1. Stéphane Barthe (Fra) Casino 2. Jacky Durand (Fra) Lotto-Mobistar 3. Richard Virenque (Fra) Team Polti
After Pantani's last race on June 5 he has not raced at all. Casagrande says that Pantani does not have enough time to prepare for the Worlds.
Heppner's place in the Vuelta has been taken by 23-year old German Jörg Jaksche.
Madison: 1. Brett Aitken and Scott McGrory (Aus) 21 2. Silvio Martinello and Marco Villa (Ita) 18 Olympic Sprint: 1. Great Britain (MacLean, Hoy and Queally) 1.15.41 2. Spain (Moreno, Ortega and Escuredo) 1.15.74 Keirin: Torrential rain led to the Keirin being cancelled at the Fiorenzuola velodrome. Men's Team Pursuit: 1. Ukraine (Matveyev-Chernyavski-Fedenko-Symonenko) 4.09.05 2. Italy (Colinelli-Crepaldi-Citton-Villa) 5.09 Women's Individual Pursuit: 1. Leontien Van Moorsel (Ned) 3.40.09 2. Marion Clignet (Fra) 0.84 Women's Sprint: 1. Felicia Ballanger (Fra) 2-0 2. Yan Wang (Chi) Men's Sprint: 1. Roberto Chiappa (Ita) 2-0 2. Laurent Gané (Fra)
How are things going a month after the Tour?
Well I have learned from my mistakes of last year. Then I over did it in August and I was blown by the time of la Vuelta. This time I rested more and I will be able to get there in better condition.
What are your aspirations for la Vuelta?
I don’t know, a little like at the Tour. I will try to be placed the highest possible, but I don’t want to take a guess about a placing especially because it is a Vuelta that favors the climbers.
You don’t like la Vuelta?
Of course I like La Vuelta because we will experience a great spectacle. What I mean is that the route doesn’t favor me.
Do you assume that after your Tour the fans will look at you more closely and expect a lot more?
Yes, but I am happy that people place increased demands on me. When this happens I then demand more from myself. I want to see if I can get a good overall placing and win a stage.
And win la Vuelta?
Those are big words. I don’t know. I think that it is still too soon for me and that this year's race is still not yet going to be my Vuelta a España.
Has the fifth place at the Tour changed you any?
Above all it has given me a lot of confidence. It has allowed me to see myself close to the climbers and amongst the best time triallists. But it doesn't mean that I can expect to be on the final podium.
Will you be the undisputed leader for Vitalicio?
No, Vitalicio works differently and we have people who can try in all terrain. I will be the man for the overall, together with Dani Clavero. But the team’s objective is not limited to the overall.
Your favorites?
We can’t only go with the results from August because many people have been hiding and resting like Escartín and Zülle. Olano has been in form during August and the great question mark hangs over Jan Ullrich.
Have you seen the Angliru?
Twice. It looks really tough but it especially worries me that it might rain. If that happens, we will have to go up with our bikes on our shoulders and mountain bike shoes.
Will it be that decisive?
It will be a decisive stage but perhaps will not be that selective among the top riders who will all struggle. A stage race is not limited to one stage but is more about consistency over three weeks.
After the Vuelta comes the Worlds - you will be a leader in the Spanish team for that no?
That gives me confidence and it encourages me but everything will depend on how strongly I finish la Vuelta.
Key mover in the group, Tony Scott writes that I can now confirm that the National season as previously announced will be run under the auspices of MTBA. MTBA now has an understanding from all but one of the clubs to run the season with MTBA as the sanctioning body.
The only club that has not clearly signalled their intention is Alpine, who also fall in the period before the end of this year and thus there is some ambiguity of 'ownership'.
Regardless of that, the season will go ahead as indicated above.
On other matters:
A letter of the formation of MTBA has now been sent to all MTB clubs in Australia and the 2000 National Series organisational guide has been sent to all promoters for the events listed above.
The MTBA constitution has now been finalized and MTBA will be filed for incorporation this week. The final details of membership are currently being worked out and once finalized you will be the first to know.
The response, so far, to the formation of MTBA has been extremely encouraging and has eminated from a very diverse cross-section of the MTB community - from NT to Tasmania.
MTBA is still hopeful of some dialogue being opened up between us and CA in an effort to fit MTBA under the general CA umbrella. However, so far, MTBA has no indication that this is in the current thinking of CA.
If I can be of any help to to in this matter then please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your support,
Tony
The calendar is below.
October 23-24 XC Bright, Vic November 6-7 DH Adelaide, SA November 27-28 XC, DH, DS, T Thredbo, NSW December 4-5 XC Stage race Yass, NSW December 4-5 DH, DS, T Big Hill, Mt. Beauty, Vic January 15-16 DH Mt. Buller, Vic February 5-6 XC Hobart, Tas February 12-13 XC, T Melbourne (city) March 25-26 XC, DH, DS, T Kooralbyn Valley, Qld The Nationals: March 4-5 XC, DH, DS, T Canberra, ACT
1. Bart Brentjens (Ned) 2.05.22 2. Weevers (Ned) 2.43 3. Patrick Tolhoek (Ned) 3.09
Elite Women: AVS: 33.787 kms/h 1. Priska Doppmann (Rotkreuz) 3.40.12 2. Nicole Brändli (Horgen) 0.06 3. Yvonne Schnorf (Wolfhausen) 2.03 4. Barbara Heeb (Flawil) 2.04 5. Marcia Eicher-Vouets (Allschwil) 2.05 6. Marion Brauen (Niederglatt) 2.43 7. Marika Murer (Locarno) 4.59 8. Sandra Wampfler (Prêles) 5.01 9. Karin Möbes (Berg/Dägerlen) 5.01 10. Diana Rast (Basel) 6.57 11. Anja Albasini (Bürglen) 12.13 12. Annette Beutler (Münsingen) 12.15 13. Ludmilla Cadosch (Landquart) 12.15 14. Denise Baumann (Ottikon) 12.15 15. Yvonne Hitz (Uhwiesen) 12.15 Started: 39 Classified: 33 Juniors, 74.4 kms: AVS: 33.809 kms/h 1. Andrea Knecht (Wetzikon) 2.12.02 2. Bettina Kuhn (Mels) 0.30 3. Sonja Traxel (Silenen) 0.30 4. Andrea Hess (Wilen bei Wil) 0.30 5. Simone Trafelet (Gossau) 5.20 6. Doris Roth (Sursee) 6.13 Started: 29 Classified: 25Thanks to VELOmedia, Switzerland