News for November 17, 1999Martinello for Mapei in Gent Six The 59th Zesdaagse van Vlaanderen starts in Gent (Bel) with a special duo: Baffi/Martinello. Adriano Baffi (winner of 13 six-days) and Silvio Martinello (18 victories) have never ridden together before. Baffi's sponsor Mapei is one of the big sponsors in Gent and his partner Martinello (Polti) will wear the Mapei-shirt. "I don't know yet how to explain this to Signore Polti. But Istay with Polti, and when we win I will wear the Polti-shirt again," said Martinello. Breakthrough in dope testing The recent IOC World Congress on Sport, held in Sydney (Oct. 31 - Nov. 5) had as one of its larger events a summit on drugs in sport. Many of the contentious issues in the area were discussed, and a lot of attention was given to making Sydney a drug free Olympics. According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, the remaining 12 of the 25 countries in attendance at the symposium committed to introducing a transparent national anti-doping program. The new countries are France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, Spain and Thailand. Head of the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA), Natalie Howson believes that a drug free Olympics is approaching reality, with the new signings. "It is achievable. We [Australia] are doing it, I can't see why other countries can't. It means more testing on more athletes who are not subject to an anti-doping regime, more confidence and more accountable practices," she told the Herald. "We will be talking through the follow-up and the Australian delegation is very eager to see this does not fall into a black hole and that they do follow through," she added. Importantly for cycling, Australia was also seeking an equivalent monetary commitment from the IOC to match the additional $AUS 1.5 million that is being put into producing a valid test for EPO at the Sydney Olympics. Australian, Canadian and French scientists are attempting to have an approved blood test ready in time for Sydney that would detect use of EPO. IOC medical commission member and Sydney Olympics Coordination Commission head, Dr Jacques Rogge said that there are no obstacles - legal, political or financial - to prevent the introduction of a test providing one was validated in time. "We are serious about this, we have the science in order, international collaboration established, we are on track for Sydney but we need the IOC to kick in on their financial support. If they are serious about getting a test for Sydney, we would like them to hurry up and make their decision so we can get on with it," Howson said.
A superleague for cycling? Courtesy of Frank Gonzalez The International Cycling Union (UCI) has proposed and is studying the possibility of creating a Cycling "Super League", which would include all Elite riders. There are as many factions, as opinions about this "Super League". Professional cycling moves around US$253 million a year, but in the opinion of the UCI, it is too concentrated in Western Europe, even though cycling touches at least 170 countries. The eight most important points that UCI head, Hein Verbruggen, wants to address with the creation of the Cycling Super League are the following: 1) The reconfiguration of the value of the World Cup events, World Championships, Giro, Tour & Vuelta, making the differences smaller between the main events (like the Tour) to prevent the problem of a "bad Tour = a bad year". This applies to both athletes and organisations. 2) To make the racing season eleven months, leaving out December, and making it so that November and January have races held in countries outside of Europe. 3) To create a training school for riders, team directors and organizers at the highest level, similar to those that exist at the lower levels. 4) To always agree to preserve and apply, what is best for the sport. 5) To lineup the best riders for the best races. 6) To take precautionary anti-doping measures. 7) To prevent television coverage from determining the organization of an event. 8) To prevent technology from surpassing the contribution of the human being in cycling. The Council for this "Super League" should be composed of 12 members: 6 coming from the organizers, teams and riders, i.e. two from every group, including the respective presidents of the different groups (Leblanc, Saiz & Moser), and 6 from the directive of the UCI. This council will also have a general director. Note the absence of the National Federations. The new project will be examined in terms of technical and political requirements, until January 28th, when it will be officially announced during the Cyclocross World Championships in Holland.
Portuguese news Courtesy of Rui Pinto Five riders amongst the top 200 in the UCI rankings will be riding for Portuguese teams next year - three to SL Benfica team, one to Maia/MSS team and one to LA/Pecol/AlpiarÁa. The top placed rider is Melchor Mauri (Spa, 87th), who will be riding for SL Benfica. The other four riders are Russian Andrei Zintchenko (133rd) from LA/Pecol/Alpiaria, Spain's David Plaza (162nd), Russian Serguei Smetanine (184th) from SL Benfica and Danish Claus Michael Moller (201st) from Maia/MSS. Also, top Spanish sprinter, Angel Edo (228th, Kelme) will be riding in Portugal next season, for the Maia/MSS team. Of these, four will be riding for the first time in Portugal: Smetanine, Zintchenko, Moller and Edo. The best Portuguese rider is Vitor Gamito (236th), from the Porta Ravessa/Milaneza team, followed for Orlando Rodrigues (271st) and Candido Barbosa (302nd), both from the Spanish team, Banesto. However, SL Benefica have their own problems with the payment of several riders: Melchior Mauri, Oscar López Uriarte, David Plaza, Daniel Bayes and José Antonio, as well as other Portuguese riders. They are owed their last four months salary, although the team has recently paid them for August. They are hopeful of reaching a cordial agreement with the remainder of the funds i.e. the riders get paid! The new Portuguse division III Barbot/Torrié/Gondomar squad for 2000 is: Directeur Sportif: Carlos Pereira Riders: Rafael Ruiz (Esp), David Moras (Esp), Claudio Faria (Por, neo) Pedro Costa (Por, neo) Nuno Ribeiro (Por, neo), Paulo Ferreira (Por, SL Benfica), Joaquim Andrade (Por, Maia/Cin), Manuel Liberato (Por, Porta da Ravessa), Carlos Pinho (Por, Paredes) José Oliveira (Por, Matesica) and Nuno Oliveira (Por, Matesica).
Kjaergaard on USPS By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent
He started his career in TVM in 1996 as a domestique and never really got a chance to show his talents: "I was there for two years and it was my worst set back ever as a cyclist. The team was OK, I was focused on doing everything right, to eat right, train right, sleep right and this should be my leap to the top of the cycling world. But instead I lost motivation," he said in an interview for Steinar Markussen in the local news paper "Øyene" in Kjaergaard's home area. So after two years in the Netherlands, ranked 631, he went back home to Nøtterøy at the Oslo fjord, went down town with his buddies, and started to look for a job and planning studies like any one who understands that he won't stay 24 years old the rest of his life. "This was really a tough time. I was used to getting results from what I was doing, I had passed the grades from junior's national team, national team and to pro," he told Øyene. In this state he was contacted by Team Chicky World for the 1998 season. A Danish amateur team with pro ambitions - this year they took the step into second division. Three riders, Kjaergaard, Swedish martin Rittsel and German Torsten Schmidt started winning races in the lower categories. However, since the team had lost its main Danish attraction, Michael Sandstød to Home Jack & Jones, all the glory went to the foreigners on the team. The sponsor Chicky World said no thanks to another year and only a week after that Kjaergaard sat with a contract for US Postal. He was first contacted by the Americans in May but hesitated, however it was his fiancée Christine Gjersøe that helped him to decide: "She asked me if I really didn't want to ride for a top team if I could do it on my own conditions," he said. He wanted two conditions: The possibility to come home to Norway several times during the season, and full control over his own private life. Markussen also asked how it felt to leave the captain's role in a minor team to once again become an aide in a top team: "That's the way cycling is. They need to have someone in the breaks, and that's what they bought me for," he said, revealing that the Tour de France is the main goal for the season. "Nine out of nineteen will ride the Tour. I have made it clear that I'm aiming to be at top form by then, and it's accepted by the sports director. I also know that Lance Armstrong is a nice fellow and a good rider. But to be that he needs a good team around him," the World's 158th ranked cyclist Steffen Kjaergaard concluded. Bio details Steffen Kjærgaard, age 26 Teams: TVM, Team Chicky World and next year US Postal Services Four Norwegian ITT Championships, one in the Road Race and three on track. US Postal Services team for 2000: Managers: Dan Osipow, Mark Gorski Team manager: Johan Bruyneel, assistant: Dirk de Mol Riders: Frankie Andreu (USA), Lance Armstrong (USA), Jamie Burrow (Gbr), Dylan Casey (USA), Julian Dean (Nzl), David George (RSA) Tyler Hamilton (USA), Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus), George Hincapie (USA), Marty Jemison (USA), Patrick Jonker (Ned), Benoît Joachim (Lux), Steffen Kjaergaard (Nor), Levy Leipheimer (USA), Kevin Livingston (USA), Kirk O'Bee (USA), Christian VandeVelde (USA), Cédric Vasseur (Fra), Steve Vermaut (Bel)
Bartoli delayed Michele Bartoli's training for next season will be further delayed. A "biomechanical analysis" of his injured knee showes that the recovery has been slower than expected. Bartoli severely injured the knee in a crash during the Tour of Germany in early June. He has now postponed his training until late December.
Four Swedes to de Nardi Four Swedish amateurs: Henrik Sparr, 24 and reigning Swedish Champion, Magnus Ljungblad, 25, Esa Rosendahl, 23, and Anders Juhlin, 24, have signed for Italian GSIII team de Nardi for next year. The four all come from Swedish amateur squad Team Wirsbo and they will take their team soigneur, Åke Höljer along. Team Wirsbo had its own pro plans but gave them up in October. The four riders rode some late season races for de Nardi: Juhlin won the cat 2.6 Tour de Danube with the team. They will also ride for Team Wirsbo in the National Championships, the Postgirot Tour of Sweden and other major Swedish races. De Nardi will have 14 riders next season, apart from the Swedes. The team consists of: Mauro Trentini and Marco Dondoglio (Italy), Kim Kirchen and Frank Schleck (Luxemburg), Erwin Mendez (Venezuela), Jan Kruzic (Slovakia), Jan Bratkowski (Germany), Sean Sullivan and Andrew Stadler (Australia) and the Hungarian David Arato. Team Wirsbo will have eight riders in next year's amateur squad, completed by pro's "on leave" in major national races.
Australian team for Oceania G.P. The Oceania International Grand Prix of Cycling will be held in Sydney, Australia between December 8th and 16th, 1999. The events consist of mountain bike, track, and road races for men and women, as well as the latter two for U19 men. In terms of track, it will be the first event held on the Olympic Dunc Gray Velodrome. In addition, the mountain bike cross country events will be held on the Olympic course at Fairfield City Farm. The road races and time trials will not be held on the Olympic course however, but will be at Bringelly in Sydney's west. The countries competing will be Australia, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, New Zealand, and Samoa. The games are the last chance for some of these countries to qualify for the Olympics. All Olympic disciplines will be represented in the competition.
Track Men Brett Aitken Graham Brown Jobie Dajka Brent Dawson Danny Day Sean Eadie Nigel Grigg Darryn Hill Jeff Hopkins Ashley Hutchinson Shane Kelly Josh Kersten Brett Lancaster Bradley Mcgee Scott Mcgrory Gary Niewand Luke Roberts Kane Selin Women Kate Bates Alayna Burns Rahna Demarte Michelle Ferris Rochelle Gilmore Lyndelle Higginson Rosealee Hubbard Kerrie Meares Chelsey Zucker Sandra Smith Sharman Tyler, Lucy Kathy Watt Under 19 Darryn Harris Mark Renshaw Stephan Rossendell Kial Stewart Jonathan Davis Joel Leonard Andrew Mason Danny Rutherford Rory SutherlandMountain Bike Men Tim Bennett Cadel Evans Josh Flemming Craig Gordon Rhys Pollock Paul Redenbach Paul Rowney Luke Stockwell Matt Wallace Rob Woods Women Kimberly Ball Anna Bayliss Dellys Franke Hanneke Geysen Mary Grigson Melanie Mcconnell Kellie Robinson Lucy TopmanRoad Men Nic Brown Baden Burke Jonathan Hall Bart Hickson Cameron Hughes Peter Milostic Colin Reay Michael Simms Glen Stojanow Scott Suckling Robert Upton Trent Wilson Women Natalie Bates Fiona Dwyer Bridget Evans Margaret Hemsley Emma James Fjelda Lee Felicity Myers Hayley Rutherford Belinda Probert Toireasa Ryan Sandra Smith Kristy Scrymgeour Charlotte White Naomi Williams Under 19 Lee Godfrey Ashley Humbert Nash Kent Daniel Mackey Caleb Manion Darren Rofle Ric Steel
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