News for October 6, 1999Italians sack another rider - this one a junior The Italian junior rider Giacomo Garofoli has been suspended from competition at the World Road Racing Championships following a combined blood and urine test on Wednesday. The junior rider, who is still 17 years old, was found to have a high hematocrit reading in his blood, as well as showing excessive levels of creatine in his urine. The suspension is yet another blow for Italian cycling and the UCI, which was beginning to think its tests would stop riders using performance-enhancing substances (or least excessive amounts). Garofoli was set to represent Italy in the junior men's road race this Saturday and is now the second Italian rider to be suspended for "health reasons" following the suspension last week of the U23 Italian time trial champion, Simone Lo Vano. Moldavian suspended prior to ITT; Marsal out for 6 months The Moldavian time trialist Igor Monciucov has been suspended from competition at the World Road Racing Championships following a high hematocrit reading. The Moldavian rider was tested this morning (Wednesday) just prior to the race, which commences shortly. He was the only rider among 12 tested who was suspended for having a too-high red blood cell count, normally associated with the use of EPO. Meanwhile, the world's were also rocked by the six-month suspension of Catherine Marsal. According to the French newspaper "Dauphine", Marsal apparently used a diuretic for a medical condition and she has not been selected for competition at the world's. A former world champion, Marsal told the newspaper "I have a medical file. I also did not think of being sanctioned (so heavily), especially when I see that the UCI did not suspend Ziliute, (who tested) positive with caffeine." Diana Ziliute, the reigning world road race champion, was recently let off with a warning by the UCI about using "soft drugs", such as taking excessive levels of caffeine and using the drug ephedrine (used in cold medications), during competition. The 29 year old Marsal is with the Italian team Edil Savino and her suspension comes from a test at a road race taken overseas. The suspension will take effect from June. Meanwhile, Daniel Baal, president of the French Federation of cycling (FFC), told AFP the suspension was "regrettable". "I see there also a problem of structure. If Catherine Marsal had had a medical structure around it, the risk to take a product of this kind would have strongly decreased," he said. UCI warning enough for "light" drugs in stage races By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent A warning might be enough for riders caught with too high levels of "light" stimulants such as caffeine or ephedrine, the latter often a part of ordinary medicine for curing colds. "The UCI has realized that strict application of anti-doping rules can lead to situations where the punishment is clearly disproportionate with the facts, especially during a stage race. These changes present the possibility of punishing in a more appropriate way for a first offence for using the so-called "light" substances during a stage race, notably with a warning if circumstances permit," the union said in a statement with a note that this is in accordance with with the International Olympic Committee's new Medical Code. An example of this new procedure was the warning given to Lithuania's Diana Ziliute recently, who had an overly high level of caffeine in a sample taken back in August. The UCI will also allow a second blood sample to be analysed when the haematocrit level in a rider's blood reaches over the limit of 50 per cent. The 50 per cent rule is, as we all know, a fairly stop gap measure until a feasible test for EPO is able to be implemented. There are other ways that have been developed for indirect (though conclusive) testing for EPO, but these have yet to be taken on board by the UCI. Sydney 2000 perhaps? Once again it seems to be a case of one step forward, two steps sideways, and several steps taken fairly quickly in the backwards direction by the UCI.
French dilution Nine French teams are now registred at the UCI, two more than last year. The question is if they weaken each other. In 1999, there is only one second division team - Big Mat. But the French teams in first division aren't doing too well, and with two brand new teams with ambitions, Bonjour and Jean Delatour, the risk is that the French teams will become "thinner" when it comes to top riders. The top 15 teams of first division are guaranteed a place in the top division next year, and so is the the winner of second division (Ballan or Jack & Jones). The remaining six first division tickets will come from the six highest ranked after January 1st. A first division team is guaranteed to participate in the World Cup Races, thereby gaining a lot more exposure for it's sponsors. Today Casino, which will be renamed AG2R Prévoyance next year, is the top French team in twelfth position. Cofidis is in 15th just 25 points ahead of Kelme (imagine if Escartin had survived the Vuelta). Then follows Festina 17th, La Francaise des Jeux 19th and Credit Agricole 20th. And how long will the French sponsors pay for foreign riders, while the most interesting French riders are abroad? Jalabert is in Spanish ONCE, Virenque in Italian Polti, and neither of them is riding the in the Worlds, and Durand is in Belgian team Lotto. Yes, the lanterne rouge of the tour is worth mentioning. The last man in the Tour de France but ranked ninth of all the French riders on the UCI list! Most of the French first division teams have foreign stars. Of Cofidis' nine top ranked riders, the only French rider, Moncoutie, is in sixth position in the team. Ahead of him are Vandenbroucke, Gwiazdowski, Meier, Millar and Farazijn, and after him Lelli, de Wolf and Julich. In Casino, Kirsipuu, Vinokourov and Aus are ahead of one of the few promising French riders - Benoît Salmon. In Credit Agricole Voigt and O'Grady are on top, while in Festina, Belli and Wust are ahead of Moreau who is followed by Garcia Casas and Kivilev. The "most" French team is the division II-threatened La Francaise des Jeux with Heulot and Robin ahead of Michaelsen. Second division team Big Mat also has a French rider, Lebreton, ahead of Jay Sweet but the two third division teams, Saint Quentin and Besson Chaussures have Russian Botcharov and Lithuanian Ruskys topping the statistics. Mauvaise!
More Worlds news The UCI blood-tested 20 male and 6 female riders on Tuesday in Treviso. Six teams were tested - Eritrea, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States, and all riders were found to be under the 50 percent hematocrit limit.
Some figures from Terviso and Verona: Making these the biggest World Championships ever.
Linda McCartney on Tour British professional outfit, Linda McCartney have recently returned home after a lengthy American stopover. Their races included the prestigious Tour of Houston (final of the USPRO Saturn Tour), which was won by Jonas Carney. L.M. riders Chris Lillywhite and Dave McKenzie finished 4th and 9th in the bunch kick respectively. Belgian based McKenzie will also be riding for Australia in the World's road race this Sunday. The team also competed in the Tour of Bermuda, which was hotly contested by all of the top US teams. But the McCartney boys managed to hold their own with the aid of team manager and former(?) pro Sean Yates. Yates decided that the best place to dole out tactics was in the middle of the bunch and put himself down to start. The scary part was that he finished 4th overall. He's not intending on making this a regular occurrence though! The team is still trying to confirm it's list for 2000 in order to move itself up the rankings next year. The details are expected to be announced in a few weeks time.
7-UP to change name Mail order giant Colorado Cyclist has announced that it will sponsor the 7-UP Professional Road Team for 2000 and the team name will change accordingly to 7-UP/Colorado Cyclist. This is not to be confused with the former US pro team, 7-11, who were sponsored by slurpees. Team Director Scott McAfee was very excited with the new deal. The team will include: Anton Villatoro, Clark Sheehan, Steve Speaks, Jeff Corbett as well as probable new signings Kevin Monahan, Paul Collins, Mike Ley and National Champion Mike Creed. "Kevin is a good all- around rider who will definitely help in the area of field sprints, which thus far has been one of our weaknesses", said McAfee (spare the virus jokes, please.) The team is expecting to announce it's final 11-man roster soon. Colorado Cyclist President, Doug Bruinsma states, "We are excited to take this program to the next level and we look forward to having an even greater presence on the national road scene". McAfee adds "basically, this team made a quantum leap from last year to this one and we are going to do it again in 2000. Our main objectives are to put together one of the top U.S. based pro teams, meet our sponsors' marketing goals and to get people to quit calling us Team 7-Eleven".
Høj to La Francaise des Jeux and Michaelsen still away from home According to Danish daily Politiken, Frank Høj (US Postal), is on his way to La Francaise Des Jeux where his compatriot Lars Michaelsen has also renewed his contract. However, the team may very well have to race in the second division next year due to other riders departing to the new French teams, Bonjour and Jean Delatour. Michaelsen also had negotiations with team Home Jack & Jones. Memory Card for Jack & Jones? Speaking of which, Memory Card Technology is rumoured to be the next main sponsor for Jack & Jones. The company describes itself as "the leading European designer and manufacturer of Memory Upgrades and PC Card products." Corporate offices, design center and manufacturing facilities are situated in Aarhus, Denmark.
Escartin on the road again Fernando Escartin, the Spanish climber who fell and broke his arm during the Vuelta will make his come back in a criterium in Zaragoza October 13, according to news agency Europa Press. Other riders on the start list are his team mate Roberto Heras, Jose Maria Jiménez (Banesto) and Igor González de Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros). |