News for November 16, 2000

Kelme in danger?

The most successful Spanish team of 2000, Kelme-Costa Blanca, may be in danger of not making it into next season, according to reports in the Spanish Press. Several days ago, team owner Jose Quiles was interviewed in Diario As, where he described the team's future as "up in the air."

"Next week we will have a meeting with the company's administration and perhaps we will decide then that it is finished," he said. "Cycling is an image sport and ours is being bombarded. People are saying that Kelme owes money and this is not true.

There was also the somewhat painful departure of Roberto Heras in addition to several other good Kelme riders. Quiles said that "we devoted several years to developing these riders and now they want to go away, without any politeness or giving us an option."

Quiles was particularly disappointed by Heras: "I've been hurt by the way he has left, because now he is saying that he left because he was unhappy. It is as if we had mistreated him, when in fact we had spent five years working with him, culminating in him winning the Vuelta."

The team may also lose rising star, Oscar Sevilla who, according to Spanish daily Marca, wants to ride for another team next year. Sevilla is one of nine Kelme riders who has a contract for next year, but this hasn't stopped other riders from leaving so far.

According to Sevilla's manager, "nothing has been decided" - it may be based on the team's future or it may not. Sevilla would presumably be paid well enough at Kelme, but he may find Santi Botero or Javier Otxoa in the way of his racing ambitions.

Finally, Kelme have also experienced problems with three Colombians on the team working off tourist visas. According to Spanish law, this means that they are not entitled to Social Security unless their contracts are changed. This will cost the team a large amount of money (60 million pesetas), and may be the straw that broke the Kelme's back.

Obree sets a date

35 year old Graeme Obree has set a date of December 23 to break the world hour record in Manchester, he announced today. Obree will tackle Chris Boardman's mark of 49.441 kilometres, established on the same track three weeks ago, using a conventional bike in a standard position.

In the past, Obree has broken the old hour record twice using his 'non-standard' techniques, which eventually led to the UCI imposing strict rules regarding hour record equipment.

Auction nets $12,000 for Brain Tumor Foundation

The U.S. Postal Service Team jersey worn by George Hincapie in this year's decisive Tour de France stage to Hautacam was auctioned off for $12,005.00 at PerformanceBike.com on November 6. The proceeds of the auction will benefit the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children (BTFC).

George Hincapie donated his Tour jersey (autographed by the nine members of the winning 2000 Tour de France team) to Brian Sullivan and the Fulton Flyers Cycling Club of Atlanta, Georgia. Sullivan had the idea to raise money for the BTFC through an online auction of cycling memorabilia. The auction began on October 30 and concluded on November 6.

The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing public education and awareness about pediatric brain tumors. More information about the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children can be found at http://www.btfcgainc.org/.

Italian teams combine

Several smaller Italian teams will combine next year in order to save themselves. Vini Caldirola (after losing several stars) will join with Tacconi Sport; The Polti/Colpack teams will lose Mauro Zinetti, Paolo Valoti, and Rossano Brasi to Alexia, who have also recruited sprinter Ivan Quaranta (Mobilvetta). Alexia will have between 18 and 20 riders for next season, and are still looking for a climber after they broke off negotiations with Richard Virenque. However, Pascal Hervé and Laurent Roux have reportedly been contacted for this role.

Meanwhile, Polti boss Gianluigi Stanga will bide his time next year with his second division Colpack team, hoping to find another major sponsor for 2002. Alexia will also make use of Polti's trucks, motor homes and tools that they have used in the past few seasons.

French doctor investigated

A retired French doctor, formerly of the department of Nord-Finistère, is being investigated for providing amateur riders with highly toxic doping products, according to AFP. The doctor, who is now living in Spain, allegedly gave several people including five riders aged between 24 and 33, corticoids, androgens (e.g. testosterone) and amphetamines.

These are considered by the CPAM (French Council for Public Health Insurance) to be the most dangerous doping products, and the CPAM were made aware of the case when several riders filed requests for refunds in 1998. "The doctors certificates indicated that these products were to be used in the treatment of asthma and low hormones, but the names of these riders appeared regularly in the results section of the newspaper," said Yves Dantec, director of the CPAM in Nord-Finistère.

He added that the riders were checked and appeared to be in good health, therefore the prescriptions were not justified. However, the department council of doctors transferred the accused's file to the regional council, where it was not pursued further. They in turn transferred it to the national body of doctors, who were meant to return a decision by the end of last year.

Meanwhile, the doctor in question took an early retirement in Spain.

Ljungskog signs for Vlaanderen 2002

Farm Frites-Hartol rider Susanne Ljungskog has signed with Belgian team, Vlaanderen 2002 for next season. Ljungskog is the second Farm Frites-Hartol rider along with Debby Mansveld to sign with the team. Lungskog won three races this year, and finished fourth in the women's road race in Plouay.

The future of two other Farm Frites-Hartol riders, Rikke Sandhoj Olsen (Den) and Jeanet Harder has yet to be decided.

Brandenbrug Rundfarht

There will be a new race in Germany on the UCI calendar next year, the Brandenburg Rundfarht to be held from September 12-16. The five stage event will be given a 2.5 class rating, meaning that second division professional teams will be allowed to race. The exact stage details have yet to be finalised, but it is likely to start in Prenzlau and finish near Cottbus.