News for March 9, 2000German national coach killed on MallorcaRobert Lange, German national track coach, died on Tuesday in hospital in Palma de Mallorca from wounds suffered when he was hit by a car during a ride with another German leader, Peter Müller the day before. The car came in the opposite direction and had just overtaken some cyclists on a bend and obviously came too far out in the road. There was a frontal collision and Lange suffered severe head injuries and he was immediately taken to the hospital in Palma. The German national track team is on a training camp in Alcudia in the northern part of the island and the 52 year old Lange had the responsibility for the endurance riders on the team since 1997, but had worked with the German Cycling Federation since 1984. His major victory as a coach was the World Championships in team pursuit last October in Berlin. As an active he has won the German Omnium Championship. "In Robert Lange we are not only loosing a successful and competent trainer but also a sympathetic person," said the German Federation president, Manfred Böhmer, to the news agency DPA. The team will remain in Mallorca to train, despite the death of their coach, although they had strongly considered leaving. They were all reported to be suffering shock, and were understandably finding it very hard to motivate themselves to train. However, in the end the decision was made to stay because their coach would have wanted them to proceed.
More Spanish deathsIn addition to Robery Lange, there was more carnage on Spanish roads recently, as a 54 year-old cyclotourist was killed by car whilst out riding on a highway near Madrid. It was the 10th cyclist death on that road in the past six years, causing Maneul Perez, president of the RFEC (Spanish cycling federation) to react strongly. "In our country, the cyclist is not respected," he said. "Cycling has had a black year - there is a problem of driver education, although that is not the only problem." "It is a complicated situation in Spain, there is a Minister for traffic, cyclists and motorists. It is necessary to create separate sections for cyclists like they have in the Valencian community," said Perez, outlining the problems with broken shoulders on the roads, meaning that cyclists had to ride in the traffic.
Ullrich will start San RemoDespite rumours to the contrary, Telekom's Jan Ullrich will roll up on the start line of Milan San Remo on March 18 according to German press agency, DPA. A couple of days ago, it was reported that team director Walter Godefroot was having some reservations about using Jan as support for their number one rider, Erik Zabel. "I have always said that he does not have to start," said Godefroot. "He wants to and that is good." The Telekom team with Zabel will be aiming to bring his victory total to three in the event, which the sprinter has won in 1997 and 1998.
VDB not broke Frank Vandenbroucke, who did not start Paris-Nice due to a supected
broken wrist has undergone further tests (an echography and CT-scan)
in the Middelares Hospital in Deurne/Antwerpen. "Milan-San Remo? It's possible, as training. To put in kilometers
for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. But that will be difficult too, I have
to be perfect for Paris-Roubaix, Luik-Bastenaken-Luik and the Amstel
Gold Race."
Erik Dekker, who crashed out of Paris-Nice with a broken elbow, may
be back on the bike sooner than he thinks. In the Eemland Hospital in
Amersfoort the doctors have treated him with needles, and today he is
allowed to leave for home. Within a few days he will be able to start
on the hometrainer again. He has to come back to the hospital in one
and a half weeks for a checkup.
After overcoming her first hurdle to ride in this year's Olympic Games,
by qualifying for the 3000 m pursuit on Tuesday night, Kathy Watt is
now focussing on the national time trial championships to be held on
March 18.
The Australian national titles situation is a source of confusion
for many, as there are two sets of titles. Those in January were the
"open" events, which attract UCI points, but are not necessarily used
as big selection criteria for the Olympics. Watt finished 7th in the
"open" road race championships earlier this year.
However, the other women's national road time trial championship,
to be held next week, does not have any UCI points and is designed for
more domestic competitors to race. A tad confusing at times.
Watt will try and do well in this event, before switching back to
the track in the national track championships the following week. A
hard task, although the break between the two disciplines will be longer
(12 days) in the Olympics.
Another point to bear in mind is that even if cyclists do meet the
qualification criteria in terms of times, they may not be chosen for
the event if Cycling Australia decides not to enter any riders for it.
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