News for August 11, 1999

Francesco Casagrande

Francesco Casagrande, winner of the Clasica San Sebastian is now focusing his attention on the World Championships in Italy in October. He told the press after his win on Saturday: "I think that Verona is a perfect circuit for me, I’m working towards the rainbow with all my determination."

Although he started the racing season late as a result of his long suspension following a positive testosterone test he is now one of the dominating riders in the peloton after only 19 days of racing. He made his return on June 7 (Tour of Austria), then won a stage at the Tour de Suisse, won the Trofeo Matteotti, and then repeated his 1998 victory at San Sebastian. 1999 is already the best season of his career which started in 1992.

Casagrande would have ridden the Tour this year but his team was eliminated when Sergui Honchar returned a high hematocrit level at the Tour de Suisse. Casagrande thinks that the road racing route at Torricelle (Verona) will be suited to him. He said: "The route of the Worlds is suited to my characteristics. The Torricelle climb has to be repeated sixteen times, which will provoke a natural selection. Now that Bartoli will be out, which displeases me a lot by the way, I will be one of the main men for the Italian selection. I think that if I hold it together for the next 2 months that I will be one of the leaders of the Azurre team for the Worlds. I have spoken to national selector Fusi and he has told me that he has me under consideration. It is natural that I aim for the Worlds with all my determination. In terms of my preparation, Fusi has given me carte blanche: I want to prepare well."

In terms of preparation, Casagrande has not officially decided if he will ride the up-coming Vuelta. He said he will make a decision by mid-August. He outlined his definite plans: "I will not ride the World Cup race in Hamburg. I will ride the Vuelta a Galicia, Tre Valli Varesine, Coppa Agostoni, Championship of Zurich (World Cup), Trofeo dello Scalatore and the Giro del Veneto. Regarding September, I will follow the Italian program: racing the September classics. I’m very motivated to ride the Vuelta and it is a demanding route and for it I will need a strong team in good condition. Now that I have all this energy after not racing in the Tour de France, I don’t see why I should go to Spain and be stuck there for three weeks, when there are so many beautiful races in September that I can pick from - especially when I will then be able to skip some if I get too tired."

Rolf Sorensen would like to move to Jack & Jones

Rolf Sorensen has said he would like to ride next year for Team Home-Jack and Jones. Rolf Sorensen has told the cycling press recently that: "I'm very satisfied with Rabobank and have no complaints about my salary. But I want to contribute the sport of cycling in Denmark. In the Netherlands I was helping a lot of younger riders make it into the peloton. I was able to help talent like Boogerd and Van Bon to grow into racing. Jack & Jones would give me a chance next season to achieve similar things. There is a lot of Danish talent to nurture."

He had informal talks with Team Home-Jack & Jones in June but did not want to get down to the nitty gritty of salaries and contracts. The team manager of Jack & Jone, Kolpeik reacted with interest to Sorensen's announcement: "Naturally we are interested in him. But we do not know of whether we can pay him the same salary that he is earning at Rabobank."

Rabobank team leader Theo de Rooy has said he is very surprised about this announcement. "I don't know anything about his wish. I never thought he would want to leave our team. He has been of great value to us and so I will have to talk to him soon to clear this up."

Farm Frites-TVM sign 3 new talents

The Dutch team Farm Frites-TVM has resigned Miquel van Kessel, Peter de Vries and Andreas Klier for another 2 years. 22-year old Bram Schmitz has signed a stagiaires contract with Farm Frites-TVM. He is currently riding for the Top Competition club AGU team.

Claus Michael Møller

Finn Joerrild from Denmark writes that Claus Michael Møller will not appeal the 2 year suspension handed down by the DIF (the national board of sport's organisations in Denmark). He is currently awaiting the UCI decision which is likely to be a 6-month ban. If that occurs a strange situation will develop. After 6 months (presuming he can find a team next year), he will be able to ride in all UCI-sanctioned races in and outside of Denmark. He will be prevented from riding any national (not UCI-sanctioned) races in Denmark.

Pantani will delay comeback

Marco Pantani was intending to make his return to the peloton on August 16 uin in the Tour of Burgos. But he will no delay that re-entry becaise of inflammation in his knee. His doctor has advised him to take 5 days rest to clear away the problem. According to his team boss he will still be doing well by the time the Worlds are raced in Verona. He has not raced since June 5 when he was thrown out of the Giro d'Italia after failing a blood test.

Sad news from Australia

Jane Hayes, wife of AIS bike builder Bryan and mother of two teenage children, died early this week after a long battle with cancer. Sympathy.