News for October 13, 2000World's newsJalabert's misfortuneLaurent Jalabert was one of the clear favourites for the elite men's time trial from Rostrenen to Plouay today, performing in front of a home crowd and eager to repeat his World Championship Title of 1997. Unfortunately for the French veteran, a bout of gastroenteritis last night before the event cost him his start, and the potential for a gold medal. He was fifth in Sydney, but with the absence of Armstrong, Ekimov and Ullrich, and an Olano at the end of a tough season, Jalabert had good reason for optimism. "I could only improve from Sydney," he said yesterday. "Whereas the others were fresher in September. I have not raced much since the Tour de France." The decision to forfeit his start was taken moments before the departure of the first rider, Robert Nagy (Svk). He was vomiting all night and couldn't eat, but French coach Patrick Cluzaud believed that he could have ridden. However, in order not to jeopardize Jalabert's chances on Sunday, they decided not to. It was a hard blow however, as according to Cluzaud, "he wanted to gain this title so much, that his morale is destroyed." His compatriot, Christophe Moreau didn't have a good ride, finishing 17th - four places worse than in Sydney. He has been one of the many that have been 'under the weather' and has been taking antibiotics for a cold.
Zabel pulls outGerman cyclist, Erik Zabel will not participate in the World Road Race Championships on Sunday as he is suffering a cold. The German team have now lost Jan Ullrich and Andreas Klöden also looks unlikely. He too is suffering a cold and the decision to start will be made tomorrow. Zabel said that he desperately wanted to start, but came down with a cold after Sunday's wet and chilly Paris-Tours World Cup race, where he finished 12th. Team doctor, Lothar Heinrich said that it would have made no sense for Zabel to race in the World's Road Race.
Hanka goes homeAfter her sixth place in the women's time trial yesterday, German Hanka Kupfernagel left the team hotel to return home early. Along with her husband, Torsten Wittig, she did not want a start in Saturday's road race, and will take two weeks off the bike before training for the cyclocross season this winter. Wittig claimed in Sydney that she was "flat, but no-one would believe me there. We wanted to do one more test." She even raced on an older bike, one that she won the bronze medal in Valkenburg in 1998 on. However, that did not help her on Wednesday - although she was up in third on the final time check, a mechanical cost her precious time and she finished 6th. With the introduction of women's events, the cyclocross season is far more lucrative for Kupfernagel - race organisers pay up to $US 500 start money, and this will certainly help her in her largely solo racing career next season.
Pantani faces trialMarco Pantani has other matters on his plate this week, after he was not selected in the Italian team for the World Championships. He will appear in court in Forli on Friday in relation to the "sporting fraud" charges that have plagued him all year. These are in relation to his high hematocrit level (60.1 %) that was measured in Turin hospital after his accident in Milan-Turin five years ago. If found guilty of this type of fraud i.e. falsifying results from taking banned substances, Pantani faces a maximum of one year in jail. Pantani's case will be one of several in the coming months as the cycling season finishes and the legal battles start. Riders testedThe UCI tested 31 riders (21 men, 10 women) from Denmark, Italy, Norway and Switzerland on Thursday in Plouay. No one had their hematocrit over the limit.
Medal table after day 3:
Gold Silver Bronze Total
Russia 1 1 - 2
France 1 1 - 2
Poland 1 - 1 2
Ukraine 1 - - 1
Bölts does HawaiiWhile his Telekom colleagues are suffering in the cold in Europe, Udo Bölts will be racing through the Hawaiian lava fields in the Ironman triathlon on the weekend. The well known event involves a 3.8 kilometre swim, a 180 kilometre bike ride, and a 42 kilometre run - one after the other. Bölts was persuaded by his triathlete friend, Lothar Leder to enter, and he was given a wildcard by the race organisers. He described it as a "crazy thing and a huge challenge," and certainly doesn't expect to figure on the leaderboard. However, the big question is what can he do on the bike? The record is 4:24:50 (40.78 km/h), set in 1997 by Thomas Hellriegel. Bölts could quite conceivably take this, but there are other things to consider. "Why should I give everything for the bike leg and have nothing left for the marathon? I have only run 15 kilometres at one time..." he said, affirming that he merely hopes to be one of the finishers.
Bankgiroloterij adds32 year old Bart Voskamp (Polti) has signed with second division Bankgiroloterij for one year, and will not be following his compatriot Jeroen Blijlevens to Lotto. "While Blijlevens stays at the top level with Lotto, I am going to a second division trade team. But I don't see this as a step backward," said Voskamp of the move. "Here I will find a challenge. I'll become leader of the team with a beautiful programme. I will not do the Tour de France and most of the World Cups, but that is the same as this year." Remco van der Ven (Farm Frites) is another who has signed for Bankgiroloterij, and it looks to be a complete revamp of the team for 2001. Only 4 riders from this season will renew with Bankgiroloterij: Rudie Kemna, Rik Reinerink, Jan van Velzen and Wim Omloop. Next year the team is as follows: Remco van der Ven, Martin van Steen, Bram Schmitz, Pieter Vries (Farm Frites), Bart Voskamp, Stefan van Dijk, Bert Hiemstra (Team Cologne), Tom Desmet (Tönissteiner), Steven de Neef (Flanders) and Corey Sweet (Hohenfelder).
Rotterdam awarded World Cup in 2001The UCI have once again given the Dutch women's World Cup Race to Rotterdam. This came despite pressure from Dutch cyclists and organisers to move to another location (the organiser of the Ronde van Drenthe for example). The organizer of the Rotterdam race has refused entry to some Dutch women's teams in the past two years.
Cycling Australia Cyclists' Commission surveyInterested in having an effect on Australian Cycling policy? The Cycling Australia Cyclists' Commission have prepared a survey for 2000 and are seeking your views on how to address several problems that have arisen in Australian cycling. These issues affect our cyclists from club level to elite, and reflect poorly on our sport, both within the cycling community and the public at large. They include: * Perceived lack of uniformity and consistency in disciplinary procedures, * Perception of cyclists that our selection, grievance and conduct policies are irrelevant and/or do not place cyclists on an equal footing with coaches and staff, * Perception by cyclists that they do not have a forum to express their views, and must go outside the cycling community, i.e. to the media, to receive justice, * Dissatisfaction with coaches' and team management's induction procedures and personal management skills. To receive a copy of the survey as well as the current Cycling Australia selection and grievance policies and code of conduct, simply email Stephen Hodge at steve.hodge@bigpond.com and return the completed questionaire before November 3. This is so that the submission to the Board of Cycling Australia can be prepared and presented at the meeting in late November. Note to all respondents: * No names will be used in the submission to the Board of Cycling Australia, however some personal details are requested in order to validate replies and contact respondents if further questions are necessary. * Please complete this questionnaire electronically and return it via e-mail. Simply type your answers where required to replace the red lines. This will make collating responses far easier. More lettersThe latest letters to cyclingnews page is now posted (October 9-12), with more comments and reactions regarding the Olympics. Was the men's road race a Telekom master plan, or was that the way it turned out? And what do people think of leaving Andrea Tafi out of the Italian team? Comments and criticism of current events in cycling should be addressed to letters@cyclingnews.com.
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