News for August 17, 2000

Zülle confirms with Banesto

Swiss rider, Alex Zülle has defied rumours that he will go "home" to Saeco, by re-signing with his Spanish Banesto team. His agent, Marc Biver made this announcement after an article appeared in L'Equipe saying that his results weren't good enough and Banesto would drop him. Zülle will contest the Vuelta and will look forward to a stronger team next year with the likes of the Galdeano brothers who are coming across from Vitalicio Seguros.

Joseba Beloki in doubt

Festina's GC hope for the Vuelta España, Joseba Beloki is still suffering from a cracked rib after he fell in the Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour de France. After he pulled out of the Tour of Galicia today, his start on August 26 has been placed in doubt. He will undergo tests today and tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury and how well the healing process is going. After that he will make a decision.

To lose Beloki would be a hard blow for Festina, who look set to be without Marcel Wüst for the Vuelta as well. Their main hopes will lie with Angel Casero for the GC and David Clinger for the sprints.

Museeuw to leave intensive care

Injured Belgian cyclist, Johan Museeuw will be allowed to leave the intensive care unit of the University Hospital in Gent, where he has been staying for the past few days. After he was involved in a motorcycle accident last Sunday, Museeuw has been under constant observation as well as undergoing an operation to his lower leg. There were fears that an edema that formed in the base of his skull may need further work, but these have not been realised.

Doctors have allowed him to transfer out of intensive care, but they still do not know when he can leave the hospital, or how long it will take him to completely recover. A hospital spokesperson, Marie-Paule Solie said at 11pm Wednesday, "It's going very well with Johan Museeuw. The pressure on his lungs is less, as this problem came after the broken collar bone. On Thursday he goes to neurosurgery. So he isn't a normal patient, but he is no longer a patient we have to check constantly. Johan has completely recovered his consciousness."

Rasch next Norwegian?

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Norwegian Gabriel Rasch, recent seventh in the Tour de l'Ain, has got an offer from BigMat for next season "They are fairly big and seem well organized. I will send some test reports to them soon and then a decision will be made in September. It's clearly interesting. Riding for a French team means that I could settle in Tolouse with Thor," said Thor Hushovd former teammate in Ringerike SK to website Syklingens Verden.

The 24 year old Norwegian started riding for Ringerike at age 13 and has stayed with the team ever since. This is his explanation to why Ringerike is the outstanding club in Norway right now: "It's because of our coach Birger Hungerholt. He took care of us as boys, we were some ten, fifteen kids, and he let us have fun and then taught us the trade by and by. Now ex-pro Atle Pedersen has joined the staff and he is working a lot to focus on the results. He is making us into winners. A good combination. And also the local newspaper, Ringerikes Blad, has been important. They cover us well. The kids in town get a picture of cycling as fun," said Rasch.

More Van Moorsel

Leontien van Moorsel gave some more details as to why she did not wish to race her home tour, the Ronde Van Nederland next month. "First I wanted to ride some days in the Ronde van Nederland, but I changed my preparation for Sydney. My last race on the road is the Trophee d'Or in France (August 30-September 3). After that race I'll only train for speed. That's what I need on the track and the track is the first part of my program in Sydney," said the winner of 33 races (so far) this year.

Van Moorsel will ride the individual pursuit (track), the road race and the individual time trial. She will decide in Sydney whether to start in the track points race.

Kvelsvoll quits

Norwegian national coach, Atle Kvelsvoll will quit his job after the Olympics to manage the mid-Norwegian part of Olympiatoppen, a sponsor programme for elite athletes in all sports. Kvelsvoll has managed to build a very strong women's road team for the Olympics. On the men's side his job was put in question after he left Steffen Kjaergaard (US Postal) out of the Olympic team.

Crossers protesting

The cyclocross riders are protesting against the decision to cut down on the Super prestige series this coming season. Only eight instead of twelve races will be held in the series that usually attracts all the top riders in the business, with a status one step below the World Cup.

The riders, among them World Champion Richard Groenendaal, Sven Nijs, Mario de Clerq, Bart Wellens, Wim de Vos and Erwin Vervecken, are afraid that they will lose money due to the shorter season. They would like to have a season with ten Super prestige races and six or seven World Cup events and have voiced their concerns in a letter sent to the UCI.

The world's biggest MTB race

More than 10,000 riders will take part in the Birkebeinerrittet in Norway Saturday August 26. Norwegian elite riders always start and several of the best road riders will also ride in the 88 km race from Rena to Lillehammer where the finish is inside the Hekons Hall ice hockey arena. Last year Rune Hoydahl (Giant) and Gunn-Rita Dahle (DBS) won the elite classes. This year Hoydahl will have to deal with the whole Olympic road team. A prestige fight if any. Gunn-Rita Dahle, who has suffered from over training and therefore had to say no to the Olympics, will not ride in the elite class, but accompany her dad among the tour riders. Olympic road rider Monica Valen is the favourite.

Masters Championships

This month and early next month is the main period for the World Masters Championships, taking place in various disciplines and various countries. From August 23-27, the World Masters Championships (Road) will take place in Austria, while the World MTB Championships will be held in Bromont, Canada from August 29-September 4. Following that will be the Track Championships in Manchester, September 5-9. Additionally, this weekend will see the European Masters MTB Championships in the Netherlands, while the European Road Championships were held last weekend (results pending).

The logistics of the competitions are quite large given the number of age categories. For example, the USA alone is sending 240 mountain bikers to the World's in Bromont. Categories start from the over 30's, going in five year increments up to 60 plus for the MTB.

USA Masters MTB team

Cross-country men 30-34:

Zach Bingham, Vail Colo.; Troy Fenderson, Rye N.H.; Paul Frassinelli, Jackson, Wyo.; Mike Gaertner, Pocatello, Idaho; Greg Galletto; Aaron Jordin, Draper, Utah; John Martin, Henderson, Nev.; Scott Montgomery, Sedona, Ariz.; Mark Roebke, Avon, Colo.; Keith Rollins, Puyallup, Wash.; Brian Rouse, Auburn, Calif.; Steve Somers, Spokane, Wash.; Mark Stotz, Easthampton, Mass.; Mark Studnicki, Oxnard, Calif.; Rich Thurman, Sacramento, Calif.; William Turner, Northboro, Mass.; Eric Wicker, Fallbrook, Calif.; George Willetts, McGaheysville, Pa.

Cross-country men 35-39:

Richard Blumenthal, Woodstock ,Ga.; James Coats, Seaside, Calif.; Richard Ely, West Mystic, Conn.; Andre Goguen, Tucson, Ariz.; Scott Laurent, Louisville, Colo.; Mark Noble, Cgolden, Calif.; Johnny Omara; Michael Patrick, Milford, Conn.; Dale Plant, Bellingham, Wash.; Michael Scanlon, Snowmass Village, Colo.; Paul Thomasberg, Bend, Ore.; Troy Tucker, Portland, Ore.; Jeffrey Welch, Samual Wilcox, Glastonbury Conn.; Brian Wilson, Cincinnati

Cross-country men 40-44:

Eric Airheart, Newhall, Calif.; Bruce Allen, Park City, Utah; Joe Ballantyne, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Ed Chauner, Salt Lake City; Tim Daechsel; Greg Fenton, Ramona Calif.; Daniel Fish, Ithaca, N.Y.; Todd Henneman, Park City, Utah; Randy Iddings, Covington, Wash.; Christopher Logan, Keene N.H.; Charlie Miller, Cincinnati; Michael Nyberg, Bend, Ore.; Daryl Rouse, Long Beach Calif.; Bruce Saxton; West Suffield, Calif.; Scott Seaton, Bend, Ore.; Scott Tucker, Sausalito Calif.

Cross-country men 45-49:

Robert Anderson, Mill Valley, Calif.; Paul Curley, Taunton, Mass.; Ian Davidson Jr., Clemson, S.C.; Demi Hechanova, La Verne, Calif.; Jerry Horton, Gold Hill, Ore.; Bill Kissell, Covina, Calif.; Richard Latorraca, Soquel, Calif.; Michaelangelo Marbe, Basalt, Colo.; Scott Miles, Sandy, Utah; Billy Newmyer, Durango, Colo.; Allen Shaw, Camp Connell, Calif.; Larry Strom, Park City, Utah; Kelvin VonDerHeyde, Weston, Mass.; David Wallace, Dalton, Mass.; Richard Watts, Charleston W.Va.

Cross-country men 50-54:

Phillip Bannister, Putney, Vt.; Steve Becker, Prescott, Ariz.; Dan Buckley, Ridgecrest, Calif.; George Delgado, Ellicott City, Md.; Mike Eatough, Baldwin, Md.; Bob Feldman, Tiverton, R.I.; Doug Green, Vista, Calif.; William Harris, Indio, Calif.; John Majors, Bethel Park, Pa.; Bill Moreman, Arlington, Texas; Mark Painter, Richland, Wash.; Jim Sanders, Walnut Creek, Calif.; Charles Snyder, Downers Grove, Ill.; Larry Tedder, Dallas; David Waber, Klamath Falls, Ore.; John Warfel, Millersville, Pa.; Dan White, Woodland Park, Colo.; Kent Wienker, Tacoma, Wash.; Raymond Wilson, Little Rock, Ark.

Cross-country men 55-64:

Steve Agronick, Pleasantville, N.Y.; Jerome Barrett; Jonas Ridge; Richard Bunck, Claremont, Calif.; Cal Burgart, San Diego; Jim Case, Groton, Conn.; Sterling Goin, New River, Ariz.; Jim Hill, Windham, Maine; Bill Humphreys, Old Lyme, Conn.; Richard Mansfield, Atascadero, Calif.; Dave O'Rozco, Orangeville, Calif.; Bruce Rustad, Anacoates, Wash.; Robert Stevens, Salt Lake City; James Wagner, Auburn, Wash.

Cross-country men 65+:

Edward Brelsford, Marlboro, Vt.; James Brunson, Sunland, Calif.; Albert Piemme, La Mesa, Calif.; Bud Scott, Waynesburg, Ohio; James VanManen, Ventura, Calif.

Cross-country women 30-34:

Daisy Bauer, Boulder, Colo.; Celestina Bogaert, Los Angeles; Ellen Carroll, Atlanta; Alexandra Colbert, Austin, Texas; Pi Dombernowsky, Winthrop, Wash.; Amanda Eakins, Warwick, N.Y.; Annie Grevey; Laura Heckman, Seattle; Laura Hines, San Marcos, Calif.; Barbara Kreisle, Boise, Idaho; Tiffany Mann, Cambridge, Mass.; Joan Orgeldinger, Denver; Roxanne Prescott, Wilmington, Vt.; Renee Shelton, Mill Valley, Calif.; Caren Spore, Davis, Calif.; Paula Strom, Park City, Utah; Leah Trapp, Denver; Robin Wecksler, Middlebury, Vt.

Cross-country women 35-39:

Catherine Bearce, Chelmsford, Mass.; Stacy Beneke, New York; Kim Birgh-Pitkanen , Lakebay, Wash.; Dawn Bourque, Campton, N.H.; Marissa Caballero, San Diego; Jo Campbell, Loveland, Colo.; Debbie Catherman, Randolph, Vt.; Susie Fiore, Taos Ski Valley, N.M.; Lisa Kaberlein, Palatine, Ill.; Jacqueline Paull, Hackettstown, N.J.; Sherry Sanders, San Rafael, Calif.; Roxanne Toly, Park City, Utah; Colleen Wanty, Oakland, Calif.

Cross-country women 40-44:

Cheryl Bales, Pacifica, Calif.; Susan Cutuli, Big Bear City, Calif.; Kathy Judson, Louisville, Colo.; Sheryl Loan, Eagle River, Ark.; Mary Ann Marhnez ; Cheryl Roth, Los Angeles; Ellen White, Hohokus, N.J.; Tamara Williamson, El Cajon, Calif.

Cross-country women 45-49:

Evy Kavaler, Berkeley, Calif.; Carla Pfund, Bend, Ore.; Carol Ruckle, Redlands, Calif.; Cyndi Schwandt, Park City, Utah; Christine Sickenberger, Beaver Falls, Pa.; Margaret Thompson, Clinton, N.Y.

Cross-country women 50-54:

Jeanne Bernhard, San Diego; Kathy Burns, Gardiner, N.Y.; Beth Pachacki; Jiordana Stark, San Luis Obispo, Calif;

Cross-country women 55+:

Doris Matyasovich, Orange, Calif.; Wendy Skean, Mountain Center, Calif.; Wendy Sprouse, Indianola, Wash.

Downhill men 30-34:

Kirk Adcock, Breckenridge, Colo.; Jason Baker, Simi Valley, Calif.; John Brown, S Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Kenny Burt, Santa Clara, Calif.; Matt Collins, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Christopher Crabill, Salt Lake City; Daniel Dickan, Utica, N.Y.; Tony Dominick, Escondido, Calif.; Steve Flick, Boulder Creek, Calif.; Jim Karn, Bend, Ore.; Paul McNeil, Dillon, Colo.; Derek Pierce, Manchester, Conn.; Randy Spangler, Citrus Heights, Calif.; BJ Treglia, Lima, Ohio; Louie Vigil, Westminster, Colo.; John Wright, Harleysville, Pa.

Downhill men 35-39:

Steve Brown (Farmer), Lighthouse Place, Fla.; Daniel Courtney; Franklin, Mass.; Mark Dixon, Burlingame, Calif.; Jim Ghahremani, Irvine, Calif.; Matthew Hawthorne, Montclair, Calif.; Mark Helms, Whittier, Calif.; Andrew Jefferson, Victorville, Calif.; John Lapushak, Tinton Falls, N.J.; Russ LaBarron. Norco, Calif.; Don Rohmann, Folsum, Calif.; Lincoln Sotis, Granada Hills, Calif.; David Turner, Murietta, Calif.; Tony Watkins, Lakewood, N.J.; Butch Wells, Portland, Ore.

Downhill men 40-44:

Mark Brown, Rowayton, N.J.; Jim Conway, Salt Lake City; Karl Eberhardt, San Diego; Patrick Gavin, Bennington, Vt.; Shawn Hybarger, Truckee, Calif.; Mike Jennings, San Diego; Bill Kieffer, Puyallup, Wash.; Ed Kissell, Covina, Calif.; Randy Lewis, Henderson, Nev.; John Pallotto, Hamden, Conn.; Ronald Shaefer, Palmyra, Calif.; Steve Smith, Avon, Colo.; Bernard Unhassobiscay, Ridgecrest, Calif.

Downhill men 45-49:

Jeff Gilbert, Ketchum, Iadho; Steven Lacey, Duanesburg, N.Y.; Jeff Lind, San Diego; Gary Meinert, La Mesa, Calif.; Arnold Mukai, Issaquah, Wash.; Michael Sabin, Tupper Lake, N.Y.; Grant Salyers, Taft, Calif.; Scott Smith, Riverside, Calif.; Rolf Von-Steinhausen, Torrance, Calif.; Mitch Webster, Seattle; Guy Wilson, Bakersfield, Calif.

Downhill men 50-54:

Bill Barnfield, Haleiwa, Hawaii; Jack Campbell, Loveland, Colo.; Bill Devlin, Redmond, Va.; David Ford, Arvada, Colo.; Mike Frederick, Lyons, Colo.; Daniel Hanebrink, Big Bear Lake, Calif.; Bill Moreman, Arlington, Texas; Stephen Start, Newport, Wash.; Jim Turner, Hemet, Calif.

Downhill men 55-64:

Dave Ballard, San Lorenzo, Calif.; Bill Balocki, Newington, Conn.; C. Michael Beck, Farmington, N.M.; Al Bliss, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Kenneth Hall, Hemet, Calif.; Ronald Hill, Hayden, Idaho; Frank Lively, Phoenix; Michael Vincent, Couer d'Alene, Idaho; Lon Walcker, Riverside, Calif.

Downhill men 65+:

Edmund Brelsford, Marlboro, Vt.; William Linney , Cheney, Wash.; Albert Piemme, La Mesa, Calif.

Downhill women 30-34:

Faith Bradley, Salt Lake City; Cindy Burkart, Keystone, Colo.; Lynn D'Mato-Franklin, Denver; Brittany Griffith, Bend, Ore.; Lynn Ott, Bend, Ore.; Kim Percy, Tahoe City, Calif.; Nicole Picchiottino, Hemet, Calif.; Christina Probert, S Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Carolyn Sarussi, La Crescenta, Calif.; SJ Thoreson, Boise, Iadho

Downhill women 35-39:

Nancy Dean, Mt. Charleston, Nev.; Deanna Hillion, Big Bear City, Calif.; Elaine Gold, Trabuco Canyon, Calif.; Sharon Neeld; Allison Park, Pa.; Terri Rippee, San Diego; Lisa Woll, San Diego

Downhill women 40-44:

Diane Giusti, Littleton, Colo.; Teresa Hill, Vista, Calif.

Downhill women 50-54:

Lois Marquart, Tacoma, Wash.; Kathy Burns, Gardiner, N.Y.

Downhill women 55+:

Doris Matyasovich, Orange, Calif.