News for March 28, 2000

Mapei takes a low key approach

Italian super team, Mapei-Quick step will start in today's "Driedaagse van De Panne" (Three Days of De Panne), the last Belgian race before the Ronde van Vlaanderen on Saturday. They have not been able to choose their strongest team for the event, although Michele Bartoli, Johan Museeuw, Daniele Nardello, Wilfried Peeters, Tom Steels, Andrea Tafi, David Tani, and Stefano Zanini will likely give a few other teams a scare. With Bartoli capable of launching impressive attacks with a heavily strapped knee, as he did in Milan San Remo, it will be interesting to see how he fares.

Rivals, Farm Frites have made one change to their usual line up, with Remco van der Ven replacing Wim Vansevenant in the team, as the latter is suffering from a cold. The squad is as follows: Geert van Bondt, Serguei Ivanov, Andreas Klier, Servais Knaven, Jans Koerts, Peter van Petegem, Remco van der Ven, and Glenn Magnusson

Ronde van Vlaanderen

The speculations have already started as to who's riding and how well. We know that VDB is out, however Dutchman Michael Boogerd will also not start, after his injury in the Setmana Catalana has forced him off for a little. He visited the chiropractor today, before deciding not to start next Sunday. He wishes to have a day's rest before the Tour of the Basque country, that starts the following week. He still intends on doing the Ardennes classics and the Amstel Gold.

Jo Planckaert is a little circumspect about his chances, saying that although he had a good race in Dwars door Vlaanderen (despite not quite being there at the end), he was not feel so strong during the E3 Harelbeke and the Brabantse Pijl on the weekend. His morale is good though, and he will ride the Driedaagse van De Panne. No Frank, "he can begin the race in bed," laughed Planckaert, who added that the team is still strong.

Cecchi Gori

Mapei's Italian based wing managed a victory in last week's Settimana Ciclista Internazionale (Memorial Cecchi Gori) with Paolo Bettini's triumph on Sunday. Although he had to fight off a strong attack on the last stage by Fontanelli, Piccoli and Pinotti, the 26 year old and his team managed to keep their grip on the jersey. Bettini won two stages, and survived the mountains to record the victory

"In the last stage, I was calm because I knew I had a strong and well disciplined team," said Bettini to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The rider has won 10 races now in his career, but will probably take a supporting role in the races to come - the Tour of the Basque Country, Fleche Wallone, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the Amstel Gold. Then, a race in Larciano and the Tour of Tuscany, a rest period and a couple of stage races before the Tour de France.

Fifth placed Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) was a little unhappy with his results. "In the past, whenever I have made the break at the end, I have won. This year, I have tried similar attacks (not only in the Memorial) but I only have a collection of five second places," he lamented. "Now I am hoping for the Ardennes classics."

Julich not retiring

The rumours reported yesterday that US Credit Agricole rider, Bobby Julich is retiring are false, according to all sources, both official and otherwise. He was involved in a fall in the Criterium International on the weekend, however he was not seriously injured and will be back competing within a week.

He has had an up and down year so far, with a third place in the Tour of the Mediterranean but a bad Paris-Nice where he withdrew due to food poisoning. The latest crash may have dented his morale a little, but teammates say that he keen to compete again soon.

Australian track squad named today

Cycling Australia will today announce the long version of track team to contest the Olympic Games in September. Approximately 20 riders will be named, with the selection being pared down to 11 men and 3 women by July 23. The 20 member squad is not exclusive however, and those that are not named today have until June 1 to show that they are worthy of nomination.

This would take the form of riding an official qualifying time i.e. one with electronic timing and preferably on a velodrome similar to the Sydney Olympic velodrome, according to Michael Flynn, high performance manager at CA.

The squad will be posted on cyclingnews later today.

Baldinger out for two months

In a fall at the GP E3 Harelbeke, Team Nürnberger’s captain Dirk Baldinger (from Telekom last season) broke his arm at the elbow and also fractured the wrist. This will keep him from riding for some six weeks while the whole arm is in plaster. It will take another two weeks before Baldinger can race again.

He will be able to use his home trainer all the time though, so will not lose all his condition. The injury is not considered to be complicated by the doctors at the University clinic in Freiburg. The accident happened at a traffic island where a rider in front of Baldinger turned in front of him at 50 kph.

Tour of Berlin

The oldest German stage race, the Tour of Berlin, will have some exotic guests this year, including the national team from Cuba. Cuba's Pedro Pablo Perez is one of Latin America's best riders. National teams from Russia, Moldavia, Denmark, Finland and Germany will also take part. Italy and Netherlands will be represented by amateur teams. Berlin’s main teams: Telekom u23, Peugeot Radteam and Bianchi-Team will be there and there will also be a selection from other Berlin teams in addition to a team from the North region.

The stages:

Opening Crit - June 8:  Tauentzien (No times taken)
Stage 1  - June 9: Circuit in Hellersdorf, 150 km
Stage 2 - June 10: Circuit in Rudow, 120 km
Stage 3 - June 11: Berlin - Neuruppin, 200 km
Stage 4 - June 11: ITT in Neuruppin, 25 km
Stage 5 - June 12: Neuruppin - Berlin, 160 km
 

Kiwi MTB exploits

New Zealand MTB riders have shown some early season form in the recent Sea Otter Classic and Napa World Cup (both in the USA). John Kirkcaldie (2nd at the recent NZ national MTB downhill series) managed 8th and 9th in the downhill and dual slalom at Sea Otter, saying afterwards that it was "pretty good for no training this season." He has signed a pro contract with Rocky Mountain International team this season.

Sadie Parker, New Zealand's second ranked female MTB rider (after Susy Pryde) rode in the Napa World cup to finish 48th behind Mary Grigson of Australia, while Kashi Leuchs and Laurence Mote finished 47th and 95th in the men.

Round Two of the Cross country Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup is to be held in Mazatlan, Mexico next weekend, and is a chance to gain important Olympic qualification points for the kiwi cross country riders.

Source: NZMBA

Jason Phillips successful

30 year old Team Coast rider, Jason Phillips (Aus) had a strong performance in the Köln-Schuld-Frechen last week where he finished second. The 185 km race was the second major German national event of the year, and was conducted in fairly poor conditions (rain, strong wind and temperatures just above zero). At the halfway point in the village of Eifel, Phillips had teammates Anton Chantyr, Alexander Aeschbach, Simone Mori, and Vassil Jakovlev. Mori punctured and was DQ'd for taking Aeschbach's wheel (no team car), and Phillips had only two teammates left.

With 25 km to go, a group of seven escaped, with Phillips being among them. As he knew Cologne quite well, he attacked with 3 km to go, however was caught. It was then the Dutch rider, David Orvahlo (19) who attacked, hold off the others for the win. The sprint for second was very close between Phillips and van Dartel, with the former prevailing after the race jury looked at the video.