News for November 9, 2000
US Postal: A case or not?By Jeff Jones Yesterday's publication, by French newspaper "Le Monde", of a preliminary investigation into possible blood doping within the US Postal Team took many by surprise, including team management. They released a statement saying that if there was to be an official inquiry, they were "confident that it will find that the team was in full compliance with the strict guidelines set forth by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). We continue to adhere to a zero-tolerance policy concerning the use of substances banned by the UCI." The story bears all the marks of a witch hunt, to perhaps deflect attention away from French cycling in the wake of the Festina trial. However, the news was not meant to be made public just yet and has not been shown on French TV. The preliminary investigation was opened on October 18 although the France 3 TV footage was taken during the Tour de France three months previously. France 3 journalists claimed that they had seen a large German registered car parked in the US Postal team's area each day. They followed the car several times, always at high speed on the highways, and seen depositing large plastic bags in waste bin. According to a report in a weekly French satirical paper, "Le Canard Enchainé", examination of the bags revealed the presence of the Norwegian product, Actovegin, a supposed blood boosting product made from the extract of calf serum used to clear the arteries. Actovegin is not on the UCI banned list, and its effectiveness as a performance enhancing substance is unknown. L'Equipe published a story in its edition today with a statement from former Tour doctor, Jean-Pierre de Mondenard, saying that "Actovegin facilitates the circulation of oxygen in the blood while avoiding the blood coagulation which EPO causes." Although Actovegin might not be banned, the UCI have specified that blood doping (administration of blood or related substances containing red blood corpuscles to an athlete) except for proven medical need is prohibited. Professor Jacques de Ceaurriz, head of the French national anti-doping laboratory, said that Actovegin is a poorly defined product, and not generally available in France. "For me it is a bottom drawer product, marketed especially in the East and in Asia - a preparation originating from calf serum, claiming all manner of virtues. I do not want to say that it is charlatanism but it is rather vast all the same," he said. US Postal Team director, Johan Bruyneel denied that there were any bags were picked up by foreign cars, and questioned the timing of the report. "What I find peculiar is that if someone saw that, they didn't make a scandal during the Tour de France. If I was a reporter and had images like that, I wouldn't wait that long. What is strange is that they have waited three months to reveal the news," he said in an interview. He thought that the Festina trial may have had something to do with the story, because "Festina's defense wants to see everybody implicated to save themselves, because there have been proven cases in that team," quoting a Belgian saying: "The highest trees are those that take the most wind."
37th Munich Six DaysThe 37th Six Days of Munich starts on Thursday night, November 9 in Munich's famous Olympia Halle. 15 teams are down to start, including Dortmund winner, Erik Zabel (who will partner Robert Bartko), Olympic champion Scott McGrory (who will partner Jens Lehmann instead of Brett Aitken, who is injured), madison World Champions Erik Weisspfennig/Stephan Steinweg, the popular Belgian pair Etienne de Wilde and Matthew Gilmore, Bruno Risi/Kurt Betschart, who came close to winning in Dortmund, the traditional Italian pair of Silvio Martinello/Marco Villa and British riders Bradley Wiggins/Rob Hayles (3rd in Grenoble). The racing finishes on November 14, and should be an exciting affair with so many good combinations. Start list 1. Erik Zabel/Robert Bartko (Ger) Franziskaner VDB to ItalyFrank Vandenbroucke will go to Italy next Sunday to meet his new teammates in Lampre-Daikin. There will be a medical control, and he will try out his new bike, a Fondriest. On November 13 VDB is back in Belgium for a while before the first camp with Lampre happens in December. Giro d'Italia 2001The 84th Giro d'Italia starts on May 19 in Pescara at the East Coast. There is one stage in Slovenia, with the complete route to be revealed this weekend. The theme of the Giro is based around the famous Italian composer, Guiseppe Verdi, who died in 1901, 100 years ago next year.
Decree 1.006 and BlancoFor Spanish riders wishing to break their contracts before they are completed, they must resort to using decree 1.006 to buy themselves out of their remaining time. The most recently publicised case was that of Roberto Heras, who switched from Kelme to US Postal. He claimed that it was not for monetary reasons - he just wanted to ride with Lance Armstrong and needed a change after 5 years with Kelme. "I did not have the necessary stimuli [in Kelme] to give my maximum in future," he said in an interview with Spanish daily, Marca. "They did not help me improve my one weak point, the time trial." Heras isn't the only cyclist who has used this rule to change teams. Santiago Blanco created a big storm in 1997 when he left Banesto for Vitalicio Seguros. A promising rider at the time, Blanco failed to get results at Vitalicio during his three year stay. In an ironic twist, he will return to Banesto in 2001 after Vitalicio folds. He said that he never regretted his decision to break the contract, although it was roundly criticised at the time. And now, "Banesto has many cyclists of quality, like Jiménez, Piepoli or Osa. It is a good core. I am 26 now and am almost totally matured, and I hope to prove it," he said. The Vuelta 2001 will be one of Blanco's big goals for next season, as it starts from his native Salamanca. "I hope to ride the Vuelta, although I don't know if I will also do the Giro or the Tour de France. It would be nice to gain the podium in a year in which the Vuelta leaves my own ground," he added.
Retirements in 2000The finish of this season will see several retirements from the professional peloton, for various reasons. This is not an exhaustive list, and doesn't include the early 2001 retirement of Franco Ballerini, who will accept a post in Mapei management. Christian Andersen and Jesper Skibby (Memory Card) Porta Da Ravessa stopsPortuguese division II professional cycling team, Porta da Ravessa will not exist next year, after Portuguese government legislation prohibiting the advertising of alcohol (Porta da Ravessa is a wine manufacturing company). The 11 riders and the team manager are shocked, and have no idea of their future. Team management do not know how they are going to honour their contracts after this law will not allow them to continue. The team includes Volta a Portugal winner, Vitor Gamito.
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