News for August 18, 2000

Magnien out of Olympics team

Emmanuel Magnien (Francaise des Jeux) can not take part in the Olympic games after it was revealed that during the Tour de France he failed a doping test. Before the Tour he had an intra muscular cortisone injection to treat his pollen allergy. This was noted in his health booklet although this type of injection is forbidden by the UCI and is not even allowed for therapeutic reasons. "It is obvious that the treatment wasn't made to enhance his performance and that there was a therapeutic reason to the treatment. But it is still forbidden", said French federation president Daniel Baal. Francois Simon will substitute Magnien in Sydney.

Francaise des Jeux comes clean

Of the so-called "45% positive peloton" that was found to be sick during the Tour, one team who are often outspoken against drugs and cycling's two speeds have defended themselves. La Francaise des Jeux admitted that more than 30 percent of its riders have had recourse to salbutamol and cortisone for "therapeutic reasons" this season. These have been used in the treatment of bronchitis, bursitis, tendinitis and allergies. However, "this does not mean that our riders are sick," says the official statement, adding that the medicines are always noted in the official health booklets of the riders. Except perhaps for Magnien...

Cofidis turns from VDB to Jalabert

French team Cofidis is trying to get rid of Frank Vandenbroucke as soon as possible and are now looking to Laurent Jalabert as a new team captain according to wallonian news paper La Dernière Heure/Les Sports "We are not satisfied with Vandenbroucke's results this season and will not renew the contract," said team manager Alain Bondue. "Jalabert is not the only one we are talking to but we are of course interested in him. Since Jalabert is leaving ONCE this might open up that team for Vandenbroucke. Team leader Manolo Saiz has earlier expressed interest in the Belgian rider.

Wüst update

Marcel Wüst, who fell and injured his eye in a criterium in France last week has been transferred to a hospital in Cologne, Germany for an eye operation. Scheduled for Friday, August 18, the operation will attempt to save as much of the sight in his right eye as possible. "The exact prognosis is not known yet, but it is accurate to say that there is serious damage," said Festina's team management today. There was at least no danger that he would lose the eye.

Team manager Juan Fernandez said that there will always be a job for Wüst in his team. "For someone with such knowledge and qualities he can also have a technical job."

According to reports, Marcel is in good spirits and said that "although I may have missed the Vuelta Espana there is always the Tour of Poland!"

Professor Joachim Zöller at Cologne hospital believes Marcel can be still be an active rider, even after he has lost the sight in his eye. But that is not an option for Marcel Wüst, "I need to see the riders in the sprint who will try to pass me on the right side," quipped the German.

One more for the World's

In the list of qualified countries and riders for the World Championships presented on Tuesday, there was one potential omission: the country that has the outgoing world champion may have that rider as an additional one to their qualified team. This means that Spain, with Oscar Freire in the rainbow jersey, can enter 13 riders if they so desire. The maximum total number of riders in the men's road race on October 15 is therefore 204.

This is not the case for the Olympic games (in cycling), where the previous champion does not get an automatic start. If this had been the case, Pascal Richard may have been given a ride in addition to the five members of the Swiss team.

Sandstød and Rasumssen signs again

Michael Sandstød and Jacob Moe Rasumssen have got their contracts prolonged with Memorycard Jack&Jones for next year. Jesper Skibby and Christian Andersen quits, the former to become assistant sports director and it seems as Michael Kyneb, Rene Jørgensen, Frank Corvers and Matthew Gilmore will have problems getting new contracts. The new sports director, promoted Johnny Weltz, is looking for a good stage race rider in Spain, at Kelme or Vitalicio Seguros that seems to have problems getting a new sponsor for next year.

Bölts isn't the only one

German professional, Udo Bölts will not be the only hard core road cyclist making his attempt on the Lava fields of Kona, Hawaii this October. Former Olympic Gold Medallist, Steve Hegg is another who has been given a wild card entry to the most prestigious event in triathlon.

According to US Triathlete Magazine, Hegg has always been impressed by the event and rates it as "one of the top 10 things I've wanted to do in my career," said the 36 year old in an interview on their website, www.triathletemag.com. "It makes sense to do it this year, being my last real serious year as a pro cyclist with good fitness to do the event," he added.

Hegg is a member of the Jelly Belly professional cycling team, and was won 13 US cycling championships. He will be coached by colleagues, Paul Huddle and Roch Frey in the coming two months. Bölts is training with Lothar Leder, but will only enter in the age group category, making him ineligible for any prizes. The battle will most likely be to finish for the two champion cyclists.

US & Australian National Championships

This weekend sees two countries holding National Championships (What? Aren't they all over?). Not likely, as the US have to determine their Criterium Champion for 2000, while the Australians have to determine their domestic road and time trial champions. The latter is a small source of confusion for both Australian and foreign riders alike, as the 'official' Australian titles (with UCI points and the jersey) were held in January this year. That event was actually won by Jeremy Hunt, a British rider, but Jamie Drew was awarded the jersey and title as the first Australian home.

However, from August 18-20, the domestic Australian titles will be held in Wangaratta, Victoria. The Australian time trial championship (which does count for UCI points) will be held today, while the road race is on Sunday. The title carries prestige, but with the advent of the Open championships a few years ago, there is no jersey awarded. Its aim is to determine the 'amateur' champion of Australia - last year it was Eddie Salas, a former professional and very well respected on the Australian scene.

Donwers Grove, Illinois is the venue for the United States' USPRO criterium championships, with the finals to be held on August 20. Sponsored by Charles Schwab, US Postal Service, Mercury and Earthlink, the criteriums will consist of a 50 kilometre race for the Elite women and heats (40 min + three laps) and a final (80 km) for the men's USCF event. The men's USPRO race is 100 kilometres, and is a final only. It will be the first time that these races have been held on the same weekend.

The defending champions are Kenny Williams (Tacoma, Wash.) for the men's USCF and Karen Dunne (Colorado Springs, Colo.) for the women's title. The reigning men's USPRO champion is US Olympic representative, Antonio Cruz, however he will not be in attendance due to Olympic preparations. Canadian Gord Fraser (who actually won the race last year), will be back to try it again, although he won't be eligible for the USPRO title. One rider who will be is Frank McCormack (Saturn) who is looking for a record third title after wins in 1995 and 1996. His brother Mark (also Saturn) and Todd Littlehales (Navigators) are others to watch.

In the women's event, Saturn's Nicole Reinhart will be a big favourite along with Olympian Nicole Freedman (Charles Schwab). Reinhart also has her eyes set on the fourth and final BMC software criterium in Boston on September 17. If she wins that, then she and her teammates will be a quarter of a million dollars richer...

On track, and the US Track Nationals are scheduled for next week (August 22-26) at the 7-Eleven Velodrome in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Olympic team has already been chosen, but these are the nationals.

28th Mt Washington Hillclimb

Probably the USA's most well known race of its type, the annual MT Washington hillclimb on August 19 is in its 28th year this year. MT Washington, New Hampshire is the highest peak in Northeastern USA, and the road up it is just 12.2 km (7.6 miles) long. However, there is also 1460 metres (4,727 feet) worth of climbing at 12 percent, with the last 150 metres at 22 percent, making it a brutal slog to the finish.

Last year's winners in the elite categories were Tyler Hamilton and Genevieve Jeanson, the latter surprising many of the more seasoned women's field. This year, Jeanson will have some older competition - from none other than 41 year old Jeannie Longo (France) who is more than twice Jeanson's age. However Jeanson, who will be 19 on August 29, holds the record for the event at 1.01.57 (11.8 km/h) that she set last year. It will be an interesting battle between these two favourites, while the flatlanders fight it out in Illinois in the US Criterium Championships.

In the men's event, Hamilton holds the record at 14.1 km/h and there is $5000 up for grabs for anyone in their category who can break these records.

In addition to being the tallest peak in the Northeast U.S., MT Washington is the home to world's highest recorded wind speed. The 600 competitors in this year's event will start their battle at 7:40 am on Saturday morning, having to negotiate 72 turns and 30 percent dirt road.

The popular race is held as a fundraiser for the Tin Mountain Conservation Center of Jackson, NH, which provides environmental education programs for the children of western Maine and northern New Hampshire.