News for January 4, 1999

Rodolfo Massi injured by car

Italian rider Rodolfo Massi has had a bad start to 1999. During a training ride in the mountains in Mexico he was hit by a car. The 33-year old Massi suffered several broken bones and was taken to intensive care at a Mexican hospital. He had a horror 1998 when he was accused of being a drug courier within the peloton following the Tour de France/Festina scandal.

Belgium, Oudenaarde, International Cyclocross, Cat 2, January 3

Peter Van den Abeele won the Cat 2 race in Oudenaarde easily from the favourite Bart Wellens. The race was won on the Koppenberg when Wellens fell and this allowed Van den Abeele to make his escape. Most of the top riders were away in Zeddam for the 5th round of the World Cup. 

 1. Peter Van den Abeele (Bel)       	     1.01.52
 2. Bart Wellens (Bel)				0.52
 3. Ben Berden (Bel)				2.34
 4. Arne Daelmans (Bel)				3.37
 5. O. Lukes (Cze)             			4.23
 6. T. Pynaert (Bel)				4.58

Longo abandons again - for the last time

41-year old French cyclist Jeannie Longo announced on Saturday in Mexico City shat she is definitely giving up her attempt to better her own world hour record of 48.159 kms after failing again on the Olympic velodrome in Mexico City.

She told the press: "Neither in Mexico, nor elsewhere. I felt that I could beat my record. But I am now stopping in the attempt. This does not mean that I am retiring from cycling though."

Before making this statement, Jeannie Longo had given up in her second attempt of the day after only 6 laps and 2 minutes 37 seconds and 947 thousandths. It would have given her an hour distance of 45,584 kms.

In an earlier attempt for the day, she stopped after 21 laps which took 8 minutes 54 seconds and 799 thousandths, at an average of 47,120 km/h, again lower than what would have been needed to break the record.

She used a gear ratio of 50x13, a development of 8.08 metres each pedal revolution. In th second attempt, she chose a slightly higher ratio (51x13 for 8.24 metres).

She established the world record of 48.159 km/h on October 26, 1996 at the same track in Mexico City. Since November 6, 1998 she has tried 15 times in vain to better the mark. She said after giving up for the last time: "I have carried a lot of injuries this year. After a fall in December I was never able to get any tempo or rhythm. I will return home on Sunday to rest and to go skiing. It has been very frustrating not to have beaten my record."