News for December 30, 1998

A black year for the Tour de France

1998 was a black year for the Tour de France and cycling in general according to the President of the Tour de France Jean-Marie Leblanc, who promised a return in 1999 to a proper competition where any teams without a history of sporting morality will be excluded.

He told Europe-1, a French radio station: "I have just signed a paper which guarantees several measures which will restore the reputation of the Tour in 1999."

To combat the drug problems, several new procedures for testing are being introduced. Leblanc said: "This year, we have fallen a lot, it is true, the whole of cycling has been damaged.

Belgian Track Omnium Championship

There were four events which were held in Gent (Het Kuipke). Most bizarre figure on the track was MTB-specialist Filip Meirhaeghe but he did very well, especially in the individual numbers.

Points race:

 1. Lorenzo Lapage (Bel) Collstrop
 2. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans
 3. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar
 4. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM
 5. Frank Corvers (Bel) Palmans
 6. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) Spar
 7. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 8. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop
 9. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market
10. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002

Elimination:

 1. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM
 2. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar
 3. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans
 4. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) Spar
 5. Lorenzo Lapage (Bel) Collstrop
 6. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 7. Frank Corvers (Bel) Palmans
 8. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market
 9. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
10. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop

500 metres without flying start:

 1. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM
 2. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market
 3. Frank Corvers (Bel) Palmans
 4. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 5. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) Spar
 6. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar
 7. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
 8. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop
 9. Lorenzo Lapage (Bel) Collstrop
10. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans

Individual pursuit:

 1. Frank Corvers (Bel) Palmans
 2. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market
 3. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans
 4. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM
 5. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar
 6. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) Spar
 7. Lorenzo Lapage (Bel) Collstrop
 8. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002

Kristof Trouve and Dany Baeyens were not classified.

Final Overall:

 1. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM                  10 points
 2. Frank Corvers (Bel) Palmans                  16
 3. Etienne De Wilde (Bel) Spar                  16
 4. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans              18
 5. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Home Market           21
 6. Rik Van Slycke (Bel) Spar                    21
 7. Lorenzo Lapage (Bel) Collstrop               22
 8. Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002     25
 9. Kristof Trouve (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002         26
10. Dany Baeyens (Bel) Collstrop                 26

Thanks to Stefaan Degryse from www.cyclingteams.com for the results

Governments and the truth

Last week we clarified an issue that has raised a lot of interest among Australian cycling fans interested in seeing European professionals racing here. Despite national advertising to the contrary, sources close to Saeco have told me that Cipollini is not coming to the race in January. The organisers should by now know this one way or another. Despite the issue now becoming public, there has been no press release put out by the organisers of the tour in South Australia to clear up what appears to be false national advertising. Now it gets worse.

Last night (Tuesday) Channel 10 TV News in Adelaide carried a report about the tour by way of promotional information. After an interview with one of the staff of the race organisation, the reporter then stated that Mario Cipollini was among other luminaries riding the tour.

To nail this down a little further, in an official press release dated Wednesday, 8th October 1998, published by the South Australian Government via the Major Events Department, which is the organiser of the race, the Premier of State, John Olsen said (referring to Stuart O'Grady): "... his attendance to be as big a draw card as the likes of Mario Cipollini and other major stars of the European Classics."

Is this repeated assertion by the Liberal Government of South Australia and the fact that they allow reporters to further advance the story that Super Mario is coming to Australia to race in January fact or lies. Liberal governments in Australia have not had a good record with telling the truth.

What the South Australian Government should be reminded of is that under Section 52 of the Trade Practices Act of Australia, it is prohibited to practice misleading and deceptive conduct in trade and commerce. The High Court of Australia has said that for the purposes of the Act, trade and commerce includes sport. Conduct includes advertising and promotion.

I know people who are actually going to South Australia expecting to see Mario Cipollini racing. Unless the South Australian Government issues a press release confirming that Cipollini is coming or not coming, as the case may be, it will leave itself open to a large action under the TPA. I know a few lawyers that are just champing at the bit to have a go at them on this issue.