News for December 13, 1999

Top German coach to Bavaria

Courtesy of Hans Will

Peter Gasenberg is set to become a member of the coaching fraternity of the Bavarian cycle racing federation next year. Gasenberg is a well renowned coach and has worked with Team Telekom in the past. He has been involved with coaching stars such as Hanka Kupfernagel, Danial Becke, Stephan Schreck, Tina Leibig, and Robert Bartko, and will be a valuable addition to Bavarian cycling.

Thieves at Olympic Park

Almost all of the equipment of the RSG Olympic park club in Munich has been stolen by thieves between the dates of December 3 and 12, 1999. The thieves removed six blue/pink/white road machines with the label Scheral, a Schuster time trial machine, 20 new red Coca-Cola training suits, a red Colnago bicycle, 20 wheel covers, a set of Spinergy wheels, the entire toolkit and two cases of Xenofit sports powder.

The damage was estimated by Heinrich Hinterholzer, the chairman of the Olympic Park at more than 50000 DM ($30,000+ US): "Five years work with the club were lost," said the noticeably disappointed bicycle enthusiast from Munich. Now we have to raise the money again for our young riders, and this will be very difficult."

Whoever can give information as to the theft is asked to contact Hinterholzer at the park (089/3132682) or the police. The club is also asking for donations to help rebuild this resource for young cyclists.

Fiorenzuola six

Courtesy of Claudio Santi

The six days of Fiorenzuola, scheduled for June 6, 2000 is one of the few Sixes held during the summer season. Next year, some big names are scheduled to appear: Mario Cipollini and Andrea Collinelli, as well as Swiss dynamos, Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart, and Italian stars Silvio Martinello and Giovanni Lombardi

Millar signs for four years

Courtesy of BritPronews

Scotland's David Millar has signed a new four year deal with his current team Cofidis, keeping him with the team until 2003. The team clearly has a great deal of confidence in the British rider, who has had an up and down year - some great results, followed by unfortunate crashes/sickness/injuries.

Millar will be one of the team's protected riders in small stage races and may have to take on even more responsibility following the departure of Frank Vandenbroucke.

Tour of Germany 2000

The official presentation of next year's Tour of Germany will take place on Tuesday, December 14 according to Radsport-News. The race will start on May 26 in Bonn, and will consist of eight stages, finishing in Berlin on June 1. The penultimate stage will be a 35 km time trial, finishing outside the Addidas factory in Herzogenaurach.

The race gained some notoriety this year, when it claimed the seasons of several top riders - Jan Ullrich, Rolf Aldag, Michele Bartoli and Emmanuele Magnien - who were all injured in crashes during the tour.

Ladies Tour renamed

The Ladies Tour Beneden-Maas will undergo a name change in 2000 to the Rotterdam Tour. The only women's World Cup race in the Netherlands is scheduled for August 27, with the start and finish in the centre of Rotterdam on the Coolsingel.