News for May 19, 2000Giro d'Italia newsCipo's 30thWith his 30th stage win in the Giro yesterday, Saeco's Mario Cipollini moved himself into equal third (with Costante Girardengo) on the overall number of Giro stage wins behind Alfredo Binda (41 wins) and Learco Guerra (31 wins). However, it was not without controversy, as he was clearly seen to be hanging onto teammate Marco Scirea's shorts up the climb with 8 kilometres to go. Another teammate, Guisseppi Calcaterra was involved in a punch up with Colombian, Freddy Gonzalez (Nectar-Selle Italia) on the subsequent descent, although it's not known whether these two incidents were related. "I don't believe that there's any professional rider who has won as much as me in the past 12 years. As more time goes by, I'm more satisfied because I am refuting my past critics," said the unruffled Lion King afterwards. Cipo is one of those riders who races for much of the year, with a pretty solid team behind him. He defended his 'tow' as follows: "I had hunger flat and I asked for a prosciutto sandwich," at a very convenient time. "My teammate said not to have it and he gave me an energy gel and a pat on the back instead. At that point, the hard part of the climb was finished, and I was with most of the other sprinters." "In the sprint, I took the wheel of Martinello, as I knew he would jump. Di Luca and Konyshev went with 700 metres to go, and I had to follow them although it was earlier than I would have liked," he said.
Martinello criticisesAfter his third placing in stage 4 yesterday, Polti's Silvio Martinello was somewhat critical of his former teammate, Mario Cipollini. "I can't believe how much is being made of Cipollini's win - it's outrageous," he said. "He says that he was a victim previously [stage 3], but the assistance he received from his teammate were seen very clearly on TV. If I came in second instead of Konyshev (Fassa Bortolo), I would have protested. I don't understand why Ferretti (Fassa Bortolo DS) did not." "I don't believe that Cipollini needs 'help' to win sprints in race, but if we had driven it over the top of the climb, perhaps the day would have finished differently. As the TV verdict decided the stage into Scalea, it should have done so here. I've been called by many people who have said that they saw the pushes to Cipollini on TV," said a somewhat annoyed Martinello at the press conference. Dimitri Konyshev was merely disappointed with his results, saying that " I went too early in the sprint. When I tried to go again, it was too late. A sin, because perhaps I could have also tried for a long sprint. In any case, I will not think of it: I am feeling good, and am capable of a stage win in the next few days."
Nothing broken for LedaniosYvon Ledanois (FdJ) fell in today's stage 5 of the Giro and went to hospital for x-rays for his left arm and collar bone. He lost his consciousness for a while, but there was not a lot of damage. He went back to his hotel on Thursday night and will fly back to France on Friday. Nicklas Axelsson wants to quit the GiroLast year's number 6, Swede Nicklas Axelsson wants to quit the Giro but his team manager, and his teammates are urging him on. Axelsson, who was second in the rehearsal at the Giro del Trentino, caught bronchitis shortly afterward and is still not OK. He wanted to leave the Giro after the stage on Monday but the pressure from the team was too great. On the fourth stage however he tried himself in an attack towards the end. It is also a known fact that he and team manager Bruno Reverberi have some differences in opinion: "He thinks I am too easy. I can't understand what he means. I guess it's because I'm complaining about my lung problems," the Swedish rider said to his hometown newspaper Mora Tidning. "When I finished in 1998 I was coughing blood. 'I didn't know you were that ill', he said then. The pressure is heavy." Last year the "easy" Axelsson finished with a brain concussion and a broken collar bone in sixth place. Later in the season he reached an agreement with Banesto but Reverberi wouldn't let him go, since he was the team star and the sponsor's contract for the season was signed with Axelsson as the main attraction. After his second place in Trentino, Reverberi wanted Axelsson to stay for another year, and not to have any talks with other teams. Axelsson's contract expires this year and he says that two teams already has contacted him.
Berzin backAfter his exclusion before the prologue on Saturday, Mobilvetta's Evgeni Berzin was reported to have been immediately fired by his team director, Stefano Giuliani. However, the dust has settled somewhat in the past few days, and Giuliani has calmed down a little. "A high hematocrit is not doping, and my words of the last few days were perhaps in haste," said Giuliani who said that Berzin was welcome back. "Indeed, if he wanted, he could sue me for damages..." Giuliani may lose some of his Fiat sponsorship after the affair though, and this will presumably impact on Berzin's salary and car.
Tour stars not fitDutch daily, Algemeen Dagblad published some interesting statistics on the last three winners of the Tour de France, and their preparation for this year. All of them (Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich, and Marco Pantani) have had less competition days before this year's Tour. Will it impact on their results this year? We'll know by the end of July. Racing days before the Tour: Lance Armstrong 1997 no races because of illness Marco Pantani 1997 50 days (3rd in TdF) Jan Ullrich 1997 60 days (winner of the TdF) Parkinson's for Phinney?Former US professional and Tour de France hero of the 80's, Davis Phinney, may have Parkinson's disease according to a recent report in Velonews. After suffering from shakiness and numbness over the past 18 months, he decided to consult a doctor for some tests. The report came back with some unnerving news, that Phinney had a case of "young Parkinson's disease". The disease is quite serious in its advanced stages, but is supposedly treatable at the early stage. However, the Phinneys will try and get the diagnosis confirmed in a few weeks time. Other noted people who have suffered from Parkinson's include Muhammad Ali and actor Michael J. Fox, the latter who has left TV in order to help find a cure. Phinney retired in 1993 from professional cycling, winning 100 pro races including two stages in the Tour de France in 1986 and 1987 and the USPRO Championship in 1991. Phinney is well known now as a TV commentator, although he is currently unable to perform his duties during the Giro d'Italia as a result of his condition. He is, I should add, one of the nicest blokes you could meet.
Vandenbroucke searchedThe police of Moeskroen searched the house of former Lotto directeur sportif, Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke on Wednesday. This search has to do with the doping investigation dating back to the end of 1997. Lotto rider, Djamolidine Abdujaparov was ejected (along with soigneur Laurent van Brussel) from the Tour de France in July 1997 after it was found he used clenbuterol. Both were quiet by Lotto. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke wasn't at home, as he was visiting the Midi Libre in France. He confirmed the search by phone: "They only need some extra information, but it wasn't important". Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke was with Lotto for eleven years leaving the team in December 1999. He wasn't the only one to be investigated however. In Ploegsteert his brother Jean-Jacques Vandenbroucke, who was the mechanic of the Lotto-team in 1997, had his house searched.
AIS to ColombiaAlthough the first round of the Track World Cup is in Moscow this weekend, Australia will only be represented by Kathy Watt in the individual pursuit. Obviously, the 3 degree temperatures have turned some of the others off! However, the following weekend in Cali, Colombia, Australia will have a greater representation, with Watt again scheduled to be present. Shane Kelly, Michelle Ferris, Lyndelle Higginson and Alayna Burns are included in the team that will fly over tomorrow, in order to acclimatize for a week before the competition. Burns is Watt's main rival for the individual pursuit spot, and is keen to perform well in these events to gain the position. She had an unfortunate time in the national championships, falling and injuring herself in the scratch race a few days prior to the pursuit, where she finished 3rd. Her coach, Ian McKenzie said to AAP that it would not be the end of the world if she did not gain the spot, as she is only 20. Both Burns and Watt are aiming for the 3.35.00 qualifying time for the 3,000 metres individual pursuit. The Australian women's Olympic team will only be made up of three riders, with Higginson and Ferris the likely two candidates for the other positions.
Weispfennig not dopedSix day specialist Erik Weispfennig has been cleared of doping accusations by the sports court of the German Cycling Federation. Weispfennig had a certificate from a physician that he was under medical treatment for his asthma. The court found that Weispfennig used the substance, Fenoterol, for medical reasons only.
Fine field in GermanyThe Tour of Germany, due to start next week on May 26, has a promising field of riders. Telekom, of course, will have their two main stars, Jan Ullrich and Erik Zabel. According to Ullrich's manager the TT stage will be Ullrich's first full speed test this season. World Cup leader Zabel is the hope for the general classification and of course also for stages. His compatriot Marcel Wüst (Festina) is his main challenger as is Tom Steels from Mapei. The Belgian-Italian team also has Johan Museeuw and Michele Bartoli in their ranks. The latter still not fully recovered from last year's knee injury in the Tour of Germany, but he will start with the team.
Ånnaboda Three Days substitutes BergslagstourenThe Örebro county cycling federation will organize a three day race from June 2-4, The Ånnaboda Three Days, instead of Bergslagstouren. The latter had to be cancelled due to the police force's inability to secure the race in Örebro's neighbouring county. The race will be open for teams with six riders in each. It's in the national calendar but will probably attract some foreign teams.
Stone finishes...Canadian Perry Stone has broken his own record for cycling round Australia, when he arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia early yesterday (Thursday) morning. It took Stone a total of 41 days and 5 minutes for the 14200 kilometre journey, beating his previous record by 22 hours. Although his initial schedule was for 30 days, various mishaps (bike being run over, crew leaving) as well as having to average 475 kilometres a day, meant that he could not achieve this. Strong headwinds toward the end of the journey meant that even last week's estimated time of arrival had to be revised. For those of you are feeling fit, the record works out as 346 kilometres per day (give or take a few). Not bad going... |