News for January 19, 1998

Heerlen favourite for 2000 World Cyclo Cross Championships

On January 30, the UCI will make a decision about the location of the World Cyclo Cross Championships in 2000. The hot favourite is that the Championships will be held on Sportpark Kaldeborn in Heerlen, Netherlands. Even former cycle cross star Reiner Groenendaal (father of Richard who both live in St Michielsgestel) said Heerlen has more chance than St Michielsgestel.

Telekom trains in Mallorca - Some Notes

Jan Ullrich has already lost 4 kg at the Telekom team training camp in Mallorca. The Team doctor Heinrich said: "For the 6 hour rides he is drinking just water, and is not eating anymore cookies. In earlier years I got up upset about his habits, but I am now more relaxed since I know that Jan can handle it."

There were a large gathering of the media in front of the hotel when Telekom started riding. Tourists even blocked the team's progress up on a mountain road. Udo Bolts and team manager Walter Godefroot lost their patience.

In another incident, Christian Henn crashed on the Monday afternoon while going into a roundabout but reports indicate that there is nothing serious to worry about.

Walter Godefroot is not opposed to the riders bringing their spouses to the training camp. But none of them showed up so far.

Thanks to Bjoern Haake.

Cipollini meets Ronaldo

Mario Cipollini met with World class soccer player Ronaldo (Inter Milan) while at a training camp. Highlight was the meeting of Cipo and Ronaldo (who also met Indurain while still playing for Barcelona). Cipo presented Ronaldo with Cannondale CAD3 (value approx $US5,000). In return Ronaldo gave Mario a jersey with the number 10: "I am also some kind of number 10 in the Giro!" said Mario, ever the modest one.

Thanks to Bjoern Haake.

Teleflex Tour

The Teleflex Stage Race will now be called the Ster der Beloften (Star of the Hopefuls). The Schijndel Cycling Organisation has found new sponsors after the withdrawal of the main sponsor, Teleflex. The race will start on April 16 and run to April 19.

"Next year we want to get a 6 day slot on the UCI Calendar." said the Organisation's President Huub Snoeks. The Ster van Beloften is a race for elite riders.

Spanish names

Octavio Albelda from Spain provides some more information about Spanish names.

To be precise, Chema is the familar form for Jose Maria (not Jose alone), used throughout Spain. Txema is the way in which "Chema" is spelt in the Basque Country.