News for December 11, 2000Mari's heading to Italy for 2001Next year Mari Holden will be racing for the highly ranked Team Alfa Lum, which is based in the republic of San Marino (an independent little nation that happens to be entirely Fwallsurrounded by Italy). Holden will be joining a team that includes major tour winner Joane Somarriba (Esp) and former world champion Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), as well as Daniela Veronesi (Ita), Fany Lecourtois (Fra). "I think we will be second in the UCI points coming into the start of the 2001 season," Holden told cyclingnews.com. "It's going to be a good team next year for the big tours." After her season this year with Timex, which has merged with Saturn to produce arguably the leading womens' road squad, Holden will certainly bolster Alfa Lum's firepower for stage wins and the World Cup races. Holden will also be aiming to ride in support of Somarriba, who this year became only the second rider to win both the Grande Boucle Feminine and the Giro d'Italia Femminile (Pucinskaite came second in the Grande Boucle). "The racing in Europe is so good and for me it worked out really well - I love racing in Italy." cyclingnews.com has a detailed interview with the USA's leading female rider in today's features. Bettini's goalsMapei's Paolo Bettini will be in his fifth year as a professional next season, having ridden for the past two seasons with his current team. In 1999 saw him start to realise his potential, after he won stages in the Tirreno-Adriatico, Memorial Cecchi Gori, Volta a la Communidad Galega and the Giro della Lucca (plus the overall win). In 2000 he had similar success, the highlights of which were his victory in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic, and a stage in the Tour de France. He has recently been married, enjoying the off season while it lasts. However, the time has now come to work again if he is to build his career to greater heights. He will start 2001 in a similar manner to this season, but will not go to Majorca to contest the Challenge Majorca, the scene of his first win this year. Instead, he will ride in the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia, a race that Mapei have favoured in the past. Then the Classics season awaits, and although he would dearly love to repeat his Liege victory, it may be that he will have to make way for his team leader Michele Bartoli, who is aiming to come back to his best. Although they have been teammates for their entire careers, there was some friction between Bettini and Bartoli after the World's, when Bartoli criticised Bettini for riding a little selfishly when he didn't have the legs. "I did not intend to harm his chances, and I thought he understood. He knows also, from a sporting point of view, that it won't be like before," said Bettini in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Although he started off his career working for Bartoli, Bettini now has ambitions of his own. His biggest in fact is Milan-San Remo, the first Classic of the season. "A 'Sanremo' would give me sufficient glory for the rest of my career," he said. "It's a strange contest, that can be decided in a break on the climb, on the final sprint. His final words on Bartoli: "He cannot become a tormentor, there are not only two of us in the team. I have said and I repeat: if he returns as before then I am content, because it is better to have him with us than against. If he wins, then it is good for everyone. If not, there is more space for the others."
Beltran looks forward, not backSpanish rider Manual Beltran is currently spending a week in Italy with the Mapei-Quick Step squad, undergoing medical tests in preparation for the 2001 season, and finding out the team's strategies for the year. Beltran says he has already put behind him the disaster of last year's Vuelta, when he was forced to retire because of a stomach bug on the penultimate stage while lying sixth overall. "The only thing I am thinking about now is next season and I intend to put in a good performance in the Vuelta," he said. Beltran believes Mapei has outstanding potential for next year, especially with the arrival of Giro winner Stefano Garzelli (Ita) formerly of Mercatone-Uno. Beltran is also happy that the Mapei team now includes three other Spanish riders: Oscar Freire, David Gorge and Pedro Horrillo.
Jean Delatour prepares for 2001The division II Jean Delatour squad was one of the more successful French teams in 2000, finishing fourth in the UCI division II rankings behind Credit Agricole. They are led by Patrice Halgand and Laurent Brochard, who finished 1-2 in the Coupe de France in 2000. Halgand was their best rider in 2000, winning six races: Trophée des Grimpeurs, A Travers le Morbihan, stages in the Route du Sud, Regio Tour and the Tour du Limousin, which he won overall. Brochard won stages in Paris-Nice and the Criterium International, as well as the Route Adélie. He also finished second in Paris-Nice after leading for much of the race. In its first year, the team sponsored by a French jewellery and clock company, predictably wanted a start in the Tour de France. However, they were denied by another newcomer, Bonjour, who took the only wildcard spot to go to a French team (Memory Card and Kelme took the other two). A protest to the Société du Tour de France was unsuccessful, but the team soldiered on for the latter half of the season. Directeur sportif, Michael Gros said that he was satisfied with this season, "in spite of the great disappointment in not making the Tour de France. However, we were very happy to take part in the Vuelta a España," he said. "That was good experience for Patrice Halgand in particular." The team has increased its numbers to 17 for 2001, with the most notable addition being climber, Stéphane Goubert (Polti). They have already started their preparations for the upcoming season, with a training camp in Isle-en Abeau, in Nord-Isère. The riders trained for 2-3 hours in the morning, followed by afternoon medical tests and various technical meetings. This was intended as a relaxed introduction for the hard work ahead, according to Michael Gros. In 2001, Paris-Nice will again be high on the agenda, as well as the Midi Libre and the Dauphiné Libere "...and of course like any French team, there is the Tour de France because it is still the greatest race in the world. We want to be there this time," said Gros. The overall classification of the Coupe de France won't be a priority, but if one of their riders are in contention near the end of the season, then they will be "interested" in it. The next training camp will take place in Hyères in the department of Var, from January 15-22 followed by a five day recovery period and another training camp in Amélie-les-Bains in the eastern Pyrenees. This will take the team up to February 6 when they will contest the GP Marseillaise. Team roster Team Manager: Serge Barle Riders Christophe Bassons (Fra) Tour to Brabant Wallon?There is the possibility that the Tour de France 2006 will visit the province of Brabant Wallon in Belgium. Representatives from the province will speak with Tour director, Jean-Marie Leblanc next year. The plan is to have a time trial between Louvain-La-Neuve and Waterloo. Gauthier to St QuentinChristophe Gauthier, who rode this season for the almost defunct Besson Chaussures team, has found a place with second division St-Quentin Oktos for next season. PJ Nolan named Irish Cycling Federation presidentAfter a vital board meeting Sunday, the Irish Cycling Federation has co-opted PJ Nolan into the role of president. The Meathman succeeds Mick Lawless, who dramatically resigned from the position last month after a series of clashes with board members. Nolan saw off the challenge of rivals Paddy O'Callaghan and FBD Milk Ras organiser Dermot Dignam to secure leadership of the federation, and will chair his first board meeting in two weeks time. The journalist has a strong background in cycling, having raced internationally and more recently managed several Irish teams including the quintet which secured a stage win in the Australian Sun Tour event in October. According to ICF PRO Ciaran McKenna, Nolan's appointment is good news for the troubled federation that must address the twin problems of falling membership and a projected budget deficit of £32,000 for this year. "The board sat down today and discussed the relative merits of each candidate" he says. "At the end of the debate, we agreed that PJ is the best man for the job. He is independent, he is young, he is a good businessman and an effective administrator. Most of all, he is very enthusiastic and has many good ideas. I am sure over the coming months he is going to push us to do our best to improve things in the sport. I think he can do a good job." Courtesy of Shane Stokes, The Irish Times (www.ireland.com) |