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Olympic news for September 24
Pezzo's planBy Jeff Jones, online editor Italian Paola Pezzo turned a few heads yesterday when she won the Olympic cross country race for the second time in her (and its) history. The tall blonde was tipped as an outside chance after she withdrew from competition immediately after the World's in June to prepare in her own way. At Fairfield city farm yesterday (which is not actually in Fairfield), she rode a consistent race to win, hardly ever out of the top three and keeping her rhythm as the others started to tire. Pezzo followed the same preparation plan as she did in 1996, going to some extremes to mimic the conditions in Sydney. Her coach, Paolo Rosola came to Sydney earlier to scope out the course and likely weather conditions. He devised a course for Pezzo and the rest Italian team in the north of Italy that was as close as possible to Sydney. Then, to get the riders used to competing in Sydney time, he made them get up at 4 am to ride on the course. Pezzo was doing two hour efforts, only training on the MTB on this home designed course. In the afternoon she either went motorpacing behind the scooter or did interval training, again on the MTB. After this, she was more than ready to take on the world's best in Sydney. There was some controversy about her win, after she and Margarita Fullana (Spa) crashed on lap four. Pezzo was trying a different line on a left hand corner, but ended up next to Fullana who hit a ditch in the middle of the road. Both riders fell off, but Fullana slid down the embankment a little and it took longer for her to get going. Upon reviewing the video, Fullana said of Pezzo's move that "it wasn't very fair play," and lodged a protest. However, Pezzo responded by saying that "this sort of thing happens often in MTB races. There are no penalties for these types of accidents. Each rider follows their own trajectory. I held my line and was just hit from the left." The protest was dismissed. It should be noted that Pezzo was looking the stronger of the two at this point after she caught Fullana, and the latter was struggling up some of the hills. Pezzo's pink Gary Fisher bike (to match her pink streaked hair and shoes) will travel with Gary, who was present at the race, to the Interbike show in Las Vegas today. Gary Fisher and his wife Belle were absolutely ecstatic with the win, as 31 year old Pezzo has been the longest serving rider in their team, starting in 1992. Cyclingnews.com will have a full interview with Pezzo in the next few days.
Martinez favourite for men's raceThe second Olympic men's cross country race follows on today (cyclingnews.com will be providing live updates once again), with a field of 50 to contest seven 6.9 kilometre laps of the Fairfield Farm circuit. The names on the start sheet include the top 17 in the UCI rankings, and there are any number of favourites. Martinez, Mierhaeghe, Brentjens, Frischknecht, Evans, Bui, Van Dooren, Green, and Dupouey should be amongst the front runners as the race gets underway in a few hours time. However, the biggest appears to be multiple World champion and World Cup winner, Miguel Martinez (France). The technical course will suit Martinez over the likes of hometown favourite Evans, although the latter will certainly be trying to prove his French nemesis wrong. A gold medal in the Games is Miguel's "prime objective," according to French national coach, Patrick Cluzaud. There may also be a little competition between Martinez and Italian Marco Bui, as both ride for the Full Dynamix team, but Bui is leaving next season. Martinez has been under a cloud this season, after the revelations of 1996 World Champion Jerome Chiotti. In addition to admitting to EPO use, Chiotti also said that he organised a deal with Martinez to 'buy' the French Championships last year. Chiotti reportedly paid FF 50000 ($US 5000) for the win. However, Martinez has not yet been disciplined over the affair due to a lack of evidence.
Brentjens uncertainThere have been strong tips for the Netherlands' Bart Brentjens, the defending Olympic champion who will use his experience to try and make a last lap move if he has the legs. Brentjens has not been staying in the athletes village in Sydney, but an old people's home in Fairfield, where he said that "It's quiet there. For me, too quiet. Without stress I can't put in a good result." However, the gold medals from his compatriots, De Bruijn, Van den Hoogenband, and Van Moorsel will inspire him, although he hasn't taken part in the Olympic atmosphere as yet. He also doesn't feel the pressure to defend his Atlanta title. After two poor years (1997 and 1998), he came back to the top this year with a bronze medal in the World Championships in Spain and second in the European championships in the Netherlands. He thinks that he has a chance, but doesn't consider himself as a favourite. After a period of heavy training he still doesn't have good feelings. However, the parcours is perfect for him: a lot of sections where he can push a big gear, and only a few long climbs. The atmosphere in the Dutch team isn't perfect, and he only has a working relationship with Bas van Dooren and his teammate Patrick Tolhoek. "We eat together, but there is no fun," says Brentjens. Coach Leo van Zeeland chose to have them prepare separately, so Van Dooren and Tolhoek are lying in bed all day (for example), while Brentjens goes to look at the kangaroos in the Fairfield children's farm. "But that isn't so bad. In this discipline you have to do it on your own." Start list for men's cross country
Italian women in troubleThe Italian women's road team experienced a minor drama just three days out from the women's road race, after their support vehicle collided with a station wagon in Sydney's west. The accident took place near Bankstown, while the women (Alessandra and Valeria Cappellotto, and Roberta Bonanomi) were travilling in a car driven by their coach. The women were taken to hospital for x-rays, however neither they nor their bikes were damaged. Both cars will need some panel beating.
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