Pantani considers that there are only 3 mountain finishes in the Tour compared to 6 in the Giro. At present he intends to ride the Vuelta after the Giro.
Riis is spending this month in Mallorca with Telekom preparing for the coming season.
Netherlands, Elite Omnium, Amsterdam Velodrome, January 24: Elite: 1. Slippens 2. Matthijs van Bon 3. Benjamin. Derny's: 1. Slippens/Fack 2. Van Bon/Hoogentoorn 3. Cornelisse/Raats
Adrian Sansonetti 80 metres David Pell 85 Leigh De Luca 90 Rik McCaig 90 Tim Decker 100 Gary Mueller 105 Adam Carter 115 Gavin Adkins 140 Robert Edge 140 Adam Whightwick 140 Chris Kypriotis 140 Brad Edmunds 150 Kirk Eddy 150 Cameron Dean 150 Michael Gill 155 Curtis Notting 160 Greg Griffiths 160 Christian Rivette 160 Brendan Sansonetti 160 Paul Robinson 170
The backmarkers rode through the remnants of the outmarkers in the bell lap, Adrian Sansonetti leading home David Pell with the game Michael Gill and Kirk Eddy in their wake.
Troy Clarke won the state sprint title in straight heats over Gavin White in 11.69 & 11.62. Clarke was never troubled.
The heats for the keirin title brought together a final field of: Matt Allen, David Maltby, Stephen Pate, Gavin White, Brent McCaig, Ashley Sheard, Troy Clarke and Barry Woods. The final saw Pate and Clarke drag racing away from the bunch, with Matt Allen third.
The evening’s final event was the 20K scratch race. The field seemed intent on a bunch finish, few attacks which lacked conviction. At the bell Pate backed off slightly and launched himself at the line, he characteristically raised his arm in salute as he led home Matt Allen, Hilton Clarke Jnr and Adrian Sansonetti in that order in a time of 25.32.
Reporting from Mark Chadwick
In a bold move, as the race began, James Taylor, Shaun Bochart and Daniel Moore (Amore et Vita UK) rode away from the line in a blistering attack which saw them lap the field in under 20 minutes. Moore is riding in Australia before returning to England to commence his career riding for the newly formed Amore et Vita development team under Harry Lodge. He tells me that the team consists of ten young Englishmen, and is intended as a feeder squad for the Italian 2nd division team. At 23 years of age, hailing from Bristol, Daniel is excitedly anticipating further sharpening his skills and fitness in the Brevtex Tour of Tasmania. On this occasion he led out the sprint "too early, in too big a gear". Taylor, a determined rider who rode a solid Bay Classic series for Mildara Blass, came around Moore with apparent ease while fellow escapee Bochart trailed in third. VIS rider Jerone Walters took the field sprint.
A Grade: 1. James Taylor 2. Daniel Moore 3. Shuan Bochart 4. Jerone Walters Starters: 37 B Grade: 1. P. Kenny 2. N. Witkamp 3. D. O'Leary 4. R. Newnham Starters: 42 C Grade: 1. E. Perez 2. M. French 3. G. Vincent 4. M. Halloran Starters: 45 D Grade: 1. D. Vervaart 2. E. Phillips 3. L. Brown 4. C. Sal Starters: 35
Reporting from Mark Chadwick
The issue is one of certainty. Riders want (a) sensible rules, and (b) if the rules are not sensible, they at least want them announced and enforced consistently across each state jurisdiction.
The rule in question this time relates to wheels which was meant to have been brought into effect last October. The rules - 301 (iii) and 302 (iii) relate to the track and road racing and say that "Wire spoked wheels with a minimum of 28 spokes per wheel may only be used."
Each weekend while racing we observed violations of this rule. The question then is whether riders who purchase wheels in violation of these rules will be banned from racing. If they are then why are these wheels being allowed in races throughout Australia? Is CA or the promoters of races liable for lawsuits if there is an accident involving someone in violation of the rules which have not been enforced by the administrators?
I suggest CA immediately move to clarify the rule and its effect.