News for October 7, 2000

World's news

British team finalised

Great Britain have made two late changes to their World Championships team after Roger Hammond (injury) and David Millar (fitness) have both withdrawn. Performance Director Peter Keen made the decision to withdraw Millar after they both agreed that he was excessively tired from the season. His place in the Elite Men's Time Trial will be taken by Stuart Dangerfield.

Roger Hammond broke his arm during the Circuit Franco-Belge last weekend. His place in the road race will be taken by Mark Lovatt, this year's Premier Calendar series winner.

The men's team is as follows:

Max Sciandri (Linda McCartney)
Stuart Dangerfield
Mark Lovatt (ProVision/Plant-X/Powerbar)
Charles Wegelius (Mapei)

Czech Republic

Elite Men

Road Race:

Ondrej Sosenka (PSK Unit Expert)
Milan Kadlec (Mobilvetta)
Lubos Kejval (PSK Unit Expert)

Time Trial:

Ondrej Sosenka (PSK Unit Expert)
Milan Kadlec (Mobilvetta)

U 23

Road Race:

Pavel Zerzan (G.S. Maglificio MG Boys)
Ondrej Fadrny (MG Aqua)
Michal Prusa (Favorit Brno)
Martin Laciak (Ceska sporitelna MTB Trade Team)

Time Trial:

Michal Prusa (Favorit Brno)

Junior Men

Road Race:

Martin Hebík
Pavel Linet
Martin Mares (CK Brno)
Frantisek Rabon (Skoda Plzen)
Milan Behunek
Michal Kesl

Time Trial:

Milan Behunek (Dukla Brno)
Michal Kesl (Dukla Praha)

Junior Women

Road Race/Time Trial

Pavla Havlíková (Kooperativa Zitny SRAM)
Zdenka Havlíková (Kooperativa Zitny SRAM)

Ireland

Junior Men

Tim Cassidy (Usher IRC)
Philip Duignan (Four Masters)
Michael Dennehy (Kanturk CU)
Colin Armstrong (Orchard Wheelers)

U23 Men

Mark Scanlon (CC Etupes)
David O'Loughlin (Mayo Wheelers)
Dermot Nally (Spain)
Keith Gallagher (Orchard Wheelers)

Luxembourg

Elite Men

Christian Poos (Post Swiss) - RR and TT

Reserve: Marc Vanacker

U 23 Men

Road Race:

Steve Fogen (Nogent/Oise)
Fränk Schleck (De Nardi)
Kim Kirchen (De Nardi)
Gusty Bausch (VS Dommeldange)

Time Trial:

Steve Fogen (Nogent/Oise)
Fränk Schleck (De Nardi)

Junior Men

Road Race:

Benn Würth (LC Kayl)
Ronny Kremer (UC Dippach)
Richard Maillet (UC Dippach)
Jacques Dahm (Velo Woolz)

Time Trial:

Marc Ernster (LC Kayl)

Verbrugge solo for Belgium

Rik Verbrugghe will be the only Belgian rider in the men's individual time trial in Plouay after Marc Streel cancelled last night. Streel fell during the second stage of the Circuit Franco-Belge, "I tested my body in Zele on Wednesday and in Zwevezele on Thursday. But I didn't have any power and had to abandon both days," said Streel.

First reserve, Leif Hoste isn't available either as he is having problems with his knee. His last race of this season was the GP Eddy Merckx.

Ceruti accused

President of the Italian Cycling Federation, Giancarlo Ceruti, has been accused of not defending the image of Italian cycling, especially in dealings involving Marco Pantani. Several council members of the Italian Federation, along with presidents of Regional Committees, stated that "there have been serious accusations and strong innuendo launched at Italian cycling, and no voices of protest have been raised to defend our good name and image and our athletes. According to the management requirements, it is lawful to do this, and anyone with the position and charisma of a leader should take a proper position."

Van Petegem hopes

Peter van Petegem is hoping to find out soon which team he will ride for for next season. "My lawyer and the sponsor Lips will talk to Farm Frites within a few days. They hope to come to a solution, but I don't think that will happen before Plouay," he said.

"It doesn't matter which team I will ride with next year," added Van Petegem, whose lawyer had a call on Wednesday about a new project. "Money wasn't a problem for that potential debutant from abroad. But I have enough choices: Mapei, MemoryCard, a French team and the newcomer. Then there is still Domo-Farm Frites. My sponsor for this year says I'm still under their contract, and I also haven't heard anything further from Mapei."

Van Petegem also denied rumours that Cees Priem will start with a new team for next season.

FBD Milk Rás gains UCI status

Ireland's premier cycle race, the FBD Milk Rás has been given a status boost by the UCI, with a 2.5 classification being awarded for 2001. This means that the all-important international cycling commodity known as UCI points are now able to be earned in the race.

The race's sponsors, the National Dairy Council and FBD Insurances welcomed the change, meaning that it will attract a broader mix of nationalities and better quality of riders. In addition, the Irish Sports Council has promised additional funding for the race.

The race will take place between May 20-27, a reduction from its 9 day format this year. The parcours will not be changed significantly however. This year's winner was Julian Winn of Wales.

Bernardine González Miñano killed in car accident

Former Spanish Olympian, Bernardine González Miñano, who represented his country on track in Seoul '88 and Atlanta '96, died as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic accident. Miñano, who recently turned 31, was travelling on the MU-403 highway that connects Jumilla (Murcia) with Ontur (Albacete). His vehicle left the road for reasons unknown, and he was seriously injured. He was taken to a nearby medical centre in Jumilla but did not survive.

González Miñano raced for five years with the Kelme team under Alvaro Pino and also won two bronze medals in the track World Championships in Bergamo (Italy) and Casablanca (Morocco). He retired from cycling altogether last year after directing the Plastimer team in 1999.

Czech news

Belgian based Czech correspondent, Tom Svoboda (PSK Unit Expert) reports on the latest affairs in Czech cycling.

The first hearing of the Jan Hruska case (he tested positive for Nandrolone during the Vuelta) was held on October 5 by the Disciplinary Committee of the Czech Cycling Federation. Their final decision will be taken on October 17, as there appear to be some problems with the sanction.

Czech anti-doping rules specify a 2 year ban for nandrolone, however UCI rules are for just one year to six months. Hruska´s contract with ONCE is in danger but there will be other Czech professional riders next year with ONCE. Rene Andrle (Wustenrot-ZVVZ) has recently signed for ONCE.

There are two more doping cases in Czech cycling. Jaroslav Bílek (Wustenrot-ZVVZ) will get a warning for a small amount of caffeine detected during the GP Beauce in Canada. More seriously, Richard Faltus tested positive for ephedrine during the Czech National Championship. He will lose his title and likely his contract with Wustenrot-ZVVZ as well. The new Czech cycling champion will be Miloslav Kejval (PSK Unit Expert).

Regarding team news, Czech ITT champion Ondrej Sosenka (PSK Unit Expert) has signed with Polish MAT Ceresit. PSK Unit Expert is also losing Lubor Tesar, Michal Kalenda (both to Wustenrot-ZVVZ), and Lubos Pelanek. New signings for the team are Robert Nagy (Svk) and Jan Riska (Svk) both from the elite military club Dukla Trencin. Returning from Austria is Frantisek Trkal (Bocsh).

Wustenrot have lost Tomas Konecny to Domo, and Andrle to ONCE. New signings are Jaromir Friede and Martin Laciak (CS MTB Trade Team), Michal Prusa (Czech Espoirs, Favorit Brno) and M. Precechtel from JOKO-Velamos.

Broadmark Capital team

Successful Northwestern American team, Broadmark Capital, have expanded their goals in 2001 so as to compete at the National level. The team will be the first Seattle based squad on over 10 years riding in more than 15 national events. Their title sponsors, Broadmark Capital Corporation (an investment bank) have increased their commitment to the team thereby allowing an expanded focus. In addition other team sponsors, such as Giant Bicycles, Squadra and Blindside Wakeboards indicated that they would further support the team.

The team is managed by Terry Buchanan and Ethan Meginnes, and both are quite excited about the growth in their program. "We can now send the top amateur talent in the region to the same national calibre events that groomed riders like Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton, and Bobby Julich for Tour de France and European professional success," said Meginnes.

The Elite squad includes Rad Cunningham, a medallist at the 2000 US National Track Cycling Championships. The elite team will be rounded out by high profile regional road riders over the next few weeks.

The Broadmark Capital Cycling Team has been developed along the lines of Armstrong's old Suburu-Montgomery team in the hopes of developing the next big American rider.

A Coast correction

In a theoretical calculation of German team Coast's potential UCI points for 2001, Italian Massimo Donati (Vini Caldirola) was included in the total. However, he was not yet a certainty with the team. Cyclingnews has been informed that Donati will not actually be joining Coast, and neither will Christian Van Dartel (Hohenfelder).

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