News for December 24, 2000Frankie hangs it upAfter a professional career spanning 12 years, including riding and finishing 9 Tours de France, US Postal rider Frankie Andreu has decided to retire. Although he did not obtain a cycling contract for next year, Andreu will remain with the US Postal team as American Director. He will also serve (along with Dylan Casey) as an athlete trustee on the USPRO Board of Trustees until 2004. Andreu rode for four teams during his career, three of them US based. He will be remembered in the peloton as a valuable domestique, including assisting Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France for the past two years. His versatility on the flats and in the mountains was considered a key part of the team's strategy to gain the Maillot Jaune. He was also one of the first "Internet Athletes" with his popular web site, www.frankieandreu.com chronicling his life in the pro peloton. The latest entry reads as follows: "After racing nine Tours de France and spending eleven years as a European professional I have decided to retire. After the highlights of the last two years my thoughts were that I should retire while I'm still at the top. As much as I will miss racing I am looking forward to many new opportunities. My first line of attack will be as the American Director for the US Postal Service team. This is a position I've always had the utmost respect for and I hope to earn the respect and leadership of the riders. To all that have supported my racing career I cannot express my gratitude enough. This is a special sport with many special people. It's been a privilege to work with all of you and I hope to continue our relationship into the future." Frankie Andreu Bio
Born: September 26, 1967, Dearborn USA Teams 1989-1990 7-Eleven Palmares 1989 1st Nestle Food Cycling Classic 1990 2 stages Miller Superweek 1991 8th Vuelta a Andalucia/Ruta del Sol 7th Omloop Het Volk 1994 1st West Virginia Mountain Classic + 2 stages 1995 Stage West Virginia Mountain Classic (2nd overall) 1996 4th Olympic Road Race, Atlanta 1997 1st Prix Mi-Aout (Mi-Aout Bretonne) 1998 1st Core States Invitational Classic 2000 8th Paris-Nice Mercury-Viatel 2001After several weeks of speculation, the complete Mercury-Viatel team roster can be revealed following the UCI's release of the division I trade teams yesterday. In merging with Greg Lemond's fledgling Viatel team, John Wordin's Mercury team has enhanced both its lineup and sponsorship money, with riders such as Peter Van Petegem, Geert Van Bondt and Wim Vansevenant coming on board. Wordin keeps his role as manager/team manager, with seven assistant directors, including the addition of Johan Lammerts and Eddy Borysewicz. The only thing that has yet to be finalised are the team bike contracts. Mercury has an existing relationship with Fuji, but Viatel want to ride Lemond bikes. This is expected to be resolved shortly. Team roster Manager/Team Manager: John Wordin Llaneras wants a road careerOlympic and World Champion on the track, Juan Llaneras, desires to do more road racing in future - if he can find a team. The Spanish strongman said that "I am considered a good sprinter and I made that clear during my six years as a road professional (ONCE and US Postal). The track has always been my strength, but it is perfectly compatible with the road." The 31 year old is currently looking very hard for a team to join next year, but has not found anywhere yet. He is one of Spain's most successful track riders, winning five world titles, but emphasised that he does not liked to be compared with Miguel Indurain who won five Tours de France. "I am close to surpassing the record of six world track titles held by my countryman, Guillermo Timoner," he said, also adding that he was "no better or worse" than Timoner.
No president for Basque FederationThe Basque Cycling Federation is currently without a president, after the Basque Committee of Sport Justice declared the candidacy of Víctor García de Andoin invalid. The election to replace Javier Madariaga was due to take place today, with García de Andoin up against José Luis Llano for the position. Although the Basque Committee of Sport Justice considered Víctor García de Andoin to be competent for the role, he had not provided them with official notification of his candidacy. It will not be determined until early next month who will replace Madariaga as president. Michela Fanini team newsDespite the departure of World Champion Zinaida Stahurskaia, the Michela Fanini Team will be one of the best squads on the Italian scene in 2001. The Tuscan team will be led by the Ukrainian Olga Saprikijna, with new arrivals including Spaniard Fatima Blazquez (Alfa Lum), Ukrainian Katutscha, young Irishwoman Tara Owens (a top women's cyclocross rider) and USA's Lara Charameda. The American rider was in the Fanini team in the early '90s and is now returning to Tuscany with a lot of motivation and the role of "teacher-on-the-road" for the younger riders. The team is completed by the Swiss Champion Marika Murer and 8 more U-22 riders. Courtesy of Alessandro Gretter/Filippo Michelotti, team manager Two more for Gresco-TaviraPortuguese team, Gresco-Tavira has signed two ex-Kelme riders for next season. Francisco Perez and Jerónimo Sanroma will ride with David Muñoz, Carlos García, Leandro Navarrete, Roberto Lozano and Julián Usano, all of whom are former Kelme riders. The team is directed by Francisco Moya.
New Spanish women's team: Mundo Deportivo-Grup BikeA new Catalan based women's team sponsored by Mundo Deportivo and the bicycle chain store, Grup Bike, has finalised its roster for 2001. Marta Vilajosana, Ruth Moll, Rocio Gamonal, Genma Pascual, Cristina Roza, Cristina Alcalde, Ana Ramirez, Eva Clop, Eva Sanchez, Sandra Santanyes, Maria Jose Lopez, Laura Fuentes, and the juniors Ana Rovira and Silvia Rovira are its members.
Cycling Australia newsAfter board meetings in Melbourne (November 25-26) and Adelaide (December 14), Cycling Australia have proposed some new changes to its coaching structure for 2001. Shayne Bannan, who is the successor to Charlie Walsh, is aiming to establish a new coaching philosophy that encompasses a "whole of sport approach", with the main thrust being the Athens Olympic Games in four years time. The coaching positions in the high performance structure have been expanded to include a new Downhill MTB coordinator, Scott Sharples, in recognition of Australia's talent in this area. This program will involve athlete testing and a limited number of training camps. There will also be greater focus placed on CA's disabled membership, especially following the recent success of Australian cyclists at the Paralympic Games (22 athletes won 21 medals, 10 of which were Gold). The most significant feature will be the establishment of a Paralympic cycling high performance program, a full time program funded by the APC but operating as a Cycling national program under the overall direction of Shayne Bannan. The program will be based in Adelaide along side the National Track Program. A full time Paralympic Cycling Coach will be appointed in the new year. Coaching positions Senior Coach: Shayne Bannan Other Coaches Men's Road: Brian Stephens |