News for August 27, 2000Rotterdam TourThe second last round of the Women's World Cup (Road) will take place in Rotterdam in the Netherlands this Sunday. Despite the proximity to the Olympic Games, many of the world's top women will be competing, including current series leader and world number 2, Diana Ziliute (Acca Due O). She will be up against the winner of round five, Petra Rossner of Germany, as well as Dutch favourites, Leontien Van Moorsel, Mirjam Melchers and Mirella van Melis. Other top riders include Germany's Ina Yoko Teutenberg, GAS Sport riders Pia Sundstedt, Greta Zocca and Gabriella Pregnolato, and Nürnberger's Jacinta Coleman. The field is of good quality but not huge. Organiser, Henk Voogt didn't change his mind about the three Dutch women's teams, RWC Ahoy, Ondernemers van Nature and Westland Wil Vooruit. They will not be allowed to start, even after the letter from the UCI this week. The World Cup race is one of the last races before the Olympics for the women. The parcours has been significantly altered from last year, as the race will no longer start and finish in the town of Spijkenisse, but instead on Coolsingel, in front of Rotterdam City Hall. In addition, the final 20 km will be run over four laps of a circuit in the city centre. The wind is expected to play a big part in determining the outcome of the 140 kilometre race as is normal in the Netherlands. Looking at the overall standings of the women's World Cup, Diana Ziliute has a good chance of sealing her victory in this round as she holds a commanding 71 point lead over Pia Sundstedt. With 75 points for the win, Sundstedt will have to do something special in these final two rounds to overtake the Lithuanian who has made this a major goal for the year.
Back problems continue for FreireThe World Champion Oscar Freire is currently riding the Vuelta, but has still been experiencing problems with his back. "I don't know how long I can ride for if do I start. I have never ridden for so many days and I don't know what my back will do as I have had troubles for more than two years. Doctors tell me that I have to go and rest in hospital for six weeks and afterwards no cycling for two or three months, but I prefer to try to find another solution," said the current rainbow jersey holder. Oscar wants to show his talent in stage 3 of the Vuelta which starts and finishes in his home town of Santander. Balducci can't startOnly 179 riders could take the start of La Vuelta in Malaga, as one rider, Gabriele Balducci (Fassa Bortolo) was suffering from gastroenteritis the previous night. According to team director, Alberto Volpi, he was vomiting and had serious diarrhea. His teammate, Raimondas Rumsas suffered a similar complaint but was able to start, eventually finishing 24th in a creditable performance. ONCE interested in BelokiOne of Festina's rising stars, Joseba Beloki has been linked with ONCE despite strong denials by team director Juan Fernandez that he will leave next year. Beloki only has a one year contract with Festina, and the negotiations by Festina already started during the Tour to keep hold of him. His podium place in the Tour greatly increased his value, so much that he asked Fernandez for 25 million Spanish pesetas ($US 140,000) to renew his contract. Not an overly large sum compared with what some riders are getting, but still of considerable value in Spain. Spanish daily, AS published a story that ONCE had made him an offer, and his own agents have been talking with other teams such as Mapei and Banesto. Considering Beloki's worth, it may be a ploy to increase his asking price albeit a powerful one. Banesto should be able to afford a rider such as Beloki, after the Galdeano brothers went to ONCE, and Mapei have a few places to fill after the Belgian exodus. However, Festina director Juan Fernandez is not worried as Beloki has reportedly assured him that he will stay. Money means a lot in pro cycling but not everything, as many top riders have found. A comfortable position at or near the head of the team and familiarity with teammates is important. Sean Kelly's small KAS team in which he won so many races was a prime example.
GP Eddy Merckx - Can Dekker/Wauters do it again?The Grand Prix Eddy Merckx paired time trial to be held today, August 27 over a 62.5 kilometre parcours near Brussels. Principal favourites are the in form Erik Dekker with his partner Marc Wauters, as well as Lance Armstrong who will ride with Postal teammate Viatcheslav Ekimov. The remainder of the 10 team field is by no means weak, with Chris Boardman/Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole), David Millar/Nico Mattan (Cofidis), Tyler Hamilton/Christian Vandevelde (USPS) and Andrei Tchmil/Thierry Marichal (Lotto) being good chances for the podium. It's an important contest for Armstrong, as it is his second last race before the Olympic Games in Sydney (the last is the GP des Nations). He will certainly be fresher than Erik Dekker who just won the Ronde van Nederland, but that didn't seem to stop Dekker the day after San Sebastian when he won the Joseph Voegli Memorial. Starting List Erwin Thijs (Bel)/Jürgen Van Roosbroeck (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002 Brooks seriously hurtAustralian rider, Benjamin Brooks (Linda McCartney) had a serious accident in the Giro del Veneto on Saturday. After a fall he was taken to hospital, where he was in shock and unconscious due to concussion of the brain. He also had chest injuries and suffered a wound to his right arm. US Olympic Team finalisedThe USA's final 27 member Olympic team has been ratified by the US Olympic Committee for the Games in Sydney. After the various appeals and new additions had been sorted out, the roster was submitted to the USOC on August 25 for their stamp. It was a tense week for two cyclists in particular who were battling each other for a spot in the team. Chris Witty was given the nod over Tammy Thomas for the women's sprint squad despite the latter's 11th hour challenge. The remainder of the 27 had been confirmed over the past two months. The final roster: Track Marcelo Arrue (Sprint, Keirin, Olympic Sprint) Tanya Lindenmuth (sprint) Mountain Bike Travis Brown Alison Dunlap Road Lance Armstrong (TT, RR) Nicole Freedman (RR) Breda for Tour finish?The Dutch town of Breda has expressed interest to be a finish town for the Tour de France. Former rider Rini Wagtmans will go, on behalf of the town Breda and some businessmen, to Jean-Marie Leblanc next week with a proposal. Leblanc will be a guest in the Delta Ronde van Midden-Zeeland. Wagtmans has previously brought the Tour to his home town of Sint Willebrord, said that "the idea started in the business club of Breda's NAC soccerteam." |