Second edition news for March 27, 2000

Julich to retire?

Leading American rider Bobby Julich (Credit Agricole) was caught in a 30-rider pile up during stage one of the Criterium International and is reported to have made comments that he wants to retire at the end of this season, however, there is still no confirmation from team management.

At Criterium International, the Philadephia based rider was taken to a hospital in Oloron for treatment on an injured elbow. However, apparently Julich has not suffered any breakages and team manager, Michel Laurent, said that his program will be unchanged, with a ride in the Route Adelie scheduled this Friday, followed by the GP Rennes on Sunday.

Spanish rider Alberto Martinez (Euskaltel) was involved in the same fall, and had to get 50 stitches for a facial injury. Last year's Championship of Zurich winner, Gregorz Gwiazdowski (Pol, Francaise des Jeux) suffered head injuries but will be able to ride again in a few days according to team manager Marc Madiot.

Mattan: soldiers on without Frank

After his second place in the Brabantse Pijl yesterday, Cofidis' Nico Mattan is trying to fill the gaping hole left by the whims and sicknesses of a certain Frank Vandenbroucke. VDB was in bed with a temperature, and declined to start in either of the Flemish races on the weekend, and will probably not contest the early World Cup races now.

When asked if Cofidis was "dead" without VDB, Mattan replied that they had other riders (Peers, Farazijn, and him) to perform in the Classics. "Our team will not starve yet," he said.

According to reports, Mattan refused to chase Museeuw in Sunday's race, as he did not wish to bring the Dane Rolf Sörensen up to his former team mate. "Johan and I were teammates for three years, and outside of racing we are good friends. Sure I didn't want to help Sörensen bring back Museeuw. But that's not just because we were friends - I had nothing to gain by helping Sörensen," said the rider who has just one professional victory in his career.

Sörensen commented afterwards that he received no help from Museeuw in the race after Mattan had attacked towards the end. He could do nothing, with two strong riders working against him and had to be content with third. However, he was pleased with his form for the Ronde, coming on top of an eighth place in Milan San Remo.

Zabel for Flanders?

Telekom's team director, Walter Godefroot believes that Erik Zabel can continue his World Cup success this weekend in Flanders, with a win in the Ronde. "Erik in his San Remo form has a chance to win in Flanders," he said. Zabel already has eight victories this year, with two last week in the Setmana Catalana in Spain. He can certainly sprint, but showed that he has improved his climbing by finishing in the front group (and winning) on the toughest stage of the Setmana. The cobbles of Flanders are a different challenge, but with Zabel's form at the moment, he will give Museeuw and Van Petegem a run for their money.

In other news from Telekom, Jan Ullrich and Andreas Klöden spent some time training together on the weekend, before their scheduled team training camp in Badenweiler begins Monday. Ullrich's next race will be on April 4 (Circuit de la Sarthe), a full three week break since he pulled out of the Tirreno-Adriatico. Reports say that he is in good condition still, due to the many training and racing kilometres that he rode at the beginning of the season.

Ullrich intends to be close to top form again on May 1, in the Rund um de Henninger Turm, said his manager Wolfgang Strohband.

Bartko out and more injuries

World pursuit champion, Robert Bartko has suffered as serious fall in training that has put his shoulder out for several weeks, according to German newsagency, DPA. He was riding with a group on the roads around Berlin when one of the front riders turned unexpectedly causing Bartko to fall. Amongst those injured included four-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist Guido Fulst, however Bartko was the most seriously hurt.

This was another blow in the German track team's Olympic preparation, coming on top of Soren Lausberg's recent Achilles tendon injury (two months out). Another rider injured during last weekend include Dirk Baldinger (Nürnberger) in the GP E3 Harelbeke.

Celestino overcomes knee problems

The winner of two World Cup races late last year (HEW Cyclassics and the Tour of Lombardy), Mirko Celestino (Polti) is looking forward to his classics campaign this year at last. He was suffereing from a knee injury that prevented him from being in good form by San Remo, however team reports say that he is ok to ride now.

In 1998, Celestino was third in the GP E3 in Harelbeke, however he did not manage to place in the top group in this year's event. Similarly, he rode in the Brabantse Pijl on Sunday and will ride the Three Days of De Panne starting on Tuesday as a "fast track" to gain some form for the coming spring classics.

15 year old dies

In the Netherlands, a 15 year old cyclist has died whilst competing in the Ronde van Del in Gulpen. The rider, from Weert died in hospital after falling on a bridge during the first lap. Another cyclist had to go to hospital, but survived. The mayor of Gulpen cancelled the rest of the programme.

Djernis back with Ritchey

Danish rider Henrik Djernis will join friend and former teammate Thomas Frischknecht at team Ritchey, according to Swiss velomedia. The Dane was a triple world champion with Ritchey between 1992 and 1994 - the only MTB rider to win three consecutive world championships. Italian espoir rider, Martino Fruet will also join Ritchey.