News for February 27, 2000Four dead, three injured in crashFour cyclists were killed and three seriously injured as a car ran into a group of around 100 tour riders from a cyclo touring club in the area of Gard in southern France. Another fourteen riders suffered lighter injuries. The driver, taken into custody, was around twenty years, and according to police, was not under the influence of alcohol. Riders who witnessed the crash said that the car hit the cyclists at the rear of the peloton, coming from behind at around 120 kms per hour, according to AP sources. The driver is said to have bought the huge-engined car two days before the accident. Cipo and Di Grande are backMario Cipollini is on the winning roads again after his penultimate stage victory into Castellon in the Vuelta a Comunidad Valenciana. Although the stage was only 68 km, it was a good confidence boost for Cipollini (not that he really needs it), who finished in front of Swede Glenn Magnusson on the stage. Although much of the attention of the Italian press has been towards the abandonment of Pantani and, to a lesser extent Bartoli, Cipo is happy to be in the limelight once more. He finished second the day before to Zabel in an extremely close sprint, commenting "Not always do things go as you would want. After 12 years of victories, I hate accepting defeat," also lashing out at the press for "turning to Pantani." He is now finding his legs with the other speedsters of the peloton, and will be a man to watch in the coming races in the lead up to Milan - San Remo. Another Italian, Guiseppi di Grande (Festina) had an excellent race in the Valenciana as well, leading from day two. The former Mapei rider migrated to the French Festina only this year, and has already tasted success. "In Mapei I was always treated well, but I suffered from the pressure - in Festina I have found tranquility. I have receive telephone calls, telegrams and faxes from my three fan clubs," he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "For this season I wanted to aim for the Giro, but my team has decided to opt for the Tour de France and the Vuelta. I feel mature enough in order to make the podium of one the large stage races". He did not give up his leadership of the race without a fight, and had to withstand constant attacks from Laurent Jalabert yesterday, however he survived with his two second lead, even though he lost it in the time trial. "I wanted to hold the jersey until the last day and I was successful. Now I can go to the Tirenno-Adriatico, with the support of thousands, in order to win a stage". Rider Biography
Name: Guiseppe Di Grande Pantani returnsAlthough he pulled out of the Valencian tour, Marco Pantani is still keen to finish the 176 km Classica Almeria tomorrow in Andalusia. Last year, he managed seventh in the race, which came down to a bunch sprint(!). He wants the racing miles though, to get the edge back. He admits that his legs are not used to the high intensity of pro racing, but he is physically well. He beleives in alternating racing days with rest days, and has not ruled out trying for a stage in the Tour of Murcia next week. Yesterday, he trained by himself for 100 km, and today he will travel to Almeria. Team manager Martinelli is optimistic that Pantani will be back soon: "Last year he stopped on the third stage of the Valenciana, but won the tour of Murcia," he said. "This time he has less training kilometers but has gained a lot of confidence from his racing so far. His true objective remains the Giro, and I don't think Pantani will disappoint his fans." Indeed.
Dutch newsDutch get bad breaks Today's racing in Belgium and the Netherlands has had some unfortunate outcomes for the Dutch cyclists. In the Omloop Het Volk, Kees Hopmans (Tönnisteiner-Colnago) suffered a double broken collar bone after his fall. He went to the hospital in Aalst, but was able to go home. However, he will be out of the peloton for about six weeks. There was bad news also for Arjan Elferink of the Axa team, resulting from an incident in the Dutch opener, Ster van Zwolle. His nose is broken in two places from an elbow by Wilco Zuijderwijk in the final sprint. However, there was no clear proof, as the jury didn't see anything and on the TV, they didn't show it. The two riders decided to solve the problem together. Axa Team manager Cor Kiewik said: "Zuijderwijk said somebody pulled his shorts. That was the reason he hit backwards with his elbow. That was the place where Elferink was. If there was any proof, it should be a bad day for Zuijderwijk. I think then it would be the end of his career." Elferink, who will be out of the peloton for three weeks and Zuijderwijk don't want to talk about the affair. A few seasons ago Zuijderwijk was suspended because he hit a member of the organisation of the Dutch national championships. Also, as a professional he was fired by Jan Raas because he caused a disturbance in a hotel. Priem wants to come back The ex-TVM team director, Cees Priem wants to make a comeback to cycling. He has done nothing in a team managing sense , since TVM left the sport. He will start his team in cooperation with Libema (the owner of fun parks such as Beekse Bergen and Autotron). Three wildcards for Amstel Gold Besides the 22 A-teams automatically entered, there are three wildcards for the Amstel Gold Race on April 22. The three have been announced as going to BankGiroloterij, Team Cologne and Palmans.
Hill goes under qualifyingAustralian sprint cyclist, Darren Hill overcame an important hurdle last night at round two of the Qantas Cup in the Adelaide Speed Dome. He rode under 10.5 seconds to go inside the Olympic qualifying time for the sprint event set by the national federation, and was the only cyclist at the meet to do so. Riding a new BT bike, he beat training partner Ryan Bayley by a good margin, but praised the 17-year old for making it to the final: "I can't believe how well he's going now, he's been training with me for the last year now and he seems to be coming up really well," Hill told AAP. South Australian Kane Selin, and Queensland's Danny Day were third and fourth respectively with the former also winning the Keirin. Gary Neiwand was disqualified for passing on the inside, despite crossing the finish first. The women's sprint final was won by Michelle Ferris who beat Lyndelle Higginson easily. Higginson however won the 200 and 500 m time trials.
Zülle out of Paris-NiceAlex Zülle will not start in Paris-Nice on March 5. The Banesto rider claims he is not in good enough shape to take the week long event. Team manager Eusebio Unzue said that "there is no progress. He will try and gain some fitness in the Tour of Murcia," he said. |