News for November 11, 2000

Koerts vs. Brown and Bank Race

Dutchman Jans Koerts is one of the most experienced riders on the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic this year, winning two stages but being involved a heavy fall last night in the Batemans Bay criterium. There is no doubt that sprinting is dangerous, but if riders in the bunch don't stick to the rules, then it becomes even more so.

Graeme Brown is a young rider from NSW who has been challenging Koerts throughout the tour for sprinting honours. He did so in Terrigal when he won, as well as in other sprints where he has had the measure of the Dutchman. However Koerts has not been totally impressed with Brown's sprinting style, and took some time after dinner in Nowra to have a discussion with him and the NSWIS coach, Gary Sutton.

"Koerts is good value. We're talking about the most experienced bike rider in the bike race, and he asked me if he could have a little chat to him [Graeme Brown]," said Sutton. "Graeme's going in the same direction, and in fact Koerts gave him some big wraps. He just gave him some areas that he needs to look at and address to be a true professional."

According to Sutton, Koerts said that Brown "needs to show a lot of respect for his fellow competitors. He's got the legs. He needs to not take dangerous risks or he'll never get respect from your opponent and most importantly you don't get a professional contract. He said that he needed to work for other riders and not just for himself. Everything Koerts said we spoke about in the team meeting, and everyone agreed with it."

"Koerts was very impressive and it was good that he gave the time to talk to Graeme and said 'Look, you've got a lot of potential and you could make a lot of money out of the sport. But to do that you've got to be a package: a good team player and a good professional."

"Brown was good: he thanked him and I'm sure he learnt something from the meeting," finished Sutton.

Koerts also gave his views on the Bank Race as a whole, and his own role in it. "I am not here just to win, I am also here to promote the race," he said. "I hope that Phil finds a sponsor for next year. I am here to make the race a little more interesting and I said that you guys [the other riders in the race] are just watching me while the Polish riders are laughing their arses off."

"If I pass on the right hand side they say 'right, right, right' and if I pass on the left they say 'left, left, left'. For me, if I win or not it doesn't matter - it doesn't bring me any more money, or a better contract. I said 'I prefer Hutchinson to win, but not the way you guys are doing it.'"

"I think the race could be a lot more interesting. Like Bumble Hill - I'm not a climber, but I tried to chase the gap down because there were three Polish riders in front. But the others wouldn't help me. It's for their benefit not mine."

Are the Australian riders a little immature? "I think they have to learn and I hope they get something out of it. Every race they let me chase and then they sit up. That's how you're never going to win a race."

"I think the Bank Race needs an Australian winner again and not another Polish rider. I think they can do it but have to be able to work together. It's the same every year. I win the first two stages and they watch me closely and I can't do anything anymore."

"It would be a much more interesting race if Robbie McEwen, Scott Sunderland, Stuart O'Grady and other good Australian riders were here. I know it is the end of the season and they are tired but even without good form they can still get good results here. You've got try to promote your own race. If those riders came over here as one team, the other Australians could learn a lot," he finished.

Moreau retires

French cyclist, Francis Moreau has retired from professional cycling aged 35 after a 12 year career, primarily on the track but with some road success. He was a stalwart of the French team pursuit for many years, winning 9 medals at World Championship level and one Olympic title in 1996. On the road, his best victory was Paris-Brussels in 1993, as well as beating Miguel Indurain in the prologue of Paris-Nice in 1990.

Born: July 21, 1965 in Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Height: 1.90 m
Pro since: 1989
Teams: Fagor (1989), Histor (1990), Tonton-Tapis (1991), GB-MG (1992), Gan (1993-1996), Cofidis (1997-2000)

Major Wins

1989 Stage Tour de l'Avenir)
1990 Stage Paris-Nice, Stage Setmana Catalana
1991 Stage Tour de l'Oise, Stage Midi Libre, World Track Championship Pursuit
1992 Stage Criterium International
1993 Stage Postgirot Tour of Sweden, Paris-Bruxelles
1995 A Travers le Morbihan
2000 G.P. de Lillers

Pantani case postponed

Marco Pantani's sporting fraud trial has been postponed for another week until November 17, after his lawyers, Gaetano Insolera and Bruno Guazzaloca requested it until after the court of appeal in Bologna make a decision. The case is being held in Forli, presided over by Judge Luisa Del Bianco. Pantani is on trial for allegedly falsifying sporting results through taking EPO, after his hematocrit was measured at over 60 percent in 1995.

Meanwhile in Trento, prosecutor Bruno Giardina has interrogated former "Mercatone Uno" doctor, Roberto Rempi, in relation to Pantani's 50+ percent hematocrit in the Madonna di Campiglio in the Tour of Italy 1999. The questioning was based on Italian law 401, roughly "the use of illegal methods to alter the results of sporting competitions." It is possible that Pantani may be required to be a witness in this case under the penal code.

Virenque and Herve: UCI wait

The UCI will wait until after December 22 before informing the Swiss and French Federations about the doping confessions in Lille. UCI lawyer Philippe Verbiest said that "We can wait for the official verdict and announcement, because the penalty can not start before February 1."

U.S. and Australia combine in anti-doping program

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has signed a letter of agreement with the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA), in a move that will strengthen the fight against doping in sport.

The agreement, signed by USADA Chief Executive Officer Terry Madden and ASDA Acting Chief Executive Officer John Mendoza, will see that the two organizations cooperate in the field of antidoping to help create a more ethical international sporting environment. USADA is the independent testing agency for Olympic sports in the United States, and has the responsibility to develop a comprehensive national antidoping program for the Olympic Movement in the United States. Madden felt that ASDA's expertise will be invaluable as USADA implements an independent and accountable antidoping program in the United States.

"This agreement and the formation of USADA is definitely a step forward for the antidoping cause both in the U.S. And globally," Mendoza said. "Our relationship with USADA will assist with the development and harmonization of the United States' national antidoping program.

"In addition, the agreement will see the exchange of ideas and expertise in such areas as drug testing procedures, education and research between ASDA and USADA."

Saeco-Valli&Valli 2001

Twenty three riders will make up the Saeco-Valli&Valli team for 2001, including six new faces. The team will commune on December 8 in the thermal springs of Casciana Terme, near Pisa. They will remain there until Wednesday 13th, during which time they will finalise their programs for next year. After that, the squad will move to Comerio between December 13-15, where they will undergo medical tests.

Team manager Claudio Corti will have the support of technical staff Antonio Salutini, Guido Bontempi and Bruno Vicino. The team will retain 17 of its 2000 roster, adding three neo-pro's and three transfer riders.

Team roster for 2001

Oscar Cavagnis (Ita - Alexia Alluminio)
Mirko Celestino (Ita - Polti)
Mario Cipollini (Ita)
Salvatore Commesso (Ita)
Biagio Conte (Ita)
Brad Davidson (Aus - Neo)
Laurent Dufaux (Swi)
Alessio Galletti (Ita)
Nicola Gavazzi (Ita - Neo)
Jörg Ludewig (Ger)
Armin Meier (Swi)
Massimiliano Mori (Ita)
Torsten Nitsche (Ger)
Pavel Padrnos (Cze)
Dario Pieri (Ita)
Igor Pugaci (Mda)
Marius Sabaliauskas (Lit - Neo)
Fabio Sacchi (Ita)
Paolo Savoldelli (Ita)
Mario Scirea (Ita)
Francesco Secchiari (Ita)
Justin William Spinelli (USA - Farm Frites)
Christian Wegmann (Ger)

Coast's potential

Despite saying that they didn't have the budget yet to sign Peter van Petegem, German team Coast would greatly benefit from his and his friend, Gert van Bondt's presence in terms of UCI points. The pair would bring an extra 1,500 points to the team, and a certain first division place. This means starts in all the Classics, the Giro, Vuelta and probably the Tour.

Italian bicycle manufacturer Ernesto Colnago (sponsor of Coast) is interested in Coast and Van Petegem, because they want to increase they foothold in the German market.

Spijkerman signs

18 year old Bertine Spijkerman (3rd in the World Junior TT Championships) has signed for a year with the women's team, Farm Frites-Hartol.

ACBB adds Norwegians

Top French amateur club, ACBB will see the arrival of 5 Norwegian riders next season. Rune Jogert (23), Mad Kaggestad (23), Kjetil Loitegard (19), Gabriel Rasch (24) and Gisle Vikoyr (22) will join the team after former ACBB rider and Norwegian coach, Atle Kvalsvoll finalised the deal earlier this week. The professional team Credit Agricole will also become involved with the team at the same time.

Kvalsvoll wanted his former coach, Roger Legeay to teach his riders in a French club. The Credit Agricole boss had been contacted by the ACBB who wanted the club to be a reserve squad for the professional team. Although they will not officially be CA's reserve, riders in the ACBB will be watched closely during the year.

Courtesy of Velomania