Second Edition News for January 28, 1998

GP Alicante, Spain, January 25, 1998

 1. Hans De Meester (Bel) Tonnisteinner
 2. Jorge Dominguez (Spa) Kelme

Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxemburg, Cyclo Cross, Cat A, January 25, 1998

 1. Nico Clarysse (Bel) elite
 2. Laurent Pryzbil (Fra)
 3. Daniel Bintz (Lux)

Czech selection for Cyclo Cross Worlds

Kamil Aushuber
Thomas Cabla
Ondrej Lukes
Jiri Pospisil
Radomir Simunek

Godefroot until 2001 with Telekom

Belgian Walter Godefroot, team manager of the successful German cycling team Telekom, has signed a contract with them until 2001. The 54-year old Belgian saw his pupil Jan Ullrich win the Tour de France last year. And a year before that he oversaw the victory in the Tour of Bjarne Riis.

Drug Testing for the Olympics

Australia, the United States and Canada have signed a deal concerning drug testing and research aimed at stopping the escalation of drug cheating in reciprocal sports. The three organisations - the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA), the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) - are parties to the agreement.

In an official statement by ASDA it is stated:

"The major benefits we see coming out of the agreement is three of the more influential anti-doping agencies getting together and pooling their resources in terms of general intelligence and particularly research. We think if we have a more coordinated approach internationally in terms of research we've got a better chance of finding detection methods for things like human growth hormone (HGH) and EPO, the undetectables we're having so much of a problem with right now. The other major component for us is that this agreement puts in place reciprocal testing opportunities. In the leadup to Sydney 2000 you're going to see more and more Canadian and American athletes training and competing in Australia."

The number of tests will increase and each testing agency will be able to have full authority in its own country on behalf of the other testing agencies.

Telekom presentation

Bjarne Riis put an end to the Indurain era in 1996. Jan Ullrich has inaugurated a new era in 1997: his own. The winners of the last two Tours in the same team - Telekom -: who will be the leader for '98? "Both": answers Walter Godefroot, their sport director. Could he have answered in another way? No.

In fact, Godefroot explained yesterday that Riis & Ullrich would both face the 1998 edition of the Tour as captains. At the Tour the strongest of the two will get help from the least strong: like two years ago when the young German helped the Danish expert and like last year when the 'old one' returned the favor for the German.

Ullrich has said that: "I will win the Tour again. I don't know if I will be able to win it six times in a row to beat Indurain's record: one thing I'm certain about, I will win again. I'm not satisfied yet..." For 1998 Ullrich will repeat his programs of 1996 and 1997: debut in Spain next week at the Challenge de Mallorca which doesn't force riders to ride every day, then other short stage races, including Tirreno-Adriatico (March 11-18) and Milano-Sanremo. "I hope that the Tour is just a duel between Jan and I: it would be conceivable if we are the best two riders", says Riis who turns 34 in April: 10 more than young Ullrich.

Ron Sommer, president of the German telephone company announced in December that they had raised the team's budget to 10 million lira. Telekom has also extended their commitment to the year 2001 and Godefroot has contracted Ullrich until then. Also joining Giovanni Lombardi at Telekom for 1998 will his compatriot Francesco Frattini, the winner of the GP of Frankfurt, who will back up Erik Zabel, the winner of Milano Sanremo and the Green Jersey at the Tour.

Cannondale - a secondary sponsor for Saeco-Serravalle

The official name will now be Saeco Macchine da Caffè-Cannondale for the team of Ivan Gotti and Mario Cipollini in 1998. The American bicycle company, which was a supplier of equipment last year for the San Marino team, has decided to increase their involvement by entering as second sponsors. Saeco, which has entered their second training phase at Marina di Bibbona, will debut the new jersey on Sunday in Donoratico at the G.P. degli Etruschi.

La Clasica de Cucuta, Colombia

Fulvio Frigo (Kross-Selle Italia) has won in Colombia, la Clasica de Cucuta ahead of Victor Hugo Pena.

Santi Blanco - No Holds Barred

There has been a lot of fanfare about Santi Blanco (Puerto de Béjar, 1974) and all the things that he will do in cycling. Few question that, but the public has found out about him before hand due to the tortuous change of teams from Banesto, to his new team, Seguros Vitalicio. The break with his mentor, José Miguel Echávarri, isn't closed yet. There is still the matter of financial compensation after taking shelter on decree 1.006. Banesto is asking for 300 million pesetas (US$1,923,000) and Blanco doesn't think that he's worth that much. neither does he admit to have any moral debt with his ex-team. "I don't owe them anything".

Q. Are you worth as much as Banesto is asking for indemnity?

A. I don't thing so. And according to my last contract, for sure I wasn't worth that much (it was for three years at 20 million a year - US$128,420). But if they are asking for it, there must be a reason. I just can't count it. Somebody has made that up.

Q. So then, you will never pay?

A. I don't know what will happen, if I will pay or not.

Q. If you don't pay, you won't be able to race.

A. I'm not in a hurry. I'm calm. The season is long.

Q. But you knew that the way of decree 1.006 had this problems.

A. The 1.006 is the right of every athlete and a choice that I elected and this problems are happening because somebody wants them to happen.

Q. So then you are just after the money. You left so that you could win five times more (300 million pesetas in 3 years/US$1,923,600) and you are not willing to pay for it.

A. No, I didn't leave because of the money, I have left because Seguros Vitalicio offered me advantages that I didn't have with Banesto. I have freedom of movement and they allow me to prepare for races, they way I want.

Q. You are an ingrate. Thanks to Echávarri and Banesto you are what you are and you have not hesitated to bite the hand that fed you.

A. I am what I am thanks to my parents and my daily work.

Q. But your time at Banesto has to have had something to do with you...

A. Time has many twists. If I wouldn't have become what they expected and they would have had to let me go, they would have fired me without remorse. So I don't owe them anything.

Q. You have followed Indurain's example, but only half way: you have broken with Echávarri before winning anything.

A. I haven't broken with anybody. Every person looks out for themselves and I look out only for Santi Blanco. If because of that a relationship is broken, that is another matter.

Q. It has been said that outside of Banesto you will never win the Tour.

A. If Santi Blanco has to win a Tour he;s going to win it, either with or without Banesto. I'm very clear about that. That comment that I will never win outside of Banesto comes from Banesto.

Q. Have they told you directly?

A. They haven't told me personally, but I know it. And I know that if I was good before, I will continue to be good now.

Q. You are not worried that this matter will leave you with the reputation of being conflictive?

A. I'm not worried about any labels. I'm not afraid of anything.

Q. There is talk that you will make the press suffer when you win the Tour.

A. No, I will continue being the way I am, with my character. I am who I am and nothing is going to change me. Sometimes I think that I should have more character, although I admit that I have a character.

Q. You also showed your character by facing Eusebio Unzue, your director at the Dauphine and the Tour.

A. At the Izoard, during the Dauphiné, I simply gave my opinion and told my director. Everybody has their point of view and everyone can say what they want.

Q. Have you awaken jealousy amongst your teammates?

A. I have always tried to get along with every one. Maybe more has been asked from me, than from the rest.

Q. Do you have to have character to be a great cyclist?

A. To be a great cyclist one needs to have a lot of strength and physical power.

Q. Continuing with the previous example, Induráin also showed great character.

A. Induráin is an example in many things. It is clear that we continue to be friends. And his brother Pruden is here at Vitalicio, who I ask for Miguel occasionally.

Q. 1998 has been announced as a learning year. After the rivers of ink that you have created, you don't think that you are not giving enough?

A. Santi Blanco will try to be the best he can. They have bet strongly on me, but the contract is for three years and they are not going to demand a lot from me now. That is important and one of the reasons why I switched teams.

Q. Do you know that sports in Spain is full of promises that are never fulfilled?

A. Yes and there are stars for which nobody would have given a penny before. That is not a problem for me. If I get there, fine. And I don't I hope that it is because I couldn't make it and not because I didn't do anything that I could.

Q. Have you asked to be the team leader?

A. I haven't asked for anything. It has been offered to me.

Q. Are you a typical climber or can we expect more from you?

A. It would be bad if at 23 years of age I didn't have any margin to progress.

Q. Are you really as hard headed and stubborn as you appear to be?

A. I have my head on top of my shoulders and sometimes I notice that it weighs a lot. I see things from a certain viewpoint and somebody doesn't give me convincing reasons, I don't get off the donkey (don't change my mind). But if they convince me, I get off.

New Race in Canada

I received this from Curt Harnett, the former Canadian sprinter who had some big sprint duels with Australia's Gary Niewand over 14 years before retiring in 1996.

He made it an aim to resurrect an event that used to attract 40,000 spectators to downtown Toronto, Canada. He reports:

Well, after 12 months of effort and assistance from IMG, an international sports and events marketing company, I am happy to announce the realization of my Dream!

On Saturday May 30, 1998, the Toyota Queen's Park Grand Prix will take centre stage on the streets of downtown Toronto. It will be an elite-levelled cycling, wheelchair and in-line skating event. The Men's Criterium will be 60 kms. with first place prize money being $10,000! The women's crit will be 40 kms. and also net the victor $10,000. On a per kilometer basis, I am pretty sure that I have the richest event in North America.

I would like the opportunity to inform cyclists from "Down Under" that may happen to be in North America of this event and offer as much information to them to ensure that their attendance is memorable. (I'd like them to come back next year too!)

I can be contacted by e-mail, Curtnet@aol.com, phone, 416.960.5312, or fax, 416.960.0564

[Bill notes: I always wanted Curt to lose! But I loved his boisterous style]