News for October 19, 2000Wilson's hour
For those that missed it yesterday, Australian Anna Wilson became the first rider to attempt and break the world hour record under the UCI's revised technical rules. Wilson rode 43.501 kilometres (just over 174 laps) around Melbourne's new Ron Webb built Vodafone Arena, "breaking" the previous mark set by Dutchwoman Cornelia (Keetie) van Oosten Hage of 43.082 kilometres. The choice of the mark to break was a little ambiguous, as it had to have been set before the advent of disc wheels, tri-bars, aero helmets, bladed spokes and even non-steel frames. Van Oosten Hage's record was set in 1978, so it was assumed to have met the criteria although this was hard to verify given the lack of written and photographic footage about the attempt. A decision as to whether the record is valid will be made by the UCI in November. Current "absolute hour record" holder, Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli is already considering an attempt to break it, possibly at Mexico City, subject to financing. In addition, Eddy Merckx's men's mark of 49.431 kilometres will be attempted by Chris Boardman in Manchester during the World Championships, on October 27. As for Anna Wilson, she certainly did not do it easily. She could barely walk after her effort, suffering from a muscle strain from holding her position on the bike for so long. She said that it was a good way to finish the season, after her "disappointing" two fourth places at the Olympic Games. Now, she is definitely on holiday. Why didn't she ride in the World Championships in Plouay? "I wanted to peak for the Olympics, and that there was already a team that had been selected for the World's. I didn't want to take someone else's spot," she said with her trademark cheerful smile and unselfish demeanour. The record was a good promotion for the new track, which will host the World Junior Championships in 2002, and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. It differs from the Dunc Gray velodrome in that the roof may be opened and other events such as tennis, basketball, ice skating and concerts. The seating capacity is around 10,000. Click here for cyclingnews.com's full coverage of the historic event, including photos and mpeg videos.
World's teamsFranceThe French have chosen their team to contest the World Championships in Manchester next week. After the Olympics, several riders have finished for the year and the team is certainly not as strong as it could be. One rider who will definitely not be there is multiple world champion and recent dual Olympic Champion, Felicia Ballanger. Her last performance of the year(?) in the GP de l'Humanité was not her best, losing to Canadian Lori-Ann Muenzer in the semi-final. Others who will not be present include Olympic Sprint and keirin gold medallist Florian Rousseau who has also had enough for the year despite winning the sprint in the GP de l'Humanité over Laurent Gané. Finally, the retiring Philippe Ermenault was not selected for the team. Ermenault was world individual pursuit champion in 1997. However, Gané along with Arnaud Tournant and Marion Clignet will lead the French charge in Manchester, all hoping to go one or more places better than in Sydney. Men Cyril Bos Women Marion Clignet Great BritainOlympic champion Jason Queally will head the British team for the forthcoming World Championships in Manchester. He will compete in his gold medal winning event, the 1 Kilometre Time Trial where he established an Olympic record and the fastest ever time at sea level, of 1:01:609. He will also team up with the Scottish duo of Craig Maclean and Chris Hoy for the Olympic Sprint, after they won silver in Sydney. The Sydney Team Pursuit squad of Jon Clay, Rob Hayles, Chris Newton, Paul Manning, Brian Steel and Bradley Wiggins have been named again, with Hayles set to ride the individual pursuit. He has an excellent chance, given the absence of Robert Bartko and Brad McGee at the championships. 39 year old Yvonne McGregor from Yorkshire became the first British woman to win an Olympic cycling medal when she clinched third place in a thrilling contest with Sarah Ulmer (NZl) in the Individual Pursuit. McGregor would like to improve on her bronze at the 1997 World Championships. The only member of the World Championship team who did not compete in Sydney is 31 year old Julie Forrester. She will compete in the 500m Time Trial for which she is the British champion and record holder. Men Jon Clay Women Yvonne McGregor Ullrich goes homeJan Ullrich has returned home Merdingen after a truncated but successful season. Forced out of the World Championships after a fall in Paris-Tours, Ullrich decided to forgo his time trial title defence, as well as the opportunity to help Erik Zabel clinch the World Cup in the Giro di Lombardia this Saturday. He was received by 1000 fans in front of the town's sporting hall today, who helped him celebrate his Olympic gold and silver medals. Ullrich said that these successes were important in making up for the disappointment that he felt by not arriving at the Tour de France in top condition and finishing second. He is building a new house in Merdingen at the moment, and the townspeople presented him with several gifts, including a tree, some firewood, and a glass globe with the Baden-Württemberg symbol on it.
Commonwealth Bank Cycle ClassicThe 19th and final edition of the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic will be held from November 4-12 this year, bringing to an end one of the most popular events in the history of Australian Cycling. In the past 19 years, 76 Olympic Games gold medallists or World Champions have contested the race, including this year's Olympic Road Race Champion and 1997 Tour de France winner, Jan Ullrich. Ullrich won the race back in 1993, and his Sydney breakaway companions Andreas Klöden and Alexandre Vinokourov have also competed in the "Bank Race", as it is commonly known. The 2000 Cycle Classic will once again start at Hurstville in Sydney's south on Saturday November 4 on the same circuit that Ullrich won his very first race in Australia in 1993. Deviating from tradition this year, on Sunday November 5 approximately seventy cyclists will race a City Centre circuit race in Newcastle before heading to Warners Bay for an evening criterium on The Esplanade. The following day (November 6), the race will head from Newcastle to Port Stephens (Nelson Bay), followed by a lunchtime crit on the popular harbourside circuit. The longest stage of the race will be on Tuesday, November 7 with a 156 km stage from Port Stephens to the top of Bumble Hill. The stage will be held in honour of the late Darren Smith, who was tragically killed after the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. That evening will see the always well attended Terrigal criterium, also known as the Terrigal Cup on Wheels. Wednesday November 8 will see two more Sydney stages - the 100 km circuit race in Centennial Park, followed by the Coogee Criterium that evening (which will not be held under lights this year). The 106 km Wollongong to Nowra stage on November 9 is another feature of the race with a tough climb up Jamberoo Pass followed by a fast descent through Kangaroo Valley before climbing once again to Cambewarra Mountain. Later that day, a criterium will be staged in Nowra next to Harry Sawkins Park. The race will for the second time travel down the South Coast from Milton to Batemans Bay on November 10, with the obligatory evening criterium in Batemans Bay. The following (and penultimate) day is just one stage, a circuit race in and around the national capital, Canberra. Canberra remains the centre of attention for the final day, which will see a 13km time trial held in the morning followed by a mid-afternoon criterium in the CBD. There are a total of 16 stages and 961 kilometres in this, the final Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic. The race will be televised by SBS, ABC and C7 sports and cyclingnews.com will once again host the official website. The stages
Stage 1 - November 4: Hurstville Criterium, 30 km (start 2:42pm) Jay Sweet's Bike
Sunderland v PriemIn Tongeren (Bel) today, the case between Scott Sunderland and Cees Priem started, with four witnesses to the accident being questioned. Scott Sunderland, Peter van Petegem, TVM mechanic Ronald Matthijsse and Charles Palmans of the Palmans team all gave differing accounts as to what happened. Van Petegem and Mattijsse said Sunderland left his line, while Palmans said Priem was guilty of the accident. Cees Priem will be questioned on December 19, however Sunderland will miss this, because he will be staying in Australia during the winter, returning to Belgium in January.
Beloki and JimenezOne of cycling's rising stars, Spaniard Joseba Beloki has not yet finalised his five year contract with Festina. Despite a verbal agreement one month ago between the two parties for $US 2.5 million for the deal, Beloki is now having second thoughts. One thing that bothered him was that the contract was signed with a Dutch company, Stichting Omnisport, and not with Festina. Hence the future guarantee of the contract was of some concern to Beloki and his lawyer. Festina director, Juan Fernández reasoned that "Festina only wants to sponsor cycling and that is why they created a company in the Netherlands to deal with the team. This is completely legal and transparent, otherwise the French Cycling Federation and the UCI would not have accepted it". On the other side of the coin, Banesto's Eladio Jimenez may get himself into trouble with the team if he accepts an offer from Kelme, who are looking for riders at the moment. Kelme offered him $US 500,000 for the next three years - twice what he is getting at Banesto - after he won the Vuelta stage to Xorret de Cati. Eladio had already signed a preliminary contract with Banesto in June, also for three years and is reportedly considering the situation. Should he sign for Kelme, Banesto have said they will take legal action. Wiggins signs for Linda McCartneyOlympic star Bradley Wiggins will be a member of the 2001 Linda McCartney lineup. Bradley first came to the public's attention two years ago when he became Junior World Champion in the pursuit. However, it was his part as the youngest rider in the Great Britain bronze medal quartet in Sydney's team pursuit that brought him international exposure. "We've been tracking Bradley's progress for a long time," reported his new team manager Sean Yates. "He has developed beautifully within the successful Great Britain set-up. He's only 20, but he's matured well, and he has a fantastic engine. I think he's ideally suited to international road racing."
Algeri to direct Vini CaldirolaVittorio Algeri will be the new director of Vini Caldirola next season, the team announced today. Algeri will work alongside Fabrizio Bontempi and will have partial control over the 22 riders in the squad, including new acquisitions Guisseppe Di Grande, Nicola Minali, Peter Luttenberger, Nicola Miceli, Paolo Bossoni and Gabriele Balducci.
REI lunch race
Starting 11:50am Monday-Friday from the REI Corporate Offices in Kent WA, the REI Lunch Race has been in existence for almost 20 years. It started back in 1982 and draws up to 45 riders from REI Corporate and Raleigh USA with a broad mix of abilities. The parcours is 32-35 km, starting in the Kent Valley (Seattle) and racing the winding Green River. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the ride/race incorporates a 5 km climb to make things interesting. From both companies there are product managers, senior executives, marketing and customer service folk, even some accounting types. Some people use it as training for other disciplines: BMX racing, cyclo-cross, marathon running. The photo reveals that a good time is had by all. Why not start your own lunch ride? |
