News for August 19, 1999

Contracts and Transfers

- Last Monday Jeroen Blijlevens made a secret trip to Milan to speak with Polti team manager Gianluigi Stanga. Stanga said on Tuesday that: "We are looking for a sprinter and we did speak to Blijlevens." Rik van Donger, Blijlevens' advisor would not react to the questions about the visit. He would only say that there are three serious contenders for Jeroen Blijlevens. Jeroen Blijlevens reaction was as follows: "It's better for me not to say anything at this moment". He has a contract with Farm Frites for another year, but because of a so-called "flexibility law" in the Netherlands he can end a contract when he gets a better offer from somewhere else. On Wednesday, Blijlevens will talk to Cees Priem about the competing offers.

Vuelta Teams Finalised

The final Vuelta lineup was confirmed in Madrid on Wednesday. Portuguese Team Sport Lisboa Benfica and Italian teams Costa Almería-Amica Chips and Liquigas were added to the 20 teams already invited. The Vuelta begins in Murcia on September 4 and conculdes on the 26th in Madrid.

The teams and principal riders are: 

Banesto - Zulle (Swi) and Jiménez (Spa)
ONCE-Deutsche Bank - Olano (Spa) and Etxebarria (Spa)
Vitalicio Seguros - Blanco (Spa) and Casero (Spa)
Euskaltel Euskadi - Martínez (Spa) and Gonzalez Arrieta (Spa)
Fuenlabrada - Anguita (Spa) and Cagigas (Spa)
Kelme-Costa Blanca - Escartín (Spa) and Heras (Spa)
Cofidis - Vandenbroucke (Bel) and Julich (USA)
Festina - Brochard (Fra) and Wust (Ger)
Telekom - Ullrich (Ger) and Lombardi (Ita)
Lotto-Mobistar - Tchmil (Bel) and Durand (Fra)
Mapei-Quick Step - Tonkov (Rus) and Tafi (Ita)
Lampre-Daikin - Camenzind (Swi) and Serpellini (Ita)
Mercatone Uno - Velo (Ita)
Polti - Guidi & Rebellin
Saeco-Cannondale - Cipollini (Ita), Commesso (Ita) and Dufaux (Swi)
Liquigas - Conte (Ita) and Tieteriouk (Kaz)
Costa Almería-Amica Chips - Berzin (Rus) and De las Cuevas (Fra)
Riso Scotti - Bobrik (Rus) and Malberti (Ita)
Sport Lisboa Benfica: Mauri (Spa) and Plaza (Spa)
TVM-Farm Frites: Blijlevens (Ned) and Van Petegem (Bel)
Rabobank: Sorensen (Den) and Markus Zberg (Swi)
US Postal: Hamilton (USA) and Livingstone (USA)

Mirko Celestino

Two days before leaving for Germany, Gianluigi Stanga, manager of Team Polti spoke to Mirko Celstino about the race. He said: "Let's meet at five at the track. A little training behind the derny will be good for you for the HEW-Cyclassic." The prudence behind this advice is now understood - especially by Celestino in the last 700 metres of the Monckebergerstrasse in Hamburg where Celestino made the perfect break from his breakaway companions.

Celestino said afterwards: "With 500 meters to go, I turned and I realized that I had the gap to win. My legs were ‘locked’ from the emotion and the finish was in a slight ascent. I didn’t even have time to think about throwing my fists to the air. This is a victory. I was the first one surprised by the victory. I’m preparing for the Worlds and I didn’t think that I would have the legs to win."

Marco Pantani Update

Marco Pantani has resumed training after he was forced to rest with an inflamed right knee. He trained on roads near his house as a test before he decides whether he will ride the Vuelta or not. His initial reaction was positive and the knee gave him no pain. He spoke by telephone to his masseur Roberto Pregnolato who was working at Varesine and was generally pleased with his progress.

However, overnight it was announced that he will not participate in this year's Vuelta. Mercatone Uno's team manager Giuseppe Martinelli made the announcement before the start of Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos where the team is currently racing. He said that he spoke with Pantani on Tuesday night and the rider told him he was in no condition to race. He said that Pantani realised that the event required him to be in top condition to participate effectively. Martinelli said that Pantani would continue to train in Italy and prepare for his last remaining objective for this year - the Worlds.

Ronde Van Nederland 1999

The organiser of the Ronde van Nederland hopes that the police will help the Tour next year. This year the police will assist the race by supplying the organiser with 7500 person-hours instead of the 9500 hours the police department supplied last year. The decline in police support is the reason why this year's Tour is shorter than last year. The organiser said: "We need the police to control the 108 roundabouts and 221 other road obstacles."

In this year's Ronde, 27 of the top 100 UCI-ranked riders will start including Jan Ullrich, Tom Steels, Johan Museeuw and George Hincapie. Three Dutch teams will start: Rabobank (with Michael Boogerd, Rolf Sorensen), TVM (with Jeroen Blijlevens, Peter van Petegem) and Batavus.

The stages are: 

August 24 - Stage 1, Gouda - Tilburg, 178.3 kms:
August 25 - Stage 2, Utrecht - Coevorden, 186.1 kms:
August 26 - Stage 3, Coevorden - Denekamp, 85.5 kms:
August 26 - Stage 4, Nordhorn - Denekamp-Oldenzaal-Denekamp, ITT, 26.2 kms:
August 27 - Stage 5, Nijverdal - Venlo, 187.6 kms:
August 28 - Stage 6, Blerick - Landgraaf, 225.4 kms:

Latest Top 20 UCI Individual Rankings:

 1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra)              2844 points
 2. Lance Armstrong (USA)               2326
 3. Michele Bartoli (Ita)               2094
 4. Abraham Olano (Spa)                 1951
 5. Davide Rebellin (Ita)               1749
 6. Michael Boogerd (Ned)               1709
 7. Oscar Camenzind (Swi)               1652
 8. Fernando Escartín (Spa)             1506
 9. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est)                 1404
10. Roberto Heras (Spa)                 1358
11. Wladimir Belli (Ita)                1321
12. Andrei Tchmil (Bel)                 1298
13. Peter Van Petegem (Bel)             1270
14. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel)           1262
15. Jose María Jimenez (Spa)            1192
16. Markus Zberg (Swi)                  1182
17. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned)             1179
18. Andrea Tafi (Ita)                   1133
19. Erik Zabel (Ger)                    1130
20. Mario Cipollini (Ita)               1081
..
22. Alex Zulle (Swi)                    1037
28. Marco Pantani (Ita)                  944

Australia, Victorian Road Championships

Carnegie rider Robert Tighello had an impressive win in the Victorian Road Championship on Sunday. Backing up from his win last year, Tighello made all the major cuts during the race. The course was run over a 30km circuit in which riders had to climb over Tamminck Gap each lap. The third lap proved decisive, with strong riding by the favourites severely breaking up the field.

Tighello attacked on a slight rise approximately 4 kms from the finish. Rik McCaig tried to go with Robert, but couldn't get his wheel. Tighello crossed the line 11 second ahead of McCaig, with a fast finishing peloton only second behind.

The women's race was a bit of a sensation, with new talent Jenny McPherson winning the women's event from a classy field. The ride was one which had many talking, with her opponents seemingly underestimating her ability. Karen Barrow came in a close second. In the veterans, Dennis Shaw again showed his class by winning the bunch sprint in his veterans category, while Perry Hughes, Nick Coperman and Adam Smith won their respective categories.

In the Time Trial, Matthew Tuck is continuing with his great form with an impressive win over Nathan Clarke from Tasmania. Karen Barrow again proved her strength in the women's field with a victory over Tasmanian Naomi Williams and Katie Mactier. Perry Hughes won his Veterans category, ensuring he walked away from the weekend with two titles, while Stephen Henery won the other veterans category in a classy time from Karl Wood 

Men, 180 kms (6 laps):

 1. Robert Tighello (Car)                          4.15.08
 2. Rik McCaig (Bgo)                                  0.10
 3. Ryan Russell (NZ)                                 0.13
 4. Ashley Sheard (Bgo)                               0.13
 5. Matthew Tuck (Car)                                0.13
 6. Ryhs Pollock (Tmb)                                0.13
 7. Warren Clark (NZ)                                 0.13
 8. Trent Perry (Shp)                                 0.13
 9. Simon Gerrans (Bnl)                               0.13
10. Paul Redenbach (Ftf)                              0.13
11. Kristin Lewis (SA)                                0.13
12. Ben Day (Qld)                                     0.13
13. Christopher Carr (Car)                            0.13
14. Murray Fenwick (Wgl)                              1.56
15. Matthew Jackson (Fty)                             1.56
16. Ray Turner (Bgo)                                  8.09

Women, 90 kms (3 laps):

 1. Jenny McPherson (Car)                          2.34.25
 2. Karen Barrow (Bbn)                                0.02
 3. Sally Smalley (Bfd)                               0.02
 4. Katie Mactier (Car)                               0.02
 5. Naomi Williams (Tas)                              0.02
 6. Gillian Govan (B/s)                               0.02
 7. Kim Howard (Glw)                                  0.02
 8. Sophie Freshwater (Bbn)                           0.02
 9. Louise Gomes (Car)                                2.10
10. Emma Rickards (Nor)                               4.22
11. Katie Knight (Car)                                6.36

Vet 1, 120 kms (4 laps):

 1. Adam Smith (B/s)                               3.24.02
 2. Raymond Jarratt (Cbm)
 3. John Whittington (Wod)
 4. Stephen Henery (E-M)
 5. Jeff Williams (Bbn)
 6. Gary Smith (Cbm)
 7. Gerald Healey (Mlt)

Vet 2, 120 kms (4 laps):

 1. Perry Hughes (Nsw)                             3.24.02
 2. John Cahill (Bgo)
 3. Mauro Brega (Eur)

Vet 3, 80 kms (2.6 laps):

 1. Dennis Shaw (B/s)                              2.06.53
 2. Colin Morris (Fty)
 3. Dennis Bowen-Day (Car)
 4. Geoffrey Stevenson (Shp)
 5. Daryl Davis (Mlt)

Vet 4-6, 60 kms (2 laps):

 1. Nick Copeman (Wod)                             1.30.54
 2. Robert Braszell (B/s)                             6.43
 3. Ivan Collings (Car)                              13.35