News for May 10, 2000Doping accusations against SavoldelliItalian Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco), recent winner of the Tour de Romandie and also one of the favourites for Giro d'Italia will be questioned by the anti doping commission of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). Savoldelli is one rider in a group inquired by the legal authorities of Bologna that have worked with the matter for some months. According to a CONI communiqué there is sufficient documentation for a case against Savoldelli. Savoldelli himself says that he is absolutely calm and that he finds it hard to understand CONI's motives. His preparations for the Giro will not be disturbed and he says that he as nothing to fear from an investigation. He was however, pleased with his victory in the Tour de Romandie last Sunday, pointing out that he'd improved in several areas. The fact that he attacked, rather than followed on the mountains gave him a lot of confidence but he said that he had worked hard for it. "The the last three weeks, I have twice ridden the Montecampione, three times the Croce Domini and three other 15 kilometre climbs," he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. He decided not to participate in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, preferring to put all his energies into the Giro and Romandie. Of course, the climbs will be tougher in the Giro, "but Romandie is a good thermometer of my condition," he said. "My temperature is good. The Giro will be decided in many areas: the last time trial will be important if the gaps are not clean by then. But there is also another time trial and a couple of mountain finishes. You must concentrate for the whole race in order not to fail."
Aebersold and Dekker in Rabobank Giro teamRabobank has nominated the following team for Giro d'Italia: Niki Aebersold, Erik Dekker, Aart Vierhouten, Steven de Jongh, Karsten Kroon, Matthé Pronk, Marcel Duijn, Coen Boerman and Addy Engels. Dierckxsens back for the Giro
The UCI lifted the ban on Belgian Champion Ludo Dierckxsens one week in advance. He will therefore be able to start in the Giro for Lampre-Daikin. Dierckxsens was taken out of the Tour last year by his team and then suspended by the UCI after having received medication without proper notification.
Pantani for Italy?Doubtful, but the Italian press would kill to see him front up to the Vatican on Saturday. Reports say that he is training well, and is in theory in good condition. He was even placed on the start list last week but denied that he would be taking part in the race when questioned. In a couple of days it will be 100% sure, although the 83rd edition of the Giro will go on regardless.
Another year for PalmansIn August the Belgian Palmans team will announce a decision about whether they will continue with cycling sponsorship. The team of Hendrick van Dijck, Mario de Clercq and Scott Sunderland are amongst the large number of division II professional teams, all vying for starts in the major races. However, main sponsor Charles Palmans thinks the team can stay in the peloton for another season. "We have had a lot of publicity. During the Amstel Gold Race and the Rund um Köln we got a lot of television airtime through Hendrik van Dijck. As a sponsor is that the best thing you can get. I think we can talk soon with mister De Meulenaere about continuing the team for the next year." With or without Van Dijck? "That's a open question. We want to keep him of course, but we must be able to pay him." At the moment the Palmans-team has some rest, taking in some training in Spain. They will come back racing in Belgium with the Belsele-Puyvelde race on May 17.
Van Kessel to leaveEgon van Kessel has been in a part time position as one of the team leaders of Farm Frites since January 1 of this year, with a contract due to run out at the end of the month. However, team manager, Jacques Hanegraaf said that he doesn't want to continue the part time contract. Today, Hanegraaf informed Van Kessel that he won't be going to the Giro d'Italia as part of the Farm Frites team. A possible replacement has been touted as ex-Telekom rider, Christian Henn. Hanegraaf knows Henn well from the time when he was the PR-man at Telekom.
Chiotti finishes with GiantAfter he revealed recently that took EPO to win the 1996 World MTB Championships, Frenchman Jerome Chiotti also said that he wished to continue riding for his current team, Giant. At the time, he did not think that it would cause the media reaction that it did, and that he would be able to ride for Giant as he has done since the beginning of the year. Apart from the EPO comments, the interview published in French magazine "Vélo Vert" also revealed that he fixed the 1999 French MTB championships with Miguel Martinez so that the latter would win. This led to disciplinary action from the French Federation, and it is possible that Chiotti will be stripped of his 1996 World Title and may be suspended from cycling for an indefinite period. His Giant team supported him for speaking about his past, but have agreed to terminate his contract at the request of Chiotti. The latter feels that he is no longer in "the right physical nor mental state to compete at the highest level that is expected of him," according to a release from the team. However, he appreciated their support. It is not known if and when Chiotti will be back, but he prefers to face the disciplinary commission without the added pressure of training and competing.
Midi start likely for ArmstrongUS Postal's Lance Armstrong, who suffered a fall whilst out training in the Pyrenees last week, is reported to be OK, but with "light concussion". According to German press agency, DPA, he will be able to race in the Midi Libre starting next Wednesday, May 16. Cipo goes nudeIn the interests of good taste, Saeco super-speedster, Mario Cipollini has agreed to be part of an ad campaign where he wears only a pair of shoes. The Italian "Lion King" is actually posing for a clothing manufacturer, but is not required to wear them. He will be part of the "environment" that the ad is shot in, riding a bike in the sprinting position. The shoes are of course necessary, but that's as far as it goes. "I accepted this proposal immediately and with enthusiasm because I like to laugh at the world which is too preoccupied with seriousness," he told Reuters newsagency.
U.S.A. send more to CubaUSA Cycling will send five track cyclists, including three past national champions, to Havana, Cuba this week for the Copa International Track Meet, May 11-14. All five are looking to enhance their chances to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic Cycling Team, to be announced in two months time. The men's team will be headed by Sky Christopherson (Tucson, Ariz.) who won the kilometer time trial at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for track cycling last month. He will be joined by Johnny Bairos (Redlands, Calif.) and Garth Blackburn (Houston). Reigning national match sprint and 500m time trial champion Tanya Lindenmuth (Trexlertown, Pa.), will ride along with Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) in the women's events.
New Zealand MTB'ers for AustraliaThe New Zealand Mountain Bike Association will send a team to contest the New South Wales Championships in May, according to an official announcement today. The championships commence on May 19 with three days of Downhill racing around Lithgow, 160 km west of Sydney. The course starts at the top of the valley at an elevation of 990 metres and winds 2.1 km down a technical single track with a few jumps and twisting drops. The course record is 3min 24.78 sec held by Nathan Rennie of Australia. The cross country events start a week later (May 26-28) utilising a 7.5 km course with a mixture of short climbs and singletrack, also around Lithgow. The team is as follows: Downhill Glen Sisarich (Open Men) New Plymouth Cross Country Jeremy Holtham (Open Men) Taupo |
