken (km 103), while the day's only climb of La Petite Pierre is at km 165. There's no finishing circuit tomorrow, so the riders won't get the chance to judge the finish before it happens. Expect Supermario's Acqua e Sapone train to be at the front again for another zebra-striped victory. Maybe he wants to beat the Alfredo Binda record of 41 wins this year?

Giro stage 3 coverage

Full results & report
Live report
Photos

Kelme Boss Quiles denies problems

Oscar "El Nino" Sevilla in play to Telekom?

By Tim Maloney, European editor

Despite rumours that his team was on the brink of imminent demise, Pepe Quiles, President of the Kelme shoe company and owner /principal sponsor of the Kelme-Costa Blanca cycling team told Cyclingnews that "for next season, we'll have nineteen riders under contract, and I believe that that says everything about the future of the team."

Quiles further denied rumours that he had been meeting with the Region of Andalusia, team co-sponsor to take over the entire team. Kelme, a major producer of mid-range sport and soccer shoes has invested heavily in manufacturing Russia, and with the recent market downturn, this has been an expensive double whammy for the Alicante based firm. In fact, the Secretary General for Sports of the Region of Andalusia Manuel Prado has admitted that they do not have the cash to take over the sponsorship of the entire team, but there is a proposal from Kelme on the table to take over the U23 development squad.

As for rumours that Oscar "El Nino" Sevilla might move to Telekom as soon as the upcoming Tour De France, Pepe Quiles said that "Sevilla has contract until next year, so we'll keep him and are even negotiating with him to extend it. Quiles admitted that he owed some salary to Sevilla. but nothing like the 250,000 euros that is being said.

With Jan Ullrich out of the upcoming Tour De France, Telekom team boss Walter Godefroot may be searching for a way to maintain the interest of Telekom's top brass in cycling. Next year, Telekom will be primary sponsor on the jersey of Munich soccer powerhouse Bayern Munchen for an estimated 20 million euros per season. With Ullrich unable to deliver for Telekom at this year's Tour De France and Sevilla possibly in play due to the questionable financial situation, it's anyones guess as to what might come next.

Sevilla's buy-out clause with Kelme-Costa Blanca is estimated to be 1.5 million euros, but unless Quiles brings his accounts current with Sevilla in the short term, the talented 24 year old from Albacete could ask the UCI for his release from Kelme-Costa Blanca and move to Telekom. However, Sevilla is reportedly quite happy with his situation at Kelme-Costa Blanca and it's doubtful he wants to shake up his Tour De France preparation with a move to another squad.

Tour of Belgium launched

The Tour of Belgium is making a comeback after a 12 year hiatus. The race, ranked 2.3, takes place from May 22-26 and will attract a strong field. That's impressive when you consider that the Giro d'Italia, Midi Libre and Bayern Rundfahrt are on at the same time (not to mention the Tour of Japan, FBD Milk Ras, Olympia's Tour, Giro Ciclistico della Provincia di Cosenza, Azerbaijan Tour, Triptyque Ardennais, International Junioren Driedaagse van Axel and Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin). Of course, not all these events are open to division I teams, but it gives an idea of how popular May is for cycling races.

In fact, 10 teams of the top 25 are enrolled, including Mapei-Quick Step, Lotto-Adecco, Cofidis, Domo-Farm Frites and Telekom. "In my days, the Tour of Belgium was one of the highlights of the season" said Eddy Merckx, chairman of the substantial supporting committee of the Tour of Belgium. "And it will be again" added Nico Mattan.

The demigods of Belgian cycling, Johan Museeuw and Andrei Tchmil will be heading towards Oostende, to start the Tour with the prologue the day after. Also Merckx, Mattan, Planckaert, Aerts will be present.

Lotto-Adecco training partners Serge Baguet - still recovering from the muscle injury he sustained in Pino Cerami - and Peter Van Petegem - out with the stomach virus that has put quite a few riders on the sideline lately - will not be competing. Scott Sunderland (EDS-fakta) will start the Tour of Belgium after another forced two-week break caused by the same bug.

Auction for Children's charity

Belgian Premier Verhofstadt, member of the Committee of the Tour of Belgium and the Tour Organizing Committee will stage an auction of which the full profits will go to the "Levenslijn Kinderfonds" (Life-line Children Fund).

The "Bike out of Hell", with which Johan Museeuw won Paris-Roubaix, the kimono of Gella Vandecaveye (world Judo champion in München), the Golden Shoe Award of soccer star Wesley Sonck; are a few of the items that will be auctioned.

The Teams

Mapei-Quick Step (Steels)
Lotto-Adecco (Tchmil, Aerts)
Cofidis (Mattan)
Domo-Farm Frites (Museeuw, Merckx, Vainsteins)
Telekom (Vinokourov, Julich, Livingston)
La Française des Jeux (Durand, Casper, JP Nazon)
AG2R (Capelle)
Bonjour (Chavanel, D. Nazon)
Tacconi Sport-Emmegi (Bortolami, Balducci, Hauptman)
Lampre-Daikin (Dierckxsens, Svorada, Spruch)
Team EDS-fakta (Sunderland)
Landbouwkrediet-Colnago (Vanhaecke)
Bankgiroloterij-Batavus (Voskamp, Kemna)
Palmans-Collstrop (Vansevenant)
Vlaanderen-T-Interim
Marlux-Ville de Charleroi

The stages

  • Prologue - May 22: Oostende - Oostende ITT, 7.2 km
  • Stage 1 - May 23: Oostende - Knokke-Heist, 221 km
  • Stage 2a - May 24: Knokke-Heist - Mechelen, 121 km
  • Stage 2b - May 24: Mechelen - Mechelen ITT, 14 km
  • Stage 3 - May 25: Mechelen - Bilzen, 220.9 km
  • Stage 4 - May 26: Bilzen - Marche-En-Famenne, 160 km

Official site: www.rondevanbelgie.be

46th Vuelta Asturias

The stage racing in Spain continues this week with the 46th Vuelta Ciclista Asturias, a UCI 2.3 event that will see all the strong Spanish teams taking part. The race starts on Wednesday, May 15 in Oviedo, where it also finishes on Sunday, May 19. The format is simple: five stages between 150 and 170 kilometres, no time trials and no split days. It's actually a six day event if you take into account the Subida a Naranco that took place today, won by Jazztel's Gonzalo Bayarri.

In addition to the top Spanish riders, the race will also feature Colombian Santiago Botero who finished fifth in the Clasica Alcobendas last weekend, his first race in Europe after logging around 18,000 kilometres training in Colombia. Botero, winner of the Tour de France's mountains jersey in 2000, is aiming at both the Tour and the Vuelta this year, and already looks in good form. Hopefully his team, Kelme, will stay together as well, as they have had financial problems of late.

Joseba Beloki (ONCE) is racing again, and will need the kilometres in order to prepare for the Tour and Vuelta. He will be accompanied by Abraham Olano, Ivan Parra and Jan Hruska.

Juan Miguel Mercado (iBanesto.com) is certainly a favourite for the race, with good chances also for his teammates Leonardo Piepoli and Aitor Osa, the latter who was second in Subida a Naranco.

The Teams

iBanesto.com, Kelme, ONCE, Jazztel-Costa del Almeria, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Relax Fuenlabrada, Spanish Selection, Matesica, Boavista, Milaneza, LA Pecol, Acqua & Sapone, Saeco, Mercatone Uno, Ag2r, Big Mat, Phonak, CCC-Polsat, Itera and De Nardi.

The stages

  • Stage 1 - May 15: Oviedo - Llanes, 155.6 km
  • Stage 2 - May 16: Llanes - Gijon, 165.0 km
  • Stage 3 - May 17: Gijon - Aviles, 150.0 km
  • Stage 4 - May 18: Cafés Toscaf - Santuario del Acebo, 170.6 km
  • Stage 5 - May 19: Cangas del Narcea - Oviedo, 164.0 km

Peter Wuyts out again

Peter Wuyts (Palmans-Collstrop) has to take a few weeks off again due to injury. He broke his shoulder in the Circuit of the Flemish Ardennes - the same bone that he broke in the Amstel Gold race.

Scanlon out of FBD Milk Rás

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

Ireland's Mark Scanlon has been forced to pull out of the Stena Line Ireland team for next week's FBD Milk Rás with tendonitis. The former world junior champion has suffered with the complaint since the Circuit Des Mines, 2 weeks ago and despite ten days of rest, his ankle flared up on a training ride on Friday.

Scanlon's place on the team has been taken up by Italian-based Dermot Nally. Nally who has won three wins in Italy this year, is hoping to land a professional contract later this year. Declan Byrne said "we are delighted to get a replacement for Mark with the calibre of Dermot Nally, he will play a big part in this years race."

Navigators professional Ciarán Power is leading the Stena Line Irish team in the FBD Milk Rás. The 1998 winner had a big boost to his confidence in recent days, coming fifth on the third stage of the prestigious 4 Days of Dunkirk event on Friday.

Farm Frites-Hartol for Tour de L'Aude

Team Farm Frites-Hartol has named six riders to contest the 2.9.1 Tour de L'Aude which starts on Friday, May 17. In the absence of Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel, the team will be led by Mirjam Melchers, the current number one ranked cyclist in the world. She will be supported by Arenda Grimberg, Anouska van der Zee, Kirsty Nicole Robb, Elsbeth Vink and Sandra Missbach (Team Ton van Bemmelen Sports-Novilon). Team leader is Michael van der Wolf.

Duane Dickey doping case update

USOC announces 30 day disclosure of doping positive

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) that thirty days ago the USADA Anti-Doping Review Board determined that sufficient evidence of doping exists to proceed further in the case of Duane Dickey of Minnetonka, Minn. Mr. Dickey tested positive for the prohibited substances phentermine, boldenone and nandrolone at the Tour of Guatemala on October 28, 2001. The Union Cycliste International, the international federation for cycling, conducted the test and referred the case to USADA.

Currently, Dickey's case is in the USADA adjudication process. If a sanction is imposed, USADA will make the announcement at a later date.