News for July 6, 2000

Walsh succeeded by Bannan

The board of Cycling Australia have announced the appointment of Shayne Bannan to the position of Head Coach, effective at the end of the year. Bannan, 38, will succeed Charlie Walsh in that role, as the latter will retire at the end of the year. Shayne Bannan has been involved in coaching Australian cyclists for over 14 years, and has been involved with the Australian Institute of sport track, road and mountain bike teams since 1987.

Bannan was one of several coaches to apply for the position, however was unsurprisingly given the nod by Cycling Australia. He is based for much of the road season in Italy with the men's team there, and he has over the years made this the base for the Australian endurance program.

He is currently in Buttgen, Germany with the Olympic track endurance squad, and said that he felt quite excited about the challenge. Charlie Walsh has been an institution in Australian cycling for an era, and Bannan aims to build on that.

Cyclist dies during race

A rider has been killed during a race held on Independence Day in the US. 27 year old Carl Zach was competing in the Criterium of Independence, held in Fox Point, Milwaukee, WI when the tragic accident occurred. Zach was one of three riders in the category III event who were hit by an ambulance on the last lap during the sprint. One of the other cyclists sustained broken bones, while a second suffered minor injuries. Zach (Cook Law Cycling Team) was not so lucky however.

According to witnesses, the three cyclists had their heads down sprinting for the line and did not see the ambulance pull onto the course en route to the local Fire Station. An investigation is being launched into the incident, and the North Shore Fire Department are conducting their own examination of the two men who were driving the ambulance.

Vanderaerden signed for Mapei

Former Belgian top classics rider, Eric Vanderaerden has now signed on as a sport director for Mapei for the year 2001, after Patrick Lefèvre who is quitting to start on his own with the new Domo team. VDA is 38 years old, has won the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Five stages of the Tour de France are also on his list. He is not going to be number one leader, as Lefevere was, but instead take the job of Marc Sergeant, also with Domo.

Stayer's European Championship in September

After a year without an international stayers championships, an event for the European title will be held in Chemnitz, Germany, September 29-30. Swiss title defender Hanskurt Brand and German Carsten Podlesch are the favourites on the Chemnitz velodrome. This is considered to be one of the best for this speciality where the cyclists ride behind big motorcycles.