News for July 28, 2000Squinzi newsGiorgio Squinzi, the Italian president of Mapei, has been invited to appear in front of the anti-doping commission of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). Squinzi made these comments during the Tour de France, saying that it is not possible to come in the top 5 without resorting to blood doping. He did not name any names, but both the UCI and CONI took a dim view of his accusations. In other news, virtual team boss Cees Priem will have talks with Giorgio Squinzi next week about his own return to the peloton. Priem has found a sponsor for his new team, but will keep open all options. "I haven't made a definitive decision about the future. There are some possibilities. Mapei asked me for a meeting, so I'll talk to them. It is one of the possibilities. In August the sponsors think and talk about the budgets for the new season. So there isn't too much time."
Francaise des Jeux: still two speedsMarc Madiot and his division II team, La Francaise des Jeux, has once more accused the rest of the cycling world, including the media, as being at two speeds, i.e. one portion is using drugs, while another is not. The size of the former portion appears to be quite big according to Madiot who spoke out at a press conference after the Tour de France. "For us, the fight against doping has a higher priority than sporting success," he said. "Everyone can draw their own conclusions from that." While he did not accuse anyone directly, he went on to say that "our enterprise accepts that we can only obtain moderate results in this period of transition, in which cycling is at the moment. However it is amazing that because of our weak results, certain members of the media make negative comments about our riders because they have chosen to go the hard way. This same media also talks about the errors of the sport." In terms of results, Francaise des Jeux had a fairly poor Tour de France, not managing to win a stage and having Xavier Jan as their best man on GC at 76th. The team came second last in the team classification in addition. However, Francaise des Jeux' sponsor, a mainly state owned French Lottery collector, was surprised at Madiot's comments that their performance was because of the "two speed" situation, and rejected them.
Armstrong in New York
Fresh off his second Tour de France win, Lance Armstrong is now doing the various promotional activities expected of him back home. He is in New York at the moment with wife Kristen promoting his book "It's Not About The Bike", about his journey through cancer and winning his first Tour de France. New York Mayor Giuliani declared Wednesday July 26 to be "Lance Armstrong Day" in honour of the man. He has already been interviewed many times, including a spot on ABC's Good Morning America where, somewhat ironically, his talk lasted longer than their coverage of the final stage. Amongst his next scheduled racing appointments is the GP Eddy Merckx, a two man time trial on August 27, which he will ride with his teammate Viatcheslav Ekimov. Wüst not happyFestina's Tour de France stage winner, and holder of the Polka Dot and Green Jerseys, Marcel Wüst, has publicly criticised the German Federation again for not considering him for the Olympic team. Wüst did not make the nine man short list, and told German paper "Die Welt" that it was "a bitter pill to swallow, without water". He was overlooked as the team's sprinter in favour of Erik Zabel, but thought that he deserved to be in the preselected squad at least. However, the German selection criteria are "incomprehensible" according to Wüst, as they don't take into account a German Championship or the UCI world ranking. Wüst has had 110 wins during his career, including stage wins in all Grand Tours. His rival Zabel has had slightly more, and is certainly a favourite for the Olympic title. However, could there be room for two sprinters in the German squad? Other likely contenders are Jan Ullrich, Jens Voigt, Steffen Wesemann and Andreas Klöden. The German selection issues are certainly not isolated as can be seen below.
Sunderland to courtReaders, Australian and non-Australian alike will be familiar with Scott Sunderland, an Australian professional rider who has based himself in Belgium for many years and currently rides for the Palmans-Ideal team. The careers ups and downs of Scott have been well chronicled in his diary on cyclingnews, and are widely read. The latest chapter involves his non-selection in the Australian Olympic road team (announced last week), a decision which he feels was unjust. He decided to appeal to the Cycling Australia Tribunal, along with four other cyclists: Kathy Watt, Brent Dawson and Steven Wooldridge. Their cases are scheduled to be heard today. The following is an article written by Geoff Newling that appeared in today's Northern Daily Leader, a local paper in Scott's hometown of Inverell, NSW. Inverell cyclist Scott Sunderland heads to court today to try and earn a berth in the 2000 Olympics. The 33-year-old professional cyclist is one of four Australian cyclists, including Kathy Watt, taking their case to a Cycling Australia Tribunal today. The former Australian road racing champion, who was second in this year's Australian road race championship, is disillusioned and upset with his non-selection in the Australian road racing team to compete at the Sydney Olympics. He is also upset by his notification by e-mail of his non-selection. The notification left him just half an hour to lodge his appeal before the appeal deadline closed. Sunderland's non-selection in the five-man Australian road team was made even more disappointing by his non-selection as one of two reserves. That meant Cycling Australia officials believed him to to be not in the top seven riders. After beating all bar one rider home in the Australian titles earlier this year he is non-plussed by the lack of credit given to the national championship at which all the leading Australian riders, and those selected in the Australian team, rode in. Unfortunately it appears to be a continuation of previous selection omissions. In 1986 he won the Australian road racing championship as an teenager but was left out of the Australian Commonwealth Games team. He then headed overseas to ride as an amateur before turning professional in 1990. Not coming through the Australian Institute of Sport cycling program may have been a major drawback for Sunderland, as he has always fended for himself and organised his own career. In 1996 he thought he didn't have to do much to make the Olympic team after some outstanding performances in Europe. But he was overlooked for the Olympic team, took it on the chin and didn't appeal. This time around he is eager to press his claims for selection. If unsuccessful at today's Tribunal he will take his battle to the Court of Arbitration and the Australian media.
No Belgian time trial title for Nico MattanIn Belgium, the national time trial championship is organized on August 13. A little bit late for a Sydney ticket, but probably good enough for a start in the World Championships in October. Nico Mattan (Cofidis) had good results in the long time trial in the Tour de France, but he will not start in the Belgian championship. "If I had known about it earlier, maybe I would have started. But nobody said anything about this championship. I was hardly at home for the last two months. First the preparation for the Tour and than the Tour de France itself. And in our Cofidis team, nobody is interested in Belgian titles. By the way, the timing is bad as well. One day after the World Cup in San Sebastian." 30 riders are allowed to start on August 13. Until now, 22 professional riders will start: Aernouts, Bracke, Eric De Clercq, De Meester, Streel, the Scheirlinckx brothers, Thijs, Leukemans, Trouvé, Demeyere, L'Hoir, Marichal, Verbrugghe, Hulsmans, Hoste, Tom Steels, Corvers, Gilmore, Vanhaecke, Van Landeghem and Roesems. The last 8 places are for elite riders without contracts.
Tchmil signs earlyLotto's number one rider, Andrei Tchmil has signed for another season with the team, a little earlier than expected. The team had to move quickly because others have been scouting out the Belgian based veteran for UCI points. La Française des Jeux and Cofidis are teams that need them, and Italian teams Liquigas and Saeco showed some interest. Tchmil (37) said he will look for one year contracts from now on.
Ivanov to startSerguei Ivanov, who was not allowed to start in the Tour de France due to a high hematocrit, will ride for Farm Frites in the coming months. The advisor for Farm Frites, Peter Post said that "legally it's very difficult. Ivanov can start under UCI rules, so it's hard for us to say he can't". The contract between Ivanov and Farm Frites will end after this season.
More signings for MercuryGrowing US team Mercury has added two more riders to its roster on a trial basis. Australian Scott Davis and South African Kousie Loubser will ride as stagiaires in the latter part of the season. Both riders will join Floyd Landis and company at the Tour l'Avenir. Also, Cyclocross World Championship medallist, Tim Johnson, will ride the Tour of the Rockies under the Mercury Cycling Team banner, as well as selected road events, joining Phil Zajicek in the Mercury under 23 program. Scott Davis Born: 22 April 1979 Career Highlights: 1997 Junior World Champion Kousie Loubser Career Highlights: 2000 Tour of Malaysia: 3 top 10 stage finishes and 6th overall in points
Tim Johnson Born: Aug 5, 1977 Middleton, MA Career Highlights: 1999 Cyclocross World Championships Bronze Medalist Wordin Sports to take over Autotrader.comJohn Wordin Sports, Inc. will take over and run the Autotrader.com women's team for the 2001 season. The Title Sponsorship will not change and Mike Neel will remain as coach. The Team is currently ranked 2nd in the NRC standings for the 2000 season. Wordin will draw upon his experience as a successful sporting director of the Mercury team to lift the Autotrader.com riders to even greater heights. He will look at improving the overall sponsorship program and to bring in additional sponsors. |
