News for April 20, 1999

Interview with Franck Vandenbroucke

Franck VDB said after LBL that "My carrier is still young but this is a great start." One gets the impression that he is self-assured ("zelfbewust" in Dutch) and the way he attacked on La Redoute would not alter that assessment.

Did you plan to attack on the La Redoute?

I was waiting to see. But I was watching Bartoli. I thought that I was the best. That I must show that. It was a psychological ploy. A game to show them. I knew that the selection at La Redoute was not really to my advantage. The Mapei and Rabobank riders were still in the race so that I was not going to work at all. So I decided to wait until the hill at Saint-Nicolas where I had trained over several times last week. I knew I would be good on that hill. I am also very thankful to Peter Farazijn. He did a great job. And the public was fantantic too.

VDB was all smiles after winning his first World Cup race. He said: "It was dream day for me. I was very strong. I want to share my pleasure with the people who have helped me in my career. My family, my teammates..."

"This is the beginning of my career. I am not disappointed to have left Mapei. The public is behind me. On La Redoute the support was fantastic. I am no Hinault and certainly no Merckx, but I still felt a great empathy with the Belgian crowds. That will remain a great memory for me. Perhaps this win will put some of the critics to rest. They often report things that I have not said."

And the next challenge?

"I want to ride the world championship. But first I plan to defend my World Cup leader's jersey at the Amstel Gold Race next Saturday. I will be riding the Ronde van Nederland, the Trophée des Grimpeurs and the Vierdaagse van Duinkerken. The Tour de France is for next year. Some people think I can win it. I don't know. First I have to see if I can be a good enough climber in the big mountains before I will know that."

Bartoli talks about LBL

Pre-race favourite Michele Bartoli was not disappointed at the end of LBL. He said: "I fought hard until the end but it wasn't my day. However I compliment the winner. Frank rode very, very strongly".

Radio Italia asked Bartoli: "How do you explain your defeat to your Belgian fans?"

"No, I won't speak of defeat. I feel defeated when I deserve to win. This time I was not in condition and had muscular problems on the last section of the race. But I don't want to take anything away from the winner, Vandenbroucke deserved to win, that's all".

Bartoli had pains in his legs. He probably paid for his escape at Fleche Wallone. Already at la Redoute, he was going head to head with Vandenbroucke, Michele lost the battle. At least psychologically.

"At la Redoute I was already suspicious. I was able to go off well, but was not able to continue my action. Then I had some cramps. I don't think that that the problem had to do with my long escape on Wednesday. Perhaps all that cold weather affected me. I feel bad for the team. They all behaved very well and the balance of my Ardennes campaign is not negative. I return home with a win at Fleche and a fourth place at Liege. Not bad".

Will Vandenbroucke be your great rival?

Bartoli answered: "He already is."

Ullrich to start in Amstel Gold Race

Jan Ullrich will compete in the Amstel Gold Race next Saturday. The Telekom team manager Walter Godefroot said at the start of Luik-Bastenaken-Luik that Ullrich will be racing for conditioning and will not be aiming for a podium place. The 25-year old German had planned to race the first three World Cup races but has been ill. Godefroot said: "He will be working to help Erik Zabel who was very strong in the Tour of Aragon."

Jalabert to make some big decisions

French National Champion Laurent Jalabert, will decide if he will race the Tour or Giro after racing the Tour of Romandie, which will be contested from May 4th to 9th. "There are possibilities that he will ride the Giro, but it will all depend on how he's doing mentally. The Tour is not out of the question, but after what happened last year, he feels less and less like riding in his country", said his sport director Manuel Saiz. The last time that Jalabert rode the Giro was in 1992 and he had to abandon on stage 13 due to a broken clavicle that occured at the Amstel Gold Race. What is clear is that Jalabert will be at la Vuelta a España, the only race of the three major ones which is his main objective".

Mapei-Quick Step is training in Sierra Nevada

Eight riders from the Mapei-Quick Step team will spend some time training in Sierra Nevada rom April 20th to 28th. The riders are Giuseppe Di Grande, Manuel Fernandez, Paolo Fornaciari, Leif Hoste, Chann Mc Rae, Dirk Muller, Andrea Noè and Andrea Tafi.

Colombo injured at LBL

Gabriele Colombo was aiming for a top finish at LBL. Instead the rider from the Cantina Tollo-Alexia team fell at a key moment and suffered deep cuts to his right knee and was forced to retire.

Virenque denies involvement

Richard Virenque was questioned today for one hour and fifteen minutes at the Palace of justice in Lille by judge Keil. Virenque went in at 9.30 in the company of his lawyer, Gilbert Collard and left at 10.45. Virenque's lawyer explained that the rider denied any complicity with Festina's doping system. Basically denying the accusations of his ex-team director from Festina, Bruno Roussel. Judicial sources said that Virenque will be called at least one more time.

UCI Individual Rankings at April 19:

 1. Michel Bartoli (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step           2854 points
 2. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Team Polti                2191
 3. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno-Bianchi       2156
 4. Abraham Olano (Spa)  ONCE-Deutsche Bank         2056
 5. Michael Boogard (Ned) Rabobank                  2022
 6. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank       2000
 7. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Cofidis               1631
 8. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Lampre-Daikin             1589
 9. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              1524
10. Peter van Petegem (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites         1323
11. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank                     1273
12. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                       1206
13. Wladimir Belli (Ita) Festina                    1196
14. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar              1172
15. José María Jimenez (Spa) Banesto                1169
16. Alex Zulle (Swi) ONCE-Deutsche Bank             1157
17. Leo van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                      1101
18. Fernando Escartín (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca      1100
19. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal                 1087
20. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick Step               1080

Danish news

After last summer's training accident that severely injured Jens Veggerby's shoulder and speculation about whether a risky operation would be performed, the Danish rider has finally decided to quit racing. He will continue managing Danish Team AcceptCard.

On another front, Bo Hamburger was discharged from hospital in time to see the final 30-40km of Fleche Wallonne on TV at home. "I have to rest completely for 10 days, at which time I can begin cycling again, and after 10 more days a new investigation will determine whether my back is ready for me to begin racing again."

New proposal for the Dutch Top Competition

As well as the Top Competition in the Netherlands there will also be a 6-race "Wielerliga" (Cycling League) which will run parallel to the the officially organised Top Competition. 6 race organisers met with the Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) on Wednesday to resolve their dispute with the official body. The upshot of the meeting was the emergence of the new competition. The Top Competition will comprise: Ronde van Noord-Holland, Grote Prijs Wieler Revue, Dwars door Gendringen, Ronde van Drenthe, Dokkum Woudenomloop and the Ronde van Overijssel. There is a place for at least 4 more races in this series.

Peter Nieuwenhuis, the KNWU race director, said: "The top competition remains a good quality competition.

The organisers of a number of races could not agree on terms with the KNWU ans so they have decided to start their own competition. The upshot is that the Rivierenprijs, the Ronde van Limburg, the OZ-Tour Beneden-Maas, and the Omloop der Kempen will form the basis of a new competition next season. The Wielerliga shall also include Ronde Van Midden-Brabant and the Omloop van de Baronie."

Luxembourg Update

Gérard Schiltz keeps us updated on racing in Luxembourg. Here are the latest results. 

Koerich, Grand Prix des Martyrs,  April 17, 118 kms:

 1. Frank Schleck (Lux) LC Tetingen 	     	     3.00.11
 2. Stephane Fogen (Lux) UC Dipach 			2.48
 3. Fernandes Salvador (Lux) CCI Differdange		2.48
 4. Sergio Prado (Lux) CCI Differdange			2.48
 5. Vadim Konlakhine (Lux) UKR				2.48
 6. Christian Weyland (Lux) US Montauban		2.48
 7. Boris Odendahl (Lux)				2.53
 8. D. Papi (Lux) Vendée Cyclisme 			4.20
 9. Michel Wolter (Lux) LC Tetingen 			4.37
10. E. Mezzapesa (Lux) CCI Differdange 			4.46
11. Serge Leroy (Lux)					4.46
12. Pascal Laffut (Lux)					4.54
13. Marco Kohl (Lux) SaF Zéisséng			4.54
14. J. Kayser (Lux) LP Mühlenbach 			5.59
15. Michel Strodeur (Lux)				6.22
16. Gusty Bausch (Lux) VD Dommeld			6.24
17. Daniel Bintz (Lux) LC Tetingen 			6.31
18. Johny Wildschütz (Lux) LC Kayl 			7.50
19. Fabio Emili (Lux) CCI Differdange 		       11.41
20. Roland Schmit (Lux) LC Kayl 		       16.25

Hagen, Grand Prix de l'UC Dippach, April 18, 133 kms:

 1. Régis Lhuillier (Lux) Toul 			     3.17.37
 2. Jérôme Rouyer (Lux) Toul
 3. Samuel Rouyer (Lux) Toul 				0.55
 4. Pascal Quièvreux (Lux) Thionville 			1.43
 5. Enzo Mezzapesa (Lux) CCI Differdange		1.43
 6. Guillaume Thisse (Lux) Toul 			2.54
 7. Jürgen Jochem (Ger)					2.54
 8. Christian Weyland (Lux) US Montauban 		4.49
 9. Vincenzo Centrone (Lux) CCI Differdange		4.49
10. Vadim Konlakhine (Lux) UKR				4.49
11. Stéphane Rit (Fra)		 			5.14
12. Christian Theis (Lux) CCI Differdange 		6.13
13. Michel Wolter (Lux) LC Tétange			6.13
14. Fabrice Elias (Bel)					6.13
15. Claude Degano (Lux) LC Tétange			6.13
16. Steve Fogen (Lux) UC Dippach			6.13
17. Dany Papi (Lux) Vendée Cyclisme			6.13
18. Pierre Johanns (Lux) LV Bettembourg			6.13
19. Oliver Corpus (Lux) LC Tétange 			9.13
20. Marco Kohl (Lux) SAF Cessange			9.13

Started: 80
Finished: 48