News for February 5, 2000

Virenque fit

French Polti rider, Richard Virenque claims he is ready to start the new season in the Tour of the Mediterranean, according to AFP. His aim is to return to the rider that he was in the Tour de France, as well as make the French Olympic and World's teams. A turnaround from the end of 1998, when he announced his retirement from cycling.

"I am already at a better position than this time last year. I am calm, I had a very good winter, for a cyclist. I exercised, I rested, I focussed myself and I benefited from my family since I became a father for the second time, with a little boy Dario. During the winter, we prepared for the birth. All is very well and I am the happiest of fathers," he said to AFP.

"My principal objective remains the Tour. After the Tour, the classics of August strongly interest me. Like each year, I will be at the front in races like Milan-San Remo or Liege-Bastogne-Liege, but I am, and will remain a tour rider. July and August is my period. I do not believe that that will change."

He believes that he will be in better shape than last year, and will aim for the Polka Dot jersey again, although he also believes that he can win the big one. Also, the Olympic Games beckon, as he was 5th in the Atlanta Olympics and would like to represent France again in Sydney, but has not made a solid commitment yet.

Virenque was a little critical of his Polti team last year, saying that "I would have wished to be supported even more, but that will perhaps be done in the future." Although he remains popular in France, he has many fans amongst the Italians. "With the public, the contact always was good. I even have the feeling that there are more people here who support me, and that many people would like me to win the Tour," he said.

Finally, when asked where he now stood in the Festina affair, he replied "I am like you. I do not have any news. I do not know where it stands."

Zürich businessmen save Tour de Suisse féminin

One of the major women's tours of the year, the Tour de Suisse féminin (Aug. 30 - Sep. 2) was threatening to stop this year due to lack of sponsorship. However, almost at the last minute, two Zürich entrepreneurs, Romano Spadaro and Walter Frey stepped in to provide the race with the necessary funds to continue. The organisers had only three hours left to supply the UCI with a written guarantee before they arranged this deal.

The two main companies involved are International Service Systems (ISS) and car importer, Emil Frey AG. They will replace Crédit Suisse and Winterthur Insurance, who have been involved in numerous Swiss races in the past.

Boogerd stays with Rabobank

Michael Boogerd has extended his contract with Rabobank until 2002. His contract originally was going to end in 2000, however the Dutch world number 2 wanted to stay with the team. "I ride with great pleasure on this team, while financially I make good progress. I've now got appreciation for what I worked for. This contract gives rest and security," he said.

Benfica with provisional license

The Portuguese division II team, Benfica has been granted a provisional license by the UCI, despite their sponsor not depositing the 'official' required salary guarantee in the bank. The license has been issued until the end of next week, allowing the team to participate in the RDP/Algarve Trophy this Sunday.

According to vice-president Jose Manuel Antunes, the Benfica squad "were always enrolled, and had a pledge of payment that was equivalent legally to the bank guarantee. This was accepted by the auditor of the Federation accounts, but the UCI wanted to stick to the regulations to the letter."

Hushovd asthmatic

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

The promising Norwegian Thor Hushovd's debut as a contracted pro is postponed to the Classic Haribo in France February 21. He was due to start in the GP Ouverture and the Etoile de Besseges, however he couldn't due to a light form of asthma. According to Hushovd himself there's no danger to his career, but it is of course a set back.

"I wanted to be in shape early this season, get some good results and a good start. That would have boosted my self confidence and my motivation as a professional rider. Now I will get a tougher start of the season," said the U23 ITT World Champion of 1998 to Norwegian newspaper Faedrelandsvennen.

Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne overflow

The organiser of the Belgian semi-classic, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Marc Vandevyvere, has a small problem. There are at least 35 teams interested in starting his race, to be held the day after the Belgian season opener (Het Volk) on February 27. However, he has only enough room for 25 teams.

"We suffer from a sort of luxury problem", said Vandevyvere. "We must turn away 10 teams and thank them for their interest. Our startlist will have riders from the following teams: Palmans, Lotto, Tonissteiner, Vlaanderen 2002, Collstrop, Spar-Oki and Ville De Charleroi. Italy will have Mapei - Quick Step, Mobilvetta Design, Lampre - Daikin, Cantina Tollo, Vini Caldirola and Team Polti."

"From France we have: AG2R Prevoyance, Festina, Cofidis, Credit Agricole, Big Mat Auber, La Francaise des Jeux and Jean Delatour. From the Netherlands, Farm Frites, Rabobank and Batavus. The German Telekom team and the Danish Memory Card Jack & Jones will make up the 25 complete teams," said Vandevyvere.

Artificial EPO tester?

As part of the current Speedskating World Championships in Milwaukee (USA), all of the competitors are required to undergo a blood test. A new instrument (the Bayer Advia 120) is being tested, claiming to be able to detect artificial EPO use. If a skater refuses the test, they will be not allowed to start.

The Bayer Advia 120 works with several parameters, and the 50% hematocrit limit isn't that important. The International Skate Union (ISU) decided this week to use the instrument during the World Championships, although it has been tested in cross-country skiing. It costs around $US 50,000, and the ISU is the first sporting union that will use the new method on a large-scale.

No EPO for van Eijden

German track sprinter Jan van Eijden, 23, has a naturally high haematocrit value, according to investigations at the University of Freibourg and the UCI laboratory in Lausanne. Van Eijden had a haematocrit value above the permitted 50 percent at the World Track Championships in Berlin last October, and was not permitted to start.

The results of the blood test caused some discussion since haematocrit levels are of little significance to a sprinter who relies more on muscle strength, and anaerobic power. The test found a natural fluctuations in his haematocrit level from 47.6 to 52 per cent and the UCI have accepted that van Eijden might have been at the upper end of his range at the time of the World's.

Streel stays out of court

Belgian ITT Champion Marc Streel has given up the idea of suing Memory Card Jack & Jones for firing him after he was tested with a high haematocrit level after the GP des Nations last fall, according to newspaper Berlingske Tidende. Streel now has a contract with the Belgian second division team Ville de Charleroi.

German PM may cut sport funding

The German Chancellor (prime minister), social democrat, Gerhard Schröder warned that the German government might lower its contribution to sports, unless the sports movement can't cope with the doping problem.

"Unscrupulous trainers that take to these means to interfere with the natural bodily and spiritual development of young people are highly criminal," said the chancellor in an interview with the sports magazine, Kicker. "Doping hurts sports, and the reputation of sports, violently," he said.

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