News for September 27, 1999

Spanish squad for the Worlds

Iñigo Chaurreau and Roberto Laiseka, (Euskadi)
Oscar Freire and Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, (Vitalicio)
José Vicente Garcia, Jon Odriozola and Aitor Osa, (Banesto)
Roberto Heras and José Luis Rubiera, (Kelme)
Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero and Mikel Zarrabeitia, (ONCE)
Melchior Mauri, (Benfica) 

Steilacoom Cyclocross, Steilacoom, Washington, USA

Courtesy of Sarah Applegate

The second round of the Seattle Metro Cyclocross series was run at Steilacoom Park under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70's F.  The senior men's A race saw 47 riders line up for the start, with most of the region's big names represented in the field.  Missing was US World's team member Dale Knapp who is now overseas with a work commitment.

The Steilacoom course is characterized by a 500 m climb on firm to loose soil, with the addition this year of a freshly cut section of bumpy, grass covered ground.  The main descent is very dry right now and is comprised of 4-6 inches of fine dirt with lots of rocks lying under the surface.  The main run-up on the course gains back the elevation lost on the decent, and is comprised of the same loose, rocky soil.  This run takes well over a minute to complete and plays to the advantage of long-legged running specialists.

The start of the race saw an immediate selection of Loren and Mark Hansen (Voice Stream Wireless), David Wyandt (Palo Alto Velo), Jed Sheckler (The Valley/GT), and Erik Tonkin (S&M/Nutra-Fig).  A following group of six riders traded places throughout the race, never coming within 2 minutes of the lead group.  Several mechanicals and crashes played havoc with field.

 
Senior Men Category A
 
1.  Loren Hansen (Voice Stream Wireless)                57.00
2.  David Wyandt (Palo Alto Velo)
3.  Mark Hansen (Voice Stream Wireless)
4. Jed Sheckler (The Valley Athletic Club/GT)
5.  Erik Tonkin (S&M/Nutra-Fig)
6.  Jonathan Sundt (Redline)
7.  Jonathan Myers
8.  Robert Campbell (The Valley Athletic Club/GT)
9.  Toby Swanson (Control Tech)
10.  Dan Norton (Redline)
 
Senior Women Category A

1.  Anne Grand (Redline)
2.  Katie Blincoe (Redline)
3.  Laura Heckman (The Valley Athletic Club/GT)

Postie Frank Høj considers Australia

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Frank Høj had a hard time during the Vuelta, suffering from bronchitis, but now it's over. Paris-Tours and the World Championships are his last races for the season, or aren't they? "I'm considering going to Australia afterwards. I feel that I'm not completely burnt out," the Dane wrote in his diary at www.idol.dk.

The question is: Who will sponsor his appearances in Australia? Danish optimism maybe - Five international companies stand in line to pay 4 million Danish kroner (about 500 000 USD) for their names and colours on the Danish jerseys next season. Manager Torben Kølbæk is expecting more candidates. "Our work is really exciting right now, and I really feel that there is good reason for optimism," said Kølbæk to news paper Jyllands Posten.

Italian news

Antonio Rizzi, (Sintofarm-Vigorplant) won the penultimate qualification race for the Italian u-23 squad to the world's - the Giro della provincia di Piacenza after a 25 kms solo break, finishing 1.16 ahead of Russian Petrov. The last qualification race will be the Memorial Maddalena Pesenti, 170 kms in the Torino area.

Alessandro Bugno, remember the name, He is Gianni and Cristina Bugno's first child. Weight at birth: a meagre 2,840 kilograms. "A climber", says the happy father.

Dutch and Danish results

Dutch Teams Championships, 25 September 1999
Dronten - 42,8 km
1 De Zwaluwen (Almelo)    	      59.57.33
(Koen Boerman, Bart Boom, Gerben Leeuwink, Joost Legtenberg, Rik Reinerink
and Mark Terschure)
2 De Jonge Renner (Oosterhout)        1.00.50.88
3 Westland Wil Vooruit (Naaldwijk)    1.00.56.00

International race stayers (track)

Alkmaar, 25 September 1999
1 Ronald Rol (Ned/with Dippel)
2 Carsten Podlesch (Ger/with Walrave)
3 Hans Kurt Brandt (Swi)
4 Raymond Rol (Ned)
5 Mario Vonhoff (Ger)


Tuborg-løbet 
NE Denmark, 25 September, 1999

Gilleleje, 126 kms
1. Morten Sonne (Den) Acceptcard Pro Cykling 2.52.20
2. Michael Sandstød (Den) Team Home Jack & Jones 0.20
3. Jimmi Madsen (Den) Acceptcard Pro Cykling


Speditør-løbet
NE Denmark, 26 September, 1999

150 kms
1. Jimmy Hansen (Den) Team Fakta, 3.29.00
2. Jacob Piil (Den) Acceptcard Pro Cycling
3. Michael Kronborg (Den) Cycling Horsens

Frank leader for the world championships

Courtesy of Adam Kohn

According to a report in the Belgian newspaper "Het Volk", Johan Museeuw believes that Frank Vandenbroucke is the only real leader of the Belgian team for the Worlds in Verona on October 10. "That seems logical to me. I don't think anyone is riding as strongly at this moment. But I'm not the coach so I don't decide."

Museeuw will share the leadership of the team with VDB, Van Petegem, and Andrei Tchmil.

Coach Jose De Cauwer, Currently in Spain with the U23 team, doesn't want to decide just yet. But he does give a hint "Frank has after his win (on Friday) all the cards in his hands to negotiate for a leader's position in the team."

Museeuw believes that the coach should make a positive decision now "The coach must decide. Otherwise why do we have one?"

Peter Van Petegem is also aware that VDB is in great form "He is now definitely the number 1 favourite. Good for him because he likes it that way, but also good for the Belgians. Both Museeuw and I are riding well; who knows, maybe we can profit from VDB's role as the favourite."

The strength of the team actually annoyed VDB, because there were two many captains, and not enough workers. "Did you expect anything different from Frank?" said De Cauwer. "We know him by now. But in the meantime I have talked to him and he is looking at things completely differently. Guys like Mattan and Farazijn, they can help him the first 150 km but in the final he needs the help of bigger guys. He realizes that too. And we have those bigger guys."

What about Johan Museeuw riding as a domestique? "Of course. Everyone knows that I don't find myself too good to ride for another." And Peter Van Petegem "If Frank gets his chance, I am old and wise enough to support him entirely."