Cycling photography for February - Part II

The Local East Coast Australian Time is plus 30 minutes

Eastern Suburbs Summer Criterium Series
Pace Bend Road Race
NSWIS-Francaise des Jeux presentation
Austral Wheelrace
Australian MTB national championships
Randwick Botany Cycling Club
9th Classic Haribo
DEIA-Pragma-Colnago Team Launch
Valley of the Sun Stage Race
Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente
Vuelta Andalucia (Ruta del Sol)
Trofeo Laigueglia
MTB Beach Challenge Knokke-Heist
Warragul track carnival/Victorian Madison Championships
Tour Méditerranéen
NSW Track Championships
Commonwealth Games fundraiser
Mercatone-Uno team launch
World Cyclocross championships

Copyright notice: The photo's that appear here are all subject to copyright, and may not be reproduced in any form anywhere else without the owner's permission. Copies, either print or electronic, of the photographs can be requested by contacting the photographer in most cases, as email or website addresses are usually provided with the images. The exceptions are AFP photo's, which are not available for individual sale.

Eastern Suburbs Summer Criterium Series

Pictures courtesy of Robyn Francis/www.cyclingpics.com

• Stewart "Computer" Campbell - leads the A graders down the straight
• Liam Kelly (SBR) - the fastest A grader
• Tim Francis - back on familiar territory and John Sunde, B grade winner
• Scott Ford - wins from Chris Jenkins and Clive Hammerson

Pace Bend Road Race

Guess who turned up to a local race in Texas for some pre-Euro competition? None other than three-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. Garrick Mitchell kindly supplied these pics.

• The field - lines up for the start
• Lance - trying not to be conspicuous as he gets ready to start
• The breakaway - crests the hill, cheered on by a few hard core fans.
• Lance Armstrong - leads Ian Dille and the eventual winner.
• Lance Armstrong - sitting in third wheel as the breakaway rides away from the field

NSWIS-Francaise des Jeux presentation

Photo's of the Sydney launch by Tom Balks.

• The full NSWIS-Francaise des Jeux team
• The five members of NSWIS-Francaise des Jeux - in relaxed mode
• The NSWIS-FDJ team - poses with girls from Cronulla High School
• Mark Renshaw
• Matthew Farmer
• Brendan Cato
• Ashley Humbert
• Christopher Sutton

Austral Wheelrace

Cyclingnews reporter Karen Forman took these pics at the landmark of the Australian track season.

• Action from the keirin - with world champion Ryan Bayley, left
• Action aplenty in the Austral
• Start of the Keirin final, won by Shane Kelly.
• Winners on the podium after the Victorian M19 scratch race championship.
• 2002 Austral wheel race winners on the podium
• Bananaman - Fast becoming famous - if for little else than the fact he had his name changed by Deed Poll - Victoria's Banana Man and his distinctive bike, on track at the Austral. (He even has tiny bananas tattoed on his calves!)
• Shane Kelly missed out on the Austral this year, but had some gratification in winning the Aces Keirin Final, ahead of Jobie Dajka and world keirin champion, Ryan Bayley.
• Volunteers - where would an event be without them to help keep things rolling? Austral night volunteers take it easy before a busy night on the track.
• Intrepid girl reporters -The Age's Melissa Ryan (left) and cyclingnews.com's own Karen Forman, discussing secret girls business at the Austral.

Former Olympic road race champion, Kathy Watt, was also in the thick of the action and captured some great photos inside Vodafone Arena during the Austral.

• Sieg Heil! - Darren Young appears to be giving a salute to the skinheads at the Austral
• 4 big units - Darren Young, Andrew Loft, Shane Kelly and Kial Stewart
• Now that's a trophy - Darren Young proudly accepts the coveted trophy
• Multiple choice question - Guess what has just happened
• The start of the Elimination - Where's a traffic copper when you need one?
• Awwwh, idn't dat cute? - Sean Finning and Nicholas Sanderson still mates after the Men's U19 Scratch race
• Eyes focused on the rear wheel - during the first heat of the Keirin
• A volunteer about to blow a gasket - during one of the Sprint heats between Shane Kelly and Darren Young
• Cat and mouse (or should that be mice?) - tactics played during the Men's U19 Scratch Race
• Checking out the damage to his cheeks - butt cheeks that is, during the Men's U19 Scratch Race
• Peak hour - during the Cinelli Points Elimination race
• Don't jump! - Camera lady Kathy comtemplates sliding down the track but opts to take a photo instead
• Ryan Bailey lets his and lats do the talkin' - in the Giant Bicycles Aces Sprint Derby
• Sean Finning comfortably wins the Men's U19 Scratch race
• A great view - from the box seat at the Vodafone Arena
• Kristine Bayley pips Tiffany Godnrey - in the Women's U19 handicap
• One to go - in Women's U19 handicap

Randwick Botany Cycling Club

A few photos of Saturn riders Petra Rossner and Judith Arndt, who came to practice with Sydney based cycling club Randwick Botany over the weekend of February 23-24.

• Randwick Botany Cycling Club members with Petra Rossner and World No 2 Judith Arndt.
• Petra Rossner and Judith Arndt (Saturn) - with club member Robert Cater at the B Grade start line.
• Petra Rossner and Judith Arndt - with members of the Randwick Botany Cycling Club

9th Classic Haribo

Photos by AFP

• Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r-Prevoyance) - pips George Hincapie (USPS) to win the 9th Classic Haribo
• Jaan Kirsipuu - moments after crossing the line to win the 9th Classic Haribo
• Race winner - Jaan Kirsipuu rides to the podium afterwards
• The face of a winner - Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r-Prevoyance)
• Jaan Kirsipuu - smiles on the podium with the flowers and trophy

DEIA-Pragma-Colnago Team Launch

Photos by DEIA-Pragma-Colnago

• Eight of the 16 riders - of DEIA-Pragma-Colnago are presented to the puiblic.
• The new DEIA-Pragma-Colnago team - kitted up and ready to race.
• The DEIA-Pragma-Colnago teammates - go for a leisurely ride.

Valley of the Sun Stage Race

Photos courtesy Jonathan Devich and Paula Dehaen as noted

Stage 2 - Road Race

• Henk Vogels - putting the pressure on in the road race.
• The first breakaway - in the womens road race rolls through the feed zone.
• Rona - dominates the stage 2 road race with Karen Bockel taking the honors.

Stage 3 - Criterium

• Jonas Carney - Lord of the Sprint.
• Saturn's Chris Fisher - rode super strong in the crit and finished second in the overall.
• The mens Pro 1 field - barrel down on the first turn.
• Karen Bockel - winner of saturday's (Feb 16) road race, shadows Amy Jarvis in the crit.
• Andrea Hannos - hangs in the field before her mid race attack for the win.
• Genevieve Jeanson - clearly happy about her first time out with the new team.

Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Stage 1 - February 20: Andora circuit, 157.5km

• Nicola Loda (Fassa Bortolo) outsprints Fabio Sacchi (Saeco Longoni Sport) and Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner)
• Nicola Loda crosses the line in triumph
• Nicola Loda salutes the crowd from the podium.
• Nicola Loda pops the cork on the podium
• Nicola Loda smiles after his win.
• Nicola Loda phones home
• Nicola Loda smiles on the podium

Stage 3 - February 22: Alassio-Savona, 166.8 km

• Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) - leads the breakaway during stage 3
• Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) - makes the others suffer on his wheel
• Paolo Savoldelli (Index) and Ivan Gotti (Alessio) - lead the break
• Paolo Savoldelli (Index) - during stage 3
• Paolo Bettini (Mapei) - wins the stage sprint in Savona
• Paolo Bettini - celebrates as he wins the third stage
• Paolo Bettini - celebrates on the podium with a few quiet ones
• Paolo Bettini - puts his arms up on the podium

Stage 4 - February 23: Ligure circuit of Margherita, 156.6 km

• Paolo Bettini (Mapei) - leads Giuliano Figueras (Panaria) and Fabio Sacchi (Saeco)
• Paolo Bettini - does it again, beating Fabio Sacchi and Massimiliano Gentili (Acqua e Sapone) in the final sprint
• Final podium - Fabio Sacchi (Saeco), Paolo Bettini (Mapei) and Alberto Ongarato (De Nardi Pasta Montegrappa)

Images by Roberto Bettini

Stage 2 - February 21: Pietra Ligurian-Alassio, 158.6 km

• Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo) - punches the air as he wins the second stage of the Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente

Stage 3 - February 22: Alassio-Savona, 166.8 km

• Paolo Bettini (Mapei) - wins the third stage of the Giro Riviera Ligure Ponente
• "Like a tiger" - Paolo Bettini from the podium

Trofeo Laigueglia

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) begins his victory salute
• Danilo Di Luca raises his arms in triumph as he crosses the line.
• Danilo Di Luca celebrates his win on the podium
• Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) attacks in the closing stages
• Alexandre Vinokourov leads the final breakaway along the coast.

MTB Beach Challenge Knokke-Heist

Podium shot by Patrick Janssen

• The top three: Klaas Vantornout, Bjorn Rondelez and Karel Vereecke

Warragul track carnival/Victorian Madison Championships

Pictures by Karen Forman

• World keirin champion Ryan Bayley on the line
• Brett Aitken (South Australia) on the podium
• World keirin champion Ryan Bayley thanks the sponsors and organisers
• Ryan Bayley gives girlfriend Katrina Purcell a start
• The boy who has to be one of the bravest around, Sam Atkinson
• Sam Atkinson shows off his scar
• Comeback rider Narelle Peterson
• And they're off...
• Winners of the 2002 Victorian Madison Championship on the podium

Pictures courtesy Shane Stanley

• The pace quickens in the Keirin event.
• Brett Aitken (South Australia) - takes in a quick victory lap.
• Brett Aitken and Luke Roberts - the 2002 Victorian Madison champs.
• Clarke Brothers - Runners-up at the Victorian Madison Champions

Tour Méditerranéen

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• The Fassa Bortolo team - was the best performer in stage 1 of the Tour Méditerranéen
• Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) - in the leader's yellow jersey after stage
• Mario Cipollini (Acqua & Sapone) - breaks the drought with a win in the second stage
• Mario Cipollini - on the podium
• Giovanni Lombardi (Acqua & Sapone) - raises his arm after he surprised the pack to win the third stage
• Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) - still in yellow after stage 3
• Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) - raises both arms, as he knows he has won the toughest stage
• Michele Bartoli - wins the fourth stage of the Tour Mediterranean
• Michele Bartoli - crosses the line, arm raised
• A wet but happy Michele Bartoli - moments after crossing the line to win stage 4
• Second placed Paolo Tiralongo (Fassa Bortolo) - celebrates his teammate Bartoli's success
• Denis Lunghi (Team Colpack-Astro) - crossing for third
• Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) - crosses for fourth place
• Markus Zberg (Rabobank) - finished one place behind teammate Michael Boogerd
• Guido Trenti (Acqua & Sapone) - rode in for 6th spot
• Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) - finished a creditable 7th
• Robbie McEwen (Lotto) - managed 8th in the cold, wet conditions
• Oscar Camenzind (Phonak) - managed 9th
• Eddy Mazzoleni (Tacconi Sport) - finished 10th
• Laurent Jalabert (CSC) - looking as though he's had enough
• Michele Bartoli - grins on the podium
• Fassa Bortolo's - Paolo Tiralongo, Alessandro Petacchi and Michele Bartoli on the podium after stage 5
• Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) - claims the last stage.
• A tired Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) - finishes the tour with first place.
• Fassa Bortolo's Michele Bartoli - takes home the top spot.
• Michele Bartoli - complete with matching podium girl.

More images from stage 1's team time trial, also by by Fotoreporter Sirotti:

• Index Alexia
• Acqua&Sapone
• Lampre-Daikin
• Saeco. None more red.
• Jean Delatour
• Rabobank
• CSC-Tiscali
• Mapei
• Credit Agricole
• Domo
• Colpack

Images by AFP

• Fassa Bortolo sprints into the finish in the stage one team time trial
• Still (more or less) in formation Fassa Bortolo powers into the final metres of stage one
• Fassa Bortolo riders celebrate their win in the team time trial, stage one
• The sprint - Thor Hushovd and Mario Cipollini go head to head in stage 2
• Mario Cipollini (Acqua & Sapone) - triumphs in the wet
• Mario Cipollini - raises his arms across the finish line
• Mario Cipollini - salutes the crowd from the podium
• Giovanni Lombardi - really got the jump on the peloton
• Giovanni Lombardi - raises his arms on the podium of stage 3
• Giovanni Lombardi - on the podium
• Michele Bartoli - waves to the crowd from the podium of stage 4
• Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) - leads out the stage five sprint, which he won
• Alessandro Petacchi - was too good for Cipollini and O'Grady
• Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) - waves his bouquet from the podium
• The podium - Richard Virenque (mountains), Michele Bartoli (overall) and Alessandro Petacchi (points)

NSW Track Championships

Photo's by Tom Balks

Day 1 - Time Trials

• Laura Meisel-Dennis - winner of the women's U15 time trial
• Gregory Beer (Penrith Panthers CC) - winner of the U15 men's time trial
• Jonathon Cridland (Randwick Botany) - trying hard in the Junior U15 men's time trial
• Kate and Natalie Bates - 2nd and 4th in the women's 500m time trial
• Kate Bates - on her way to second place in the women's time trial
• Rebecca Borgo (Illawarra CC) - won the Junior U19 Women's time trial
• Rochelle Gilmore (Bankstown) - on her way to winning the Elite Women's time trial
• Martin Vinnicombe - competing in the Masters 1 time trial, where he finished second.
• Geoff Stoker - second in the Masters 2/3 500m time trial
• Alex Sommer - winner of the U19 Men's time trial
• Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan) - second in the U19 men's time trial
• Mark Renshaw - winner of the elite men's time trial

Day 2 - Bankstown Sports Carnival

• Riders - warm up on rollers next to the fence
• Brent Dawson - during his 3'25.832 individual pursuit qualifying time trial
• Kate Bates - during her 3'43.426 individual pursuit qualifying ride
• Danny Day (Qld) - leads the pack during the scratch race
• Danny Day - and Ben Kersten (AIS) during the scratch race
• Michelle Ferris (AIS) - on the comeback trail
• Mark Renshaw - during the final of the wheelrace, which he won
• Kate Bates and Rochelle Gilmore - during one of their sprint matches
• Rochelle Gilmore (Bankstown) - concentrates during one of the women's events
• Tanya Lindenmuth (USA) - and Katie Brown (NSWIS) go head to head
• Action - from the junior U15 men's scratch race
• Action - from the junior U19 women's scratch race
• Kate Nichols - during the U19 women's match race
• Lisa Strange - during the U19 women's scratch race

Day 3 - Sprint Carnival

• Up and coming sprinter - Alex Sommer is held up by Lionel Cox, one of Australia's few Olympic gold medalists
• Alex Sommer (NSWIS) - and Musui Tsiru (Japan) during a sprint match
• Alex Sommer - and Tsubasa Kitatsuru locked in battle
• Sean Eadie (Bankstown) - winner of the men's sprint
• Shaun Hopkins (Parramatta) - placed third in the men's sprint
• Kial Stewart (ACT) - during a round of the men's sprint
• Tsubasa Kitatsuru (Japan) - at full speed
• Mark Renshaw (NSWIS) - and Mike Tillman (USA) were too good for the rest of the field in the men's pointscore
• Michelle Ferris (AIS) - gets ready to unleash her sprint
• Rochelle Gilmore - in action during the women's sprint
• Tasmanian Kirby Pisconnari - leads Illawarra's Rebecca Borgo during the U19 women's sprint
• Action - from the junior U17 women's elimination race
• Scott Mills (St George) - leads the pack during the U15 derby

Commonwealth Games fundraiser

Held at Sydney's Dunc Gray velodrome, the Commonwealth Games fundraiser event featured many of Australia's top stars in an afternoon of track racing. Tom Balks was on hand to capture all the action.

• Ashley Hutchinson - attempts to qualify for the 4000m individual pursuit
• Brent Dawson - leads during one of the scratch races
• Brad McGee - during his successful 4000m individual pursuit qualifying attempt
• Three former champions - Kevin Nichols, Lionel Cox and Gary Sutton
• Action - from the motor paced enduro
• Kate Bates - looking at her main rivals during the scratch race
• A select field - lines up for the men's keirin
• Mark Renshaw (NSWIS) - in the thick of the action
• Mark Renshaw - gets the wheel of the derny bike
• Mike Tillman (USA) - sandwiched between two NSWIS riders
• Natalie Bates (NSWIS) - focuses on the wheel in front
• Ryan Bayley (AIS) - in action during the keirin
• Sean Eadie (AIS) - with the photo of himself that was auctioned off for $350 to help the Commonwealth Games athletes
• Shane Kelly - beats Anthony Peden and Sean Eadie in the Sprint Derby
• Shane Kelly - beats Sean Eadie in the final of the keirin
• Mark Renshaw (NSWIS) - wins the Aces Motorpace ahead of Brad McGee and Mike Tillman

Mercatone-Uno team launch

Marco Pantani's Mercatone Uno team showed itself off to the press yesterday. Not surprosingly, though, most of the attention was on Il Pirata. These images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Marco Pantani and Italian model Federica Fontana
• Marco Pantani looking thoughtful
• A big-hearted team
• Pantani gives the sign for this year's intentions
• Pantani ponders an interview question
• The whole team

More pics. by Bettini Photo

• Marco Pantani arrives
• Big smiles from Pantani and Fontana
• Marco Pantani does his famous impression of a 1930s movie serial bad guy.

Want some more?

For more cycling photography, with events such as Mallorca Challenge , Etoile de Bessèges , Giro presentation to European parliament, Lotto-Adecco presentation, GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise, Wildside MTB, Saturn training camp, Cage Magliere team presentation, Vlaanderen-T-Interim team presentation , iBanesto.com team presentation, BigMat Auber 93 presentation , GP Costa degli Etruschi , Western Australia Hillclimb Championships 2002 please consult our monthly archives