News for December 27, 2000Van Petegem wedsFinally, things are looking up for Peter Van Petegem. Not only did he have his wedding last Saturday, but he also received a letter from the UCI saying that he is free to go to Mercury-Viatel. His lawyer, Mr Vixseboxse is still negotiating about Van Petegem's unpaid salary for the last few months. His friend and teammate, Geert Van Bondt has managed to get his salary from October and November in the meantime. Van Petegem told De Standaard that "I hope I will get my money up until the end of the year too. We now know former Farm Frites riders received 30 percent of their salary in case there was no place in the new Domo team. Spinelli (Saeco) and Mikhailov (Lotto) received 100 percent."
Coast wants to challenge TelekomThe recently elevated German team Coast has big plans for 2001, after they ensured their place in the top division. Being a first division team means that they have a guaranteed start in all the World Cup races, and a good chance of competing in the Grand Tours. With Alex Zülle and Fernando Escartin leading the way, Wolfram Lindner can challenge the mighty Telekom in the big stage races. Both of these riders has previously finished on the podium in the Tour de France, and presumably have the ability to do so again. The 18 man team is backed by a DM 9 million ($US 4.3 million) budget, which is less than half of Telekom's, who have 25 team members. Lindner said that over 100 German riders had applied to ride for him in 2001. Lindner (59) was a former Swiss national coach and wants to show that there is "enough room in Germany for two top teams". He will start with more modest goals "the Tour of Germany, for example" as well as certain other fixed targets. Team roster Manager: Günther Dahms Mattan suspendedBelgian rider Nico Mattan has become a belated victim of French drug laws. He has just received a 4 month suspended sentence in France after testing positive for Heptaminol (Heptaminol Chlorhydrate). The French 'Conseil de Prévention et de Lutte contre le Dopage' (LCPD) found the substance in his urine in a sample taken on January 12, 2000 during a training camp with Cofidis in Saint-Aygulf, near Cannes. The penalty is only for France, because according to UCI and IOC rules, Nico Mattan didn't commit an error. Mattan is the first victim of a special doping list developed by the LCPD. The UCI have previously allowed Heptaminol to be used out of competition, but Heptaminol is on the French doping list. Mattan said that "My doctor advised me to use Heptamyl because I was ill and dizzy. I knew it can give a positive effect after a race, but I used it three weeks before a race. When the LCPD demanded a urine test, I told them about Heptamyl and I informed the UCI immediately. It's a pity I've got a 'name' now while I'm not guilty. I'm glad the UCI, IOC and European Council are on my side." Heptaminol Chlorhydrate, better known by its product name Heptamyl, is an old medicine. It celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2003. More riders will likely receive sentences from the LCPD.
Delgado speaksFormer Tour de France winner and Spanish cycling hero, Pedro Delgado, has given his views about two of cycling's biggest recent doping cases: the Festina trial and Marco Pantani's sporting fraud case. Speaking after participating in an interesting race in Segovia (where the cyclists are not allowed to have chains on their bikes), Delgado said that Richard Virenque has been used as a scapegoat in the fight against doping. "Although Virenque has been acquitted," said Delgado, "he has been used as the 'head of a Turk' to create interest." He believed that cycling had been given discriminatory treatment compared with other sports. The Festina affair was overblown according to Delgado, adding that "Information of this type always comes from France, although it is false." Delgado also said that he could not understand the sentence against Marco Pantani, saying that for a "sporting sanction to become a judicial enquiry is to take things too far. Pantani has never been a criminal. He has looked for ways to improve the yield from his body and his efforts, as we all have done."
World Cup Cyclocross for Switzerland in 2002The Swiss town of Wetzikon will host a round of the cyclocross World Cup in January 2002, according to Swiss Cycling News. Although the major fixture announcements for next season are usually made at the World Championships (February 3/4 in Tabor), the information was given to the organising association in Switzerland a little early. Wetzikon will also host a round of the World Cup in 2001 on January 28, and the 2002 race is planned for January 20. Wetzikon has previously hosted a round of the SuperPrestige cyclocross series, but this was cut short this year to only eight races, meaning that the Swiss (and others) missed out.
More on CA Mantes-la-Ville 78CA Mantes-la-Ville 78 is the French based women's team that has been reformed for 2001. It will be led by Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel and Magali Floc'H, with support from Frenchwomen Emmanuelle Farcy and Sandrine Marcuz, Canadian Cybil Diguistini and Swiss Sandra Wampfler. The team is aiming at the major French races on the calendar, including the Tour de l'Aude, la Grande Boucle and the Trophée d'Or.
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