News for September 2, 1999

Contracts and Transfers

* According to an official release cyclingnews.com received from Team Home Jack & Jones, Dutchman Tristan Hoffmann (TVM) has signed with the team for 2000. Also moving to the Danish team are Jakob Piil (Acceptcard), Jacob Moe Rasmussen (Acceptcard) and Allan Johansen (Chicky World). Leaving the team are Federico Colonna and Marc Strange Jacobsen leaving it with 16 riders for 2000.

Hoffman said: "After eight great years with TVM and being almost 30 I feel this is the right time to go for a new challenge and a new team, I feel it is a kind of now or never. I want very much to finish this season in the best possible way and of course I am now looking forward to the coming season and the challenge coming up. Already last year I noticed the very positive atmosphere at Jack & Jones and when searching for a new team this was my favourite choice. The race programme and the ambitions fit into mine, being an ambition of winning a World Cup race and supporting the tactic of the team - giving every rider a chance according to his condition."

Team home Jack & Jones has a "no big star policy" - but no less than 6 riders in the present top 100 of this year due to a tactic of supporting the best rider in each race. The ambition of the team is to enter first division - hopefully by winning the second division or by being qualified by points when the ranking is made January 1st 2000.

Team manager Alex Pedersen said: "We are very proud and happy to welcome Tristan in our team. I believe he will grow and develop very much by having this new motivation. We appreciate his skills on the bike and his 565 UCI points but also his positive attitude and humour are very important for fitting into our teamspirit."

Other riders in team are Marc Streel (Bel), Arvis Piziks (Lat) and the Danes Nicolaj Bo Larsen, Michael Sandstød, Michael Blaudzun and Mikael Kyneb.

* Mercury have announced their team for 2000. The following riders will be added to the team for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Australian Henk Vogels (from Crédit Agricole), who had 4 top tens in the 1999 Tour De France, will join Mercury after turning down offers from Crédit Agricole, Rabobank, La Française des Jeux, and TVM. Henk will be counted on in the major 1 day races including First Union USPRO Road Championships. Henk will compete in the 2000 Olympics for Australian. "Mercury is a promising program and the guys get along so well. I look forward to riding with my good friend Gord. John has done a great job brining this program along. I feel that the Tour is in our future"

Chris Horner (from La Française des Jeux) returns to John Wordin's team after a 3 year stint in France. Chris is excited to return to a US team and looks forward to racing both in the US and Europe. "This team speaks my language." He will be reunited with former teammates John Peters, Kirk Willett, and Thurlow Rogers.

Returning Riders: Derek Bouchard-Hall, Gord Fraser, Will Frischkorn, Floyd Landis, Scott Moninger, Roy Knickman, John Peters, Thurlow Rogers, Mike Sayers, Kirk Willett, John Wordin, Jesus Zarate.

* TVM resigned Servais Knaven for another 2 years. Earlier TVN resigned Peter van Petegem, Andreas Klier and Michel Lafis. On Tuesday, Cees Priem told Tristan Hoffman and Bart Voskamp that their contracts will not continued after this season. Earlier Priem gave the same news to Hendrik van Dyck and Davide. Voskamp is disappointed after having been with TVM for 7 years (see story below). He said: "It is a strange way to say goodbye. After 7 years you expect something else. I could understand it if I was not doing my job well. But as it stands I cannot understand it at all. I received an offer from another team but it was not good enough. The reason for my dismissal? Ask Priem. Its a total surprise for me."

Priem about Voskamp and Hoffman: "We couldn't get an agreement together. I don't want to give all the information, but I think it had something to do with money."

TVM team for the Vuelta

Jeroen Blijlevens, Servais Knaven, Remco van der Ven, Sergei Ivanov, Geert van Bondt, Peter van Petegem, Andreas Klier, Sergei Oetsjakov and Michel Lafis.

Orbea fires MTB rider after EPO revelation

The Spanish sponsor Orbea fired the 34-year old French mountain bike rider Patrice Julien after he was interviews by the French newspaper l'Alsace last Friday. He said EPO was tempting. Last Monday he was arrested at the French-Swiss border and found to be in possession of two ampules of EPO.

Jalabert to ride the Vuelta

French rider Laurent Jalabert (ONCE), currently the leading rider on the UCI rankings, will apparently line-up for the Vuelta on Saturday. The ONCE-Deutsche Bank team have released a statement for the press in Spain saying that Jalabert made his decision after a training camp last weekend in Cantabria where the Frenchman rode with Abraham Olano. Jalabert has not raced since August 1 when he broke his collarbone and his skull in a fall during stage 1 of the Vuelta Castilla y Leon. He is noticably heavier (by 3 kgs) now.

The team manager Manolo Saiz expressed his confidence in Jalabert: "Jalabert is not a rider who loses 20 minutes a day. If he's going to the Vuelta it's to be up with the leaders, if not at the start, then at the end."

Netherlands, Dutch ITT Championships

After seven TVM-years the frustation spilled over in Markelo where the Dutch ITT Championships were held. Bart Voskamp, who was the surprise winner of the Elite race over Erik Dekker (a specialist) said afterwards: "It is a good reference for my quest for a new team." After the performance, Voskamp went straight to the showers. When team manager Steven Rooks came and told him he had posted the fastest time Voskamp expressed disbelief. He appeard on the podium in blue jeans and a shirt to accept the red, white and blue jersey ofnational champion.

He has not been selected in TVM's team for the Vuelta. He will race some minor races in the coming weeks like the Tour of Poland. He only entered the ITT at the last minute. He said: "I want to ride what I can. I was very relaxed and prepared for the race without much ado. The other riders laughed about me. A good preparation...'

Erik Dekker started in Markelo as favourite. With half the race over he was leading Voskamp by 29 seconds. 

Juveniles:

 1. Marco Wesseling ('s-Hertogenbosch)              17.10.720    43.659
 2. Remco Siebring (Assen)                          17.20.430    43.251
 3. Kor Steenbergen (Pesse)                         17.22.120    43.181
 4. Niels Scheuneman (Stadskanaal)                  17.22.590    43.162
 5. Martijn Maaskant (Zuidland)                     17.26.260    43.010
 6. Ary Nijssen (Haarlem)                           17.27.100    42.976
 7. Reinier Honig (Zaandam)                         17.27.750    42.949
 8. Jos Pronk (Warmenhuizen)                        17.40.900    42.417
 9. Kris Kamper (Warmenhuizen)                      17.44.470    42.275
10. Aloys van Duuren (Hoogeveen)                    17.48.010    42.134
11. Norman Meerkerk (Zuidland)                      17.56.440    41.804
12. Steven Peters (Losser)                          17.57.000    41.783
13. Michel van Diessen (Veldhoven)                  17.58.400    41.728
14. Erwin den Hollander (Rijswijk)                  18.00.670    41.641
15. Johnny Hoogerland (Kruiningen)                  18.02.330    41.577
16. Maarten Hol (Assendelft)                        18.03.270    41.541
17. Jeroen Akkerman (Almere)                        18.03.930    41.516
18. Bart Kerkdijk (Apeldoorn)                       18.04.830    41.481
19. Wesley van der Linden (Wilnis)                  18.09.890    41.289
20. Jos Harms (Oude Pekela)                         18.10.070    41.282
21. Tom Davids (Nieuw-Amsterdam)                    18.14.060    41.131
22. Tim Lacroix (Urmond)                            18.19.160    40.940
23. Ronnie van Sintmaartensdijk (Zuidland)          18.22.310    40.823
24. Joost van Leijen (Ewijk)                        18.24.970    40.725
25. Julian Siemens (Peize)                          18.26.500    40.669
26. Marcel Beima (Hardegarijp)                      18.27.400    40.636
27. Rik Blok (Houten)                               18.42.760    40.080
28. Roel de Vries (Ootmarsum)                       18.48.140    39.889
29. Erik Verstegen (Zutphen)                        18.56.100    39.609
30. Stephan Speijer (Enspijk)                       19.13.720    39.004

Junior Women:

 1. Evelien Basten (Hapert)                         18.28.700    40.588
 2. Saskia Kaagman (Zaandam)                        18.41.990    40.107
 3. Miranda Vierling (Rijswijk)                     18.43.910    40.039
 4. Josephine Groenveld (Oppenhuizen)               18.59.390    39.495
 5. Saskia van Duuren (Hardenberg)                  19.01.320    39.428
 6. Vera Koedooder (Bovenkarspel)                   19.02.930    39.372
 7. Bertine Spijkerman (St. Nicolaasga)             19.04.210    39.328
 8. Pleuni Möhlmann (Apeldoorn)                     19.08.110    39.195
 9. Jaccolien Wallaard (Noordeloos)                 19.14.100    38.991
10. Marlon Beekman (Nijverdal)                      19.16.520    38.910
11. Areke Hassink (Zieuwent)                        19.19.320    38.816
12. Frederik v/d Wiel (Harkema)                     19.23.700    38.670
13. Els Jongeling (Rijswijk)                        19.25.020    38.626
14. Esther van der Helm (Moordrecht)                19.26.530    38.576
15. Emma van den Baard (Berkel en Rodenri)          19.26.690    38.571
16. Corrien van Haastert (Waddinxveen)              19.27.390    38.548
17. Minke van Dongen (Oosterhout)                   19.56.070    37.623
18. Heidi de Voogd (Nieuwe Pekela)                  20.09.940    37.192
19. Marieke Haverdings (Zuidlaren)                  20.10.290    37.181
20. Sharon van Essen (Veenendaal)                   20.12.980    37.099
21. Susan Hartog (Jisp)                             20.29.910    36.588
22. Joyce van Hooydonk (Roosendaal)                 21.49.740    34.358

Junior Men:

 1. Bobbie Traksel (Tiel)                           29.27.810    46.023
 2. Ruud Kooijmans (Beek en Donk)                   30.09.000    44.975
 3. Luuc Hutten (Bergentheim)                       30.09.420    44.965
 4. Hans Dekkers (Eindhoven)                        30.10.150    44.947
 5. Frank van Kuik (Bel-Neerpelt)                   30.25.470    44.569
 6. Jeroen Lute (Limmen)                            30.36.540    44.301
 7. Rob Bijnen (Budel)                              30.40.210    44.212
 8. Luc van Hoek (Hoogerheide)                      30.41.090    44.191
 9. Theo Eltink (Westelbeers)                       30.48.330    44.018
10. Peter Möhlmann (Apeldoorn)                      30.51.550    43.942
11. Alfred de Bruin (Stolwijk)                      31.00.620    43.727
12. Arie van Oijen (Hillegom)                       31.01.910    43.697
13. Kenny van Hummel (Elden)                        31.04.480    43.637
14. Nico van Dijk (Harmelen)                        31.08.900    43.534
15. Guido Benthem (Ede)                             31.12.780    43.443
16. Frank Kwanten (Nuenen)                          31.23.970    43.185
17. Tijl van der Steeg (Oudesluis)                  31.36.780    42.894
18. Peter van Agtmaal (Huijbergen)                  31.38.140    42.863
19. Mario de Ritter (Hoek)                          31.38.310    42.859
20. Rein-Jan Elenbaas (Goes)                        31.41.810    42.780
21. Chris Kerkdijk (Apeldoorn)                      31.42.870    42.756
22. Enrico van de Laar (Aalst)                      31.56.020    42.463
23. Dennis de Jong (Montfoort)                      32.00.360    42.367
24. Sander Aelberts (Nijmegen)                      32.07.000    42.221
25. Erik Hannewijk (Bussum)                         32.17.860    41.984
26. Bas Waaijer (Langeveen)                         32.19.160    41.956
27. Peter v.d. Berg (Zuidland)                      32.27.220    41.783
28. Ytzen Faber (Easterwierrum)                     32.34.660    41.624
29. Stefan Cohnen (Ger-Selfkant)                    32.59.050    41.111
30. Marcel Berendsen (Emmercompascuum)              33.40.340    40.270

Neo-Amateurs:

 1. Remmert Wielinga (Eindhoven)                   1.00.17.940   45.075
 2. Rick Pieterse (Hoorn)                          1.00.39.240   44.812
 3. Vincent van der Kooij (Leiderdorp)             1.00.51.820   44.657
 4. Peter Schep (Lopik)                            1.00.57.880   44.583
 5. Bram Schmitz (Gaanderen)                       1.01.13.560   44.393
 6. Matthijs Delen (Nieuwegein)                    1.01.20.430   44.310
 7. Vincent van Rijn (Leusden)                     1.01.21.350   44.299
 8. Camiel Soesbergen (Nieuwegein)                 1.01.34.580   44.140
 9. Frank Wagemaker (Hoogkarspel)                  1.01.46.590   43.997
10. Ron Jacobs (Nes a/d Amstel)                    1.01.55.570   43.891
11. Maarten Lenferink (Tubbergen)                  1.01.57.620   43.867
12. Kees Kipping (Monster)                         1.02.00.900   43.828
13. David Orvalho (Enschede)                       1.02.15.920   43.652
14. Michel Luiten (Haarlem)                        1.02.17.570   43.633
15. Arno Wallaard (Noordeloos)                     1.02.36.600   43.412
16. Jacques Schuit (Arnemuiden)                    1.02.42.890   43.339
17. Bart Bouma (Denekamp)                          1.02.46.250   43.300
18. Cor van Leeuwen (Musselkanaal)                 1.02.51.150   43.244
19. Jean-Pierre Verstraten (Roosendaal)            1.02.53.420   43.218
20. Freddy den Hoedt (Ridderkerk)                  1.03.00.580   43.136
21. Ron Hoogendijk (Blokker)                       1.03.10.910   43.019
22. Frank van Dulmen (Didam)                       1.03.11.540   43.012
23. Jebbe Sluiter (Gemonde)                        1.03.19.530   42.921
24. Pim Goos (Rijen)                               1.03.38.160   42.712
25. Bart Williams (Berkel-Rodenrijs)               1.04.07.520   42.386
26. Rik van de Kroon (Nigtevegt)                   1.04.17.200   42.279
27. Paul Moerkens (Munstergeleen)                  1.04.39.910   42.032
28. John Kerstholt (Muntendam)                     1.05.34.180   41.452
29. Roland Vos (Almere)                            1.06.01.390   41.167

Women:

 1. Leontien van Moorsel (Rotterdam)                 31.37.010   42.889
 2. Mirjam Melchers (Gendt)                          32.18.580   41.969
 3. Marielle van Scheppingen (Uithoorn)              32.21.310   41.910
 4. Chantal Beltman (Slagharen)                      32.37.170   41.570
 5. Arenda Grimberg (Almelo)                         32.37.810   41.557
 6. Sandra Rombouts (Rijsbergen)                     33.22.950   40.620
 7. Sonja van Kuik (Eindhoven)                       33.23.480   40.609
 8. Edith Klep (Steenbergen)                         33.35.940   40.358
 9. Fonny Wekema (Peize)                             33.42.810   40.221
10. Ghita Beltman (Slagharen)                        33.44.750   40.183
11. Jeanet Harder (Hardinxveld-Giessendam)           33.50.770   40.064
12. Astrid van Tol (Nieuwveen)                       34.00.910   39.865
13. Yvonne Brunen (Swifterbant)                      34.21.920   39.458
14. Sabine Gruters (Schijndel)                       34.44.980   39.022
15. Anouska van der Zee (Rotterdam)                  34.45.460   39.013
16. Andrea Bosman (Rotterdam)                        35.04.650   38.657
17. Rosalinde Meijer (Den Haag)                      35.31.010   38.179
18. Inge Velthuis (Wageningen)                       35.47.760   37.881
19. Brigit Mulder (Hattem)                           37.08.130   36.515
20. Natasja van Loon (Dongen)                        38.38.520   35.091

Elite:

 1. Bart Voskamp (Meerle Hoogstraten)               58.07.110    46.767
 2. Eric Dekker (Meerle Hoogstraten)                58.08.270    46.751
 3. Renger Ypenburg (Hengelo)                       59.15.480    45.867
 4. Remco van der Ven (Nieuwegein)                  59.41.930    45.529
 5. Tom Cordes (Baarle-Nassau)                     1.00.06.41    45.219
 6. Maarten Nijland (Hengelo)                      1.00.21.49    45.031
 7. Rik Elfrink (Nuenen)                           1.00.24.08    44.999
 8. Mark ter Schure (Rheeze)                       1.00.40.53    44.796
 9. Jans Koerts (Baarle-Hertog)                    1.01.02.12    44.532
10. Patrick Jonker (Etten-Leur)                    1.01.10.04    44.435
11. Joost Legtenberg (Markelo)                     1.01.25.36    44.251
12. Marcel Luppes (Hoogeveen)                      1.02.31.89    43.466
13. Rene Post (Dodewaard)                          1.02.40.06    43.372
14. Eric de Crom (Hoogerheide)                     1.03.16.58    42.954
15. Patrick van Dijken (Dodewaard)                 1.03.22.80    42.884
16. Lennart van Drimmelen (Haastrecht)             1.03.28.92    42.815
17. Arno Bouten (Venlo)                            1.05.00.31    41.812
18. Johan Scholman (Nieuwegein)                    1.05.05.82    41.753
19. Richard Visscher (Dordrecht)                   1.05.45.64    41.332
20. Marthijs Wegdam (Sleen)                        1.06.21.31    40.961

England, East Grinstead CC, August 29

Former English professional Sean Yates, who raced for Peugeot, Fagor, 7-Eleven and Motorola raced in a 2 day race in East Grinstead near his Sussex home last weekend. Currently manager for the Linda McCartney team he won the prologue ITT by 26 seconds. He finished third overall after 2 stages. 

Prologue:

 1. Sean Yates (Linda McCartney/Elite) 		7.37
 2. Gordon McCauley (Private/Elite) 		8.03
 3. Gary Baker (Angliasport/Elite) 		8.04
 4. Graeme Stirzaker (Angliasport/Cat 1) 	8.06
 5. Chris Birch (VC St Raphael/Cat 2) 		8.15

Stage 2:

 1. Gordon McCauley (Private/Elite) 	     3.26.02
 2. Justin Hoy (Liphook Cycles/Elite)		0.02
 3. Paul Crook (Heffs Bike Shop/Elite)		0.02
 4. Tony Rowan (Twickenham CC/Cat 1)		0.07
 5. Lee Davis (Amore e Vita/Elite)		0.07
 6. Gary Baker (Angliasport/Elite)		0.07
 7. Roger Morgan (Festival RC/Elite)		0.07
 8. Andy Proffitt (VC Deal/Cat 1)		0.07
 9. Peter Swetenham (Twickenham CC/Elite)	0.16
10. Robert English (Cambridge Uni/Cat 1)	0.16
11. Peter Kench (Liphook Cycles/Elite)		0.29
12. Sean Yates (Linda McCartney/Elite)		0.35
13. Stephen Edwards (Rhondda Valley CC/Cat 1)	5.00
14. Ian Alexander (Cheltenham & Co/Cat 1)	5.03
15. Leigh Fanner (GT Honda/Cat 1) 		5.03

Final GC:

 1. Gordon McCauley (Private/Elite)          3.34.05
 2. Gary Baker (Angliasport/Elite)		0.08
 3. Sean Yates (Linda McCartney/Elite)		0.09
 4. Paul Crook (Heffs Bike Shop/Elite)		0.22
 5. Justin Hoy (Liphook Cycles/Elite)		0.28
 6. Tony Rowan (Twickenham CC/Cat 1)		0.30
 7. Andy Proffitt (VC Deal/Cat 1) 		0.31
 8. Robert English (Cambridge Uni/Cat 1) 	0.35
 9. Lee Davis (Amore e Vita/Elite) 		0.39
10. Peter Swetenham (Twickenham CC/Elite)	0.39
Thanks to David Cowie, UK for the results

Britain, UK Women's Road Race Championships 108 kms, August 30

Howard Waller (UK) reports that 44 riders took the start for nine laps of a lumpy 12km circuit. The field stayed together throughout the first couple of laps before the first splits started to occur up a particularly testing climb into a headwind. Cherie Pridham, one of those expected to do well, was an early casualty of mechanical failure at this point. With a good pace being set at the front of the bunch, and four laps remaining, Yvonne McGregor (defending champion), made a move which only one other rider followed - Nicole Cooke, who was also the only junior in the race. These two stayed together, with McGregor doing the majority of the work, as the field fragmented behind them. Coming into the home straight, Cooke accelerated past McGregor for the win. Ceris Gilfillian slipped out of the chasing pack with a lap to go to solo to third place, and the sprint for fourth was taken by Angela Hunter from Susan Carter. 

 1. Nicole Cooke (MI Sport-Peugeot)
 2. Yvonne McGregor (Adidas Sci-Con)
 3. Ceris Gilfillan (Adidas Sci-Con)
 4. Angela Hunter (GS Strada-Rudy Project)
 5. Susan Carter (Letchworth Schils)

Britain, British Elite Criterium Championships, 60.6 kms, August 29

The British National Criterium Championship were held on Sunday, August 29 over 53 laps at Bury St. Edmunds. 

 1. Chris Walker (Linda McCartney PCT)        1.34.32
 2. Rob Reynolds-Jones (Linda McCartney PCT)     0.25
 3. Chris Lillywhite (Linda McCartney PCT)       0.36
 4. Paul Esposti (Team Men's Health)             0.38
 5. Jonny Clay (Linda McCartney PCT)             0.48
 6. Gary Adamson (Amore e Vita)                  (+1)
 7. Chris King (Amore e Vita)                    (+1)
 8. Chris Ball (Unnattached)                     (+1)
 9. Matt Stephens (Linda McCartney PCT)          (+1)
10. Russell Downing (Linda McCartney PCT)        (+1)
11. Tom Barras (Middridge-Northern Foils)        (+1)
12. Justin Clarke (Evans Cycles)                 (+1)
13. Grant Bayton (Amore-Vita)                    (+1)
14. John Tanner (Pro Vision-Planet X)            (+1)
15. Tim Bayley (Arctic 2000 RT)                  (+3)
16. Paul Mill (Team Edwardes)                    (+3)
17. Darren Barclay (Arctic 2000 RT)              (+3)
18. David Perry (Raleigh                         (+5)

Started: 50
Finished: 18
Thanks to Steve Matthews

Karen Kurreck reports from Italy

I am now back in Italy racing for Edil Savino. After the usual transatlantic flight, I turned around the next day and got in the team car for a 6 hour drive to Naples. Oh well - my legs were already bloated anyway! I had never been to Southern Italy before (unless you count Worlds in Sicily). I guess I am glad I got to see it, but I'm not too anxious to go back. Northern Italians don't even consider it really to be part of Italy. The biggest difference I noticed was the litter everywhere. We were warned not to leave anything valuable in the hotel. Actually, the hotel wasn't bad - the room was bigger than most Italian race hotels. 4 single beds and there was at least 2-3 feet between them. Usually you can barely even walk between the beds in a hotel room. The truely amazing thing was that there was a phone in the room and I connected to AOL on the first try! The food was good too. They had the best bread I've had yet in Italy.

I spent the night staring at the ceiling and listening to Anke Erlank's Timex watch chime every hour. The joys of jetlag! Anke rode most of the season with Timex in the US but she rode the Tour with EdilSavino and is with us for the remainder of the season. It is nice to have another English speaker on the team!! In fact, for this race it was only Anke and I and Sara Savino so the English speakers were the majority. Sara was going nuts when she couldn't understand Anke and I talking. A small taste of what I've been going through all season!

The race was 100km with 2 flat loops and then a 5km climb at about 75km. Each of the loops included about a 3km section of cobbles. I've ridden a lot of the smaller cobbles in Germany and Holland but these were big 1 foot by 2 foot slabs with big gaps between. It was enough to rattle every bone and organ in your body! The cobble section was also the finish. The field was the smallest I've ever raced in in Europe - 20 riders! That's about 100 less than the normal Italian race! I think most teams are based up north so they didn't want to make the drive. Besides, most people who did the TOur were probably fried this weekend. It was actually a little sad because the promotors put on a good race and lots of people from the town came out to watch the race as is usual for a bike race in Italy.

I was still feeling groggy even after 2 cappuccinos at breakfast and my legs felt like the Michelen man's. I just wanted to ease my way back into racing a bit and not go too hard. Luckily it was not a particularly important race for our team. Seems a lot of riders felt similarly. We actually got a double paceline organized that lasted the whole first 50km! We weren't going that fast, but we weren't totally slacking either. I noticed nobody had race radios so the team managers couldn't make us race either! The pace seemed to vary between 35 and 42kph. Just about everyone took their pulls. For awhile people were trying to point out each pothole. After awhile it just became too much effort. After the cobbles, nobody noticed the potholes anymore!

We did actually really race the last 40 km though. The Fanini team started off the attacks and then it was back to work for everyone. About 10km before the climb, Anke covered an attack by Fany Lecourtois (Fannini). Just as the pack was about to make contact, Anke took off herself. She almost immediately got a 100m gap. She is new enough over here to not be guarded too closely. I'm sure the peleton will learn quickly though! Anke kept going and gained a maximum of around 20 sec. Fanini was doing the chasing or trying to bridge, but they weren't too organized. Zinaida Staguskaia (Dream Team) tried to bridge a couple of times and I covered her, but her attacks were strong and brought the gap down quite a bit. Finally, right before the climb, Zinaida did bridge up to Anke but she didn't pull through and the pack closed to a within a few bike lengths. The turn into the climb was a hairpin and caught people by suprise, I think. There were some jammed chains and loss of momentum in the pack. Anke hit the climb first and just sort of kept going and opened her gap again. She dangled about 100m ahead of us with Fany and her Ukrainian teammate setting the pace for the field. Then Fany's teammate attacked to bridge to Anke. I figured this was a good thing - Anke needed some help to stay away after the climb to the finish and this would keep the chase down too. The 2 of them pulled away. Then Zinaida attacked. I followed her and we had a gap but she didn't like the fact that I was just sitting on her. When the climb flattened a bit, she started weaving back and forth across the road to get me to pull through. WHen that didn't work, she hit her brakes in front of me. I had no choice but to swerve around her and then soft-pedal. This was what she wanted and she attacked me from behind. At this point, I was going about as hard as I felt like going that day and I was pretty tired of Zinaida's tactics. She pulled away and eventually caught Anke and the Fanini rider. Fany and Sara Savino came up to me and Sara tried to bridge to the break. Fany set the tempo the rest of the way up - I'm not sure if she was trying to chase or not. I just followed along. Sara dangled in front of us but the break disappeared ahead.

At the top of the climb in the field, Fany and I had a slight gap but I had no real reason to work. Our manager wanted us to try to help Sara get a result if she could and she was still up the road a bit. 2 riders came up to Fany and I and eventually, shortly before the finish, a group of 8 or so caught up. I learned a bit too late that sprinting on cobbles is not the same as sprinting on pavement. When I got out of the saddle to accelerate, my rear wheel just jumped all around. It takes an in-the-saddle sprint which I don't have!

Meanwhile up front, Anke was with the Ukrainian Fanini rider and Zinaida who is Belarussian. They are on different teams, but the Eastern BLock combine took effect and the 2 of them worked Anke over. If she was at the back, one would open a gap on the other. As soon as she chased one rider, the other would attack. They did come to the finish together with Fanini winning and Zinaida 2nd and Anke 3rd. Sara stayed in the gap for 4th. About half an hour after the finish, it started to rain. That finish would have been a nightmare if it was wet!!

The MTB debate in Australia - A reply

Earlier this week I published a statement from the breakaway MTB in Australia who is trying to get clear of the inefficiency and ineptitude of Cycling Australia (the Australian Cycling Federation). Here is a reply from a different perspective. It is in the spirit that cyclingnews.com holds out of freedom of speech.

Ray Marcelo from the NSW MTB Commission writes ...

The MTBA proposal does not satisfy the basic interests of mountain bikers - a new and better deal from Cycling Australia. To say that MTBA will provide better servicing, resources and support for recreational and competitive mountain biking is purely talking up an organisation that currently has no resources, money, recognition, or funding.

I am totally sympathetic to getting more autonomy, recognition and support for MTB. This will not be solved by starting a new organisation from scratch, but by putting effort into extracting the best deal for our sport within the framework of Cycling Australia.

In NSW, in just 9 months, by building a relationship with the NSWCF office, we have in return, financial autonomy arising for mtb-only licences, full use of office infrastructure, and operational autonomy. The MTB people in NSW have the power to use licence funds to develop MTB. This is similar in QLD and this should happen across Australia.

Look at the health of QLD MTB clubs and the racing scene for mtb and road - they are affiliated. In WA, they are not affiliated but still have a decent MTB scene. The issue therefore is not what body MTB belongs to, but what services mountain bikers get in return for membership.

I understand Cycling Australia is going to be releasing a new licence and membership structure that I think will accomodate the recreational rider, cater for the rider who wants to turn up for a few races, race local races, or race regularly in State rounds and bigger events.

The reality is that Cycling Australia has a long history and, like any organisation, has a bureacracy that seems stale and inflexible. MTB is a relative newcomer, so MTB needs to say clearly what we are after, and argue for it. Forming a breakaway will not solve the problem, and in fact will compound it because it splits our side, means we start from scratch, and polarizes camps into "pro-Cycling Australia " vs "anti Cycling Australia", and I don't see myself as either.

The debate should be about better services for riders. While I appreciate what Tony Scott wants to achieve, MTBA is not the answer.