Second edition news for January 19, 2000

Commesso Down Under

In the midst of 40 degree heat in the south east of Australia, Saeco-Gaggia have started their 2000 season. Not without incident so far: team member, Dario Pieri managed to crash into a car whilst out training last Saturday, but was cleared to ride in the tour after having two days rest. Also, Valentino China has had problems with tendonitis of the knee.

For Comesso's part, he is training well "I am in good health, and I have had some good training, for example on Sunday, I rode 190 kilometers. I will determine in the race how my condition is. I am treating this race as part of my preparation, however I would like to try and ride a good stage. We are staying 30-40 kms from the stage starts, so sometimes I will ride to the start," said Commesso.

The Italian Champion is not yet 25 years old, and is training with complete dedication to rid himself of any extra kilos. "Commesso he has worked scrupulously," emphasizes Guido Bontempi, the sport director of the team, "and is far leaner than he was in ’99, when he began with this race. Then, as well as weighing more, he was less prepared. He feels more responsibility now."

Commesso agrees with this: "I understand that with the tricolour jersey on my shoulders I cannot take things too easily. I have the eyes of everyone watching and I wish to honour the jersey."

"Things have gone well for me up till now: In December, I trained 20 days in the Canary's, with Figueras. And from the 7th of January I was here in Australia. I hope to gain a good result in a stage, in order to try my condition. After this race, I will return home on the 24th. One week later, I will leave again for South Africa, where I will ride the Rapport Toer. I debut in Italy in the Tirreno-Adriatico," concludes the Neapolitan.

The Tour Down Under will conclude Sunday in Adelaide, with an expected total crowd of 400,000 following over all the stages.

Rabobank eases pressure - in a tent

Rabobank will use a low pressure tent in an experiment to find healthier ways to increase red blood cells of its riders. It is not decided who of the riders that will act as guinea pigs according to sports director Theo de Rooy. "It will under all circumstances suit our program," he says.

The chairman of the Dutch cycling union, Joop Atsma, is familiar with the effect: "This corresponds to the low pressure cabins that we used in our preparations for the World's in Colombia in 1995. It is up to the individual athlete to decide whether to use the tent or not, but as far as I know it is not harmful in any way."

US Olympic MTB qualifying event

The US mountain bike Olympic Long Team qualifying race will be held on March 4-5 at Estrella Regional Park in Goodyear, Ariz. The Olympic Long Team is comprised of athletes who have met the respective disciplines' qualifying procedures and are among the pool of athletes who are eligible to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Cycling team.

The event takes place in conjunction with the Hedgehog Hustle, the first round of the 2000 National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) American Mountain Bike Series. Goodyear is located 25 miles west of Phoenix. The women's event is scheduled for Sat., March 4, while the men's race will be Sunday, March 5.

A component of USA Cycling's selection process for the 2000 Olympic Games involves providing a race at which all US professional cross-country athletes can compete for a spot on the 2000 US Olympic Long Team. The top US male and female finishers in the mountain bike 2000 Olympic Long Team qualifying event will be named to the 2000 US Olympic Long Team, provided they finish in the top-three.

The US Olympic Cycling Team will be announced later this summer.

US World MTB qualifying

USA Cycling have announced that they will fund riders in the following categories for the World mountain bike championships: elite cross-country men and women, espoir (under-23) cross-country men, junior cross-country men and women, and junior downhill men and women.

In 2000, the United States can take the following number of athletes in each discipline to the World Mountain Bike Championships: cross-country elite men and under-23 (5); cross-country junior women (6); cross-country elite women and junior men (7); elite downhill (men and women) and junior downhill (men and women) (7).

Qualification will be based on several criteria, including riders' ranking on May 28, performances in international and domestic events, and performance capability on the 2000 World Mountain Bike Championship course.

Australian events

The Austral wheelrace, one of the best known Australian track events is set to take place on February 12. This year, there is more money than ever for the women/U19 events with sponsor Teska Carson providing additional funds. A total of $2000 will be up for grabs, making it one of the richest women's track events in the country.

Another new event, this time on the road, will be the Canberra-Cooma Classic, to be held on February 26/27. Stage one will be 100km from Tuggeranong to Cooma (uphill), and stage two will be a criterium on the morning of the 27th in Cooma.

The event is a lead up race for the Australian and international women's teams competing the week after in Australia's major women's road race, the Tour de Snowy. Cyclists of all standards will be able to race in a choice of six grades.

Event Co-ordinator Shayne Borger said, " The event is attracting great interest from the top Australian women riders, including locals Tracey Gaudry (ranked 5th in the world) and Alison Wright, who are in training for the Tour de Snowy and Olympic selection in 2000. The best local male riders, such as Denis Mungovern, are also keen to race cyclists from all over Australia in their own backyard."

Spanish World's squad

The list of Spanish cyclocrossers for the World Championships at the end of next week has been announced. They are as follows:

Elite men: David Seco, Francisco Mena, Francisco Pla and Oier Egaña

Espoirs: Juan Bello, David Salas, Iván Martínez, Haitz Ortiz, Arkaitz Ordorika and Juan González

Junior men: David Estirado, José Antonio Díaz, Koldobika Aguirre, Aitor Hernández, Julen Zubero, Gorka Mendizabal, Egoitz Murgoitio

Women: Aida Nuño and Rocío Gamonal

Armstrong awarded

Lance continues to add to his collection of trophys. The latest is the prestigious Jesse Owens International trophy, awarded to the athlete who "best personifies excellence in athletic performance and promotes cooperation and understanding among people of all nations." American sprinter, Maurice Greene finished second, and Australian swimmer, Ian Thorpe fourth.

Giro 2001 from Pescara

Pescara is the likely site for the start of the Giro d'Italia 2001. Discussions have been held between the organizer and the authorities of the Abruzzo region on the Italian east cost at the height of Rome along the Italian "boot". The parcours for the race will be revealed on 11th of November this year