The retired riders list - here is the basisYou will recall that yesterday I published a list sent by my friend Herman Harens from Wielerrevue which he uses in his 1997 Yearbook. It list all riders who retired at the end of 1996. Several people then emailed me questioning the basis of the list, given that some riders listed had obviously kept riding. Herman responded as follows.The list contains the 1996-pro-riders of a trade team I or II, which did not get a new pro-contract in a trade-team I or II in 1997. Some of them went back to the elite-amateurs. (for example, Cordes, Zanoli, etc), some of them actually retired (for example, Bernard, Delion, Vanderaerden), some went on as an MTB riders (for example, Nijboer) and some went on as an individual with a private sponsor (for example, De Wilde) But, and here is the rub, the UCI does not recognize individuals as a professional rider. So Etienne de Wilde - and most of the six-days and cyclo-cross riders (such as the Dutchman Peter Pieters) - were according the rules of the UCI not a professional cyclist. Only the Belgian Federation (BWB) has given Etienne de Wilde that status. Etienne was not allowed to start in UCI-races meant for trade teams I or II. The only races they can ride in are track (track has only two categories: men and women), criteriums and Belgian kermiskoersen. The same goes for example with the English team Ambrosio, the American team Chevrolet, some teams from Colombia and the team from Ukraine known as TGI/VOS/VTG which contained Russell Williams, Raul Montana and the Ukraine riders). Ambrosia, for example, was not a pro-trade-team I or II in 1997. (It was according the rules of the UCI defined as an elite-team like the Dutch 'gastrennersverenigingen' teams such as Giant, Agu or Tegeltoko.) The English Ambrosio team did not give an 'accountants declaration', a balance-sheet and a bank guarantee for his riders to the UCI, did not have the minimum of ten riders, so it was not recognised by the UCI as a trade-team II. I know in countries like England, USA, South Africa, Eastern-Europe and Australia it is sometimes difficult to live with the new UCI-regulations of trade-teams, because most of the professionals were in the past riding as individuals in those countries. But rules say that where the rider does not belong to a UCI-recognised trade team I or II they are classified as an ELITE and is not considered a professional-with-contract. How the rider makes money is not important. [Bill notes: since the rule changes which amalgamated the amateur and professional administrations and licence system you get an elite with a contract licence or an elite without a contract licence. The former are classified as professionals and the latter not.] Cyclo Cross at next Winter OlympicsLaurent De Backer, the President of the Belgian Cycling Federation (BWB) has said that he hopes that Cyclo Cross will become a discipline at the next Winter Olympics.De Backer will put a plan before the International Olympic Committee. According to De Backer the sport had gone beyond the "Old Continent". It was now received well in all of Europe. He said that it was essential, especially now that MTB racing was on the Summer Olympic programme. Gianluca Pierobon wins in ColombiaItalian Gianluca Pierobon from Team Kross-Montanari has won the last stage of the Clasica Norte Santander at Cucuta, in Colombia. The winner of the General Classification was Colombian Alvaro Lozano from Team Kross Montanari.Olano Interview - Another OneJosé Carlos Carabias interviewed Abraham Olano. Here is the translation.Team Banesto hasn't changed leaders. But if there was any doubt due to the sudden popularity of Jiménez, Echávarri made it clear who is the team leader. There is no Indurain any more, but there is Olano. The ex- World Champion who just turned 28. Q. What is your analysis of the change of seasons? A. I know that I didn't do the season that was expected by the fans and by me. I have lost some credibility, but I will try to do my maximum possible, although I don't know where that is. But now is a matter of doing things more calmly. Seeing how things develop. Q. You have said that people will continue to compare you with Induráin, even though this is the second season without the Navarran. It seems like more of a load, than a motivation for you. A. It's logical that people will make comparisons. People like comparisons. It is the same in every sport. The fans have their favorites and is transmitted from generation to generation. Q. Do you feel less pressure than last year? A. From the fans, yes. But I demand a lot from myself and will continue to demand from myself, more than anybody. In the end what counts is if I'm happy and if I'm happy, I'm sure that the fans will be too. Q. Do you think that you are not as valued as much after the suffering at the Tour and the abandonment at la Vuelta? A. What I have given this last year, is there for all to see. A rider needs to show what he is capable of. You can't talk and convince people of what you are capable, when you haven't achieved it. First one has to act, then talk. It wasn't a good year, but I did achieve a fourth place at the Tour, something that nobody else did in Spain. I'm happy with my work, but I'm not conforming to it. Q. Do you need more tranquility around you to express yourself in the races, like a couple of years back? A. No, I'm calm, because I'm a calm person. Q. There were times last year when you went overboard because you didn't have the performance that you had planned, due to health problems. At some points it could have sounded like a lot of excuses. First the over training. Then the tiredness, lastly the tonsils. A. I don't know if those are excuses. If one has to get operated...it seems like more than excuses. There was a situation of over training and since I had an infection, the recuperation was not complete. I kept accumulating fatigue, like it happened at La Vuelta, after a good season in August and I wasn't able to get back on top. Q. Have you laid out a special plan for the mountains or is it an impossible fight? A. There is nothing impossible, not even the mountains. I'm working like in previous years. I have changed some things in the preparation and I hope that they are for the best. Q. Are you obsessed by the mountain? A. It is not an obsession, but it is evident that we want to get an improvement in the performance. We have the time trial figured out, but if I can improve some more, I will have to work at it. Q. Six months later, the victory at Eurodisney must have a better flavor. A. Yes, it was important and special. I was having a bad Tour and a win like that, the penultimate day and after what I suffered, was very important. Q. What do you prefer, the podium at the Tour or the overall victory at la Vuelta? A. I don't know. I like both. Only time will tell. I hope that I can talk about it later. Q. After winning the Worlds at Colombia, you said that you felt like a wolf, an animal capable of attacking alone or in the pack. Is it still like that? A. Yes, it is true. I like how that animal acts. When he's hungry, he can attack alone or in company. Things happen like that in cycling. You have to play your possibilities in that way. A rider must show various faces and the more he has, the best for everyone. |