News for October 29, 2000World's newsMore action
There was plenty more to see on Day 4 of the World Track Championships in Manchester today, with two gold medals decided and two other events progressing through the qualifiers. Great Britain won their first gold medal of the Championships when Yvonne McGregor produced another fighting ride in the final of the women's 3000 metre pursuit to beat German Judith Arndt in the final. In the other medal event, France beat the home nation in the Olympic Sprint to record their fourth successive gold medal in the event in four years. The team of Laurent Gane, Florian Rousseau, and Arnaud Tournant beat Chris Hoy, Craig Mclean, and Jason Queally after a last lap ride by Tournant brought them from behind to win by 0.2 seconds. The bronze medal went to Spain in a nail biter with Japan. Tomorrow sees the final day of competition for the 2000 World's, and there are a total of five medal events to be decided. The women's sprint, men's keirin, the men's individual pursuit and the men's points race are the events that remain on the program. No Gané in Keirin
A rematch between Italian Bad Boy Roberto Chiappa and French champion, Laurent Gané will not occur in tomorrow's Men's Keirin, after Gané announced that he would not contest the event. The two had clashed during yesterday's men's sprint semi-finals, where Gané won 2-1, but was pushed off his bike by Chiappa after the final match. Chiappa was disqualified (and therefore not awarded the bronze medal) and later the Italian Federation issued a formal apology to Gané and the crowd. Gané's place will be taken by Mickael Bourgain Medal standings after day 4 Gold Silver Bronze
Germany 3 3 0
France 3 1 1
Great Britain 1 2 1
Belorussia 1 0 0
China 0 1 1
Spain 0 1 1
Argentina 0 0 1
Russia 0 0 1
Czech Republic 0 0 1
Heras frustratedRoberto Heras' transfer from Kelme to US Postal has not been as easy as he would have liked, after Kelme have not been helpful with the termination of his contract. Heras, speaking before the 11th Criterium Internacional de la Comunidad Valenciana in Benidorm today, expressed his "disappointment with Kelme and Pepe Quiles (manager)," and the attitude they have taken in the matter. "They are not giving me the necessary help for me to leave," he said, at the same time thanking the team for having him as a professional for the past five years. Heras is under contract for another year with Kelme but is making use of a contractual buyout clause in order to make the transfer to US Postal in 2001. Heras also criticised former Banesto rider, Thomas Davy, for indirectly accusing Miguel Indurain of doping during the Festina trial last week. "They do not have any foundation," he said of the accusations and considered that they came from "some kind of resentment" on Davy's behalf. "These sort of accusations don't please anybody. We are not going to learn now about what Miguel Indurain did during his cycling career. He deserves respect for as a cyclist and a person." Other well known cyclists are in attendance at the Spanish criterium, including Viatcheslav Ekimov, Angel Casero, Oscar Freire, Claudio Chiappucci, Bjarne Riis, Igor González de Galdeano and Iván Basso. Chiappucci echoed Heras' words, saying that it wasn't good for cycling's image (or Miguel Indurain's) to be baselessly accused. "Miguel has won five Tours because he is a great champion. I have raced with him and I know him," said Chiappucci.
Padilla and Indurain respondThe Banesto doctor accused by Thomas Davy of doping the entire team, Sabino Padilla, expressed his surprise at Davy's accusations, but said that there was an explanation. "It is surprising that he is making such serious allegations with so little evidence," he said. "I think he is making them in context of someone who has suffered a little from their time in Banesto." Dr Padilla dismissed the accusations, citing Miguel's slow but steady rise to the top, and also the team's honesty when dealing with his "positive" test to ventolin in 1994. He did not think that Davy's words would have a serious impact on Banesto, Indurain or Jose Miguel Echvarri. "Cycling has to protect its image a lot of the time. It is being attacked on all fronts and often they are coming from within - illogical," he added. Miguel Indurain himself wrote an open letter on Saturday, saying that he had "always stuck to the rules and had nothing to hide...my wins came through training and discipline," pointing out that he had undergone thousands of doping controls throughout his career. "Victories can be achieved without external help," he added, before finishing with: "These are my first and last words in this sad affair, because it is impossible to acknowledge or disprove such accusations. Therefore it is pointless to say anything about me."
Longo next for the hourFormer World Hour Record holder, Jeannie Longo (Fra) will attempt to better the 43.501 kilometres ridden by Anna Wilson in Australia on October 18. 42 year old Longo has flown from Paris to Mexico City where she will make the attempt at altitude on Mexico's Vélodrome Olympique, where she set her "absolute world record" of 48.159 kilometres in 1996.
Team newsLampre-Daikin/VDB connectionFrank Vandenbroucke's manager Paul De Geyter (SEM) was in Paris during the presentation of the Tour de France for the purpose of "selling" Frank. Currently, his salary is half of what it is now, but there isn't too much interest for the strongest rider of the 1999 preseason. At the moment, VDB is ranked 285 on the UCI scale, with no more than 173 UCI points. Giuseppe Saronni, manager of Lampre-Daikin said that, "Our team is complete for next season. We have eye catchers with Camenzind, Spruch, Simoni and Dierckxsens. If we can take VDB, we'll do it mainly to help Frank. It should be a shame if a rider with his qualities has to ride in a small B- or C-team." "We'll send a proposal to VDB and his manager. They know what we will pay and the conditions we need. Frank's image isn't too good at the moment. He has to show us how serious and professional he is doing his cycling job and we have to known how strong his will is for coming back to the highest level. In that case we want to pick him up and invest in him," added Saronni. Could Lampre be the last choice for VDB or will he manage to find a Spanish contract? Here's what some other team managers are saying about him and the other big name Belgian without contract, Peter Van Petegem. Walter Godefroot (Telekom): "We didn't talk to these riders and are not planning to do that. Last year Van Petegem was an important option for the classics, but he wanted to stay with Farm Frites. And we found a new Van Petegem: Wesemann, besides Zabel our second spearhead in the classics, and don't forget Klier. Vandenbroucke has to play as a team leader, and we already have Zabel and Ullrich for the one day and stage races." Jan Raas (Rabobank): "Never talked with these two. That wasn't possible. We were ready early on with our 2001 team and don't have the budget any more for another rider. I know for sure that somewhere there will be a place for both riders. Someone will find the money. But if I was one of these two, I would be getting nervous. November is coming." Johan Bruyneel (US Postal): "I built the team next season for stage-races. With Heras, Rubiera and co. our budget is spent. For the classics I have Hincapie, but he has still to give his confirmation. Even if I wanted it, there is no place for VDB and VP." Patrick Lefevere (Domo - Farm Frites): "Of course I talked to both of them. Why not? But the time of talking is over now. My team is complete. Who wants to talk now, it's too late? If Peter and Frank don't find a team, it will be their problem." Alain Bondue (Cofidis): "I have had enough problems with Frank Vandenbroucke. So that door is closed. Van Petegem would have been a good one for our team. Some time ago we talked with him, but couldn't agree. Cofidis is not interested in a co-sponsor and since that time we haven't spoken with each other. And my door will not be opened any more, as we have enough riders for next season." Giancarlo Ferretti (Fassa Bortolo): "No place any more - I have, with 22 riders, enough for 2001. We didn't talk with those two. If Van Petegem had contacted us, maybe I would have been interested. But a rider like him still has a chance to find a team. With Vandenbroucke, there are not too many teams which still have enough money to pay him." Bjarne Riis (CSC - MemoryCard): "We followed the path of Van Petegem for a long time. But Laurent Jalabert was number one on our list. When he said yes, the book was closed for Van Petegem. I never talked with Vandenbroucke, I talked to his manager. I said to him I was not interested in him." Jef Braeckevelt (Lotto - Adecco): "If someone is interested in Van Petegem, no one wants his shadow, Cees Priem. And what about a rider who has to go to court in Reims within a few months for his Tour problem in 1998? But teams of our level should be glad because of the 1.5 million Euro which Van Petegem would take with him, and VDB is no rider for us." José Echavarri (Banesto): "Vandenbroucke was offered by his management to nearly all the teams, and to us too. We never talked to him in person, but that wasn't necessary. But we remain a team for big stage races. Van Petegem was never an option for us." (Source: sportnet.be) More signingsJoseba Beloki has signed a year contract with his current team Festina. This is a marked reduction from his previous five year plan, after he got cold feet about the 'foreign' managing company that was handling the deal. Another Spaniard, Javier Pascual Rodríguez (Kelme) has signed for two years with Banesto. German team, Coast-Wattenscheid has shown some interest in the Colombian cyclists Hector Ivan Palacio (winner of the Vuelta Colombia 2000), Juan Diego Ramirez (winner of the Clasico RCN 2000), and Hector Manuel Castańo (3rd in the Vuelta Colombia and 5th in the RCN). The three riders currently ride for top Colombian outfit, 05-Orbitel, directed by Raul Mesa Orozco. However, there appears to be a delay in the team's renewal of their contracts. In other news, Luxembourg rider Marc Vanacker has signed a two year contract with Team Post Swiss (not Phonak as previously reported).
Courtesy of Roberto Gonzalez/Ed Buchette/other sources Poles at Heffron ParkFresh from their win in the Herald Sun Tour (riding as the Echuca-Moama team), the four man Polish MROZ squad competed at the Randwick Botany CC club race at Heffron Park yesterday. The team was using the race as a warm up for the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic that starts next Saturday, November 4 in Hurstville. Pawel Niedzwiecki (26, Warsaw) crossed the line first in 1.00.42, followed by Grzegorz Wajs (27, Warsaw), and Dariusz Skoczylas (27, Rybnik), rounding out a clean sweep for the Poles in the 40 kilometre criterium. Team mate and team coach, Pawel Rychlicki finished further back. The team is looking forward to competing in the Commonwealth Bank Classic, which has a total of 16 stages run at various locations along the New South Wales coastline. The Classic finishes in Canberra on November 12, and will be in Sydney on November 8 for two stages - a 100 kilometre circuit race in Centennial Park, and an evening 36 kilometre criterium (6:30 pm) along the Coogee Beachfront. |
