News for December 4, 2000Zurich Six: what a finish!
The triumph of Bruno Risi, Kurt Betschart and Markus Zberg was by no means assured on the final night of the Six Days of Zurich. Despite leading on points, they still had to gain a lap on Juan Llaneras/Adriano Baffi if they were to take the overall win. In a dramatic final madison, that saw Martinello, Gilmore and Aeschbach fall, Risi/Betschart finished lapping the field with 750m to go, ensuring their win in front of a cheering crowd of 7,500. Risi and Betschart, who were born within just a few kilometres of each other in Switzerland, now have seven wins apiece in the Zurich Six (equal at the top with Fritz Pfenninger). As a pair, they have won 27 Six Day races together, just two short of Kilian/Vopel who are the most successful pair of all time.
Armstrong's agent responds to sample seizureFrench justice ordered the seizure on Saturday of the Tour de France urine samples, in order to assist with their investigation of the US Postal Service team, and to prevent the samples' destruction by the UCI. The investigation, based on TV footage taken during the 2000 Tour de France, was met with surprise from the team who were not contacted by the French when it was announced. They have maintained their "zero-drug tolerance" stance, and reacted to the decision to seize their urine samples with considerable calm. Lance Armstrong's agent, Bill Stapleton said to AP that "It was the best news in a long time. We are willing to roll the dice on testing because we know Lance is clean. He has nothing to hide." Stapleton was speaking from a US Olympic Committee meeting in Washington, from which there was also a statement released by the USOC in relation to the Greg Strock/USA Cycling/Rene Wenzel case. Strock is suing USA Cycling for damages after he claimed that he was injected with the banned drug, cortisone during his time with the US junior team in the early 1990's. Stock subsequently contracted a virus (Parvo virus) that ended his potential career as a cyclist, and he claims it was made far more severe due to the cortisone suppressing his immune system. He also said that there was an "85 percent correlation" between the Parvo virus and testicular cancer, prompting some to connect him with Lance Armstrong, who was also a member of the junior team at that time. However, Strock has issued a statement saying that Armstrong had no involvement in or knowledge of doping that Strock claims to have occurred. "I would hope that this statement will end any discussion of a relationship between my lawsuit and Lance. There simply is none," said Strock.
Nijs not happySven Nijs does not want to be a spokesman anymore for the other cyclocross riders regarding problems with the number of pit stops around the parcours. "They don't listen to us," said Sven after the race in Leudelange, Luxembourg today. Again there was only one point for bike changes instead of two. Bart Wellens said that "First they say we can talk about these kinds of things, but they don't listen. Me a spokesman for the riders? No, because they don't hear us."
Longo has another crack at the HourJeannie Longo is scheduled to try and break her own hour record in Mexico City at 4pm Sunday, local time. Longo arrived in Mexico Tuesday and intends to exceed her previous mark of 44.767km. Longo was averaging over 45km/hr when her last attempt was foiled by a mechanical failure, and has said she is confident of setting a new standard if her form and the weather hold.
Italian teams 2001By Jeff Jones There will be 17 Italian division I and II teams next season, including one brand new team and several completely revamped old teams. The following four teams are the first in a four part series, presenting the complete Italian squad lineups for 2001. Alessio The team of Franco Chioccioli will have four neo-professionals in 2001, combined with four riders from other teams for a total of 23 riders. The biggest acquisitions are Ivan Gotti (Polti) and Andrea Ferrigato (Fassa Bortolo), however the team will remain in division II. Directors: Franco Chioccioli and Bruno Cenghialta Riders Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Alexia Alluminio Several new faces will be seen in Alexia Aluminio next year, with 12 new riders out of the 19 in total. Several Mobilvetta riders are joining, in particular Ivan Quaranta who should provide a huge boost to the team's sprinting. Polti's Pascal Herve is another important signing, however his friend and teammate Richard Virenque did not follow suit. Manager: Pietro Pedruzzi Riders Dario Andriotto (Ita) Birra Morena This is a brand new team in the peloton, starting as division II and having 12 riders. The 12th has yet to be decided, and could be Nicola Chesini, Vitali Kokorine (Benfica) or Michela Laddomada (LA Pecol). Manager: Antonio Fermo Riders Francesco Aarazzi (Ita) De Nardi-Pasta Montegrappa Riding as a division III team in 2000, De Nardi will move up to the second division next season. Directed by Eros Poli (with Sandro Quintarelli as a potential co-director), the team is effectively brand new, with riders being drafted from several different teams. Director: Eros Poli/Sandro Quintarelli (possible) Riders Sources: La Gazzetta dello Sport/Cycling4all
Mapei turns down VirenqueMapei has declined to acquire the services of Richard Virenque, who is currently also in negotiations with ONCE. Owner Giorgio Squinzi said Virenque's image did not fit with his team's anti-doping policies. Bowen's plansSaturn's Bart Bowen was one of the surprise absences on the 2001 Saturn-Timex team roster that was released recently. One of the USA's best off-road riders, Bowen was spotted riding a 'cross race in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Despite starting a minute behind, he caught the front of the field in 2.5 laps, and then went on to lap everybody. He was still wearing Saturn colors, but the team-issue car has to be returned at the end of the month. He has been linked with Lemond's new team, which he kind of chuckled about, but next season may see him spend more time on the dirt. The Gila, Cascade and Redlands stage races are on his agenda, as well as some NORBA events and the World's in Vail, Colorado where as he put it, "I started my cycling career". Bart will race the race the Chicago Cyclocross event next Saturday, the New Mexico championships the following weekend and then he will race in Kansas City. Courtesy of Doug Sheppard
Gregor Gut to Saeco-WetzikonSwiss U23 rider, Gregor Gut, will ride once more for a Swiss team, after spending the past year in Spain. He will ride in 2001 for the Elite/U23 team, Saeco Wetzikon.
Swiss train in South AfricaIt's that time of year when Northern hemisphere riders head for warmer climes and three Swiss pros, Sven Montgomery Michel Klinger and Stefan Ruetimann are no exception. Ruetiman and Klinger are already in South Africa and Montgomery joins them Tuesday for three weeks in the sun to warm up before serious training begins in January. Courtesy of Swiss Velopages
Tour Down Under named "Australia's Best Major Event"The 1999 edition of the Tour Down Under has been named the best Major Festival or Special Event in Australia at the 2000 Australian Tourism Awards last week. The race, that was in its inaugural year that year, beat the 1999 Melbourne Cup, Gold Coast Motor Events, Darwin Cup Carnival, Telstra Rally Australia, Targa Tasmania, and the Snowy Mountains 50th Anniversary Celebrations. The event saw over 400,000 spectators line the route for the six day race, and was shown to a potentially vast international TV audience. Helped by a significant amount of funding from the South Australian Government, it was the first time that several first division European trade teams competed on Australian soil. The event returned in 2000 with a similar degree of support, and was given a 2.3 classification by the UCI. In 2001, it will take place from January 16-21, with an announcement on the teams and riders for the race expected by mid-December. Italian sprinters take note! |
