News for April 2, 2001Recent results and new features Lotto looks likely
Of the other significant teams still unselected for the Tour, Mercury-Viatel has also had a strong early season, with Peter Van Pegem's win at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne and strong showing in Paris-Nice likely to catch the eye of Tour organisers, who may also consider the publicity benefits outside Europe of having two American teams in the Tour. Other expected contenders have put in much weaker showings. Marco Pantani has yet to finish a stage race and failed to shine in Milan-San Remo, though his track record as a Tour attraction may still be enough to get Mercatone-Uno in. Saeco has yet to really show, though Cipollini's second in Milan-San Remo should help while French teams like Française des Jeux have been loitering in obscurity. CSC-World Online has suffered from the sidelining of Lauren Jalabert after a domestic accident. Ochoa stable after moveJavier Ochoa was moved to the Cruces Hospital in Bilbao at the end of last week. According to the first medical report issued by the hospital, his condition remains much as it was in the Carlos Haya Hospotal in Málaga, where he was initially treated after the accident that severely injured him and killed his brother in February. Ochoa remains able to breathe unassisted, and is showing blood oxygenation and haemoglobin levels within normal limits. Otherwise, his condition remains as last week. The hospital says it will issue information on Ochoa's progress "when significant changes take place, and with the permission of the family." GP Miguel IndurainApril 7's GP Miguel Indurain was launched on Saturday in Ayegui, Navarre, where the races starts and finishes. According to José Antonio Osés, president of the organisers, Club Ciclista Estella, the list of riders enrolled to start includes: Stefano Garzelli (Mapei-Quick Step), Angel Luis Casero Moreno (Festina), Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno-Albacom), José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (iBanesto.com) Santiago Blanco Gil (iBanesto.com), Santiago Botero Echeverry (Kelme-Costa Blanca) and Joseba Beloki Dorronsoro (O.N.C.E.). 15 teams will be represented in the third edition of the GP Miguel Indurain, the only major road race of the year in Navarre. The 189km route passes through Pamplona, and takes in several significant climbs, which are expected to be well-manned with spectators. These include the second category Arriba, third category Guirguillano, and Alto de El Perdón, and the first category Echauri, traditionally the crucial point of the race. The race has a UCI rating of 1.3 and a total budget of 16 million pesetas (US$84,000) with first place prize money of 425,000 pesetas (US$2,200), 212,000 (US$1,100) for second, 143,000 (US$750) for third and from 117,000 (US$600) to 17,000 (US$90) for fourth down to twenty-fifth. The race was first run in 1951 as the GP Navarra and was later known as the Trofeo Comunidad Foral de Navarra. Previous winners include last year's victor Miguel Angel Perdiguero, Stefano Garzelli, Francisco Mancebo, Mikel Zarrabeitia, Alex Zulle, Johnny Weltx, Julián Gorospe, Pedro Delgado and Miguel Indurain. Spanish national championshipsThe Spanish professional national road race and time trial championships will take place in Leon between June 28 and July 1 after an agreement signed on Friday by the mayor Mario Amilivia, and the president of the Federación Española de Ciclismo, Manuel Pérez. Pérez said he was pleased with the decision to site the championships in Leon because "although many capitals in the South asked for it, there is a great love of cycling in the North, and many riders will be happy about this selection." The national championships in other categories will run from September 14 to 17. Vuelta Ciclista al País VascoSpain also hosts the next major international stage race, the 2.HC category Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, or Tour of the Basque Country. Marco Pantani has already said this will be his next stage race outing, and he hopes to be in better condition than for the Semana Catalana, which he abandoned on stage four. For many teams, especially Italian ones, this will be essential preparation for the Giro d'Italia and the serious contenders include Pantani, Francesco Casagrande, Davide Rebellin and Dario Frigo, recent winners of Tirreno-Adriatico and paris-Nice; Alex Zulle the winner in 95 and 97; last year's winner Andreas Kloden and Semana Catalan winner Michael Boogerd. Stages
Team Stuttgart launchGerman women's squad Team Stuttgart was presented on Saturday at the HQ of sponsor Shimano, in the presence of Shimano Inc president Yoshi Shimano. Measured by championship medals, Team Stuttgart was the most successful women's team in German last year with one German championship and two silvers. The team was third in the federal league. After some members turned professional for 2001 the team has been strengthened by the addition of former European champion Regina Schleicher and German junior time trial champion Sarah Düster. Team Stuttgart will concentrate on races in Germay and Switzerland, and will take part in at least five stage races.. Team Stuttgart is: Manager Olaf Janson Riders Annette Griner Recent results and new features on cyclingnews |
