News for December 13, 2000Vuelta 2001: Business as usual, plus more hillsMountainous, intense course should suit Spanish climbing specialists The route of the 56th Vuelta Espana was announced yesterday in Madrid, and the next edition of Spain's Grand Tour will follow the same pattern as the 2000 race with short, intense stages, and plenty of mountains and time trials. The 23-day, 21-stage tour covers a total of 2,986km with six mountaintop finishes and four time trials, including a mountain time trial. The Vuelta kicks off on September 8 in Salamanca and the opening time trial is followed by three flat days where the sprinters will get a chance to do their thing before the race gets serious and heads for the mountains. Stage 5's finish at Lagos de Covadonga sees the riders climb to 1110m (3650ft) and is soon followed by three straight days in the Pyrenees. After a day's brief respite on the plains, the race again climbs to Andorra, a day that includes three first category climb and the special category Estació de Pal. The mountain time trial at Pal is expected to be crucial in eliminating some podium hopefuls, though it's not expected to determine the overall winner. From there the peloton heads to the race's most southerly point at Murcia before turning inland towards the nation's capital Madrid. On the way to Murcia the finish of stage 15 takes in the hors category climb of Aitana, a new addition to the Vuelta. The final day is a 38km time trial. While the mountains should suit Spain's native climbers and US Postal's Roberto Heras is likely to be the hot favourite, the 96km of flat time trials will test the anti-gravity specialists who will have to stay in contention over nine flat stages. The stages Stage 1 September 8: Salamanca - Salamanca (ITT.) 15km Pantani: "I will prove I am innocent"Convicted Pirate hits out at courts Marco Pantani has declared he will prove his innocence after being convicted on Monday of sporting fraud by the Italian Forli (Northern) court. "I will pursue this business to the end to prove my innocence," he said after a training session with his Mercatone-Uno team. "I have been damaged and that cannot be wiped away. They have tried to break my will but they are making a very big mistake. I will continue my program and in the long term you will see that I am right. How can they condemn me without proof? Without proof I am a victim, not a villain." Mercatone manager Manuela Ronchi said the team was "devastated" and was already preparing an appeal. "They have used a law that is simply inapplicable," he said. "In all his career marco has never tested positive, despite hundreds of tests." Pantani was convicted of sporting fraud as a result of a haematocrit reading of 60 per cent in 1995. He was sentenced on Monday to three months in jail, suspended, and a six month suspension from racing. In addition he was fined 1.2 million lira (US$545) Zijlaard, Kupfernagel, Van Moorsel reveal Farm Frites strategyTop women to divide 2001 big races Farm Frites manager Michael Zijlaard has spent the last two years trying to add another world class rider to the team alongside Leontien van Moorsel, according to an interview in Algemeen Dagblad. He tried unsuccessfully to contract Zabirova, Teutenberg and Rossner in that time, and now has his wish with the acquisition of Hanka Kupfernagel announced Monday. "I had to negotiate very carefully. The last two years i lost this with Zabirova and Rossner. And i knew there were some Italian teams interested too. Next season we will become a strong world number one with Van Moorsel, Kupfernagel and Madeleine Lindberg (Swedish bronze medallist at the world's.)" Kupfernagel commented:"After seven years in one team I needed a change. Farm Frites is a professional team so I can finally concentrate on cycling. For the last few years I had to do a lot on my own - like sending faxes for entering races and negotiating sponsor contracts - instead of being busy with cycling." Despite other, potentially more lucrative offers, Kupfernagel went with the deal that offered the best circumstances. "The United States is too far away and I know Russian riders in Italy who signed, were paid for two months then didn't see another lira." The farm Frites deal allows Kupfernagel to conduct her own commercial activities outside the team, like launching her own line of make-up. The addition of Kupfernagel allows Farm Frites to run a double program in 2001, but in bigger events they will turn out at full strength. Van Moorsel's targets are the flat world cups, the world's time trial and the Hour record, while Kupfernagel will go after the Tour Feminin, the road world's and the hillier one-day races. Van Moorsel: "With Hanka in our team my traditional programme can change. Often I abandon the Giro or Tour after winning two or three stages. But if Hanka has a good overall position I will stay in the tours and work for her." Other benefits for Van Moorsel include a bit of a reduction in pressure: 'I'm not the only one who has to win the important races anymore. I will help Kupfernagel as well as I can in the World championship. A Dutch girl helping a German one? So what, I know for sure that Melchers will do the same if Ziliute is in a good position, because you make your money with your sponsor's team." New Aussie women's teamBicycle Superstore in Dandenong, Victoria is the sponsor of a new all-women Australian squad, created by shop owner Micheal Knight after he saw a need for an under-24 female squad to help develop younger riders who may be intimidated by the "male faction." So far the team consists ofVictoria Kirkby, Rebecca Cleveland, Emma Rickards, Alexandra Harrison and Geraldine Denham and is seeking a vehicle sponsor. Jeremy Yates signs for Mapei espoirsNew Zealand's junior world champion Jeremy Yates has taken the first step towards a full professional contract in Europe. Yates has signed with the under-23 Australia-Mapei-Aqua squad linked to top Italian outfit Mapei Quick Step. The team is recognised by Mapei as a very important step for up and coming riders. Yates has been hot property since winning the junior world title, and was chased by several leading European teams. Navigators 2001The Navigators team has announced its 2001 line-up. The eleven-man team includes eight returning members and three new signings. New to the team are Kirk O’Bee (USA), new pro Siro Camponogara (Italy) and Oleg Grichkine (Russia). Siro raced as a guest rider of the team during July in several domestic single-day and stage-race events. Kirk, Siro and Oleg will provide added depth and experience to the team’s solid core group. Navigators directeur sportif believes this is the team's most complete line-up to date. " Our three new acquisitions continue our commitment to growth while providing great depth of international experience. I am certain that this team will be competitive with anyone in North America." Litespeed will continue to supply the team with bikes, he added. The full roster for the team is: Christopher Baldwin (USA), Siro Camponogara (Italy), Vassili Davidenko (Russia), Oleg Grichkine (Russia), Todd Littlehales (USA), Kirk O’bee (USA), Burke Swindlehurst (USA), Adham Sbeih (USA), Brendon Vesty (New Zealand), Franky Van Haesebroucke (Belgium), Mark Walters (Canada) Capiot unpaid since OctoberJohan Capiot, former team leader of Farm Frites, says he has not been paid by the squad since October. "I don't know why. I called Peter Post for an explanation, but he hung up on me. I had this experience before too, with the Italian team Refin, and I don't want to go through it for a second time. I will call the management of Farm Frites today and if they can't give me any satisfaction I will call a lawyer. I have a contract till December 31 and have rights on salary, expenses and a telephone. But the phone was disconnected a few weeks ago. Since I signed for Bankgiroloterij, Farm Frites hasn't paid me, but I don't start for Bankgiroloterij until January 1."
Mayo Clinic calls for more study on effects of creatineBased on their recently completed survey of high school athletes, Mayo Clinic doctors are recommending a large-scale study on the use and long-term effects of creatine, a supplement used by athletes who believe it enhances athletic performance. The survey of high school athletes completed at the Mayo Clinic and reported in the December Mayo Clinic Proceedings showed that users of creatine usually rely on friends for their information about the supplement and most either aren't aware of the dosages they take, or take more than the recommended amounts. Creatine users reported relatively minor side effects, such as: diarrhoea, cramps and loss of appetite. Multiple studies have failed to document performance enhancement with creatine supplementation, according to a Mayo. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA) have expressed concern about creatine supplementation practices. Anecdotal reports of muscle cramping, strains, dehydration, gastrointestinal distress, nausea and seizures have emerged, but long-term prospective population-based studies are lacking. Geert Wellens to SpaarSelectGeert Wellens, Bart's brother, has also signed with SpaarSelect for the next two years. Geert is still a junior and will continue to ride as such till he turns espoir in the 2001/2 season. Geert Wellens currently leads the Trophy of Vlaanderen for juniors. |