News for July 6, 1999

Two Australian cyclists test positive

The Australian Sports Commission have finally admitted that two, as-yet unnamed, Australian cyclists have returned positive tests for illegal substances. The two riders are from the elite Australian Institute of Sport scholarship squad. They were not identified officially due to a legal matter within the regulations governing the scholarships.

The director of the Sports Commission Jim Ferguson said the Australian Sports Drugs Agency had officially notified the ASC of the test results. The matter will now go to the Australian Cycling Federation (where it is likely to be buried forever!). Ferguson said it would take at least a month before a final decision on the rider's futures will be known.

On May 21, three national squad riders were suspended for using substances not under the directions of the coaching or medical staff of the team. The three - team pursuit riders Tim O'Shannessey and Tim Lyons and kilo rider Josh Kersten are still under suspension. Last week it was revealed, however, that while Kersten remains under suspension for disciplinary reasons, he was not guilty of any banned drug use.

Riis sacked by Telekom

1996 Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis (Denmark) has not had his contract renewed by the German team. The manager Walter Godefroot said today that: "I hope he will go out in good form for us in the Vuelta, and the autumn classics and then the World Championships. Next year he will not be riding for Telekom."

Riis has not had a good season so far. He has been out with injuries to his hand after a fall in the Tour of Switzerland. Earlier in the year a Danish TV program made allegations accusing him of being involved in doping.

What the Tour medical tests revealed

After the medical tests on Friday the typical profile of a rider in the 1999 Tour de France is:

1.80 metre
70 kilos
Heart Rate: 63 beats per minute (I am not sure how this is calculated)

There were some outliers. For example, Mario Scirea (Ita/Saeco-Cannondale) is 1.95 m, whereas Dominique Rault (Fra/Big Mat-Auber 93) and Angel Luis Casero Moreno (Spa/Vitalicio Seguros) are on 1.62 metres. The weightier riders are Magnus Backstedt (Swe/Crédit Agricole) who is 95 kgs, while Oscar Pellicioli (Ita/Team Polti) is only 52 kgs. The lowest resting heart rate was Sébastien Demarbaix (Bel/Lotto-Mobistar) who recorded 33 bpm.

Kirsipuu certainly knows how to win

28-year old Estonian Jaanus Kirsipuu won his first Tour stage in Challans on Sunday. He has ridden the Tour 5 times but has never before won a stage. He has finished second in 1997 in Bordeaux behind German Erik Zabel. Kirsipuu does not how to win though. He has won 57 times since turning professional in 1993.

1993: 7 victories including the Grand Prix Isbergues.
1994: 4 victories including the Ronde van Armor.
1995: 3 victories.
1996: 2 victories.
1997: 9 victories.
1998: 18 victories including a stage in the Vuelta.
1999: 14 victories including stages in Paris-Nice, Tour of Luxemborug, 4 days of Dunkirk, and the Tour of Sweden. He is also the champion of Estonia.

Canada, World Cup MTB

Men: 1. Frischknecht (Swi) 32,9 km in 2.07.13, 2. Evans (Aus) 1.17, 3.
Martinez (Fra) 1.59, 4. Sauser (Swi) 3.19, 5. Chiotti (Fra) 3.48, 16.
Brentjens 7.57, 20. Tolhoek 8.51, 24. Van Dooren 9.12

Standings:

1. Evans 1251 punten, 2. Martinez 1068, 3. Sauser 1048, 4. Van Dooren 947, 10.
Brentjens 473, 20. Tolhoek 346.

Women: 1. Dahle (Nor) 25 km in 1.52.18, 2. Alexander (GBr) 2.05, 3. Sydor
(Can) 2.29, 4. Stropparo (Ita) 2.32, 5. Epifanova (Rus) 2.51, 24. Vink
17.07, 28. Van Wersch 19.06, 38. Sollaart 27.51, 45. Dorland 31.52

Standings:

1. Sydor 1410, 2. Dahle 1310, 3. Stropparo 911, 26. Dorland 241, 44.
Vink 135, 70. Sollaart 64, 82. Van Wersch 48