News for April 9, 1999

Team line-up for the Ardennes Classics

The top 22 UCI teams will start in Luik-Bastenaken-Luik on April 18 for Round 4 of the World Cup. The race is organised by the Societé du Tour de France has invited all the team. They have invited the Dutch team TVM even though a disagreement with the team has meant it was excluded from the Waalse Pijl (Fleche Wallonne) on April 14. That race is free of UCI controls on who can be invited.

For Luik-Bastenaken-Luik the teams are: Mapei-Quick Step, Casino, Rabobank, Festina Lotus, Team Polti, Banesto, Riso Scotti-Vinavil, ONCE-Deutsche Bank, Telekom, Mercatone Uno-Bianchi, Cofidis, Saeco-Cannondale, Lotto-Mobistar, TVM-Farm Frites, US Postal, Kelme-Costa Blanca, Lampre-Daikin, Vitalicio Seguros, Crédit Agricole, La Française des Jeux, Cantina Tollo-Alexia, Vini Caldirola (all Division I teams), and the wild card invited Division II teams are Home Market-Ville de Charleroi, Vlaanderen 2002, and the French team Big Mat-Auber 93.

For the Waalse Pijk the teams are: Mapei-Quick Step, Casino, Rabobank, Festina Lotus, Team Polti, Banesto, Riso Scotti-Vinavil, ONCE-Deutsche Bank, Telekom, Mercatone Uno-Bianchi, Cofidis, Saeco-Cannondale, Lotto-Mobistar, US Postal, Kelme-Costa Blanca, Lampre-Daikin, Vitalicio Seguros, Crédit Agricole, La Française des Jeux, Cantina Tollo-Alexia, Vini Caldirola (all Division I teams), and the wild card invited Division II teams are Home Market-Ville de Charleroi, Vlaanderen 2002, Collstrop and the French team Big Mat-Auber 93.

Emmanuel Magnien to face the judge in Lille

French cyclist Emmanuel Magnien (La Française des Jeux) attended a hearing on Lille this week to give evidence in the doping investigation against the Festina team. Emmanuel Magnien, who rode for Festina in 1996 and 1997, has already been questioned in Lille by prosecutors on July 27, 1998.

Judicial sources have said: "We are now asking further questions because there are divergences from the previous statements and subsequent evidence that we have obtained."

Magnien was questioned on Tuesday mornign and left Lille on Wednesday afternoon. He is not being singled out. The source said: "We are examining each statement and trying to work out whether anyone is actively complicit in the drug supply and use."

Other riders now involved include Richard Virenque who will appear before Judge Keil soon.

Mapei soigneur has to remain in Belgium

Mapei soigneur Tiziano Morassut has been ordered to remain in prison in Belgium. He has been charged with attempting to send a package of amphetamines from the Mapei-hotel in Belgium (during the Driedaagse de Panne) to Italy. Morassut said he got the ampules from an former rider from Fleurus. This man confirmed he was in the hotel; but denied he was the provider. The soigneur has said that: "I did the business on my own and dodn't want to bring Mapei or the cycling sport into the scandal. I regret what I did."

Zabel starting in Paris-Roubaix

Erik Zabel will start in Paris-Roubaix next Sunday. He is even talking about his chances as a winner in the 3rd World Cup race. He was at first opposed to riding the race because he hates the cobblestones. But he has recently given himself a really good chance.

Meanwhile, Frank Vandenbroucke will not be racing on Sunday. He prefers to start in the Waalse Pijl, the following Wednesday and then Luik-Bastenaken-Luik on the Sunday of next week.

The Giro is going nuts in 2002?

The Giro d'Italia is possibly going to start in the northern Dutch town of Groningen in 2002. The decision will be made at the end of April. Why Groningen - which is a lovely place - but somewhat remote from Italy? Varmine Castellano, the organisor of the Giro, visited Belgium in search of possibilities in Belgium too for the Giro 2002. He said: "We are very positive about the nomination of Groningen in the north of Holland. We want to visit 6 countries in 2002, before we will come in Italy. We also have Brugge on our list (the startplace of RVV)."

Report from Brazil

Rodrigo Gini, our South American correspondent, writes that the win by Federico Moreira in the Vuelta a Uruguay delighted the Uruguayan people. The 38 year old cyclist is almost a hero in a country with only a few sporting traditions (soccer is an exception). He dominated the race for the sixth time surpassing the his own record (shared with Walter Moyano) of 5 wins. Needless to say that he had full support of all Uruguayan riders, who worked to avoid any attacks by Colombians, Brazilians and the Italians. Married and father of five children, he thanked all those who had supported him along the roads, saying that it was maybe the best support he had received in his long career.

For us, Brazilians, good news also. Confirming his good condition, Daniel Rogelin won the mountains jersey, not an esay task when you think about the Colombian opposition. Marcio May, a cyclist who could easily be a professional (but he is now 29 year old) ended the race in fourth position, showing strength in the 42 kms Time Trial. Two or three years ago, when Caloi were at a training camp in Italy and Belgium, both had good results in the Open races, racing against some of the best amateurs in the world.

Easter Sunday was also time for the first race of the Volta do Descobrimento, a series of three races. As expected, with the Caloi riders in Uruguay, the Portuguese champion Carlos Carneiro (Maia-Cin) had no problem winning this reace. He was assisted by his teammates Renato Silva and Antonio Serra. They raced over a 1.8kms circuit in Rio de Janeiro, completing 44 laps.

Carneiro went clear five laps to go and when the bunch reacted he sprinted to the victory. Best Brazilian was Jose Reginaldo Cardoso (Specialized) six seconds behind. Next Sunday, the series will continue in the state of Bahia, with a 160 kms road race. The people of the Caloi squad will be here so anything can happen. And, one week later, all these guys will be here in Belo Horizonte for the Prova Ciclista da Inconfidencia. I am deciding with my coach if i will race this event. I want to ride in Sunday's road race (a hilly 92 kms) but it will be not easy to stay in the bunch against guys like May, Rogelin and Cassio Freitas. Let's wait and see...

Volta Petrobras do Descobrimento

Stage 1, Circuit in Rio de Janeiro, 44 laps x 1.8 kms, 80 kms:

 1. Carlos Carneiro (Por) Maia-Cin              1.55.37
 2. Jose Reginaldo Cardoso (Bra) Specialized 	   0.06
 3. Lars Ahin Aragao (Bra) unattached
 4. Tonny Magalhaes (Bra) Magalhaes E.C.
 5. Douglas Marcoccia (Bra) Pirelli-Bianchi
 6. Gabriel Sabbiao (Bra) Specialized
 7. Eris Filho (Bra) Bike Theo
 8. Nilton Jose (Bra) Pirelli-Bianchi
 9. Samuel Dantas (Bra) Bike Theo
10. Wagner Oliveira (Bra) General Bike             s.t.

France, Circuit Berrichon, April 2-5

Nicolas Tavares, who reports from France, has sent the results from this Amateur stage race held over Easter.

Stage 1, Châteauroux-Issoudun, April 2, 147 kms:

 1. Samuel Bonnet (Orléanais)                 3.05.55
 2. Franck Morelle (CC Nogent)
 3. Alexandre Chouffe (CM Aubervilliers)
 4. Thierry Masschelein (Team Groeninge)
 5. David Isidore (Bataillon de Joinville)       s.t.

Stage 2, La Châtre-Reuilly, April 3, 146 kms:

 1. Alexandre Chouffe (CM Aubervilliers)      3.24.53
 2. Médéric Clain (CM Aubervilliers)
 3. Bertrand Mercier (CC Châtillon)
 4. Marc Seynaeve (ASPTT Tours)
 5. Eddy Lemoine (CG Orléans)                    0.05

Stage 3, Le Blanc-Eguzon, April 4, 158 kms:

 1. Médéric Clain (CM Aubervilliers)          3.44.00
 2. Alexandre Botcharov (US Montauban)
 3. Fabrice Paumier (Jean-Floc'h)
 4. Vincent Turpin (CC Etupes)                   0.03
 5. Raphaël Jeune (CC Etupes)

Stage 4, Heugnes-Ecueillé ITT, April 5, 10.6 kms:

 1. Bert Scheirlinckx (Team Groeninge)          13.12
 2. Noan Lelarge (CC Nogent)                     0.08
 3. Fabrice Paumier (Jean-Floc'h)                0.09
 4. David Derepas (Bataillon de Joinville)       0.11
 5. Laszlo Bodrogi (CC Etupes)                   0.11

Stage 5, Ecueillé-Châteauroux, April 5, 112 kms:

 1. Sergeï Belousov (UC Châteauroux)          2.41.21
 2. Médéric Clain (CM Aubervilliers)
 3. Andreas Poitschke (Team Kostritzer)
 4. Alexandre Chouffe (CM Aubervilliers)
 5. Mickaël Foulliard (CC Nogent)			     s.t.

Final GC:

 1. Médéric Clain (CM Aubervilliers)         13.09.38
 2. Alexandre Chouffe (CM Aubervilliers)         0.03
 3. Bertrand Mercier (CC Châtillon)              0.15
 4. Bert Scheirlinckx (Team Groeninge)           0.33
 5. Fabrice Paumier (Jean-Floc'h)                0.42
 6. Noan Lelarge (CC Nogent)                     0.45
 7. David Derepas (Bataillon de Joinville)       0.46
 8. Laszlo Bodrogi (CC Etupes)                   0.51
 9. Eddy Lemoine (CG Orléans)                    0.58
10. Julien Almansa (US Montauban)                1.02

Camenzind preparing for the Giro already

Pascal Meisser, who sometimes updates us on the Swiss riders in the peloton reports that World Champion Ozcar Camenzind is already preparing for the Giro d'Italia which he rates as very tough with five mountain top stage finishes. He was out on Tuesday of this week training on the roads that will make up Stage 21 - considered the toughest of the Giro. He was with a bunch of other Lampre-Daikin riders and a team car and he tried to climb the tough Gavia mountain. Snow at the top prevented them from getting within 8 kms of the pass. He climbed the Selvino and then went onto the climb the Mortirolo, the toughest climb of them all. He told the press that he had "never seen a mountain climb as tough as that."

Camenzind who missed the Ronde van Vlaanderen, will return to road races on April 14th (Flèche Wallonne). The next races are: Veenendaal - Veenendaal (15), Liège - Bastogne - Liège (18), Amstel Gold Race (24), Giro del Trentino (26-29), GP Gippingen (May 2th), Tour of Romandie (4-9) and finally the Giro d'Italia.

Challenge to Mapei over the blood tests

The manager of the Amore e Vita team Ivano Fanini has challenged Giorgio Squinzi the manager of Mapei-Quick Step to reveal the results of the blood tests that the team has done this year on its riders. He told the press: "If he really wants to fight doping, he must start by publishing the results of red blood cell count tests of his riders, as we have already done. Few people in cycling take the drugs issue as seriously as Mr Squinzi and I can't believe he hasn't decided to unmask those who use and traffic in drugs. His riders are the best in the sport and he shouldn't allow their successes to be overshadowed by this latest controversy. When we have defeated doping, the best riders will still carry on winning."

Gord Fraser responds to Graeme Miller

Gord Fraser who sometimes updates us on his activities in the peloton was stirred into action by Graeme's recent report from the Visailia road race:

Hello Bill,

Greetings from sunny Arizona. Easter weekend brought a much needed vacation on the US circuit. This weekend will kick off the next phase of the season with Nevada City in California and "Boulder-Roubaix" in Colorado.

Reading Graeme Miller's contributions have reconfirmed that what you read is not always gospel. His report from the Visailia road race was not only incorrect but was disrespectful.

The accusation that I motorpaced to the break in the Visailia road race is totally false. I tried on two occasions to make it accross. The first time was by myself, which proved to be impossible. The second time was the following lap with US amateur champ Patrick Heaney. After making it two thirds of the way accross, our director ordered one of our guys in the break to sit up and take me the rest of the way accross. The other 3 Mercury riders in the break refused to work, impeding the progress of the break.

Jesus Zarate then pulled Patrick and myself the rest of the way and we made it on at the bottom of the fast descent. Here is where the supposed motorpacing took place. The Mercury team director left a larger than normal gap from the vehicle in front of him in the 'huge' caravan of 5 vehicles following the break. At no point did we, the riders, take shelter on the bumper of any vehicle while getting on the back of the break.

The continual references of any wrong doing by Mr. Miller in his contributions are unprofessional and unfounded. I have no trouble congratulating the Shaklee team on a job well done at the Santa Rosa criterium, maybe they can show the same courtesy.

Australian National Women's Road Squad

The Australian National Women's Road Squad was announced today. I was able to get this information despite Cycling Australia's lack of cooperation.

The team is Natalie Bates (Qld), Sara Carrigan (Qld), Geraldine Denham (Vic), Juanita Feldhahn (Qld), Tracey Gaudry (ACT), Margaret Hemsley (NSW), Kristy Scrymgeour (NSW), Kim Shirley (Qld), Elizabeth Tadich (Vic), Kathy Watt (Vic), Anna Wilson (Vic), Alison Wright (ACT)

Andrea Bosman on the comeback trail

Dutch rider Andrea Bosman will make her return to the peloton in the Ronde het Ronostrand next Saturday. She was hit by a truck last month and sustained concussion, a broken nose and several stitches. It will be the first time that the new women's team Farm-Frites-Hartol can start with a full line-up this season.

Australia, World Veterans Day 5, Cec Cripps Handicap 65 kms:

 1. L. Patterson (Vic)
 2. S. Grant (NSW)
 3. G. Overend (NZ)
 4. P. Martin (Vic)
 5. W. Mackay (Vic)
 6. T. Wallace (Qld)
 7. M. Sharp (Tas)
 8. P. Goldburg (Vic)
 9. G. Peters (Vic)
10. G. O'Neil (Vic)

Thanks to Graham Fowler