Switzerland, Dagmarsellen, Cat 2, December 26: 1. Peter van Santvliet (Bel) 59.26 2. Beat Wabel (Swi) 3. Wim de Vos (Ned) 0.29 4. Dieter Runkel (Swi) 0.38 5. Roland Schätti (Swi) 0.51 6. Luca Bramati (Ita) 1.22 7. Peter van den Abeele (Bel) 1.48 8. Beat Blum (Swi) 1.57 9. Jiri Pospisil (Cze) 2.23 10. Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) 2.34 11. Tobias Nestle (Ger) 3.06 12. Jan Ramsauer (Swi) 3.18 13. Alexandre Moos (Swi) 3.26 14. Jörg Arenz (Ger) 3.26 15. Marco Zingg (Swi) 3.26 16. Matthias Kern (Swi) 3.34 17. Urs Steinmann (Ger) 3.37 18. Stefan Kupfernagel (Ger) 3.49 19. Steffen Weigold (Ger) 3.49 20. Peter Dlask (Cze) 3.51 21. Beat Morf (Swi) 4.04 22. Thomas Steiger (Swi) 4.04 23. Christian Trafelet (Swi) 4.04 24. David Chassot (Swi) 5.09 25. Johannes Müller (Aut) 5.19 26. Samuel Steffen (Swi) 5.19 27. Roger Zweifel (Swi) 5.50 28. Stefan Bünter (Swi) 6.07 29. Michael Lingua (Swi) 6.07 30. Fritz Seeberger (Ger) 6.16 31. Markus Kammermann (Swi) 6.16 32. Dietmar Stari (Aut) 6.49 33. Fausto Scotti (Ita) 7.15 34. Richard Chassot (Swi) at 1 lap 35. Fabrizio Margon (Ita) at 1 lap Started: 44 Finished: 44 Italy, Parabiago, Cat 2, December 26: 1. Daniele Pontoni (Ita) 2. Paul Herijgers (Bel) 0.01 3. Peter Willemsens (Bel) 4. Massimo Sargenti (Ita) 5. Daniele Bruschi (Ita) 6. Davide Bertoni (Ita) 7. Gabriele Biliato (Ita) 8. Angelo Cubello (Ita) 9. Petr Novy (Cze) 10. Orlando Borini (Ita) Luxembourg, Differdange, Cat 2, December 26: 1. Tom Vanoppen (Bel) 1.02.05 2. Emmanuel Mengin (Fra) 0.02 3. Robert Glajza (Cze) 0.20 4. Phillip Evans (GB) 1.08 5. Ben Berden (Bel) 1.42 6. Bjorn Rondelez (Bel) 2.38 Switzerland, Hombrechtikon, Cat 2, December 27: 1. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) 2. Beat Wabel (Swi) 3. Jiri Pospisil (Cze) 4. Kamil Ausbuher (Cze) 5. Peter van den Abeele (Bel) 6. Dieter Runkel (Swi) 7. Peter Dlask (Cze) 8. Roland Schätti (Swi) 9. Beat Morf (Swi) 10. Jan Ramsauer (Swi) France, Blaye, Cat 3, December 27: 1. Dominique Arnoud (Fra) 2. Sébastien Loigerot (Fra) 3. Miguel Martinez (Fra) 4. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 5. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra)
Over the last year, an average of one steroid smuggler has been caught by customs. A report in the Sydney newspaper, the Sunday Telegraph on December 27, shows that there "were 376 detections of performance-enhancing drugs by Customs in the 1997/98 financial year." The data from customs shows that there were 147 detections in 1996/97 and only 32 in 1995/96.
The report says that in one incident two people travelling back into Melbourne from Bangkok were apprehended with 178,425 anabolic steroid tablets. Most of the detections involved individuals and the customs did not think there was any organised smuggling ring.
Corey Sweet hit out hard from the start of the 50 min criterium opening up a 30 second gap in the breezy conditions. Attempts to bring him back during the first half failed allowing him to gather 2 primes. A massave attack by O'Grady and Jonker during bridged the gap. The trio continued to hold the field at bay to the end. O'Grady attacked on the last lap to win by a comfortable distance. Sweet kicked held off Jonker in a close fight for minor placings.
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 2. Corey Sweet (Aus) 3. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank 4. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Credit Agricole
Women's Race:
In a tough race where Symeko Johinke opened up a sizable break on two occasions, was gradually hauled in by consistant hard work by the field. Zucker, who is riding strongly, held off the fast finishing Heinrich in the stiff headwind. Sixteen year old Bridget Saint performed well to hold off Johinke for third place.
1. Chelsey Zucker (Aus) 2. Rennee Heinrich (Aus) 3. Bridget Saint (Aus) 4. Symeko Johinke (Aus)Thanks to Graham Fowler for his constant help