News for January 16, 1998


Gabriele Colombo - the Artist

"Here is our artist". Is how Endrio Leoni welcomed Gabriele Colombo. "Lele has talent, but he must not be limited, he must be able to improvise. If there is the chance, he might attempt to win something win like Milano-San Remo", continues Leoni.

The other day Colombo pedaled 185 kms with his teammates (minus Adriano Baffi who's racing at the Six Days of Bremem, after his success at Cologne). Colombo has been preparing well for the start of his fifth season as a professional. "I plan to start the season riding well and to peak in the period from Tirreno-Adriatico to the Giro d'Italia. If I had to choose a classic to aim for, I would say that the Tour of Flanders. The Classic of the walls excites me".

Colombo will have to maintain his ambitions in tune with Alexandre Gontchenkov, the Russian who finished second at the Sanremo '96. "Experience has shown me that it is very difficult that two riders will be at their maximum on the same day. Gabriele and myself will speak and decide how to move. There are hundreds of races in the calendar, which we could very easily divide amongst ourselves without problems... If I could choose first, I would choose San Remo." Gontchenkov said.

Endrio Leoni aims towards the Giro d'Italia. "We will race over some of the most beautiful and difficult terrain in the world. To finally succeed to go one season without any obstacles. My dream is to grab the Maglia Rosa at the Giro. It seems impossible, but I'm convinced that the first stage will end in a sprint and if I do well in at Nice Prologue, I will feel up to defying Cipollini. Mario is the best, but he's not infallible".

Leoni has not won a lot, but has won well. His loot includes 4 stages and a day in the Pink Jersey at the Giro d'Italia. "Whomever says that I'm unfair doesn't know me - says Leoni -. When I launch in a sprint I take all the risks possible and sometimes even the impossible. It is true that if I had a train at my disposition like Cipollini's, I would be a factor in more sprints. I have only 29 years of age and haven't raced much, but this one will be my year of victory. Cipo is number one, but right behind him, with Zabel and Minali, I'm there also".

Flavio Miozzo believes strongly in his new Team Ballan, which he directs with Dario Mariuzzo. Together with the ones mentioned they will also have riders like Angelo Canzonieri and Nicola Loda. "I have selected my riders very carefully - he says -. I have only chosen 14 riders on purpose so that we are only one group, but our program will be rich. We want to participate at the Giro d'Italia and the World Cup. Gontchenkov and Colombo are our captains for the Classics, while for the Giro we will aim with Leoni for the sprints and Ugrumov for the classification. Old Piotr is here for security".

Ullrich wants 3 Tours

German Jan Ullrich, winner of the last Tour de France, said yesterday that it was his dream to win the Tour de France three times, in a declaration to the German newspaper, Zeitung Frankfurter. "I won't say six times which nobody has been able to do, but I know that at my age I could have the strength to win three", said Ullrich.

He now knows his adversaries better. "Virenque had a good Tour last year. He could be one of the enemies in the time trial; Pantani is an inconsistent rider, who has good and bad days at the Tour. Maybe with age he will become more constant". "Olano reached his optimum form too early last year and reached the Tour at the end of his strength, with a good preparation he will be one of the favorites", added Ullrich.

About his teammate, Dane Bjarne Riis, he said that Riis didn't do a good Tour, but will not repeat the mistakes of last year. Ullrich added that he hopes to shine at other Classic races. "When I'm older I would like to concentrate in other races in the Spring. Miláno-San Remo is a classic race that I would like to win at least once. Also I have never started at París-Roubaix". Ullrich, who is in Mallorca preparing for the season, explained that he is doing seven hours of training a day.

Ireland Tour de France Press Release

More Ireland Tour Resources are available from http://www.iol.ie/~sshortal/tdf98/.

Dr. James McDaid T.D., Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, together with the Organisers of the Tour de France en Irlande revealed today, (14th January) final route details and timings of this year's race which is to start in Dublin on Saturday 11th July 1998.

The Grand Depart of the 1998 Tour de France will spend three days in Ireland commencing with a 5.6 km Prologue time trial in Dublin city centre on 11th July. The routes and timings for each stage are as follows:

Prologue: Dublin. Saturday 11th July

The 5.6km Prologue time trial route has now been fixed for the opening of the 1998 Race on Saturday, 11th July, starting at 15.25 from College Green, taking in Nassau Street, Leinster Street, Clare Street, Merrion Square North and East, Fitzwilliam Street and Square, Leeson Street, St. Stephen's Green South, Cuffe Street, Kevin Street, Patrick Street, Nicholas Street, Winetavern Street, Ormond Quay, Bachelor's Quay and finishing in O'Connell Street at 15.32.

Stage 1: Dublin - Dublin. Sunday 12th July

Stage 1 will cover 180.5km, starting at 11.30 from O'Connell Street via College Green, Grafton Street, Nassau Street, Leinster Street, Lower Mount Street, Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Milltown Road to Dundrum where the race will have its official start at 11.45 from the Stephen Roche monument on Ulster Road. From here the race will proceed through Stillorgan, Shankill, Bray, Kilmacanogue, Ashford, through Rathnew on to Wicklow town where it turns on to the N 11 at the Beehive.

The race then travels onwards to Arklow where it proceeds inland to Avoca, Woodenbridge, Rathdrum, Laragh, over the 7km climb of the Wicklow Gap. The race then drops down through the Wicklow mountains to Hollywood, Blessington, down the Embankment to Tallaght, Inchicore past the historic Kilmainham Jail and onwards into the Phoenix Park.

In Phoenix Park the race will feature a 7km circuit before finishing on the main road opposite the Arás an Uachtaráin. This 'finishing circuit' is a concession granted to the Irish public by the Tour de France management to create a greater spectacle on the day. Large scale corporate hospitality facilities, giant TV screens and other family attractions are planned for the afternoon in the Phoenix Park to coincide with the arrival of the cyclists.

The race is timed for an afternoon finish of 15.51 to avoid clashing with the World Cup final which takes place in Paris that evening.

Stage 2: Enniscorthy - Cork. Monday 13th July

On the final day Le Tour en Irlande will transfer to Enniscorthy for a stage start, commemorating the 1798 rebellion when the French first landed in Ireland. Starting at 10.00, Stage 2 will cover 205.5km. The riders will travel via Clonroche, New Ross, Glenmore, Waterford, Fiddown to Sean Kelly's hometown, Carrick-on-Suir. From there, they will continue through Lemybrien where the race hits the South coast and travels West through Dungarven, Youghal, Castlemartyr, Middleton and into Cork city taking in Patrick Street, Grand Parade, South Mall, Washington Street and Western Road to what is expected to be a spectacular finish on the Carrigrohane Straight, concluding at 14.48.

Intensive preparations have been underway in Ireland with the Organisers working to ensure that Dublin and Cork's city centres and the other towns concerned remain accessible to pedestrians and shoppers throughout the visit of Le Tour en Irlande. All details of road closures will be announced following local consultation.

A huge boost to Irish tourism is expected as a result of the visit of the Tour de France to Ireland. Since the international announcement in October in Paris of details of the Tour there has been flood of enquiries about the Le Tour en Irlande from both Europe and the U.S. Tour operators have made close to 9,000 hotel reservations for inward groups, filling nearly 80% of the available hotel capacity. Also international media groups have been travelling to Ireland on a regular basis to view the route resulting in widespread European coverage in a number of countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland and Italy.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr. James McDaid, T.D., said: "This will be the biggest sporting event ever to be staged in Ireland. It is our intention that the Tour de France this year will have the most spectacular and exciting opening stage in its entire history. As never before, Ireland will be in the world spotlight next July and. equally, as never before, there is now being put in place in Dublin and right along the route to Cork a major programme of local events which will coincide with, as well as enhance, the race proper. In the process, the Tour itself and these local events will show Ireland off to a vast worldwide audience in a manner which will do us proud."

Alan Rushton, of L'Evenement, co-ordinators of Le Tour en Irlande comments: "We are delighted to be able to announce the final route details and timings for Le Tour de France en Irlande. Since the official launch in Paris last October we have had an enormous amount of interest in Le Grand Depart of the 1998 Tour en Irlande at a global and national level. Such widespread international enthusiasm will be a huge asset to the Irish tourist industry."

Pat McQuaid, L'Evenement, who is also President of the Irish Federation of Cyclists adds:

"We are pleased to say that the plans for Le Tour en Irlande are moving along smoothly and according to schedule. The announcement of the timing and details of Le Tour en Irlande brings us a step closer to the reality of hosting this, the world's biggest annual sporting event, putting Ireland firmly on the world sporting stage."

For further information, please contact:

Sharon Prior, Prior Communications: Ph:+ 351-(0)1 - 6612112

Pat McQuaid, l'Evenement: Ph: +353-(0)87 - 434920