News for November 10, 2000

US Postal: more responses

By Jeff Jones

The latest affairs in France have done nothing to enhance the good relations of the US Postal Service team with certain French newspapers. It seemed as though during this year's Tour de France that there was some cordiality between the French press and Lance Armstrong (in particular) after the rift of 1999. During that race, Armstrong was repeatedly accused of doping when he dominated the field after an amazing recovery from cancer. In 2000, people seemed to accept that Armstrong was back to his best (or better) and that his win in 1999 was not powered by anything other than his legs.

However, the recent preliminary investigation into the US Postal Team that was started by prosecutor Jean-Pierre Dintilhac in Paris and reported by several French newspapers especially "Le Monde" and "le Canard Enchaine", will certainly sour the relationship again.

When the story broke earlier this week, Armstrong was not available for comment, but he gave his reaction in today's edition of the Austin Statesman. "What's going on in France is that it's sort of fashionable to talk about doping and cycling," said Armstrong. "They want to keep the story alive. The logical people to go after are me and U.S. Postal. "We are absolutely innocent. Our team will stand on its morals and record of being an anti-doping team."

The allegations concern the suspicious dumping of rubbish bags purported to contain Actovigen, a Norwegian substance that may have blood enhancing capabilities, but is not on the UCI banned list. However, both team management and director sportif Johan Bruyneel have denied that they have ever used the substance, and believe that someone is out to get them.

"It's just weird," said Armstrong to the Statesman. "When you take into consideration that we're not even talking about a banned substance, and the fact that the (inquiry) is so late, something's not right."

One of the US Postal riders in the Tour, Frankie Andreu said on his website that there were no irregularities with the rubbish disposal procedure. "The US Postal Service along with many other teams in the Tour hire a professional disposal unit to properly dispose of used medicine and tools," he wrote.

"The team has an orange bin, like in the doctor's office, where they put everything used. The disposal unit shows up, I'm not sure when or how often, and professionally removes the bin to properly dispose of it according to French law. This is how all the teams operate, they do not have secret German cars making rendezvous in secret places. It would be prudent if the French had all their facts together before they start press releases and investigations."

As yet, there is no official inquiry: it is up to the prosecutor to decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed.

Obree's back

After an absence of three years, 35 year old Scotsman Greame Obree has announced a comeback to cycling. He will make an attempt on the new World Hour Record, broken recently by retiring Brit, Chris Boardman. Obree will do so next month in Manchester on the same track that Boardman rode on.

Obree surprised everyone with his successful attempt on the Hour Record 7 years ago with a self-made bike, using a position that was subsequently banned by the UCI. Four years later, he decided to retire, partly due to the UCI's position on his positions, and partly because of the perceived drug problem within the peloton.

His motivation for the comeback as that he wanted to be recognised for his athletic ability, and not just his inventiveness.

"I have nothing against what the UCI are doing. So long as they stick to their new rules I will support them," said Obree who plans to attack the record next month in Manchester.

Doble Copacabana

November 9-12 will once again see the running of the World's highest bike race, the Doble Copacabana in the South American Andes. The four stage (plus prologue), 2.6 category event is held at altitudes of approximately 4,000 metres, and will see several international teams contest it. France, Italy and the Netherlands are all sending espoir teams to contest the unique event. Last year the race was won by Colombian, Jairo Pérez, but the competition could be a little tougher this year.

Race organizer Eduardo Perez-Iribarne wants to make it a higher profile event in South America, has proposed a challenging parcours. The first event is a 6 km prologue in the center of La Paz, followed by a 37 kilometre road race. Despite being short, the stage starts with a 14 kilometre climb from La Paz (3,600m) to El Alto (4,000m), before descending for 23 kilometres on the antiplano.

Stage two will be from Paz to Copacabana, without any major climbs, and stage three will take the riders in the reverse direction. The final stage will finish in La Paz after a 13 kilometre descent, and the crowds are expected to be of the order of half a million people.

Tour de France 2001 in Antwerp

The Belgian city of Antwerp will host the finish of stage 2 and start of stage 3 of the Tour de France next year, which will finish in the province of Liege (Luik) in the town of Seraing. Five members of the Société du Tour de France (sporting director Jean-François Pescheux, John Lelangue, Jean-Louis Pagès, Pierre-Yves Thouault and Jean-Paul Loris) visited Antwerp on Wednesday to discuss the details of the stages.

The parcours for stage 2 (Calais - Antwerpen) is almost finalised, and the finish will be perfect for a mass sprint. The final straight is 1.5 kilometres long and 14 metres wide.

The start of stage 3 will be on the Suikerrui in Antwerpen. However, no bunch sprint is expected in Seraing, because the parcours incorporates some of the climbs from the Belgian classic, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Proposed route for stage 3

PROVINCE OF ANTWERP

0.0   Antwerp (Start)
3.0   Wommelgem
5.5   Ranst
8.5   Broechen
12.5   Massenhoven (N.116-N.14)
12.5   Viersel (N.14-N.116)
15.0   Nijlenn (N.116-N.13)
20.0   Grobbendonk
22.0   Bouwel
31.5   Herentals
36.0   Geel (N.13-N.19)
42.0   Westerlo (N.19-N.127)
43.5   Veerle (N.127-N.141)
49.0   Vorst Laakdal
54.0   Vorst Meerlaar (N.141-N.126)

PROVINCE OF LIMBURG
56.0   Tessenderlo (D.126-N.725)

PROVINCE OF VLAAMS-BRABANT
59.5   Deurne
62.0   Schaffen

PROVINCE OF LIMBURG
63.0   Vleugt
66.0   Meldert
66.5   Lummen
74.0   Kermt (N.725-N.2)
76.0   Railwayline 9
78.5   Kuringen
86.5   Diepenbeek
92.5   Beverst
95.5   Bilzen (N.6-N.730)
97.5   Railwayline 6
100.0   Hoeselt (N. 730)
102.5   Werm
105.0   Henlis
105.5   Riksingen
107.5   Tongeren (N.730-N.79)
111.0   Berg (N.79-N.618)
113.0   Mal (N. 618)
115.0   Sluizen

PROVINCE OF LUIK
116.5   Glons
119.5   Boirs
121.0   Roclenge-sur-Geer
124.0   Hautain-Saint-Simeon
126.0   Haccourt
129.5   Visé
132.5   Bombaye (N.618-N.627)
138.0   Saint-André (N. 627)
139.0   Julemont
141.5   Battice
149.5   Verviers
152.5   Lambremont
154.5   Wegnez (N.627-N.61)
154.5   Pepinster (N.61-N.690)
160.0   Juslenville (N 690)
160.5    Theux
162.5   Carrefour N.690-N.62
164.0   Mont-Theux (N 62)
167.0   Louveigne
173.0   Gomze-Andoumont
175.0   Côte des Forges
175.5   Beaufays
179.5   Tilff
183.0   Railwaycrossing
187.0   Côte de Sart-Tilman
199.0   Luik-Seraing (N.683-N.615)(Arrival)

Source: sportnet.be

Drugs in Brittany

Over the past week in France, several people have been questioned in relation to a drug trafficking investigation in Brittany. The case involves narcotic and doping products, and several ex-cyclists have been questioned within its framework, according to Reuters newsagency. The products are mainly amphetamines that could be mixed with caffeine to form "Dutch Pot" or cocaine to form "Belgian Pot".

Former professional, Patrick Béon was the first to be detained last Friday after a package from Belgium intended for a close relation was seized by customs. Both his son and brother, Gerard, were also questioned, as well as cyclist Isabelle Nicoloso and her husband who were subsequently released.

Two more people, including former cyclist Roland Leclerc were placed in police custody, to be questioned by the Court in Rennes on Thursday.

Ramirez hurt

Top Colombian cyclist, Juan Diego Ramirez (05 Orbitel) has been admitted to hospital in the city of Medellin in Colombia, after being hit by a car. The rider suffered fractures to his skull and collarbone and will require some time in hospital.

Pro plans for Norwegian women

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

Norway's leading lady, Monica Valen plans to start a female pro team. The riders would be those that have been riding for the successful Norwegian National Team under Atle Kvålsvoll's leadership. Kvålsvoll has now moved on to Olympiatoppen, a national sponsoring program that sponsors single athletes in a variety of sports, among them several female cyclists. Olympiatoppen and the Norwegian Cycling Federation will supply 400,000 kroner ($US 40,000) but another 1.5 million kroner ($US 150,000) is needed, according to newspaper Varden.

Solrun Flatås, fourth in the World's ITT, told her local newspaper Hamar Arbeiderblad, that the Olympic squad: Monica Valen, Ragnhild Kostøl, Ingunn Bollerud and herself are considered as well as MTB and road star Gunn Rita Dahle. The latter has suffered from exhaustion since 1999 but obviously plans a comeback at the top. Only Norwegian riders are supposed to ride on the team.

The Norwegian cycling team will have an evaluation of the 2000 season on November 18 and it is expected that more details will be revealed then.

No Coast for Van Petegem

Peter van Petegem's lack of contractual success next season with top teams Domo-Farm Frites and Mapei, has put the Belgian one day specialist under some pressure to find a job next season. While he certainly isn't in the Vandenbroucke box, he is still a big name rider who has not done a lot this season to justify his expense.

Currently, he is linked with German team Coast, US team Mercury, as well as Saeco and ONCE. However, payment problems for him and his friends Gert van Bondt and Andreas Klier still seem to be apparent, with a delay in their latest payment (October). He is threatening to sue the team if things aren't resolved.

However, Coast's directeur sportif, Wolfram Lindner, has said that Van Petegem will not be joining their team next season. He admitted that the team had contacted Van Petegem, but it was too late as the team was complete.

The 2001 Coast team has Fernando Escartin, Alex Zulle, and Frank Hoj as its top riders, and there was no room for any more. However, an last minute increase in budget may allow them to sign Van Petegem. It would have to come from Ernesto Colnago himself, who has publicly said that he wants Van Petegem to ride for him next year.

Beloki to Telekom?

Spaniard Joseba Beloki may ride for the powerful German Telekom team next year, after talks with his current team Festina are still not finalised. At one point, Beloki had signed a five year contract with Festina worth 600 million pesetas ($US 3 million) in total. However, he got cold feet about the company that was financing the deal and reduced his contract to just one year.

If he was to sign for another team, he would have to break his contract with Festina using Decree 1,006. Festina team director Juan Fernandez said that he had no knowledge of the possible interest of Telekom, and maintained that Beloki will be riding for them next season and possibly beyond.

30 year old Stephane Goubert, who has ridden for the past two seasons for Polti has signed a contract with Jean Delatour. The French cyclist has previously ridden for Festina and the Cofidis.

Broadmark Capital adds

The new US team for 2001, Broadmark Capital Cycling Team, have recently added several northwest riders to their winning roster. The Seattle based team which was officially announced in October said that they would be putting forth a "serious national effort in the top ranks of bicycle racing in North America."

The team has already signed Rad Cunningham, a podium finisher at the US Track national's, and Brent Davis. Three more riders have now been added to its roster: Nick Hillyer, Russell Stevenson and Svein Tuft, all of whom have a high profile in the northwest.

Nick Hillyer is just 19 years old and was a member of the US Junior Worlds Team in 1998. 24 year old all-rounder, Russell Stevenson joins the team after winning the hard fought Mutual of Enumclaw race in 2000. Finally, Svein Tuft, a Canadian national team member,managed to win 20 races in 2000 and is considered one of the real up and comers in the sport. He has only been racing for two years and will join the team upon his return from the international Tour of Okinawa race in Japan this weekend.

The Broadmark Capital Cycling Team roster for 2001 will be filled out by one more high profile recruit to be named in the near future. Team co-manager Ethan Meginnes stated "We have been presented with the unexpected opportunity to bring a young talent from overseas. This cyclist would make an immediate impact and addition should be confirmed shortly."

The team is sponsored by Broadmark Capital Corporation, a Seattle based investment banking firm.