News for February 14, 2000

UCI asked to change rules

The International Association of Sports Directors are intending on asking the UCI to change their technical regulations, to be put in place this year, requiring riders to ride traditional bikes for the team time trial.

This year, the team time trial will return to the Tour of Switzerland and to the Tour de France, and has already been in the Tour of the Mediterranean and the Etoile de Besseges. However, according to association president, Manolo Saiz, the decision of the UCI will penalise manufacturing companies unduly, as well as giving a "backward image" to the cycling movement.

Kølbaek denies Streel case

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Torben Kølbaek, the managing director of PCD, the company that runs Memorycard Jack&Jones has said that he has heard nothing more from Marc Streel other than through Belgian press. It was reported yesterday that Streel was seeking to sue his former team for sacking him and not paying his wages for half a year.

A high haematocrit level as a ground for firing riders is a novelty in the teams anti-doping document this year, and was not in use last year. Streel tested at over 50 per cent in the GP des Nations and was subsequently fired by the team. "It is up to the rider himself to take responsibility for his haematocrit level," commented Kølbaek.

Scott's back

Courtesy of Sabine Sunderland

As we got back from Australia on the 26th of January, we have settled back in by now. Scott had to race Etoile de Besseges only few days after we arrived and unfortunately his back did not agree with that. He came home before the pain got too bad and made a few visits to the physio. He feels strong again now. We kind of knew that the quite uncomfortable trip from Australia has put his back out but he had no time to get it fixed before Besseges. But, all is well now, he has the power back in his legs and feels refreshed and ready.

Scott is riding the Ruta del Sol this week. He rang yesterday as the team arrived in Aguadulce, to tell me they were walking around in t-shirts. This, while we are putting on thick jumpers and turning up the central heating to feel a bit comfy!! Actually, I shouldn't be complaining, the last couple of days have been dry and sunny, with an incredible 10 degrees celsius, but the thing is I have been sick as a dog for a week now... sort of fluey bronchitis, and I have been out only to bring Saen to school. It is amazing how well he has adapted to being in Belgium again after three months in Australia. He went straight back to school and was speaking Dutch as if he'd never left after only 10 days... great to be 4!

Vanderaerden rides again

Although he retired back in 1996, former classics star Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) has indicated that he wants to do some more racing. For the last four years, he has been managing bike teams, and briefly took a job with Farm Frites to run their development squad, but quit before very long.

He will start training with the Fuji team in April in Germany, and wants to race in the Crocodile Trophy, in Australia on August 25. The race is a mountain bike race, and Vanderaerden does not rate his chances highly: "I think that I will be in last place," he laughed.

Pre-Olympic drug testing to go ahead

As part of the effort to make the Sydney Olympic Games the cleanest yet, the International Olympic Committee have specified that there will be out of competition drug testing in the two weeks leading up the Games. There will be up to 400 tests conducted from the beginning of September, in the Athletes Village as well as alternative training locations, including New Zealand and New Caledonia.

The aim of the tests, according to Australian Olympic committee president, John Coates, is to "close the window of opportunity" where athletes may seek to "top up" their levels of the substance of choice.

Cantina Tollo presents

The Italian wine-based team, Cantina Tollo held their presentation yesterday in the Tollo Wine cellar in front of a crowd of 2,000 fans, guests, cycling officials, and representatives from the wine industry. There are nearly 1200 companies that make up the business, from just 19 in 1960 when the conglomerate started.

President Pierantuono said at the presentation that "we have done well to improve in cycling. We are not lacking satisfaction. However, I want to make sure that we conduct ourselves in the cleanest possible manner. I prefer not to have the team win races, than to see the name of the Tollo Wine cellar involved in drug allegations," he emphasised.

It is a younger team, who have lost Minali and Hamburger, however they have gained, somewhat curiously, Massi, Colonna and Cristian Piepoli. They have Danilo di Luca as well, who is a strong prospect for the future. The team is led by Roberto Sgambelluri (25) who is nearing his peak as a cyclist.

They will ride on Tuesday, February 15 in the Laigueglia trophy, as well as the Tirrenio-Adriatico, and the Milan-San Remo. The Giro, the Olympics, the World's and the Tour of Lombardy are all on the agenda.

Team roster

Managers: Vincenzo Santoni and Palmiro Masciarelli.
Directors: Franc Gini, Enrico Paolini and Dario Mariuzzo.
Bicycles:  Moser.

Riders:
Alessandro Baronti
Paolo Bossoni
Federico Colonna
Gabriele Colombo 
Moreno Di Biase
Danilo Di Luca
Marco Di Renzo
Cristian Gasperoni
Massimiliano Gentili
Federico Giabbeccucci 
Massimo Giunti
Ruggero Marzoli
Rodolfo Massi
Gian Paolo Mondini
Emanuele Negrini
Cristian Pepoli
Germano Pierdomenico
Giusvan Piovaccari
Roberto Sgambelluri
Andrea Tonti
Guido Trenti (USA)
Marco Vergnani
Rodolfo Massi
Federico Colonna

Lisboa-Benfica presents

The Portuguese squad, Benfica held their presentation yesterday, with their leader Melchor Mauri (33) still keen to ride well this year. The team have had problems with paying riders salaries from last year, but this has been sorted out now.

There will be nine foreigners in the squad, including Spaniards Daniel Bayez, Oscar Lopez Uriate and Jose Antonio Garrido, who are riding for the team for their second year. For his part, Mauri would like to repeat his victory of last year in the Tour of Portugal, and says that the team is stronger this year with the arrival of two sprinters, the Russian, Sergei Smetanine, and Marco Madrucci from Italy.

Their main aims for the year, apart from the Tour of Portugal are the Vuelta a España and the Olympic Games.