News for November 30, 2000

USA Cycling president hits out at French judges

Plant on Armstrong: "Leave him alone."

The French authorities are conducting a "witch-hunt," investigating the US Postal team and Lance Armstrong "before the facts have been checked out" according to USA Cycling president Mike Plant in an interview with AFP.

Plant accused the French judges of "gross negligence" and attacked suggestions that Lance Armstrong had been involved in doping. "Leave him alone. This has been going on for three years now. The attitude in France is to implicate Lance in all these scandals, before there's any proof. It's unforgivable."

Armstrong's coach, Chris Carmichael said Armstrong was confident the fuss would soon die down for lack of evidence. "Lance is not worried because he knows that neither he, nor his teammates, have anything to reproach themselves for," he said.

The ongoing investigation, which is yet to interview any representatives of US Postal, follows allegations by France 3 television that plastic bags collected from US Postal's preparation area and subsequently dumped contained Actovegin, a Norwegian blood-boosting product. Actovegin is not on the UCI banned substances list, but its use could be covered by the UCI's blanket prohibition on blood enhancement.

It has to be pointed out that in the French legal system it's the job of judges to conduct investigations. In the legal systems of countries like the US, the UK and Australia, which are based on the English Common Law, judges are supposed to be impartial referees examining the arguments put forward by two sides. In France, where the legal system is based on the Napoleonic Code, the judge's job is to actually find out the truth. Questions have been asked about the length of time it took French Channel 3 to air its findings of allegedly suspicious behaviour by US Postal. However, the fact remains that there is now an investigation in place which will have to take its course.

More on Pantani's fluctuations

There were more developments in Marco Pantani's 'sporting fraud' trial in Forli yesterday, especially after it was revealed that his hematocrit had dropped from 60.1 percent to 16.1 percent within a week of entering hospital, before rising back to above its normal level. It was hypothesised by Pr. Massimo Cartesegna, head doctor of the Turin hospital, that the startling drop could have arisen due to a feedback effect. When the body is being given a hormone (such as Erythropoetin or Testosterone) externally, it no longer has to make its own. When the supply is stopped, the body takes a little time to catch up.

However, it seems as though there was a little overcompensation in Pantani's case, as his hematocrit reached 86(!?) percent in the following week, according to one report. Whatever the value was, it was considered quite dangerous to his health, prompting Professor Cartesegna to ask Pantani's two team doctors (who were beside his bedside all week) whether they had artificially administered EPO to him. He asked the question several times, but received no answer.

Directeur sportif of Mercatone Uno, Giuseppe Martinelli responded to professor Cartesegna's hypothesis, saying "I would not want professor Cartesegna to be offended because we decided to try and cure Marco by alternative means. I do not see how he can assert these things because he is an orthopaedic and not a hematologist."

The next hearing of the Pantani trial will take place on December 11, and a judgment will probably follow shortly afterwards. If found guilty of sporting fraud, Pantani faces between 1 month and 1 year in prison.

Ballanger and Armstrong awarded Velo d'Or

France's Wonder Woman of the track Félicia Ballanger has been awarded Vélo magazine's prestigious Velo d'Or for best French cyclist of the year, in recognition of her ten world titles and three Olympic gold medals. Ballanger, who took the 500 meter and sprint titles at Sydney, is the first woman to receive the Velo d'Or since its inception in 1992. Ballanger retires at the end of this year, and is competing in her swansong event, the Six days of Noumea, at the moment. Or rather, she isn't as the fourth day was again cancelled due to lack of sun.

The international Velo d'Or went to Lance Armstrong for the second year running, in almost inevitable recognition of his second consecutive Tour de France victory. Armstrong beat Erik Zabel into second place in the poll of France's specialist cycling journalists, with Jan Ullrich third, Leontien Van Moorsel fourth and Romans Vainsteins fifth.

In the 'Best French Rider' category, the runners-up were: second, Florian Rousseau, third Miguel Martinez fourth Arnaud Tournant and fifth, Christophe Moreau.

Museeuw's long road to recovery

Johan Museeuw hopes to return to the peloton "the same as before" after his motorbike accident. He is currently training two or three times a day, he said in an interview with Belgian daily, Het Volk.

"I have to test myself in Mallorca and the Ruta del Sol. If I'm not ready I'm worried about the heavy mental dip which will follow. Then it's over. But if I can [do well in those], I don't know when my last season will start. After the fall in Paris-Roubaix 1998 and that motorbike accident I have lost a lot of time in the last three years. After bad days you ask: why am I doing this? Sometimes there is no progress anymore, and even a decline."

"I know from 1998 that there are ups and downs. But this comeback is more difficult. After this accident I was under general anaesthetic four times. That costs you a lot of energy. After doing nothing for one-and-a-half months I didn't start from zero, but from minus 50 per cent. It's now the end of November, so I'm halfway there."

"My first road training at the end of September wasn't a nice experience. I went from the left to the right, but was on the bike for two hours. Last Friday I trained 150 kilometers. I wanted to see what happened after four hours, how my body reacted. After this ride I did fitness training for another two hours."

"But in training I can't follow my mates Van de Walle and the Vereecke brothers. Normally they can't follow me. That hurts me. But my day will come. It's training and training, but I know why I'm doing this. I don't have another choice."

Freedman reprieve

US Olympic cyclist, Nicole Freedman, has been given a chance to seriously compete again next year, despite the closure of her Charles Schwab team late in the season. The timing of that left her without a team for next year, and still living in an old van parked in a San Francisco driveway for which she pays $US 200 per month for the space (she owns the van though).

One day after an article appeared in "USA Today" outlining her post-Olympic plight, the Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group of Palo Alto, Calif. pledged $US 30,000 in sponsorship funds. This will enable her to support her training and racing schedule in 2001 as well as moving into a warm, dry bedroom.

She told USA Today that the van was "a lot better than the place I lived in 1995. That was a dump."

Brentjens operated on

Dutch MTB-er, Bart Brentjens has undergone an operation in his left groin. The Olympic mountainbike champion in 1996 now has to rest for four weeks before he can ride. Last year he had an operation in his right groin, but during the Olympics in Sydney he developed problems with his left side.

"The operation is a little bit late, so I have to start later with my preparation for next season. But I'm happy the most important races are at the end of the summer," said Brentjens.

In his new team Giant, Brentjens will prepare for the mountain bike season on the road. Giant will start - as a trade team III - in the Tour of Egypt in February. At the end of March he will switch to mountainbike full time.

Thurau in trouble

German Dietrich Thurau, who wore the leader's yellow jersey in the Tour de France in 1977 for 15 days, has big financial problems at the moment. His villa was recently sold in Frankfurt via an auction. However, the DM 1.3 million ($US 500,000) that it fetched will go straight to one of his creditors. Thurau has accumulated debts of DM 20 million, almost the entire budget of the Deutsche Telekom team next year.

'Didi' (46) helped revive German cycling with his successes. For several years he was with Peter Post's Raleigh team. After his cycling career he became the owner of a three stars hotel with 92 rooms in Frankfurt. Now his creditors have asked for his bankruptcy: On December 4 he has appear in court.

Fiedler to Japan?

Jens Fiedler, Gold medalist in Barcelona and Atlanta for the sprint, is hoping to permanently live in Japan to be a keirin rider. However, it may be difficult for him because all the rules for keirin racing are only written in Japanese. However, money can be a powerful learning incentive.

Van Moorsel to attack the Hour

Leontien van Moorsel will attack the World Hour Record in 2001, one week after the World Track Championships in Antwerp at the end of September. She will probably use the track in Manchester that saw Chris Boardman perform a similar feat last month.

Team manager and husband Michael Zijlaard said that "Bordeaux is an option too. We want to use a track in Europe. It's better for Leontien to do the preparation in her own neighbourhood. And we can expect a lot of people in Manchester or Bordeaux."

The attack on the hour by Van Moorsel is her most important target for 2001. She will also defend her world time trial title in Portugal, but her start in the road race is uncertain. The sponsors of her team, Farm Frites and Hartol have provided a bigger budget for 2001 after the successes of Sydney. At the moment, the Hour Record is unofficially held by Jeannie Longo with at 44.767 kilometers (Nov. 5, 2000, Mexico).

Track named after Van Moorsel

Leontien van Moorsel now has her 'own' track. The Rotterdam cycling club "Ahoy" decided to call their accommodation near the Zestienhoven airport in Rotterdam the 'Leontien van Moorsel-parcours'. Van Moorsel lives in Rotterdam at the moment.

Vuelta to Basque Country?

The Vuelta a España may hold one of its stages in Bilbao in the Basque Country in future, according to indications at the Bilbao Council meeting today. Director general of Unipublic, Enrique Franco said that he was "enchanted and eager" about the idea that the Vuelta could enter the Basque Country. Two stages would take place, however it would not be possible before 2003.

The race has not crossed into the Basque provinces since 1978, because "during those 22 years there was no official request," said Franco. "It was only as a result of this proposal by the socialists [Socialist Party of Euskadi] that the possibility has arisen." The move was almost unanimously agreed upon by the various parties in the Council of Bilbao, with 20 votes for to 3 against.

The main concern would be the potential activities of Basque terrorists aligned with the separatist ETA group. 10 years ago, a group of terrorists placed two bombs in ditches beside the road (in the Independent Communities of Navarra and Rioja) where the peloton was due to pass.

Giro 2002 starts in the Netherlands

It has been confirmed that the Giro d'Italia will start in Groningen, the Netherlands on May 11, 2002. The first stage will be three 60 kilometre laps around Groningen, departing from the traditional prologue. Stage will be from the city of Groningen to Münster (Germany).

The start of the Giro in Groningen will be part of a big cultural event in the city - not just with sport. The organiser is considering a one and a half hour musical show as well as a performance by Italian artists Eros Ramazotti and Andrea Bocelli, which will be transmitted live by NOS-TV).

The total project will cost between 5 and 6 million Dutch guilders (Euro 2.3 - 2.7 million). The cycling portion is between 1.5 and 2 million guilders.

Amstel Gold news

The Amstel Gold Race will take a new place on the UCI calendar in 2002. It has been scheduled for a week after Paris-Roubaix, making it the fourth Classic of the pre-season. Liege-Bastogne-Liege will follow it as the fifth and final Spring Classic.

There will also be a women's Amstel Gold Race, and this will take place next year on the same day as the men's race (April 28, 2001). Director Leo van Vliet is showing his respect for the successes of the Dutchwomen during the past few years, especially Leontien van Moorsel who won four medals in Sydney, and Chantal Beltman who won a silver in the World Road Championships.

Rapport Toer to be rescheduled

Jan Ullrich and Telekom may not be able to race in South Africa early next year, after the Vodacom-Rapport Toer (February 24 - March 3) has been called off. The reason being is that the title sponsor, Vodacom, has decided to pull out in order to concentrate on other sports.

However, a spokesman for Rapport said that they would look at rescheduling the 2001 Toer to later in the year, after they have a chance to find another sponsor. At the moment, there is only a slight chance that it will go ahead on the planned dates.

Olympics: how quickly they forget

Jan Ullrich is one of the most popular German Olympians, according to a post-Olympic poll conducted by two German marketing firms. The 1000 questionnaire recipients were asked to write down as many German Olympic gold medalists from Sydney that they could still remember.

91 percent of the respondents put Ullrich as a winning German Olympian that they remembered, while 88 percent included veteran Heike Drechsler and 63 percent had athlete Nils Schumann. However, track cyclists such as Robert Bartko only recorded 28 percent of "memories", as these riders are not seen as often during the year.

Beltman stays in the Netherlands

World Road Race silver medalist, Chantal Beltman is to stay with the Dutch national team next year, after confirming it with KNWU director Peter Nieuwenhuis. She had an offer from Vlaanderen 2002 in Belgium, but turned it down to remain with the national squad. The core of the team will be Chantal Beltman and her sister Ghita, Marielle van Scheppingen and Mirella van Melis.

The new national coach, Herman Snoeijink will work with an open selection and will give special attention to younger riders. Former coach Jean-Paul van Poppel has already announced his departure to Italy (Acca Due O), taking Mirjam Melchers and Arenda Grimberg with him. In addition, another member of the team, Elsbeth Vink signed with Farm Frites-Hartol.

Snippets

Swiss riders Pascal Richard and Bruno Boscardin last professional race will be the Three Days of Geneva on Friday, December 8.

Norwegian Ole-Sigurd Simensen will not be rejoining St-Quentin-Oktos for 2001. He is still able to take an Elite 2 license, however, returning to non-professional status.

Le Team de la Côte des Légendes is a new French regional team, based in Lesneven, Brittany. The team is managed by Alain Bodilis and has signed as team leaders François Urien and Pierre Bozec of VC Pays de Lorient as well as David Norroy and Sebastien Chillémi. The team has a dozen regional riders and aims to take part in the major Breton races for the next year or two.

Courtesy of Velomania