News for December 20, 2000Tchmil to stop in 2002One of the most popular rides in our Gobsmackingly Brilliant Rides of 2000 (no more nominations please, but watch this space for developments shortly) was Andrei Tchmil's victory in the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) earlier this year. Tchmil also finished second in the World Cup and came very close to winning the World Championships in Plouay. The 37 year old (38 on January 22) said in two recent interviews with Belgian newspapers that he will finish his career after the 2002 World Championships in Zolder, Belgium. No prizes for guessing how he would like to end.
Virenque decision on December 29The Swiss Cycling Federation will make their decision about Richard Virenque's sanction on December 29. The federation are awaiting the judgment of the Festina trial, which is due to take place on December 22. The most likely sanction for Virenque is 6 months, the same as the other Festina riders like Alex Zülle. Priem questioned in TongerenIn Tongeren, Belgium, former TVM team manager Cees Priem has been questioned about the accident with Scott Sunderland in the 1998 Amstel Gold Race. Priem hit Sunderland with his car and Scott wasn't able to race for one year after the accident, and still suffers visual problems. Because the accident happened on Belgian territory, the case is in Belgium. Priem said during the hearing that, "I didn't notice that my car hit Sunderland." However, after being pressured by the judge, Priem remembered more. He had seen the rider fall. "I didn't stop because I heard on the radio nobody of our team was involved. And I never thought I was guilty," he said. Priem brought in international jury member, Mirjam Bellemakers to be questioned by Judge Driessen as an expert, not a witness in the case. Bellemakers wasn't present at the 1998 Amstel Gold Race and examined the TV coverage in a special TV room in Tongeren. "Priem did the same as other team managers should do. Sunderland made a slight move to the right so Priem couldn't evade him," she said. When asked about Priem's past driving record and whether he had previously had accidents, she (eventually) said "Well, eveyone makes mistakes." Another witness was Albert van der Vlies, commercial manager of Farm Frites. He was in the car with Priem at the time: "I didn't realise that the situation was serious. It happened in a split second. I didn't see that it was a crash." The next meeting in court is scheduled for March 13. Sunderland wasn't in Tongeren as he is in Australia at the moment.
Steels breaks thumbBelgian sprinter Tom Steels has broken his right thumb last week after a training accident. He has it in plaster at the moment but the cast is expected to be removed on Wednesday, when he will be able to resume road training.
More on the RAI Derny's demise
The promoter of the recently cancelled RAI Derny Race, Harry Mater, is disappointed by the UCI's refusal to award points to his race, which is unique on the calendar. "It seems as though the professional cycling world isn't run at the UCI headquarters in Lausanne, but in Paris in the headquarters of the Societe du Tour de France," said Mater. Jean-Marie Leblanc is a member of the Conseil Professionel of the UCI, but not a supporter of derny races like Bordeaux-Paris or the Criterium der Azsen. He talked to Harry Mater about 'a criterium in Amsterdam' and disagreed after the Amsterdam RAI Derny race got UCI points some years ago. His reason? Only invited riders can start. "But what about the GP Eddy Merckx? They use the same rules," says Mater. A last minute lobby by Mater didn't work either. During the World Championships in Plouay, he presented an enthusiastic letter with support from Johan Museeuw, Michael Boogerd, Michele Bartoli and Peter van Petegem. "Without UCI-points I can't guarantee enough interest for TV and of course you have to give your sponsors the best coverage," he finished.
UCI off road newsDaucourt and Burri to head MTB The UCI have appointed Swiss Chantal Daucourt (34) and Christophe Burri (24) to succeed Martin Whiteley in the management of the various mountain bike projects at the UCI. Whiteley, who announced his resignation as UCI Offroad Manager in October this year, will be leaving his post at the end of January, 2001. The future of the MTB World Cup will be looked after by Burri, who has two years experience working with Whiteley, to ensure its success. Burri will also continue to manage the Cyclocross World Cup which he has overseen for the past three of his four years at the UCI. Chantal Daucourt will become the new MTB Coordinator, taking over the administrative tasks such as rules, calendar, rankings, planning, Commission work, and National Federation liaison. Daucourt will also add to her responsibilities the administration of cyclocross as the new Cyclocross Coordinator. The Swiss MTB'er has only recently retired from competition, after a 10 successful year career. Both are looking forward to their new roles, which will start on January 3, 2001. Rider participation for cyclocross committee The UCI's cyclocross committee will ask each major cyclocross country (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Czech Republic) to select one rider for their committee. The main reason for doing so is to give the riders more participation. The chairman of the committee, Laurent de Backer, first asked Sven Nijs to carry out this function. The riders representatives will be candidates at the next meeting in March.
7UP-Colorado Cyclist 2001By John Alsedek, cyclingnews.com correspondent The US division III squad, 7UP-Colorado Cyclist has announced its roster for 2001. It will reduce from 15 to 11 riders next year, but has strengthened its core after months of negotiations. Although losing stalwarts Anton Villatoro and Steve Speaks to retirement, they have been more than ably replaced by a quartet of new recruits, including former Shaklee riders John Lieswyn and Dave McCook. McCook, 32, is a former U.S. Professional Criterium Champion and renowned field sprinter, who counted among his 2000 victories the prestigious Clarendon Cup, a Saturn US Pro Tour event. McCook will boost the team's sprinting chances along with resident speedster Kevin Monahan. Then there's John Lieswyn. A veteran of the Saturn and Coors Light teams, Lieswyn had a career season in 2000, with results that included a silver medal in the National Time Trial Championship and third overall in the US Pro Tour. Lieswyn's no-holds-barred riding style is a good complement to the likes of climbers Clark Sheehan and Doug Ziewacz, and will give the team a much stronger presence in stage races and tough road events. The team will also welcome a duo from north of the border, as Canadians Charles Dionne and Andrew Randell enter the fold. Randell, 26, comes over from the Jet Fuel Coffee squad, where he had a consistent year including a win in the American Cup series. Joining him will be Charles Dionne, who has been the gem of the Canadian amateur ranks for the past three years, ever since he won the '98 Tour de 'Toona as a 19-year old. He was courted heavily by other domestic pro teams, particularly after scoring three top-ten stage finishes in the 2000 Tour de l'Avenir, but opted to join 7 UP-Colorado Cyclist. "For me, this is an ideal situation. I can learn a lot from guys like team leaders Clark Sheehan and John Lieswyn, and I hope to be a strong contributor to the team's success in 2001," he said. While product sponsorships are still being finalized, the title sponsors have substantially increased their financial commitment to the team. "Both 7 UP and Colorado Cyclist have...given us the funds to put together a squad capable of fulfilling our goal - to be the country's number-one domestic program," says manager Scott McAfee. The team will compete in all the major US races during 2001, making its season debut at the Valley of the Sun stage race on February 17th. Team Roster Jeff Corbett (USA) Equipe Nürnberger increase budgetEquipe Nürnberger, the German based female cycling team, will increase its budget to DM 350,000 ($US 160,000) in 2001 after more funds were injected by sponsors. The team is has a plan to become the "Telekom" of women's racing in Germany, and will certainly try and build on their national number one position next year. This year, Kerstin Scheitle won the Bundesliga (national league) points score, and the team finished first overall. The team is managed by Herbert Oppelt who will introduce several new faces next year. There is a new directeur sportif, Bernhard Schambeck, and there will be six new riders. Swedish TT champion, Jenny Agelid and Austrian champion Andrea Purner are two of the biggest signings. In addition, Vera Hohlfeld will ride for the team in certain races, although she is actually a member of the Acca Due O team.
Women's team again for CA Mantes-la-VilleFrench team CA Mantes-la-Ville is making a comeback to the women's peloton, with a team comprised of six riders. They will race a program based around the national and international (Grande Boucle, Tour de l'Aude, World Cup, Coupe de France) calendars. Riders include Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel, Magali Le Floc'h and Cathy Moncassin, with another French, Canadian and Swiss rider to be named. Courtesy of www.velomania.net |
