News for March 17, 1998

Ullrich question mark on Amstel

There is a question mark over Jan Ullrich's participation in the Amstel Gold race in April. He will not start in Luik-Bastenaken-Luik on April 19 a week prior to the Dutch World Cup event. This was announced by Telekom team leader Rudy Pevenage during the Tirreno-Adriatico.

The 1997 Tour winner pulled out of the first stage of the Tirreno on Wednesday after only 30 kms. He was still reported to be aroun d6 kgs overweight. Ullrich did not want to take any risks in the cold weather in Italy and left on Thursday for a training camp on Mallorca with the aim to race well at the Milan-San Remo next Saturday.

Pevenage said: "Ullrich would like to ride in Luik-Bastenaken-Luik. But he would like to spend a further period of conditioning in the Tour of Aragon. The Amstel Gold Race is now a question."

Brentjens wins Cactus Cup

Bart Brentjens has taken out the Cactus Cup in Scottsdale. Comprising a time trial, two criteriums, and a cross county race the winner finished with a time difference of 8 seconds from Swede Johan Malmesten and his Belgian teammate Filip Meirhaeghe (at 0.14). The form of Brentjens continues to develop: "I feel very good at the moment" said the Olympic MTB Champion. "Two weeks ago I finished third in a race in Milan. With the great help from my team I have again won here.

Brentjens is aiming for the European World Cup events, the Tour de France for MTBs and the Worlds. 

 1. Bart Brentjens (Ned)     2.56.12
 2. Johan Malmsten (Swe) 	0.08
 3. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) 	0.14
 4. Hestler (Can) 		0.18
 5. Rowney (USA) 		0.44

Louis de Konin not able to start

Cyclist Louis de Koning is forbidden to ride with the any other team than TopTeam Tegeltoko this season. According to team leader Leo van Etten, the former professional should ride with his team.

Van Etten: "De Koning has signed with us. He cannot ride with another team. We have it from the KNWU. We are always willing for him to ride with us."

De Koning signed a two year contract at the end of last year with Tegeltoko. He had a bad season with TVM last year preferring to pursue his social life. A deal with the main sponsor of Tegeltoko has provided him with a fulltime oppportunity. De Koning also had a problem with his contract with the Erotic team two years ago.

But to the amazement of Tegeltoko, they named him as a guest rider of the club teams participating in the Omloop van de Houtse Linies, the Ster van Zwolle and the Tour of Zuid-Holland, the opening races of the top competition.

"I can't miss the bike races" said De Koning. "The coming days I must ride. I will ride races. With Tegeltoko or another team."

Kerry Meares to go for record

Brilliant under 17 year old Woman cyclist Kerry Meares from Queensland will attempt to break the world Junior U/19 500m Individual Time Trial Record tonight Monday at the Adelaide Superdrome. The time Kerry recorded on Saturday evening (36.17 s ) was ineligible as the electronic starting machine was not used for the U/17 divisions.

It was rumoured in the Advertiser newspaper that sprint specialist Gary Neiwand may have a change of heart about his earlier decision to have an 8 months break.

Cologne-Schuld-Frechen, Germany, Cat A, March 15, 183 kms,

 1. Sascha Henrix (Ger) Team Gerolsteiner	     4.35.40
 2. Jürgen Petersen (Den) 				1.00
 3. Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Gerolsteiner
 4. Jens Zemke (Ger) Team Nürnberger
 5. Raymond Meijs (Ned) Gerolsteiner
 6. Jan-Erik Ostergaard (Den)
 7. Dirk Schumann (Ger) Gerolsteiner			1.20
 8. Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Köstritzer
 9. Bjorn Glasner (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10. Jörg Ludewig (Ger) EC Bayer Team Köln-Worringen	3.00
Thanks to Mario Stiehl

GP of Essez, UK, Premier Event, Halstead, 165 kms:

 1. Chris Newton (Brite)             	 	     4.00.31
 2. Kevin Dawson (GS Strada)          			s.t.
 3. David Rand  (PDM Sports-WCU)                  	0.12
 4. Mat Anand (Mercury CT)                             	0.18
 5. Julian Ramsbottom (North Wirral Velo)       	0.27
 6. Joe Bayfield (Tean Invader)                     	s.t.
 7. Glenn Holmes (Tean Adidas-Scicon)                 	s.t.
 8. Russell Downing (Brite)                     	s.t.
 9. Mark Walsham (Linda McCartney RT)                 	s.t.
10. Jeff Wright (Edinburgh BC)                    	s.t.
Thanks to Paul Curran

European Roundup

Ronde van Woensdrecht - elite/neo-amateurs, 104 kms:

 1. De Crom (Hoogerheide) 		2.30.40
 2. Roos (Zoetermeer)
 3. Van Vlimmeren (Hoeven)

Belfeld. ATB, Benelux Cup.

Men, 64 kms:

 1. Van der Ven (Ned)	     2.21.10
 2. Weevers (Ned) 		0.40
 3. De Knegt (Ned) 		0.52
 4. Dekker (Ned) 		2.03
 5. Tolhoek (Nede) 		4.48

Women, 40 kms:

 1. Dorland (Ned) 	     1.50.52
 2. Brand (Ned) 		1.45
 3. Dahle (Nor) 		2.35
 4. Ravenstijn (Ned) 		3.45
 5. Quintens (Bel) 		7.20

Bercy, International MTB:

Downhill Men:

 1. Lopes (USA
 2. De Bever (Ned)
 3. Grarcia (Fra).

Downhill Women:

 1. Chansson (Fra)
 2. Jonier (Fra)
 3. Bollancée (Bel)

ATB Men:

 1. Dubau (Fra)
 2. Herisset (Fra)
 3. Depuy (Fra).

ATB Women:

 1. Dorland (Ned)
 2. Leboucher (Fra)
 3. Temporelli (Ita)

Belgium, Gent - Ieper, Elites and Espoirs, 152.6 kms:

 1. Boerman (Ned) 	     3.44.00
 2. Dierckx (Bel)
 3. Scherre (Bel)		0.03
 4. Meeu (Bel) 			0.08
 5. De Peuter (Bel)

15. Berkhout (Ned)

Sequoia Cycling Classic, Visala Criterium, USA, March 15

After a cool, gloomy day of road racing, the peloton raced under beautiful skies for the Visalia Criterium, the second event at the Sequoia Cycling Classic. Despite interminable attacking from Saturn and Shaklee, the women’s race ended in a well-controlled bunch sprint taken by Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., with Saeco-Timex’s Kendra Wenzel, McKenzie Bridge, Ore., in second. The men’s field scorched the course, averaging close to 35 mph for their 60 minute event won for the second year running by Kiwi fastman Julian Dean (Mercury).

Shaklee and Saturn endeavored to break the race apart from the gun. Three Shaklee riders -- Maureen Kaila, Soquel, Calif.; Louisa Jenkins, Boulder, Colo.; and Nicole Reinhart, Portland, Ore. -- and three Saturn riders -- Karen Kurreck, Cupertino, Calif.; Clara Hughes, Hamilton, Ont., Canada; and Elizabeth Emery, New York, N.Y. -- all hit the wind in an endless stream of attacks which made for some unhappy faces at the back of the strung out bunch.

Hughes instigated a break halfway through the race, but Saeco-Timex’s Pam Schuster, Northridge, Calif., and Jenkins sat on, as they didn’t fancy their chances against Hughes in the sprint. This would be the trademark of the day, many breaks without the right chemistry. In the end, Saturn brought national criterium champion Bliss Livingston to the front behind a dream leadout of Hughes and Emery. Through the last corner, Bliss Livingston finished business, sprinting to the victory like so many times before. Wenzel and Reinhart rolled in second and third.

In the men’s event, Saturn felt a bit humiliated after an anonymous showing in the previous day’s road race. They came out guns blazing, sending Freddy Rodriguez, Piedmont, Calif., and several others up the road in several short- lived breaks in the opening minutes. Nothing stuck until a large group containing Saturn’s Mike McCarthy, New York, N.Y.; Mariano Friedick, Brentwood, Calif.; and Chris Wherry, Boulder, Colo.; Eddy Gragus (Oil Me- Klein), Fort Collins, Colo.; Scott Moninger (Navigators), Boulder, Colo.; Mercury’s Roy Knickman, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Dave Clinger, Woodland Hills, Calif.; and Dean, Colby Pearce (Colorado Cyclist), Bouder, Colo.; and impressive amateurs Sean Bragstad (Start to Finish), Boulder, Colo.; and Billy Innes (Kissena), Flushing, N.Y., consolidated itself with 30 minutes remaining.

All shared the work, keeping a marvelous pace of 35 mph until three laps to go. At this point the break began to pile the lion’s share of the work on to the Mercury boys. The field literally rolled up to the tail of the break as the bell lap began. Mercury would not have their plans dashed, however. Knickman and Clinger rolled it, with some serious help from Friedick and Wherry who looked to set up McCarthy. At the last corner, Clinger swung out and let Dean take his second Visalia in two years ahead of McCarthy and a powerful Gragus.

"Clinger was in front of me, I passed him out of the last corner," Dean said. "Everyone was sitting on us, so my Mercury team and Saturn kept the pressure on the last lap."

McCarthy told a similar tale, "Chris (Wherry) did a huge effort the last lap, then Clinger did the rest for Julian (Dean)."

Mercury takes its show on the road to Sea Otter March 20-21 on the fourth stop of the California Spring Series as the U.S. National Racing Calendar continues. 

Men, 60 minutes:

 1. Julian Dean (NZ) Mercury
 2. Mike McCarthy (US) Saturn
 3. Eddy Gragus (US) OilMe-Klein

Women, 40 minutes:

 1. Karen Bliss-Livingston (US) Saturn
 2. Kendra Wenzel (US) Saeco-Timex
 3. Nicole Reinhart (US) Shaklee