Second Edition News for December 16, 1998

Tour of Spain route announced

The 1999 edition of the Tour of Spain is tougher with more mountains than the 1998 race. The 54th edition of the race will run from September 4-26 and will cover 3,480 kms. A prologue time trial in Murcia will begin the Vuelta followed by 21 further stages. Of the 21 stages, 10 are considered flat and ideal for sprint finishes, 9 are undisputably mountain stages and there are two ITT stages. The feature stage for 1999 will be the 1200m, 13 percent climb of La Gamonal.

Early reaction came from the mountain jersey winner in 1998, Banesto's Jose Maria Jimenez, who said La Gamonal was the toughest climb around. "It's an incomparable climb and will be the decisive stage of the race."

All stages are less than 200 kms to deflect the criticism of the 1998 race that the stages were too long. The race organiser, Enrico Franco said at the announcement that: "This Tour will be more even, more dynamic and shorter than the last (1998) edition of this event, as well as the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France."

The Route: 

September  4, Prologue Murcia, 6 kms
September  5, Murcia-Benidorm, 175 kms
September  6, Alicante-Albacete, 180 kms
September  7, La Roda-Fuenlabrada, 210 kms
September  8, Las Rosas-Salamanca, 196 kms
September  9, Bejar-Ciudad Rodrigo, 154 kms
September 10, Salamanca-Salamanca, ITT 51 kms
September 11, Salamanca-Leon, 205 kms
September 12, Leon-Col de Angliru-La Gamonal, 176 kms
September 13, Gijon-Corrales de Buelna 180
September 14, Rest day
September 15, Zaragoza-Zaragoza, 160 kms
September 16, Huesca-Pla de Beret, 200 kms
September 17, Sorp-Arcalis (Andorra), 146 kms
September 18, Andorra-Rasos de Peguera, 139 kms
September 19, Barcelona-Barcelona, 144 kms
September 20, La Senia-Valence, 180 kms
September 21, Valence-Teruel, 190 kms
September 22, Los Ronchales-Guadalajara, 190 kms
September 23, Guadalajara-Col d'Abantos, 166 kms
September 24, El Escorial-Avila, 190 kms
September 25, El Tiemblo-Avila, ITT 46 kms
September 26, Madrid-Madrid, 160 kms

Special gift for Priem

After all the doping allegations and a long detention in France, Cees Priem, the former manager of the Dutch TVM team has received a special xmas cake. The Dutch cakemaker Piet van Veen has sent the cake to Priem. The cake is 60 kgs and did not fit in the usual ovens.

Jeannie Longo tired

Jeannie Longo has returned to France tired from her failed attempts to break her own one hour record on the Olympic Velodrome in Mexico. She told the press: "I tried four times to break the record. It is very difficult." Her tone to the media was aggressive. Her record of 48.159 was set on the same track at altitude. She said it was not an age problem. At 40, she is still competitive. Her best attempt this time was on December 6 when she abandoned after 30 minutes after covering 75 laps at an excellent average speed of 48.068.

She cited the wind conditions, the pollution in Mexico, her tiredness and a problem with a sciatic condition as the reasons for her failed attempt.

On December 9, she stopped after 2 laps. She said: "I am downcast and sad. I am tired and I do not think I can do it this time"

The rider from Grenoble, is now aiming for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In the meantime she will ride some MTB races.

Asian Games, Track Events

Men's 4km individual pursuit 
Heat one (first and second)

 Vadim Kravchenko (Kazakhstan) 4.42.799 beat Noriyuki Iijima (Japan) 4.45.215

Heat two (third and fourth):

 Evgeniy Vakker (Kyrgyzstan) 4.47.347 beat Shi Guijun (China) 4.53.475

Men's 4k Individual Pursuit Final Ranking:

 1. Vadim Kravchenko (Kazakhstan) 	4.42.799
 2. Noriyuki Iijima (Japan) 		4.45.215
 3. Evgeniy Vakker (Kyrgyzstan)		4.47.347
 4. Shi Guijun (China) 			4.53.475

Women's 3k Individual Pursuit:

Heat one (for first place)

 Wang Qingzhi (China) beat Zhao Haijuan (China)

Heat two (for third place)

 Kim Yong-mi (South Korea) 4.11.881 seconds beat Ayumu Otsuka (Japan) 4.15.683