News for May 26, 2000

EPO test conditionally approved for the Tour

Jean-Marie Leblanc
Photo: © AFP

The newly developed urine test for EPO is likely to be used in this year's Tour de France, after a meeting today between cycling and French sports officials in Geneva, Switzerland. The test, developed by Jacques de Ceaurriz at the French Laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry, was the biggest of several anti-doping procedures discussed at the meeting. UCI president, Hein Verbruggen, gave the test his support along with all of the various cycling factions, provided that certain conditions are met.

The test has not yet been published in a scientific journal, the normal procedure before such methods are used within the general population. Verbruggen said that this would be necessary before June 20 if the test is to used. He said after the meeting that had been assured by Mr. de Ceaurriz that "publication was imminent."

Two other conditions also have to be met: a validation using a double blind test of 220 samples, again before June 20. Also, the laboratory must organise three independent experts appointed by the IOC to assess the reliability of the test. Mr Verbruggen said afterward that if these three conditions were met, then the UCI would be willing to accept further risks involved in implementing the test.

The decision to introduce the test was given full support by Jean-Marie Leblanc, race director of the Tour de France, who would dearly like to ensure that his race remains EPO-free. However, even if the test is approved by June 20, the likelihood that it will be effective is another question.

Pantani's opinion

In reaction to the new test, Italian cyclist Marco Pantani said that "the champions can only profit". Pantani was one of the most famous victims of the hematocrit test when he was turfed out of the Giro d'Italia on the penultimate day in 1999 whilst wearing the pink leader's jersey.

"The introduction of this new test can change a lot. It makes it uniquely clear whether a cyclist has used EPO or not," he said at a press conference during the rest day of the Giro. "At the moment, we can't decide anything, there is no possibility of determining who is responsible and who has committed a crime. One can only make suggestions and allusions."

"The champions can only profit from it," he continued. "If there are fewer riders who are able to manipulate their hematocrits, then this will suit the best ones in the race."

Giro d'Italia news

Who's left?

After the Giro reached its approximate halfway point in the stage 11 time trial yesterday, the race in the final 10 days looks set to be quite a battle. Although Francesco Casagrande retained his pink jersey (just), there are many favourites within striking distance now. In the top 10 are Pavel Tonkov and Andrea Noe' for Mapei, Vladimir Belli and Dario Frigo for Fassa Bortolo, Danilo di Luca (Cantina Tollo), Jan Hruska (Vitalicio), Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone), Ivan Gotti (Polti), Serhiy Honchar (Liqugas), and Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) is 11th. All are within 1.45 of the leader, and the top 9 are within 50 seconds.

The big loser was Paolo Savoldelli (Saeco) who fell in the first stage, and suffered several punctures, and he is now 18th at over 4 minutes down. He said that his ambition now is to win a stage.

Marco Pantani is suffering though at the moment from bronchitis. He lost over 6 minutes in yesterday's stage 11 time trial, and is unsure whether to continue. "I will go on, but I don't want to risk the future if I keep riding in a weakened stage. I will see in the next few days," he said.

This weekend in the dolomites should see some interesting action, especially on stages 13 and 14 six large mountains to be tackled, including the Gavia on stage 14 (17.3 km at 7.88%, the last 10.3 kms at 8.94%). Follow it with cyclingnews.com's live updates during these critical stages.

RCS vs. Assogruppi

The Italian teams in the Giro have decided to temporarily resolve their dispute with the organisers, RCS Sport. The conflict arose because the Italian teams, represented by the Assogruppi (led by Moreno Argentin) did not feel that they were getting their fair share of the money made from TV rights. They staged a protest whereby they refused to talk to any of the RAI TV or La Gazzetta dello Sport media after the stage finished. This included not attending the podium presentations.

The Assogruppi wanted immediate action, but were persuaded by RCS to put it off until the end of the Giro. The race director, Carmine Castellano, justified the accounts of the event by saying that it supported many of the other Italian races that normally lost money. The Assogruppi and RCS settled things for the time being so as not to deprive the public of their spectacle, as well as the riders rights to a decent podium celebration. Ivan Quaranta will have to win another stage now.

Blijlevens: "I have superlegs"

Last year Jeroen Blijlevens was the great revelation in the Giro. He won two sprint stages, led the points classification for 15 days and had the Maglia Rosa for two days. That Giro was the reason Team Polti wanted him.

Until now he only has one sprint victory (Driedaagse van de Panne), while by the same time last year, Blijlevens already had 8 wins. "But I'm in better shape now. I have superlegs, but the train isn't functioning properly," he said in an interview with NRC.

For Team Polti the Giro is more important than the Tour de France, so he has to win at least one stage. Are there language problems? "I can't understand everything in Italian, but there are no language problems. If there are no teammates at the front of the peloton, you don't need to communicate. In a sprint you need experience and view. Most of our riders have enough experience. I need more help in the last kilometre of the sprint. The train is not working well enough. And we have had a lot of bad luck. It's a weak excuse, but you have to have luck in sport."

What of Eddy Merckx's comments that Blijlevens' teammates rode too light a gear to lead him out properly in the sprint? "With all respect for Merckx, that's pure nonsense. It doesn't matter which gear you use. You need enough teammates at the front. And I have to finish better than I have done until now. Of course I feel guilty about the bad results till now. I'm riding better than last year, but I'm achieving less. After one month though, nobody knows that I rode strongly. Only results count."

Could the reason be his weight loss for the mountain stages? "I can follow better in the mountains this year. But don't forget the final stages have lots of climbs. There is almost no flat stage any more in the Giro. That's the reason I followed a diet. I'm at least as strong in the sprint as last year."

Finally, does his lack of results, rather than form put the Dutch sprinter under any pressure? "I'm doing fine under pressure. The team leaders are very quiet. They are already happy with a second place. But that is nothing for me. I hope for some luck on Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise I have to wait for another week. The last stage is a flat one to Milan. Last year I won the last stage in the Vuelta."

2nd Tour of Germany

This year marks the second edition of the revamped Tour of Germany, now a UCI Class 2.3 race. Commencing in Bonn on May 26, it contains eight stages, finishing in Berlin on June 1.

Last year's winner, Jens Heppner will once again head the German Telekom team, after a year spent mainly off the bike. Although he wasn't a victim of the race's crashes last year, his teammates Rolf Aldag and Jan Ullrich who were, will be at the start. Erik Zabel and Andreas Klöden will be along, as will domestiques Udo Bölts, Gian Mateo Fagnini and Jörg Jaksche. The Telekom team will be the team that everyone wants to beat, and there are plenty of contenders.

Mapei-Quick Step, probably smarting from the fact that Telekom have overtaken them in the latest UCI rankings, will field a team built more for stage wins, with Tom Steels and Max Van Heeswijk getting able support from the likes of Johan Museeuw, Michele Bartoli and Paolo Bettini, with the latter probably their best GC chance.

Festina will be trying for sprint wins with Marcel Wüst, while Guiseppi di Grande will be most likely targeted for the GC. Saeco have the in-form Laurent Dufaux, who will be trying to ease himself into Tour shape, as will Polti with Richard Virenque. Several division II teams will be looking at making headlines, especially Gerolsteiner and Team Nürnberger, who both have very strong lineups.

Marcel Wüst would love to win a stage in his "home tour", especially if he can manage to knock off Erik Zabel - "If I beat Blijlevens, it's only worth a few lines in the newspaper. If I beat Zabel, it's worth half a page," he commented to DPA about the treatment he often receives by the German media. Zabel will be the one to beat of course, as Blijlevens is still in Italy. Wüst is seeking to use some of his April form, when he won an impressive four out of five stages in the Circuit de la Sarthe in France.

It will be an important race for the Danish team, Memorycard-Jack & Jones, who have their strongest line up ready for their last chance at getting a wildcard entry for the Tour de France. With the final three teams to be announced May 31, the Danes, headed by Michael Blaudzun, Martin Rittsel, and Rene Joergensen will be very aggressive in the early stages. Their other top riders, Nicolaj Bo Larsen, Tristan Hoffman, and Michael Sandstød will be off to the USA to contest the First Union Series.

Telekom's Tour

Although they won it last year, the German Telekom team probably lost more than they gained. The Tour of Germany cost Jan Ullrich and Rolf Aldag their Tour spots, and Erik Zabel was repeatedly beaten (4 times!) by French speedster, Jimmy Casper. While Zabel is probably not at peak form yet, he would certainly wish to avoid a repeat of that performance.

As far (nearly made a typo there) as Ullrich is concerned, he will be seeking to gain some degree of Tour form, although he still has five weeks to go. His aim is the 36 km stage 7 time trial in Herzogenaurach where he'll be trying to improve on his efforts in the Midi Libre (66th in the TT). He is unlikely to be in top form of course, but will again test his condition in the Tour de Suisse in June, with the aim of finishing further up the GC.

In an interview with German TV SAT1, Ullrich said that he will give his best in this race, but it is unlikely to be enough to win. Stage 3, from Pforzheim to Bad Dürrheim (216 km) passes through the Schwarzwald, where Ullrich has been training this week. It will be the "queen stage", the most difficult of the tour, however Ullrich said that he will probably not be up with the leaders. "I know the Black Forest well, but you are correct in saying that stage 3 is the hardest. The Kandel is 11.7 km long, with sections of up to 15%, and it averages 9%. Even in training, I don't often ride up it. Since I know it however, I will at least have a 'home' advantage. As well, some of my fans will be there, but I will probably not be able to ride with the top group."

He rates Andreas Klöden as the team's other big hope, especially in the stage 7 time trial. However, Telekom spokesman Olaf Ludwig, believes that Jens Heppner is the favourite, as he has been training and racing quite well of late. The final words rest with team boss, Walter Godefroot, who said that "It's important that one of us wins."

Hammond out

Collstrop's Roger Hammond suffered a broken wrist during a stage of the Midi Libre last week, and will be out of competition until late June.