News for March 5, 2000

Another Colombian kidnapped

After the disappearance and return of one of Colombia's racing stars, Oliviero Rincon, it has happened again in Colombia. Luis Herrera, who won the Tour of Spain in 1987 and was probably one of the biggest figures in Colombian cycling, has been kidnapped from his home at Fusagasuga in central Colombia.

Police report that he was taken yesterday, when a group of masked men broke into his home but they did not know yet who was responsible. In Rincon's case, it was the National Liberation Army (ELN) who were the culprits, but he was released 10 days later.

Herrera retired from cycling in 1992, after a successful career in which he twice gained the king of the mountains jersey in the Tour, as well as coming fifth overall in 1987 when he won the Vuelta.

Merckx: keen to impress

Mapei rider, Axel Merckx is looking forward to tomorrow's Paris Nice, where he would like to show his team and the public that he does have the potential to ride better than his results to date indicate. It is tough living in your father's shadow, but Axel is certainly a different rider although he will of course never be in the same league as Eddy. He would like to make something more out of his career, which has been interspersed with glimmers of success here and there.

He did not have a good season last year, his worst moment coming when he was forced to retire from the Tour after a stomach virus stopped him in his tracks. All throughout the season though, he could never find his legs, and was constantly tired. A common problem with top level athletes, and it is not easily fixed. "I thought that my motor was bigger than my workload," he reflected in an interview with Belgian press recently. "I could not find another reason for my lack of power, and constant tiredness."

"Now, I know that in the coming months I can start afresh. I have re-evaluated my program, and there is more space for rest and recuperation. No more hectic schedules. I am not sure yet though whether the Tour will be in my program - we will select the team later in the year. However, I would like to ride the Vuelta, and am interested in the World Championships although it is hard to get a place in the team. Last year, I got third in the National Championships, but I reluctantly did not ride the World's," he said.

Merckx rates Paris-Nice very highly, and he will not have Frank Vandenbroucke to contend with, although the latter is probably another level above. "I don't know why I like this race - maybe it's the travelling along the coast, it is a really beautiful course. It is not too long but long enough, with a couple of time trials and mountains. It is also nice when the sun shines a little, especially in the time trial up to the Col d'Eze," says Merkcx.

He will try and perform better than his two 13th places in stages last year, when he was keen for a podium place: "I made the selection on the second day last year with the Rabobank riders taking control. I was up to third place in the classification, but then I succumbed to that weakness in the legs and body, which never really left me for the rest of the year."

He has a good deal racing in his legs already, having ridden the Tour of the Mediterranean, the Tour du Haut Var, and the Tour of Valencia. But, he doesn't want to push his 'diesel' too much just yet.

Tour of Romandie gets a new sponsor

The Hors Categorie Tour de Romandie has has an increase in support, with Post Swiss coming on board as a sponsor. The Swiss postal service have indicated that they would like to support the last stage of the event for the next two years, which will be known as the "Tour de Romandie der Post" stage.

In addition, the interest in this race has extended to Germany, where over 2000 cyclotourists are expected to ride the same route as the last stage from Aigle to Geneva on May 7. It is 177 km, but there is the option of a "short" 92 km. This event was highly successful last year, when the last riders crossed the line shortly before Cipollini won the stage from Laurent Jalabert and the rest of the group.

GP Geneva called off

According to Swiss velomedia, the GP von Genf (Geneva), scheduled for April 2, will not go ahead this year due to sponsorship difficulties. According to the organisers, the Vélocipedique Genevoise (UVG), the 72nd edition of the race will be held next year, as it is anticipated that the sponsorship problems will be overcome.

Pantani crashes

Marco Pantani has been involved in an accident whilst driving to his home in Cesenatico. The Pirate managed to crash his Mercedes into a pole, quite close to his house. Pantani was unhurt, but the car was a write off.