News for May 11, 2000

Cipo and Pantani for Giro?

Saeco-Valli&Valli's big hope for Giro stage wins, Mario Cipollini, may miss out on the tour starting May 13 in the Vatican, Rome. Despite winning two stages in the Tour de Romandie, "Supermario" has been suffering from asthma for the past week. He visited the Hospital in Cisanello where doctors determined that his breathing problems were as the result of a virus.

This may impact on his plans to race in the Giro, as the sprinter is reported to be very demoralised about his health. He will make his decision within couple of days.

So too will compatriot Marco Pantani, who said on Italian TV yesterday "life is full of surprises." Pantani has still not said that he won't start on Saturday, and his Mercatone Uno team director, Guisseppi Martinelli has indicated that there'll be a spot for him should he change his mind.

"I have not anticipated that he'll be in the team," said Martinelli "but everything depends on him. If he decides to race, I will not be the one that denies a position to him."

Axelsson ill

Swedish cyclist, Nicklas Axelsson (Panaria-Gaerne), sixth in the Giro last year, is suffering from a bronchial infection. He should have raced the GP Jornal de Notícias in Portugal last week but instead had to undergo treatment with penicillin. He will start in the Giro d'Italia though, but is now less certain about his possibilities. A podium place was the ambition.

Misfortune has marked his Giro's for the past two years. In 1998 he suffered bronchitis and finished among the twenties, last year he fell on the penultimate stage but managed to finish the stage along with the other top riders. However, he had concussion of the brain and a broken collarbone but still managed to ride the last stage in that condition to hold onto his placing.

Another year at Telekom for Klöden and Wesemann

Andreas Klöden and Steffen Wesemann have signed for Telekom for another year. Further details were not known after team manager Walter Godefroot broke the news on the morning before start of stage 7 of the Peace Race, later won by Klöden.

Both riders have had great pre-seasons: Klöden won Paris-Nice and Vuelta a Pais Vasco. Wesemann impressed in the classics, especially in Paris - Roubaix where he almost closed the two minute gap to Johan Museeuw by himself. He dragged a handful of other riders along, including eventual third place getter, and current World Cup leader, Erik Zabel. He has also won the Rund um Köln and the GP Kanton Aargau, and finished second in Het Volk.

Walter Godefroot said that Wesemann was a man for the Tour while Klöden ought to wait another two years. This seasons goals for him are the Olympics, the Vuelta and the World Championships.

The question is whether Klöden will still be riding with Telekom two years from now, seeing as his contract is for one year only. The 24 year-old German has been contacted by several top teams, Mapei, ONCE and Cofidis, but he has said that he would rather ride for a German team.

Löwik in a fall

Farm Frites rider, Gerben Löwik was hit by a car during the seventh stage of the Peace Race. He hit impacted his handlebar with his stomach, and completely trashed his bike. He finished the stage nearly 19 minutes behind on Jans Koerts' (who has retired from the race) spare bike. On Thursday a decision will be made whether he will continue.

Dutch Olympic team

National coach, Gerrie Knetemann has announced his first selection for the Dutch team to contest this year's Olympic Games in Sydney. The 12 member "long team" consists of: Michael Boogerd, Maarten den Bakker, Jeroen Blijlevens, Leon van Bon, Erik Dekker, Max van Heeswijk, Tristan Hoffman, Steven de Jongh, Servais Knaven, Koos Moerenhout, Aart Vierhouten and Bart Voskamp.

After the world cup in Hamburg in August, Knetemann will announce the final team of 5 riders. This team will go to Sydney on September 14 to prepare for the road race on September 27. Two members of this team will be selected for the time trial, scheduled for September 30.

Collstrop to stay for two years

Belgian division II team Collstrop will continue to be sponsored for one to two years, according to team director, Hilaire Van Der Schueren.

"At least for one year, but probably two," he said. "The team has to reduce to 14 riders, 2 less than at the moment. It has nothing to do with budget, but I want to bring more quality into the team. Therefore I'm looking for two or three riders, who now are under contract elsewhere."

On May 16 the Collstrop team will start in the Midi Libre with Tony Bracke, Eric De Clercq, Roger Hammond, Hans De Meester, Bart and Staf Scheirlinckx, Oleg Pankov and a yet to be named rider.

More news snippets from Belgium

Entrepreneur, Jean-Pierre Van Rossem's new cycling team are reportedly riding with a US computer giant as their head sponsor, but will be riding with a Swiss license.

Etienne De Wilde is riding as an amateur now.

Peter Peys (Spar-Oki) tested positive after Gent-Wevelgem for amphetamines.

Bert Roesems (Tönissteiner) has lost his case against the TAS for the Nandrolone affair, and will now face the Belgian Cycling Ligue.

Courtesy of Steve Seigneur

Banesto aims for the Tour

Spanish team Banesto, who were so dominant in the Tour de France thanks to Miguel Indurain's efforts in the early 90's, are looking for someone to lead them in July. Team director, Eusebio Unzúe, wants "El Chaba", José Maria Jiménez to mature, although his choice at the moment is Alex Zülle. The Swiss rider has finished on the podium on several occasions, but has never quite threatened the lead. Jiménez is more of a climber though, and Unzúe hopes that the race will fall in his favour. He is also Spanish, and the team would prefer to have a Spaniard lead them in spite of Zülle's qualities.

Banesto will participate in the Giro with Unai Osa and Leonardo Piepoli as likely leaders, saving Jiménez and Zülle for France.

Massi acquitted

Rodolfo Massi, who was taken in for questioning during the 1998 Tour de France and accused of drug trafficking, has now been exonerated of charges. The Cantina Tollo rider (formerly of Casino) was taken by French police while wearing the climber's jersey during the now infamous 1998 Tour. He was detained in Chambery after anti-inflammatory medicines (corticoids) were found in his room.

After extensive questioning and a long, stop-start court case, French magistrates have found that Massi had these items for personal use only, and that they were legal in Italy. Massi claimed that he was only taking them with the team doctor's permission, as per UCI regulations.

His lawyer, Massimo Antonio Impellizzeri announced the dropping of all charges today.

Giro del Trentino Alto Adige

The "Giro del Trentino Alto Adige", the category 2.9.1 stage race for Elite Women has been reduced from 5 stages to 3. This year marks the 7th edition of the race, and the second year that it has been rated as 2.9.1 (The same as the Tour de L'Aude, the Tour de Snowy and the HP Women's Challenge).

In 1999, the winner was Fabiana Luperini followed by Svetlana Boubnenkova and Pia Sunstedt). Luperini won the stage finishing at the top of the Monte Bondone one of the legendary climbs of modern cycling.

The forthcoming edition of "Giro" will have the teams of GAS, Alfa Lum, Acca Due, and many national teams, including Canada, Norway, China, UK, and Germany. The Canadian Team will have their 'junior' champion, Genevičve Jeanson as part of their strong lineup.

Courtesy of Alessandro Gretter

Wanted: Litespeed, one user only

In the 'don't leave home without it' category. AutoTrader.com rider Julie Young returned home from this past weekend's Tour of the Gila, only to find that her brand new Litespeed training bike(?) - a 'carbon copy' of the one she takes to races with her - had been stolen from her sister's Sacramento home.

So, if anyone in the Northern California area should happen to run across a 49cm Litespeed Ultimate with a Shimano component group, and you're a little suspicious of just how the current owner may have come across it...