News for August 23, 2000Beloki out, Cipo inJoseba Beloki (Festina) will be a nonstarter in the Vuelta a España it was confirmed earlier today by his team management. The young rider who finished third in the Tour de France has had troubles with a muscle rupture near his breast bone that occurred after a fall in the Tour. Beloki joins Marcel Wüst and David Plaza as Festina nonstarters, however director Juan Fernandez is positive that the rest of the team will make an impact with David Clinger and Angel Casero. There was better news for Mario Cipollini (Saeco) who will take the start on Saturday along with eight other teammates. Cipollini will join last Saturday's Championship of Zurich winner, Laurent Dufaux, as well as Igor Pugaci, Armin Meier, Giuseppe Calcaterra, Biagio Conte, Francisco Secchiari and Alessio Galletti.
Saiz signs Galdeano brothersManolo Saiz may have lost Laurent Jalabert and David Etxebarria, but he is likely to secure the services of the Galdeano brothers, Igor and Alvaro. According to Saiz, he has managed to snatch them away from the grasp of Banesto for a total of 140 million pesetas ($US 760,000). Igor will get 100 million ($US 540,000), while Alvaro will have 40 million ($US 220,000). However, one of their other promising riders, David Cañada could well depart to Mapei for the next two years. The rider is reportedly very close to signing, and will join another Spanish defector, Pedro Horillo (Vitalicio). Cañada and his manager, Sabino Angoitia started to negotiate with Kelme-Costa Blanca, and this reportedly annoyed Saiz. Mapei and ONCE are also battling for Czech time trialist, Jan Hruska, another one of the Vitalicio outgoings. Steels unsure about SydneyBelgian sprinter and Olympic team member, Tom Steels is ill and did not start in the Ronde van Nederland , and has called his start off in the GP Eddy Merckx as well. Belgian coach José De Cauwer is giving Steels two weeks for a final decision about the Olympics. "It started last Saturday night. I had a 38 degree temperature and muscle pain. It wasn't a big surprise for me, because I felt there was something wrong during my training." He had this problem in the Tour de France and started in Futuroscope with the same feeling, but still managed to win two stages prior to abandoning. "Since the Tour I'm looking for a way to get into good condition, but without result. I hope the blood tests will give some more information on Tuesday. I'm not worried yet, because hopefully I can start in the Schaal Sels, Brussel-Izegem, Paris-Brussels, Fourmies and the Tour of Rheinland-Pfalz as preparation for Sydney. Starting in the Vuelta isn't good for me," said Steels. De Cauwer lamented "It's five to twelve. Now nothing can go wrong any more. Steels has to be super for the parcours in Sydney. I hope the doctors can give an answer about his illness because the Olympics are at a good moment for him." If Steels can't make it to Australia? De Cauwer "I could take another Lotto rider with me. Rik Verbrugghe or Mario Aerts. Or Jo Planckaert, Hendrik Van Dijck. Based on their condition at the time and their motivation. But we aren't that far yet. First, we'll wait and see what happens with Steels. I'll give him two weeks for recovery, or Steels has to give a signal earlier. He is professional enough to know what he can or can't do."
Domo-Farm Frites up in the airA lot of riders are uncertain about their future with the proposed new merged team of Domo-Farm Frites. For example, Koos Moerenhout: "Every time they say: next week there is news. But the next week you don't hear anything. My morale isn't growing and they're not telling us. Even if the merger with Domo goes ahead, there will maybe be only ten Farm Frites riders who will follow. But now it's time to think about next year: I asked my manager to start looking around, and more riders doing that. That isn't good for the team spirit of course." Team doctor Dion van Bommel: "I can always go back to my normal business. But it's not motivating for the riders, the soigneurs, the mechanics. They have to concentrate on the races, but they are busy with completely different things." Peter Post: "It's annoying me too, but I can't do anything at the moment. The negotiations are stuck." Nobody wanted to comment about the problems with Domo at the moment. Patrick Lefevere: "They say: no news is good news, but I can't wait too long. Peter Post advised Farm Frites to work together with Domo, but now the bosses are waiting a long time for the final decision. I can't be idle for three weeks, because then I'm in troubles. It's not that we want to know for sure that Peter van Petegem is coming across, but that would make it easy. He and his mates ride like Mapei, so we don't have to start from zero. But Peter signed along with Vansevenant for Mapei, without saying anything to Van Bondt. That is something other than Museeuw did. He first let his teammates sign, and signed himself as the last one. I think Cees Priem is playing a dirty game in the neighourhood of Van Petegem. However, I prefer to get a very fast answer from Farm Frites."
GP Eddy MerckxIn the past two weeks, the GP Eddy Merckx (August 27) has lost two riders from their start list: Johan Museeuw and Tom Steels (both Mapei). Axel Merckx and Daniele Nardello will now be partnered to replace them. Other starters include Lance Armstrong (a good friend of the chairman of the organization, Eddy Merckx), David Millar, the duo Erik Dekker and Marc Wauters (winners of the Joseph Voegli Memorial in Rheinfelden last week), Chris Boardman, Tyler Hamilton, Rik Verbrugghe, Marc Streel and Nico Mattan. The GP Eddy Merckx will start earlier than previously: 12.30 instead of 15.30. Later on Sunday, the Belgian TV stations RTBF and VTM will provide a summary of 30 minutes, just after the live coverage of the GP Francorchamps Formula 1.
Collinelli and Trentini updateThe two Italian track riders who were caught at the Italo-Swiss border with unauthorised goods will not be seen by the Italian anti-doping committee this Friday. The original date of August 25 has been set back after Collinelli's lawyer informed the anti-doping commissioner that the rider will be competing in a meet in Colonia. The proposed date for the hearing is now September 4, just 48 hours before they are scheduled to fly out to Sydney for the Olympics. The seized goods are currently being examined by a medical laboratory in Padova, but Collinelli, (Silvio Martinello's madison partner), said that "nobody will be able to deny my participation in the Games. Kersten appeal dismissed18 year old Ben Kersten has had his appeal to be included in the Australian track team dismissed after an independent tribunal found the nomination criteria was followed by the selectors. The tribunal consisted of solicitor Steven Lancken (Chair), the Chief Executive Officer of Baseball Australia, Neil King and 1984 Olympic cycling gold medalist, Kevin Nichols. Kersten had appealed after an incident involving a teammate, Darryn Hill and himself at the team's training camp in Colorado Springs, USA which resulted in Hill being fined $4000 and put on a good behaviour bond. Kersten has the option of appealing further to the Court of Arbitration for Sport like other Australian riders Kathy Watt and Brent Dawson. Watt's appeal is expected to be heard on Thursday.
Saturn signsUS team Saturn has reportedly signed Cuban immigrant/defector Ivan Dominguez for the 2001, a move that, along with the recent inking of Jim Copeland as coach, should go a long way towards quelling fears that the automobile company was going to drop its cycling team.
Hegreberg to VdCBy Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent Norwegian Morten Hegreberg will sign as a stagiaire for Ville de Charleroi-New Systems in Belgium. This season, he has raced in Belgium for the top amateur squad RDM Bianchi. "I didn't want to make the same mistake as other Norwegians that have raced only in short intervals for continental teams but instead I wanted to show the pro directors that I am a consistent rider," said Hegreberg at a press conference in Horten this week end. Hegreberg's agency Velonor, run by Belgium based Eilif Christiansen, has also settled a deal with RDM Bianchi for next year. Three Norwegian riders from the ages 19-22 will be contracted for the whole season. Morten Hegreberg's brother Roy is one of them and two others will get offers before the end of October. Morten Hegreberg will, if he doesn't get a pro contract, be the fourth Norwegian on the team and act as captain for the Norwegian part of the team. Eilif Christiansen will be a sports director of sorts for the Norwegians. Other Norwegian riders or teams will also be offered possibilities to ride in Belgium in cooperation with RDM Bianchi for short periods. They will however ride for their own teams and priority will be given to periods outside of the most intense part of the Norwegian season. The Belgian team contributes with housing, planning and invitations to races only, according to website Syklingens Verden.
2000 Tour Of SunraysiaThis Australian national series event runs from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27 over a total distance of 316 kilometres in six stages. It is held in Victoria and is an important qualifying event for the Sun Tour after the Tattersall's Cup series. National series leader, Ben Day (Queensland) is one who will be trying for a good result in Sunraysia after he finished 22nd in the Tatt's cup overall standings. The Stages: Stage 1 - August 25: Merbein Criterium, 30x1.1 km, 33 km Total Kilometres: 316.2 kms |