Indurain considers Jimenez is: "An athlete of great value. In the climbs he is a lot like Pantani because he has an attacking spirit and he drops his adversaries". But Indurain warns: "If he wants to win a major race he needs to improve in the time trial, where he is still weak".
Miguel warns Jimenez to arrive at the Giro "in good form because the route this year will be very demanding. There is danger from the first stage. He shouldn't make the same mistake that Zulle did. Races in Italy have their own particular ways and they are difficult to control. If Jimenez does well, he can aspire to a place on the podium, but he shouldn't be thinking about going head to head against Pantani, because at those moments the Italian is too strong, the strongest. Jimenez should wait for the stages that are suitable for his characteristics, saving energy on the first part of the Giro, and paying attention to the middle mountain stages, where the Italians attack and giving everything at the big climbs".
"Jimenez has the skill to seriously challenge Pantani in the Dolomites and on the Mortirolo", adds Indurain, who sees Pantani "not only as a climber, but a complete champion and the main favorite to win in a route that favours him." He continued: "It will be tough for him to repeat his Tour victory because Jan Ullrich will not make the same errors of last year".
And what of Indurain himself? Two years after retiring he is concentrating his efforts on his family: "I limit myself to doing some adds and once in awhile collaborating with the press and the television. I'm fine like that."
Meanwhile the 6-Days race after the first night sees:
1. Bruno Risi (swi) - Kurt Betschart (Swi) 66 points 2. Silvio Martinello (Ita) - Marco Villa (Ita) 62 3. Juan Llaneras (Spa) - Alzamora (Spa) 57 4. Adriano Baffi (Ita) - Colinelli (Ita) (+1) 5. Jimmi Madsen (Den) - Robert Hayles (GB) (+3) 6. Maeztu (Spa) - Astarloza (Spa) (+3)
Veteran Dutch rider Adri van der Poel won the international cyclocross race at Pijnacker (Netherlands) on Saturday. The bronze medallist from last Sunday's World Championships defeated his fellow countrymen, Richard Groenendaal and Wim de Vos. World Champion Mario De Clercq, who did not ride in the Belgian race on the same day at Lille (see below) can 4th at almost 3 minutes. The speculation was that De Clercq did not race at Lille because it is the home town of Erwin Vervecken. The two have fallen out since the World Championships when De Clercq outsprinted Vervecken to take his second gold medal in consecutive years.
Belgians Peter van Santvliet was 6th and Bjorn Rondelez was 7th.
Adri van der Poel led from start to finished 2.10 in front of de Vos who beat Richard Groenendaal in the last metres.
1. Adri van der Poel (Ned) Raboban 2. Wim De Vos (Ned) 2.10 3. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 2.10 4. Mario De Clercq (Bel) 3.00 .. 6. Peter van Santvliet (Bel) 7. Bjorn Rondelez (Bel)
Belgium, Lille, Cat 3, January 6:
A week after he streeted the field to take the World Championship in the Under-23 division, Bart Wellens once again triumphed on the sandy parcours in the Antwerpen locality of Lille. He had almost a minute gap on Sven Nijs at the end with Arne Daelmans coming third. Marc Janssens made a return to racing after serving a 14-day licence suspension. He had failed a blood test at Nommay a fortnight before the World Championships but was prevented from starting in the Worlds.
1. Bart Wellens (Bel) 2. Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank 1.00 3. Arne Daelmans (Bel) 4. Marc Janssens (Bel) .. 8. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 3.00 Note: times are approximate
Among the final venue candidates were two Italian cities, a site in Japan and Vail. The popular Colorado ski and mountain bike resort, which hosted the World Mountain Bike Championships in 1994, won the final vote 7 to 5. The 2001 event will be the second time the World Championships have visited Vail. In 1994, USA Cycling, in partnership with the Vail Valley Foundation, hosted nearly 2,000 mountain bike athletes from more than 45 countries.
USA Cycling's CEO Lisa Voight said that Vail's international resort status and the dedicated effort of USA Cycling's President Mike Plant are what sealed Vail's selection.
"I want to give Mike Plant total credit for the Vail selection. Mike lobbied hard for Vail and he's the one that really pulled this off. Though the tremendous work he did with the UCI managing committee, Mike proved once again just how valuable he is to USA Cycling."
Voight added that given mountain biking's history, Vail was the suitable choice for the event.
"It's only appropriate the World Mountain Bike Championships should come back to the United States," Voight said. "Hosting the first-ever Olympic mountain bike race in 1996 validated the United States' role in the sport's history - the 2001 Vail World Mountain Bike Championships will further our mountain biking status."
Vail Valley Foundation President John Garnsey said that the City of Vail is fully capable of hosting the 2001 event.
"All of us in the entire Vail Valley are really excited about this award," said Garnsey, who was also part of the 1994 World Championship organizing committee. "Our selection came as somewhat of a surprise. We knew we were in very tough competition with Italy and Japan, however, we're certainly ready and very happy - it's definitely an honor."
Though mountain biking has evolved since 1994, Garnsey said the City of Vail's dedication the sport has been unwavering.
"We're hoping that the 2001 World Championships will be bigger and better than the 1994 event," Garnsey said. "Vail is a true mountain biking community, and the World Championships and World Cup events are a valuable part of our summer economics. I think that mountain biking is much more part of our lifestyle than it was 1994."
The Vail Valley Foundation is an integral part of the Colorado town. Founded in 1982, the foundation is a non-profit that provides athletic, cultural and educational opportunities and events to the Vail Valley.
Four cross-country (1992-93, 1995, 1997) and one downhill World Cup (1993) events have been held in Vail. In the past, American riders have experience success at the venue, including six gold medals in World Cup competition. Eight Americans scored medals at the 1994 World Championships.
Since the creation of the World Mountain Bike Championships in 1990, Vail and Durango, Colo., are the only American cities that have hosted the event. Other international sites include Lucca, Italy; Bromont, Quebec, Canada; Metabief, France; Kirchzarten, Germany; Cairns, Australia; Chateau d'Oex, Switzerland and Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada. The 1999 and 2000 World Mountain Bike Championships will be held in Are, Sweden, and Madrid, Spain, respectively.
Besides world-class mountain bike events, the Vail and the Vail Valley Foundation have also played host to nearly 50 World Cup ski competitions and two World Alpine Ski Championships, including the 1999 championships.
What the riders say about Vail
* David Wiens, Durango, Colo. (Polo Sport): competed at the 1994 Vail World Mountain Bike Championships and the 1997 Vail UCI World Cup; placed third overall in the 1998 Chevy Trucks National Championship Series and was a 1998 U.S. World Mountain Bike Championship team member.
"I think the main thing with Vail is its international appeal. Vail has the infrastructure to handle a large amount of people, and there isn't really another venue in the United States that has everything Vail has. It just happens the course is also fantastic."
* Alison Dunlap, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team GT): competed at the 1994 Vail World Mountain Bike Championships and the 1997 UCI World Cup; placed fourth overall in the 1998 UCI World Cup Series rankings and finished fourth in the elite women's cross-country at the 1998 World Mountain Bike Championships.
"It's great not to have to go to Europe, instead, this is right in my back yard. It's an excellent course ? well designed, and I prefer the altitude. It's also great for spectators because of the three different loop and the racers come through the town of Vail."
* Kim Sonier, Flagstaff, Ariz.: Competed at the 1994 Vail World Mountain Bike Championships and the 1993 UCI World Cup; placed third overall in the 1998 UCI World Cup Series rankings and finished 15th at the 1998 World Mountain Bike Championships.
"The course has changed since 1994, but I rode it at the '94 Worlds and it was one the better courses I had ridden. It was a good mix of high speed and technical, so it didn't favor one type of rider. It's also nice when the World Championships are at home. Friends and family are able to be there, which is really important."
* Cheri Elliott, Cameron Park, Calif. (Maxxis/Tomac): competed at the 1994 Vail World Mountain Bike Championships; earned her first medal at the 1995 Vail GT National Downhill Series; 1997 National Downhill Champions; and finished third in the elite women's downhill at the 1998 World Mountain Bike Championships.
"Vail is my absolute 100 percent favorite place to ride. Vail's downhill course was the first one to become technical - really gnarly. I love the town and it's just beautiful. Having the World Championships in the United States is great because you have the support of the American people, and no matter what city your in, you feel like your in your hometown."
* Rishi Grewal, Carbondale, Colo. (Klein): competed at the 1994 Vail World Mountain Bike Championships; placed first at the 1998 24 Hours of Moab (Utah); mountain bike career includes six National Championships Series race wins and one UCI World Cup win; also an accomplished road cyclist, including a national road title in 1989.
"I think it will definitely be a challenging worlds. Vail has always been a good venue. In 1994, the World Mountain Bike Championships saw the largest crowed ever, so it is a good event for Vail. This ought to be a fun one, even if I am standing on the sideline...we'll have to see. It's also good for America because it could bring more prestige back to American soil."