News for March 11, 1998

Latest UCI rankings, March 10, 1998

If you are interested in full rankings you can find them on the UCI WWW site at http://www.uci.ch 

 1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 		2384
 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 			1610
 3. Michele Bartoli (Ita) 		1530
 4. Andrei Tchmil(Bel) 			1459
 5. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) 			1403
 6. Alex Zulle (Swi) 			1347
 7. Andrea Tafi (Ita) 			1070
 8. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) 		1064
 9. Abraham Olano (Spa) 		1043
10. Fernando Escartin (Spa) 		1023
11. Alberto Elli (Ita) 			 987
12. Johan Museeuw (Bel) 		 976
13. Richard Virenque (Fra) 		 959
14. Beat Zberg (Swi) 			 944
15. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus)		 943
16. Davide Rebellin (Ita)		 928
17. Erik Zabel (Ger)			 882
18. Laurent Dufaux (Swi)		 873
19. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita)		 870
20. Chris Boardman (G-B)		 815
21. Rolf Sorensen (Den)			 798
22. Bjarne Riis (Den)			 776
23. Ivan Gotti (Ita)			 748
24. Marco Pantani (Ita)			 740
25. Mario Cipollini (Ita)		 724
26. Leon Van Bon (Ned)			 700
27. Jan Svorada (Cze)			 664
28. Franck Vandenbroucke (Bel)		 660
29. Udo Bolts (Ger)			 650
30. Laurent Brochard (Fra)		 645

Weekend Roundup

March 8, Germany, Rund um die Blumenstadt Straelen: 
Elite:

 1. Harko Kievit (Ned) WTC Roden
 2. Torsten Schmidt (Den) Chicky World
 3. Bram Schmitz (Ned) AGU
 4. Sander Olijve (Ned) P&O-Löwik-Giant
 5. Martin Schouten Ned) PRC Delta
10. Baden Burke (Australia)

Women:

 1. Viola Paulitz (Ger)
 2. Debby Mansveld (Ned)
 3. Tanja Schmidt (Ger)

For Australian fans, the Burke brothers (Baden and Lindsey) arrived in Netherlands recently for another season of racing. They are living in Rheezerveen with the Drenth family. They ride for the WSV de Peddelaars Hoogeveen club team. The club boasts other members like Erik Dekker and Johan Bruinsma (Rabobank). Next Saturday the B-Brothers will start in the Ronde van Groningen.

Dick Soepenberg keeps me updated on the B-Brothers.

March 8, Belgium, Rotheux-Rimiere, 115 kms: 

 1. Jos Lucassen (Ned) P&O-Löwik-Giant	    2.56.00
 2. Cees Jeurissen (Ned) P&O-Löwik-Giant
 3. Kim van Dijck (Bel)		 		0.05
 4. Erik Lievens (Bel)
 5. Sebstien Calmant (Bel)

Belgium Elite Races 

March 7  Elite without contract

Kruiseke-Wervik				Fabrice Debrabant
Merchtem				Benjamin van Itterbeek
Molenbeek-Wersbeek			Ronny an Asten
Brussel-Zepperen			Koen Das

March 8  Elite without contract

Hoeilaart				Rudy Patry
Hoogstraaten				Ludo Giesberts
Omloop van de Westhoek Ichtegem		Kurt DeWulf
Linter-Neerlinter			Ronny van Asten
Vollezele				Paul Wilkes  (GB)
Deinze					Nico Mestdach
Serskamp				Mario Willems
Vlaamse Pijl  				Geoffry Demeyere

Olano sticks to his program

Abraham Olano will maintain his original racing program according to Banesto. A mistake at the time that the list was made for the line up of the forthcoming Semana Catalana left some doubts, but not because of the physical state of the rider, who continues with his training plan without any problems. He had his debut at Murcia, where on Sunday after riding the time trial he traveled home with his teammates. He didn't have any problems during his ride on Sunday and was able to work well, once he recuperated from the cramps that he suffered on Saturday.

Olano blamed the long ascent of Morrón de Totana, located at an altitude of 1,600 meters, an effort for which he isn't ready yet at this time of the season and that left his legs with cramps. Olano was dropped in the afternoon sector, which was a leg breaker, with a number of riders, so he opted to abandon. In the coming days until Milán-San Remo, Olano will try to do more kilometers to be able to face the 300kms, but he continues to ride non-quality kilometers, going by his plans.

The teams at Semana Catalana will be composed of José Luis Arrieta, Manuel Beltrán, Armand de las Cuevas, Manuel Fernández Ginés, Chente García Acosta, Jose Maria Jiménez, César Solaun & Olano, which will be the team that will participate at Milano-San Remo. It is practically the same team that was riding at Vuelta a Murcia, that is the base team for the Tour de France, with some minor changes.

After Semana Catalana, Abraham Olano will ride at la Vuelta al País Vasco and also will ride at Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Amstel Gold Race, before starting another phase of his preparation in the month of April for his approach to the Tour de France.

Marco Pantani

This interview comes from Javier Ares of Diario AS.

At 22, he won the Espoirs Giro. Months later he would debut with the Pros next to Claudio Chiapucci. In only two years his small figure would race up the climbs of Merano and Aprica. In the 1994 Giro, Pantani and Indurain almost broke a formidable Berzin on the Mortirolo. Pantani finished second at that Giro and third at the Tour, behind Indurain and Ugrumov.

He was 24 and had a splendid future. But his career came to a stop when he suffered a serious accident at the end of 1995. Finally coming out again last year with another great ride at the Tour de France and again third in the overall.

At 28, he has reached maturity, he's tranquil. He has just won his first race for the season, in Murcia.

Diario AS - It was in Murcia last year that you had your life back, your resurrection.

MP - Yes, that is true. After that accident and very tough Winter work, it was here where I first felt the sensation that I was going down the right path.

Diario AS - But now, heaven can't wait. I speak of the Giro.

MP - We are working on that: the truth is that I have felt good at Murcia, although I've had less training than last year and the form is not optimal. Now I will prepare for San Remo and then la Setmana Catalana.

Diario AS - Everything to reach great condition in May. But yet, your relationship with the Giro is not necessarily a loving one.

MP - Well no, after the first year, where everything went well, the unlucky events that have surrounded me have been torture. But it won't always be like that, will it?

Diario AS - The problem this year is that Zulle will be at the start. MP - Yes, he's another rival, together with Tonkov & Gotti, but I have a chance to win.

Diario AS - And has Mercatone reinforced?

MP - Well, we lost Zberg, but the arrival of Konyshev & Fincato make up for it.

Diario AS - Why don't you aim for the Tour?

MP - There is too much flat, too much time trial. Then it is difficult to get there well. Last year I didn't arrive in good condition.

Diario AS - That's a good thing! Since you finished 'only' third after winning at Morzine & Alpe d'Huez.

MP - But it is the truth. My first objective is the Giro. Then we will see. One has to prepare for the Tour, you can't reach it passed your form. You have to mature, acquire experience and concentrate in it.

Diario AS - Are you working on the time trials?

MP - Not working, studying them in the laboratory. We will go to a wind tunnel.

Diario AS - Is there somebody that can really be Ullrich's shadow?

MP - One can never tell if Ullrich will fail, but I see two: Zülle and Olano.

Diario AS - Why Olano?

MP - Because this year the route profile favors his. he rides well in the time trial and can ride well in the mountains. If last year, that he wasn't well, he finished fourth, I'm sure that he will finish on the podium. There's a lot more time trial and less mountain.

Some justice out there

This story appeared in the London Times and was written by Paul Wilkinson.

An alcoholic who killed three members of a family as he drove with a bottle of vodka in his hand was jailed for seven years yesterday - one of the stiffest sentences to be imposed for drink-driving.

Andrew Armstrong was more than three times over the limit when he ran into the three men from behind as they cycled on a country road five days before Christmas last year. Alan Harrison and his brother Bryan died with their brother-in-law, Don Smith. Raymond Walls, Mr Smith's son-in-law, suffered a broken leg and hip.

Armstrong, 36, from Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, admitted at Newcastle Crown Court three charges of causing death by dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for 15 years.

Outside court, Peter Harrison, a brother of two of the victims, said: "The actual time he has to serve in prison will not change what happened. We knew ten years was the maximum he could get, because he never left the scene and he's shown genuine signs of remorse.

"As a family we have formed no opinion of the man, because we do not know him and we have tried to keep it that way. There isn't any anger at the moment, but there may be in time. It is not just losing one person, or three separate people, it is the loss of three sections of a big family. It has left a hole in everyone's lives and in everything we do."

Paul Sloan, for the prosecution, said that Bryan Harrison, 38, and his brother Alan, 33, had gone out to ride with Mr Smith, 39, and Mr Walls, 25, near their home in Blyth, Northumberland. They were all wearing reflective clothing and had bright lights.

Armstrong, a former lift engineer, had already drunk almost half a bottle of vodka in his shed when he began to drive his Ford Mondeo. Moments before he struck the riders, he almost ran over a jogger. Mr Sloane said: "The jogger noticed that the accused had a half-bottle of spirits in his hand, which he was holding close to his mouth.

"The cyclists were travelling in single file. They were clearly visible ... but the Mondeo ploughed into the back of them without even slowing down or braking.

"The three deceased suffered catastrophic injuries and died instantly. Mr Walls tried to stand up and realised he had broken his leg. Police say the damage to the car was consistent with it travelling at 60mph on impact."

A breath test showed 115 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of Armstrong's breath: the legal limit is 35 micrograms. A vodka bottle minus the cap was found in his car.

Armstrong, who has a daughter aged 8, told police that he drank 4 1/2 bottles of vodka a week. He said he had not seen the cyclists until they were on his bonnet. "I should not have driven a car. I just wish I could turn the clock back."

Tim Hewitt, for Armstrong, said: "He is genuinely remorseful, devastated and terrified by what he has inflicted on the families of the victims. He descended into the world of alcoholism in 1994 through the onset of depression. Shortly after that, he lost his parents very quickly and lost all confidence.

"He tried to do something about his drinking and seemed to be conquering his addiction, but in the weeks before this happened he had relapsed. He tried to disguise this from his wife and daughter by drinking away from the house."

Judge Christopher Hodson told Armstrong: "Your thoroughly outrageous and irresponsible behaviour has killed three admirable and hard-working men and wrecked the lives of their loved ones and your family too.

"Any sentence passed by me will be seen by the families of the deceased as inadequate and, in many respects, they would be right."

Bendigo Track Brief

Victorian Stephen Pate has won the prestigious Bendigo Madison with Baden Cooke. Matt Allen and Brett McCaig were second and Hayden Bradbury and Chris White third.

The Madison a yearly event was held over 85 kms - 200 laps.

Coppa Alicante, Spain, March 6-8

198 riders from five nations started in this year's Coppa Alicante. The stages are run in hilly terrain, with one climb surpassing 1 200 meters.

March 6, Stage 1, Benidorm-Benidorm, 105 km: 

 1. Carlos Torrent (Spa) 		     2.40.13
 2. Ivan Herrero (Spa) 				s.t.
 3. Romes Gainedinov (Rus) 			s.t.
...
12. Magnus Albertsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 	s.t.
14. Henrik Sparr (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
33. Peter Stensson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
49. Tobias Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		3.51
51. John Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
66. Stefan Adamsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 	       15.31
76. Patrik Wrankvist (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.

Henrik Sparr went away with four Spanish riders on the last climb 50 kms from the finish. They were caught just before the last kilometre. Stefan Adamsson won the the first sprint and is the leader of the sprint competition.

March 7, Stage 2, Altea-Altea 115 kms: 


 1. Carlos Torrent (Spa) 		     2.36.19
 2. David Fernandez (Spa) 			s.t.
 3. Frederic Ivars (Spa) 			s.t.

10. John Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
13. Tobias Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
35. Magnus Albertsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 	s.t.
36. Stefan Adamson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
60. Henrik Sparr (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
70. Peter Stensson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
Patrik Wrankvist (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.

A flat stage that ended in a mass sprint. Stefan Adamsson lost the lead in the sprint competition.

March 8, stage 3, Denia-Denis 110 kms: 

  1. Eligio Requejo (Spa) 		     2.46.37
  2. David Fernandez (Spa)			0.06
  3. Carlos Torrent (Spa) 			s.t.
  ..
  5. Magnus Albertsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 	s.t.
  9. John Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
 25. Henrik Sparr (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
 66. Peter Stensson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		2.15
 94. Stefan Adamson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		3.00
101. Tobias Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo
121. Patrik Wrankvist (Swe) Team Wirsbo

Final overall: 

 1. Eligio Requejo (Spa)                     8.03.09
 2. Carlos Torrent (Spa) 			0.06
 3. David Fernandez (Spa) 			s.t.
 ..
 9. Magnus Albertsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 	s.t.
13. Henrik Sparr (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		s.t.
29. Peter Stensson (Swe) Team Wirsbo		2.15
33. John Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		3.57
37. Tobias Nilsson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 		9.57
50. Stefan Adamson (Swe) Team Wirsbo 	       18.31
60. Patrik Wrankvist (Swe) Team Wirsbo	       23.17

Team classification: 

 1. Vestisport (Spa)
 2. Plastimer (Spa)
 3. Team Wirsbo (Swe)