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Scott Sunderland UpdateScott is going okay with the normal ups and downs. He is "training" in the hometrainer now, in the rehabilitation sports centre in the UZ (University Hospital) in Gent. He did 30 minutes pushing 90 watts the other day. Which is not much compared to the 430 watts he pushed as his last sports test before the accident. But it is a start. Next to the light exercise he's still getting massages for neck and lower back pain. He is soon to start light training at home and maybe he will be able to go out on the road for short rides (in the company of another cyclist!). Scott was so wrapped with that news that he called Palman's HQ to see if his new bike was ready. Walter Planckaert was really happy to hear about Scott's progress but said he has to take his time. It sounds like Palmans will have to forfeit for the Tour of Spain which they were hoping to ride. Without Scott the basis of the team lacks strength and that is a real downer for the whole squad.Sabine emailed me with the latest on TVM negotiations and rehab progress: Yesterday, I had the first meeting with the Cees Priem, Boss Junior and their lawyer. I can't say much about it, as what was said was asked to be confidential, but I can say I never before had this kind of business talk myself, although I've been in a lot of negotiation situations before. Anyway, the negotiations can be called "constructive" and the next meeting is set for the third week of June. What is most important is how Scott is doing, isn't it. Well, at this time he is still in bed, with a flaming headache. He has been feeling weak for three days now and I am afraid we'll have to go for a check-up if things don't get better. Maybe he has been pushing himself a bit to much during the rehabilitation exercises and he has not been able to go since Thursday. He was and is so eager to get back on that bike again... I can't tell you how much it's like a ghost in his head, the thought that he might not be able to race again. Scott is suffering more mentally than physically at this time and the people surrounding him have to keep putting positive thoughts in his mind. I have never before seen Scott struggle this hard. But, his psychologist, member of the rehabilitation team of the UZ Ghent, says it is quite normal, and he is used to working with athletes.... Scotts' aim is still to start racing again in September and I deeply hope he can reach that goal. Since the team has no interest going to the Tour of Spain without Scott, Walter Planckaert has decided not to participate, even if it would have been possible for the PALMANS team to go. It is a big lost of publicity to the sponsors, but that the way it is. But, it is still possible Scott will come out to Australia at the end of the year with a nice team to give the fans some spendid racing down under.... keep your fingers crossed. Johan Museeuw out for 1998Belgian ace Johan Museeuw has told Belgian news that he will not be racing again this year because his knee injury is taking a long time to heal. He spent more than a week in hospital in Gent after a serious injury to his kneecap which he sustained going through Arenberg during Paris-Roubaix in April.He has been reported as saying that he needed to have a strong winter to be fit for 1999. He also said he needed 2 hours rest after each session witht he rehabilitation physiotherapist. He said: "I can already bend my left leg for 80 degrees, that has to become 160. So there's a long way (to recovery) ahead of me." 3rd Paris--Roubaix EspoirsThe 3rd Paris--Roubaix Espoirs (for riders under 23 -- the race was previously for amateurs) took place Sunday (May 31) on a 170.5km course between Saint-Quentin and the Roubaix velodrome. From Cysoing on the course followed the same route as the World Cup race.The previous two editions of the race had been won by Belgians (Dany Bayens in 1996 and Marc Chanoine in 1997) but this year victory went to Thor Hushovd of the Norwegian national team. In wet conditions a break was made at km66 by the Russian Joukov (CM Aubervilliers) and the Belgians Guns (winner of the espoirs Ronde van Vlaanderen) and Huvaere(Eddy Merckx Boys). Joukov and Guns suffered crashes and punctures and dropped back, but Huvaere persisted alone for 53km. He was caught at Mons-en-Pevele by a first peloton of about 25 including the French riders Pencole, Teyssier, L'Hote, Grouselle and Moreau; Irishman Duff; Italian Sammassino and Estonian Tombak. Aidan Duff made the first break from the group, being chased down and overtaken by Sammassino. Then, hurried along by Pencole, a group of four (Pencole, Hushovd, Sammassino and the Belgian Demeyere) built a lead of 16 seconds by 10km to the finish. Pencole attempted several escape attempts in the last few kilometres, entering the velodrome first, but the 20-year-old, 1.84m tall (82kg) Hushovd took the sprint.
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Norwegian National Team 170.5km in 4.03.45 2. Demeyere (Bel) Kortrijk 3. Sammassino (Ita) Polti 4. Pencole (Fra) VC Saint-Quentin s.t. 5. Moreau (Fra) Wasquehal 0.31 6. Tombak (Est) Vendee U s.t. 7. Brard (Fra) VC Saint-Quentin 0.58 8. Duff (Ire) Vendee U) 9. De Jong (Ned) AGU) 10. Groselle (Fra) CM Aubervilliers s.t. Death of Giovanni ValettiGiovanni Valetti, who won the Giro d'Italia in 1938 and 1939, has died at the age of 84. Valetti was also 2nd in the Giro in 1937 and 5th in 1936. In total he won seven stages in the Giro d'Italia: stage 3 in 1937; stages 4, 7 and 15 in 1938; stages 6, 13 and 16 in 1939. He won the Tour de Suisse in 1938, taking two stages, the Giro di Lazio in 1938 and the Giro Milanese two-up in 1939 with Cino Cinelli, with whom he was second in the same race in 1940. He was third in the Giro di Toscania in 1937.Saeco Foots Bill for Stars and BarsFine-happy Saeco -- Mario Cipollini has already been sanctioned by the UCI for using his cellphone on the road and wearing an Inter-Milan football jersey on the podium -- is now putting in a team effort to subvent the UCI. The evening before stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia from Udino to Asi ago the Saeco bosses phoned the president of the jury of UCI commissaires to enquire how much the team would be fined were it to wear non-standard team clothing the next day. Five-hundred Swiss francs a rider was the reply. The next day the team turned out in jerseys and shorts emblazoned with the stars and stripes in honour of co-sponsor Cannondale. The total bill: SwFr4.500 (approx. US$3,050).Gotti Ill, Does Not Start Stage 17 of GiroAfter arriving at the end of Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia in Asiago, last year's winner Ivan Gotti (Saeco) announced that he would not start today (Tuesday) in the mountainous Stage 17. Gotti, who was in 29th place overall at 12.42, reckons that he caught a chill last Thursday on the stage between San Marino and Carpi. He had a hard time on Saturday and on Monday's stage was vomiting on the one big climb of the day. With the Dolomites stages ahead he felt it sensible to withdraw. "On Saturday," Gotti said, "I suffered like I've never suffered before on the climb towards Piancavallo. I don't understand what hit me. To continue would be suicidal. I'm very disappointed but now I must refocus my sights on the Tour de France."Omloop van de Hoekse Waard, May 30, Club Competition, Region 21. Tonnie Teuben HSV de Kampioen 2. Jan Goedendorp PRC Delta 3. Lex Nederlof Hoekse Renners 4. Tommy Post Hoekse Renners 5. Ron Verwey De Volharding 6. Adri Frijters Eemland 7. Arno Wallaard Jan van Arkel 8. Dennis Venema De Volharding 9. Guus van Gemert PRC Delta 10. Peter Voshol Ahoy 11. Peter Duynveld De Spartaan 12. Perry Bothof Hoekse Renners 13. Allard Epping Volharding 14. Bob Nuy Kennemerland 15. Frans van de Does Amstel |