News for October 8, 2000World's News
ItalyAlessandro Gretter reports on the Italian selection for the World's. As expected after the Giro di Provincia della Lucca, Sergio Barbero (Lampre), Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa), Gianni Faresin and Luca Scinto (Mapei) and Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) did enough to warrant Antonio Fusi's approval. They join Olympians Bartoli, Bettini, Di Luca and Casagrande in addition to Denis Zanette and David Rebellin (Liquigas) and Mirko Celestino (Polti). However, Mapei's Daniele Nardello (who is considered one of the best in Italy now) was left behind because didn't present himself at the last test in Tuscany. In the women's team, GAS have five out of the seven riders in the road and time trial squads. However former World Champion Alessandra Cappellotto is still suffering from a knee injury sustained in the Olympic Road Race. She hasn't ridden at all for the last week and it's unlikely that she'll race in Plouay. Her substitute will be Sara Felloni (Alfa Lum). Elite Men Road Race: Sergio Barbero (Lampre Daikin) Time Trial: Marco Pinotti (Lampre) Elite Women Road Race Alessandra Cappellotto (GAS)? Time Trial Gabriella Pregnolato (GAS) Reserve: Sara Felloni (Alfa Lum) U 23 Men Road Race Lorenzo Bernucci (Vellutex) Time Trial: Cristian Caldarelli Junior Men Road Race: Antonio Bucciero (Feralpi) Time Trial: Daniele Colli Junior Women Road Race: Valentina Alessio Time Trial: Lisa Gatto Olano is the one, Somarriba is notSpanish selector, Francisco Antequera has narrowed down the three potential time trialists for the World Championships in Plouay to just one, after he announced that Abraham Olano will be the sole Spanish rider in that event. It was thought that Festina's Angel Casero would be given a chance along with Olano, however the Spanish selector made his decision after the Subida Naranco, where Casero failed to finish. The final selection for the road squad has yet to be made. "I prefer to take a single rider who is in good form than to take a second who is only at 20 percent," he said, although he had yet to question Casero as to why he abandoned. Although Spain will have a decent chance with Olano, their main hope in the women's event, Joane Somarriba, will not be competing. Somarriba won the two biggest stage races of the year: the Giro d'Italia Femminile and La Grande Boucle Feminine, and placed 5th in the Olympic time trial in Sydney. She has withdrawn due to "physical problems" and her place has been taken by Ruth Martinez.
Alvaro González de Galdeano positiveIt has now become clear why Alvaro González de Galdeano was not selected for the Spanish World's team after it was revealed that he tested positive for Nandrolone. The steroid was the same substance that his Vitalicio Seguros Czech teammate, Jan Hruska, tested positive for and both face a minimum 6 month ban. The case rests in the hands of their lawyers, and the Vitalicio team is arguing that the substance appeared because of contamination of a nutritional supplement that they were taking. The test was taken in the GP Llodio (August 20) and both "A" and "B" samples were positive. The initial reason given for Gonzalez de Galdeano's non-participation was that he was still suffering from injuries sustained in a fall on the last stage of the Vuelta. However, as with Oscar Sevilla ("physical problems") this was not the case. Both Hruska and Galdeano have signed contracts with ONCE next season, however this could jeopardize them.
PolandDaniel Marszalek (Poland) reports that the Polish men's team for Plouay has been finalised. Wojciech Pawlak and not Robert Radosz has been selected for the road race, and there will be no Dariusz Baranowski or Tomasz Brozyna - both riders have finished for the season. In addition, Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (4th in the Grand Prix Ouest France, Plouay in 1998) will also finish his season a little early due to knee injury sustained during the Tour of Poland. The remainder of the Polish selection will be finalised early next week. Elite Men Road Race: Piotr Wadecki (Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy) Time Trial: Piotr Wadecki (Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy) Joaquin Andrade sole representative for PortugalFuture Benfica rider, Joaquin Andrade, will be the only Portuguese rider to participate in the World Championships for elite men. The rider had asked to be considered for the World's because the national selector deemed that there was no point in fielding a team after the poor performances in the Olympics. However, he reconsidered this after Andrade pointed out that he had already raced three times in the World's.
Paris Tours - late changesAfter the meeting of team managers earlier today, the following changes have been made to the start list for Paris-Tours. Eric Zabel will wear number 21 instead of Jan Ullrich, although the latter will still ride as number 27. Danilo Hondo is a non-starter though. Gilberto Simoni (57) is replaced by Massimo Codol (60) for Lampre, while in Vini Caldirola, Francesco Casagrande (61) and Gianluca Bortolami (62) will not start. Stefan Rütimann (69) will substitute for one of them. Geert Van Bondt (87) is replaced by (90) Miquel Van Kessel in Farm Frites, while Yoann Le Boulanger (105) and David Millar (107) will not ride for Cofidis. Roland Meier (110) substitutes for one of them. Laurent Dufaux (111) is out for Saeco but Moldavian Igor Pugaci (120) is in. Daniele De Paoli (125) and Marcello Siboni (128) will not start for Mercatone Uno, and neither will (138) Michael Sandstod (Memorycard), (166) Pascal Herve (Polti), or (176) Andrei Kivilev (Ag2r). Gilles Maignan (180) will take Kivilev's place. Finally, Alexia will do without Oscar Cavagnis (225) but will have Stefano della Santa (229) in. Thanks to Daniel Schamps for the update.
Team newsBartko not assured Dual Olympic gold medallist Robert Bartko (Ger) has not yet finalised his contract with Team Coast, despite promising signs a week ago. The 24 year old had discussions with Telekom prior to Coast, however the number one German team broke off negotiations prior to Sydney. Coast had made a strong offer, but after details of his contract were revealed in the German press, Bartko became annoyed as he wished them to remain private. Since his performances in Sydney, he has again been contacted by Telekom but nothing has been set in concrete. The young World Record breaking rider, who abandoned the Hessen Rundfahrt due to sickness, will contest the World Track Championships in Manchester at the end of this month. He is the current World Champion in the Individual Pursuit, and wishes to defend his title. Spain and Portugal Festina have signed Vitalicio's Juan Carlos Vicario for next season, after director Juan Fernandez reached an agreement with the rider's agent recently. Vicario had several offers from other Spanish teams before he decided on Festina. He is in his 8th professional year, having ridden for Castelblanco, MX Onda, Estepona, Fuenlabrada and Vitalicio-Seguros. The 29 year old's only win was in the 1999 Memorial Manuel Galera. In other news, Ximo Lopez will sign for Kelme next season, while the Portuguese Benfica squad have officially contracted Aitor Zarate Kintana from Euskaltel for two years. The team has now added Joaquin Gomes, Michele Laddomada, Stefano Venturini, Vitali Kokorine, Jose Sousa, Luis Perez and Joaquin Andrade. Netherlands Farm Frites' Gerben Löwik will join Rabobank. The Dutch team recently added 18 year old Bobbie Traksel to their professional squad, making him the youngest Dutch pro in history. Italy There seems to be a lot of movement in Italian teams at the moment: Polti's Ivan Gotti will join Alessio next season, while Romans Vainsteins and Roberto Milesi will both move from Vini Caldirola to Domo. Richard Virenque and Pascal Herve are both leaving Polti for Alexia where they will be joined by Laurent Roux and Ivan Quaranta (ex-Mobilvetta) and Enrico Cassani will move from Polti to Domo. Ivan Basso leaves Amica Chips for Fassa Bortolo, while Roberto Sgambelluri (Cantina Tollo) is joining Telekom. Newcomers for Vini Caldirola are Dmitri Gaintdinov and Polish Sylvester Szmyd. Finally, grimpeurs Filippo Simeoni and Roberto Conti will join Danilo Di Luca in Cantina Tollo.
No Zabel, Ullrich in Giro?German team Telekom may start the Giro d'Italia next year without Jan Ullrich or Erik Zabel, according to team director Walter Godefroot. Although the race is one of their goals for 2001, taking their top Tour de France stars may jeopardize their chances in that race. The final decision as to how they will deploy their forces will be made after a team meeting in late November, however Zabel is almost certain to miss the Italian race. Bicycling Australia ShowAustralia's biggest bicycle trade show is the Bicycling Australia Show, to be held from October 13-15 in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The first two days are trade only but the final day is open to all members of the public. This year's show is easily the biggest show ever seen in Australia (about 30% bigger than the show last year in Sydney) with all the major bike brands exhibiting. There will also be a few special guests dropping by including Sydney 2000 Gold medallist Brett Aitkin as well as two of the world's best BMX riders Dave Mirra and Ryan Nyquist direct from the States.
Season of marriages for Russian MTB'ersIn old times, Russian peasants maintained a tradition of getting married in autumn, when the wheat is reaped and there is plenty of time. The tradition seems to be on its way back in a different field of activity. Last weekend, rising cross country star Irina Iagoupova, who is just 22 years old and races for Merida Kostja (22nd overall in the World Cup), was married to an ex-rider in her native city of Tcheboksary. Her husband had switched from sport to the very dangerous occupation of special police force officer, so he is quite often away on a mission in Caucasus. The number one Russian XC racer, Pavel Tcherkassov (28, Garry Fischer-SAAB, 20th in the Olympics) is getting ready for a wedding ceremony set to be held in Moscow later this month. His bride Jennifer is an American who is on the team’s staff. A super trip was initially planned for their honeymoon, including a tour around the huge expanses of Russia. No planes though, only trains will do to experience the real greatness of Pavel's motherland. Put in Alla Epifanova (I hope, after the impressive 4th place ride in Sydney and pretty successful World Cup 2000, there needs to be no long-winded explanations as to who and how strong she is). The Volvo-Cannondale rider was engaged earlier this year. So all three Russian top mountainbikers are quite serious about matrimonial things...seems to be a tendency. Report courtesy of Serguey Kurdukov, Russian Eurosport commentator.
José Santos stops candidacyHead of the Boavista cycling team, José Santos, has put himself out of the running for president of the Portuguese cycling federation for 2001, with the elections due on November 5. Current president, Artur Lopes is therefore expected to retain his position and will have the responsibility of organising the World Championships in Lisbon next year. Napa Valley World Cup 2001The first UCI MTB World Cup event for 2001 will once again be in Napa Valley in California, April 6-8. There will be both amateur and professional events held on the challenging Domaine Chandon course , culminating in the men's and women's Elite World Cup on Sunday April 8. Extending for 6.4 km (4 miles) through Domaine Chandon, the course offers beautiful scenery and plenty of steep gradients to challenge all riders. Each category will do a 2.4 km (1.5 mile) start loop, and then onto a wide fire road climb of about 1.6 km (1 mile) followed by steep climbs, technical descents, the Shimano Disco Fly-Over, and rolling double track returning to the main venue.
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