News for August 21, 1998

Drugs Update

Massi allowed to race again

Italian cyclist Rodolfo Massi (Casino) who was arrested during the Tour de France for violating French drug laws was allowed to resume competition after having previously been banned from any involvement in cycling by a lower court. Massi appealed to the Appeal Court in Douai and it cancelled any legal controls on Massi including being able to ride and also the order that he reside in France until the trial. He is now able to race again as from today.

However, the Appeal Court kept the ban on contact by Massi with the Casino doctor, Italian Daniele Tarsi and with former-Casino rider Gilles Bouvard. Both were witnesses against Massi in the July 27 hearing in Lille which led to the original orders being placed on him.

Massi (32) was visibly happy when he left the Douai Law Courts with his two lawyers, Lille attorney Dupond-Moretti, and his Italian lawyer, Massimo Impellizzeri. He told the assembled press that: "I have been through some bad times lately. I have not been training on my bike. I did not have the morale to keep going. Later today or tomorrow I will speak with Casino's manager to determine my racing program. I now hope to get my motivation back and get some form.

He is now freed on bail of 50,000 French francs and must still return to face charges of "encouraging and facilitating the use of drugs" and for "importation and sale of poisonous substances".

TVM Doctor remains in Prison

TVM lawyer Van Mierlo was told by the French judiciary that TVM doctor Michailov has to stay in prison until September 7. Meanwhile, Six TVM riders were interviewed by police in Reims yesterday. Tristan Hoffman, Peter van Petegem, Hendrick van Dijk, Lars Michaelsen, Laurent Roux and Michael Lafis were all asked questions about doping in the team. Belgian Johan Capiot was also requested to attend but is instead in hospital after being attacked by a gang on youths on Wednesday.

Netherlands, Steenwijk Criterium, 100 kms:

 1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco
 2. Leon van Bon (Ned) Rabobank
 3. Bart Voskamp (Ned) TVM
 4. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei
 5. Raymond Meys (Ned) Gerolsteiner
 6. Tom De Smet (Bel) Collstrop
 7. Gerben Löwik (Ned) P&O-Löwik-giant
 8. Max van Heeswijk (Ned) Rabobank
 9. Sergei Utchakov (Ukr) TVM
10. Kees Hopmans (Ned) Tönnisteiner
11. Peter Pieters (Ned)
12. Tony Bracke (Bel) Collstrop
13. Jeroen Slagter (Ned)
14. Danny Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop
15. Steven De Neef (Bel) Collstrop
16. John Talen (Ned) Piels
17. Arthur Rutte (Ned)
18. Coen de Schuytter (Ned)
19. Robbie McEwan (Aus) Rabobank
20. Mark ter Schure (Ned)
21. Martin Van Steen (Ned) Team Nurnberger
22. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM
23. Andreas Beikirch (Ger) Die Continentale
24. Tim Hiemstra (Ned)
25. Hielke Boersma (Ned)
26. Freddy Haak (Ned)
27. Frank Akkermans (Ned)
28. Rene Kroes (Ned)
29. Patrick Eyk (Ned) Navigators
30. Koost Legtenberg (Ned)

Stagiares as at September 1, 1998

The following is a list of young riders who are serving apprenticeships with the professional teams in the last part of the season. Most of them will be offered professional contracts in 1999

Big Mat-Auber 93: Loic Lamouller (Fra), Oleg Joukov (Rus), Alexandre Chouffe (Fra)

Casino: Andrey Mizourov (Kaz), Andy Flickinger (Fra), Franck Pencole (Fra)

Cofidis: Gaël Moreau (Fra) and Janek Tombak (Est)

Credit Agricole: Cédric Celarier and Jérôme Neuville (both Fra)

La Francaise des Jeux: Fabrice Parent and Nicolas Fritsch (both Fra)

Amore e Vita: Alfonso Falsarano and Massimiliano Martini (both Ita)

Asics-CGA: Mauro Bartoli (Ita), Ivan Basso (Ita), Kurt Asle Arvesen (Nor)

Mercatone Uno: GianMario Ortenzi and Maurizio Caravaggio (both Ita)

Team Polti: Michele Colleoni, Denis Lunghi and Marco Pinotti (all Ita)

Saeco: Valentino China, Igor Pugaci and Alessandro Guerra (all Ita)

Post SWISs Team: Pierre Ackermann; Daniel Aeschlimann and Marcel Strauss (all Swi)

Palmans-Ideal: Brett Aitken (Aus) and Gianni Rivera (Bel)

The Top 40 as at August 16

Wim van Rossum has compiled the Top 40 riders as at August 16 by UCI points. There are some confessed drug cheats and another who has tested positive but still riding among them. 

 1. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno                1961
 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank        1791
 3. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Asics-CGA                  1648
 4. Alex Zülle (Swi) Festina-Lotus                   1249
 5. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                   1234
 6. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom-ARD                     1229
 7. Frank VandenBroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi          1189
 8. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Cofidis               1135
 9. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom-ARD                    1057
10. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Festina-Lotus               1007
11. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar                966
12. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino                         936
13. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino                        935
14. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino                         908
15. Bon Van Leon (Ned) Rabobank                       873
16. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Bricobi                  849
17. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                  794
18. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi                    718
19. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale            713
20. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis                        704
21. Roland Meier (Swi) Cofidis                        691
22. Rolf Jaermann (Swi) Casino                        676
23. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi                   673
24. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto                       663
25. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Casino                        661
26. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno              642
27. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) Française des Jeux         638
28. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Casino                 637
29. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole              622
30. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                         603
31. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites           597
32. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi              594
33. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Team Polti                 592
34. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale           581
35. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Cannondale           566
36. Jean Robin Cyril (Fra) US Postal Service          561
37. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                 549
38. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                   545
39. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi                 534
40. Rolf Sörensen (Den) Rabobank                      534

Mega Update from Catalonia

Alex Tarroja from Catalonia has provided me with all the international events in Catalonia (Spain) held during May and July. Most are UCI 1.6 and 2.6 races which are not often reported. This will be part of a regular update of these type of events.

7th Criterium "Terres de Lleida and 10th GP "Gas de Llleida", June 6, Cat 1.6

Lleida, 176 kms: 

 1. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Pasant Luik 			4.21.57
 2. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters
 3. Roger Lucia (Spa) CAI 13
 4. A. Tepliakov (Rus) Lotus Vinarocense
 5. Olivier Genicot (Bel) Pasant Luik
 6. Oleg Katxirin (Rus) Lada Samara
 7. Angel Vicioso (Spa) CAI
 8. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Pasant Luik
 9. Jose M. Vazquez (Spa) CAI
10. Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters
11. Pere Aroca (Cat) Ideal Olimpic

Teams: Pasant Luik
Under-23 Oleg Katxirin
KOM Manu L.Hoir

Started: 160
Finished: 47

June 8-13, 46th Volta Ciclista a Lleida, Cat 2.6 

Stage 1, Lleida-Pont de Suert, 130 kms:

 1. Joan Horrach (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan 		    3.47.05
 2. Frederic Ivars (Spa) Sonia 2
 3. David Alcaraz (Cat) Vestisport Hospitalet 32
 4. Erwin Bollen (Bel) Pasant Luik
 5. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Pasant Luik

Stage 2a, El Pont de Suer, Hill ITT 7.5 kms:

 1. Jose Urea (Spa) Avila Rojas 			       19.31
 2. Denis Mentxov (Rus) Lada Samara 				0.37
 3. Oleg Katxirine (Rus) Lada Samara 				1.06
 4. Ruben Alvarez (Spa) Caja Rural 				1.31
 5. Frederic Ivars (Spa) Sonia 					1.37

Stage 2b, El Pont de Suert, 60 kms:

 1. Ramon Medina (Cat) Ideal Olimpic 			     1.25.42
 2. Serhij Bodatxov (Ucr) Ucranian National
 3. A. Massiangine (Rus) Lada Samara
 4. Christophe Stevens (Bel) Pasant Luik
 5. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Pasant Luik

Stage 3, Les-Tremp, 138 kms:

 1. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Pasant Luik 			     3.30.14
 2. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijke Groeninge
 3. Iker Flores (Spa) Caja Rural
 4. Joan Horrach (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan
 5. Frederic Ivars (Spa) Sonia

Stage 4, Organyà-Bonaigua-Vielha, 140 kms:

 1. Oleg Katxirine (Rus) Lada Samara 			     4.13.43
 2. Jose Urea (Spa) Avila Rojas
 3. Andrei Korovin (Rus) Lada Samara 				1.08
 4. Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Kortrijke Groeninge
 5. Joan Horrach (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan

Stage 5, Vielha-Corbins 169 kms:

 1. Erwin Bollen (Bel) Pasant Luik 			     4.05.44
 2. Serhij Bodatxov (Ukr) Ucranian National
 3. Ramon Medina (Cat) Ideal Olimpic
 4. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Pasant Luik
 5. David Alcaraz (Cat) Vestisport Hospitalet

Stage 6, Corbins-Lleida 156 kms:

 1. Juan D. Gonzalez (Cat) Vestisport Hospitalet 	     4.19.37
 2. Antonio Encinar (Spa) Coinpol
 3. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Pasant Luik 				0.15
 4. Christoph Roodhooft (Bel) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters
 5. Ramon Medina (Cat) Ideal Olimpic

Final GC:

 1. Jose Urea (Spa) Avila Rojas 			    21.44.27
 2. Frederic Ivars (Spa) Sonia 					0.12
 3. Manu L'Hoir (Bel) Pasant Luik 				0.43
 4. Iker Flores (Spa) Caja Rural 				1.00
 5. Oleg Katxirine (Rus) Lada Samara 				1.06
 6. Joan Fuentes (Cat) Ideal Olimpic 				1.07
 7. Joan Horrach (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan 			1.14
 8. Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Kortrijke Groeningespurters	1.28
 9. Rafael Milà (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan 			2.12
10. Robert Lozano (Cat) Vestisport Hospitalet 			2.20

Other classifications:

Teams: Lada Samara
KOM: Ruben Alvarez
Under-23 Iker Flores

June 16-20, 39th Volta Ciclista a Tarragona, Cat 2.6

Stage 1, Alcanar: Eloi Coca (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan
Stage 2, Salou: Dennis Moons (Ned) MGI Fietsen
Stage 3, El Perelló: Olivier Trastour (Fra) Aix Haribo
Stage 4a, Riudecanyes-Escornalbou: Denis Mentxov (Rus) Lada Samara
Stage 4b, Cambrils: Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Germany National
Stage 5, Reus: Ramon Medina (Cat) Ideal Olimpic

Final GC:

 1. Denis Mentxov (Rus) Lada Samara			    19.24.23
 2. Eloi Coca (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan				1.38
 3. Carles Torrent (Cat) Vestisport Hospitalet			1.39
 4. Francis Roger (Fra) VS Narbon				1.54
 5. David Orcel (Fra) Aix Haribo 				2.28
 6. Frederic Nolla (Fra) VS Narbon 				3.04
 7. Olivier Trastour (Fra) Aix Haribo 				3.56
 8. E. Guillaume (Fra) Aix Haribo 				5.07
 9. Joan Horrach (Cat) Sport-Ter Tadesan			5.28
10. Casper Van der Meer (Ned) Kortrijkse Groeningespurters	5.43

Other classifications

Teams: Aix Haribo
Points: Enrico Poitschke
KOM: Denis Mentxov

May 23-24, Catalonia National Championships 

May 23, Road, Aiguafreda, 150 kms:

 1. Josep Jufre Porcelanatto 			     3.44.44
 2. Albert Castillo Telco				0.59
 3. Carles Torrent Vestisport Hospitalet
 4. Robert Lozano Vestisport Hospitalet 		1.47
 5. Joan Fuentes Ideal Olimpic
 6. Ramon Medina Ideal Olimpic
 7. Israel Nuñez Sport-Ter Tadesan
 8. Jordi Cervantes Acr Sky-Blue
 9. Joaquim Rodriguez Vestisport Hospitalet
10. Xavier Llamas Lotus Vinarocense

Started: 126
Under-23 Albert Castillo

May 24, ITT, 23 kms:

 1. Joan Codina Saunier (Duval) 		       36.14
 2. Josep Guillem (Banesto Elite) 			0.49
 3. Josep Jufre (Porcelanatto) 				1.10
 4. Joan A. Flecha (Banesto Elite) 			1.43
 5. David Molinero (Ideal Olimpic) 			1.52
 6. Carles Torrent (Vestisport Hospitalet) 		2.12
 7. Sergi Escobar (Ideal Olimpic) 			2.19
 8. Xavier Florencio (Iberdrola) 			2.26
 9. Javier Ramirez (Trujillo) 				2.29
10. Vicenç Ramos (Damm Mollet) 				2.31

Under-23 Josep Guillem

Catalan Cycling Federation Rankings at June 31: 

 1. Ramon Medina (Ideal Olimpic) 			426 1975
 2. Josep Jufre (Porcelanatto) 				353 1975
 3. Carles Torrent (Vestisport Hospitalet) 		312 1974
 4. Eloi Coca (Sport-Ter Tadesan) 			296 1976
 5. Robert Lozano (Vestisport Hospitalet) 		257 1977
 6. David Alcaraz (Vestisport Hospitalet) 		250 1975
 7. Joan Fuentes (Ideal Olimpic) 			223 1977
 8. Albert Castillo (Telco) 				201 1977
 9. Juan D. Gonzalez (Vestisport Hospitalet) 		200 1974
10. Joan Rovira (Vestisport Hospitalet) 		192 1979

Under-23 Eloi Coca