News for April 12, 2001

Recent results and new features

99th Paris-Roubaix: Ballerini's swansong

36 year old Franco Ballerini's last race will be Paris-Roubaix this Sunday, a race that he has won twice in 1995 and 1998. He has now returned to the Mapei fold, and will be hoping to combine with Andrea Tafi to put one over Andrei Tchmil, Johan Museeuw and co.

Another rider hoping to win on Sunday is US Postal's George Hincapie, "fresh" from his win in today's Gent-Wevelgem. After his win, Hincapie said that "I've been knocking on the door for a while. I think I work as hard as anyone out there so I feel I definitely deserve it. Sunday is my day, though, it's my big goal."

Who else has done the Gent-Wevelgem Paris-Roubaix double? Scott Goldstein did a quick comparison using cyclingnews.com's archives:

1979 Francesco Moser
1973 Eddy Merckx
1970 Eddy Merckx
1962 Rik Van Looy

Fastest average speeds

1 Peter Post (Ned) 45.130 km/h (1964)
2 Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel) 43.970 (1948)
3 Pino Cerami (Bel) 43.538 (1960)
4 Derycke (Bel) 43.322 (1953)
5 Johan Museeuw (Bel) 43.306 (1996)

Paris-Roubaix teams

Ag2R Prevoyance
Big.Mat-Auber 93
Bonjour
Cofidis-Credit Par Telephone
Credit Agricole
Festina
Francaise Des Jeux
Jean Delatour
Saint-Quentin Oktos
Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola
Lampre-Daikin
Fassa Bortolo
Saeco Macchine Per Caffe
Liquigas-Pata
Mapei-Quick Step
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Kelme-Costa Blanca
Mercury-Viatel
Us Postal Service
Team Coast
Team Deutsche Telekom
CSC-World Online
Rabobank
Domo-Farm Frites
Lotto-Adecco

Mercury-Viatel for Paris-Roubaix

Mercury's Geert van Bondt will miss Paris-Roubaix after his crash in Gent-Wevelgem. Last year's winner didn't break anything, but damaged his muscles and will be out of action for three weeks.

Mercury-Viatel team for Paris-Roubaix will consist of: Derek Bouchard-Hall, Jamie Drew, Gordon Fraser, Jans Koerts, Plamen Stoianov, Leon van Bon, Peter van Petegem and Wim Vansevenant.

Mario Cipollini stopped by stomach problems

Unfortunately for Mario Cipollini, his planned comeback to Belgium didn't go too well. The Italian sprinter couldn't start Gent-Wevelgem today, a race that he has won twice previously and was keen to do so again. He has been suffering from occasional gastroenteritis for several weeks; yesterday and this morning he had severe diarrhoea.

Cipollini will go back to Italy today to verify the origins of his problems, which seem to be viral.

VDB abandons

The "other racers" in the Vuelta a Pais Vasco have decided Frank Vandenbroucke's fate in the race, after he pulled out of the third stage today. He rode 100 kilometres of the third stage (won by Davide Rebellin), but was in trouble on the first climb and abandoned. He had said before the stage that there was a "big chance that he would have to abandon," given the hilly nature of it.

Fontanelli's salary frozen

Mercatone Uno have suspended the wages of Fabiano Fontanelli, after he recorded a hematocrit level of over 50 percent in last Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen. The president of the team, Felice Gimondi, announced this today.

Fontanelli will be suspended until the team "obtains documents advising the results of the tests carried out on his first and second urine samples," said Gimondi in a statement.

UCI regulations mean that a rider who records a hematocrit of over 50 percent is not allowed to race for 15 days due to health reasons. A high hematocrit can result from the use of EPO, but there are certain athletes with naturally high hematocrit levels. The urine test employed by the UCI can detect whether EPO has been artificially injected up to three days prior to the test.

USA NRC rankings

Saturn continue to dominate the USA's National Series Rankings, updated after last weekend. Trent Klasna and Kim Bruckner lead the men's and women's individual rankings, while Saturn leads the women's teams and is placed second behind Mercury in the men's teams.

Rankings as of April 9, 2001

Men's individual

1 Trent Klasna (USA) Saturn                             523 pts
2 Chris Horner (USA) Mercury-Viatel                     339
3 Baden Cooke (Aus) Mercury-Viatel                      287
4 Levi Leipheimer (USA) US Postal Service               240
5 Eddy Gragus (USA) Jelly Belly                         221
6 Scott Moninger (USA) Mercury-Viatel                   204
7 Roland Green (Can) US Postal Service                  175
8 Vladimir Miholjevcic (Cro) KRKA Telekom               156
9 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators                    151
10 Danny Pate (USA) Prime Alliance                      134
11 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Saturn                           129
12 Harm Jansen (Ned) Saturn                             125
13 Michael Rogers (Aus) Mapei-Quick Step                120
13 Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale                   120
15 Soren Petersen (Den) Saturn                          111
16 Mark McCormack (USA) Saturn                          103
17 Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury-Viatel                      99
18 Ivan Dominguez (USA) Saturn                           78
19 Graeme Miller (NZl) NetZero                           75
20 Chris Wherry (USA) Mercury-Viatel                     74
21 Charles Dionne (Can) 7up-Colorado Cyclist             69
22 Jamie Drew (Aus) Mercury-Viatel                       63
23 Frank McCormack (USA) Saturn                          48
24 Phil Zajicek (USA) Mercury-Viatel                     42
25 Chris Fisher (USA) Saturn                             41
26 Steve Larsen (USA) Prime Alliance                     40
26 Chris Baldwin (USA) Navigators                        40
28 Valter Bonka (Slo) KRKA Telekom                       39
28 Damon Kluck (USA) Jelly Belly                         39
30 Gian Paolo Cheula (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step              38
31 John Peters (USA) Mercury-Viatel                      36
32 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto-Addeco                      35
32 Michael Barry (Can) Saturn                            35
32 John Lieswyn (USA) 7UP-colorado Cyclist               35
35 Chris Pic (USA) Mercury-Viatel                        34
36 Derek Bouchard-Hall (USA) Mercury-Viatel              32
36 Jaroslav Bilek (Cze) Wustenrot ZVVZ                   32
36 Jason Waddell (USA) MathisBrothers.com-CRRC           32
39 Roel Paulissen (Bel) Lotto-Addeco                     30
39 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) Lotto-Addeco                  30
39 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto-Addeco                  30
42 Hilton Clarke (Aus) NetZero                           28
43 Ernie Lechuga (USA) Defeet-LeMond                     26
43 Dominque Perras (Can) Marco Polo                      26
45 Jason McCartney (USA) Jelly Belly                     23
46 Glen Mitchell (NZl) Marco Polo                        22
47 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Subaru-Gary Fisher               21
47 Will Frischkorn (USA) Mercury-Viatel                  21
49 Jonas Carney (USA) Prime Alliance                     19
49 Doug Ziewacz (USA) 7UP-colorado Cyclist               19
49 Oscar Pineda (USA) 7UP-colorado Cyclist               19
52 Roberto Gaggioli (USA) Defeet-LeMond                  18
52 Ryan Miller (USA) Prime Alliance                      18
52 Boris Premuzic (Slo) KRKA Telekom                     18
55 Franky VanHaesebroucke (Bel) Navigators               16
55 Chann McRae (USA) Mercury-Viatel                      16
57 Kevin Monohan (USA) 7-Up-Colorado Cyclist             13
57 Michael Creed (USA) Prime Alliance                    13
57 Mark Walters (Can) Navigators                         13
60 Steve Cate (USA) Mercy Fitness Cycling                11
60 Dean LaBerge (USA) Marathon Racing Team               11
62 Scott Price (USA) Landis-Trek-Volkswagen              10
62 Christian Werner (Ger) Nurnberger                     10
62 Antonio Cruz (USA) US Postal Service                  10
62 Svein Tuft (Can) Broadmark Capital                    10
62 Dirk Friel (USA) Zaxby's                              10
67 Josh Thornton (USA) US National U23                    9
67 Matt Decanio (USA) Saturn                              9
67 Jens Zemke (Ger) Team Nurenburger                      9
67 Adham Sbeih (USA) Navigators                           9
67 Juan Pineda (USA) 7UP-colorado Cyclist                 9
67 Dean Meyer (USA) Lombardi Sports-OFOTO.com             8
73 Charles Wegelis (GBr) Mapei-Quick Step                 8
74 Pavel Zerzan (Cze) Mapei-Quick Step                    7
74 Tim Johnson (USA) Saturn                               7
74 Kevin Miller (USA) YMCA/Sun & Ski Cycling              7
77 Russell Stevenson (USA) Broadmark                      6
77 Jes Zarate Estrada (USA) U.A.G.                        6
79 John Durso (USA) Lombardi Sports-OFOTO.com             5
79 Keith Horowitz (USA) Team DARE                         5
79 James Paolinetti (USA) NetZero                         5
79 Erik Saunders (USA) Team DARE                          5
79 Matt Yates (NZl) NetZero                               5
79 Kam Po Wong (HKg) Marco Polo                           5
79 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step                 5
79 Nathan Dalberg (NZl) Marco Polo                        5
79 Clark Sheehan (USA) 7UP-colorado Cyclist               5
79 Patrick Heany (USA) Lombardi Sports-OFOTO.             5
79 Scotty Weiss (USA) Zaxby's                             5
79 Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Volvo-Cannondale                    5
79 Joel Chavez (USA) Wheelworks-Cannondale                5
79 Jacob Erker (USA) Schroeder-Incycle                    5
79 Branko Filip (Slo) KRKA Telekom                        5
79 Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Addeco                      5
79 Julian Dean (NZl) US Postal Service                    5
79 Petr Bencik (Cze) Wustenrot ZVVZ                       5
79 Arkadiusz Wojtas (Pol) Team Nurenburger                5
79 Siro Componogara (Ita) Navigators                      5
79 Kirk Albers (USA) Jelly Belly                          5
79 Dale Suttle (USA) Mercy Fitness Cycling                5
79 Paul Reed (USA) Zaxby's                                5
79 Ryan Guay (USA) 7UP-colorado Cyclist                   5
79 Marty Nothstein (USA) Mercury-Viatel                   5
104 Norm Carter (USA) Jelly Belly                         4
104 Rory McAdams (USA) Trek-Volkswagen-Richardson         4
106 John Hunt (USA) Lombardi Sports-OFOTO.com             3
106 Andrew Bajadali (USA)                                 3
106 Ian Dille (USA) Mercy Fitness Cycling                 3
106 Jon Atkins (USA) realitybikes.com                     3
110 Ryan Lane (USA) NetZero                               2
110 Matt Dubberley (USA) Los Gatos BRC                    2
110 Brian Forbes (USA) Team Redlands                      2
110 Patrick McCarty (USA) Mercy Fitness Cycling           2
114 David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal Service               1
 
Men's teams
 
1 Mercury                                              1003 pts
2 Saturn                                                991
3 US Postal Service                                     431
4 Jelly Belly                                           292
5 Navigators                                            229
6 Prime Alliance                                        224
7 KRKA Telekom                                          218
8 Mapei-Quick Step                                      178
9 7-Up-Colorado Cyclist                                 155
10 Lotto-Adecco                                         130
11 Volvo-Cannondale                                     125
12 Net Zero                                             115
13 Marco Polo                                            58
14 Defeet-Lemond                                         44
15 Wustenrot ZVVZ                                        37
16 MathisBrothers.com-CRRC                               32
17 Team Nurnberger                                       24
18 Lombardi Sports-OFOTO.com                             21
18 Subaru-Gary Fisher                                    21
18 Mercy Fitness Cycling                                 21
21 Zaxby's                                               20
22 Broadmark Capital                                     16
23 New Zealand Nat'l Team                                12
24 Marathon Racing Team                                  11
25 Team DARE                                             10
25 Landis-Trek-Volkswagen                                10
27 US National U23                                        9
28 YMCA/Sun & Ski Cycling                                 7
29 U.A.G.                                                 6
30 Wheelworks-Cannondale                                  5
30 Schroeder-Incycle                                      5
32 Trek-Volkswagen-Richardson Bikemart                    4
33 RealityBikes.com                                       3
34 Los Gatos BRC                                          2
34 Team Redlands                                          2
 
Women's individual rankings
 
1 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn Cycling Team           350 pts
2 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team               322
3 Genevieve Jeanson (Can) Rona Cycling Team             315
4 Katrina Berger (USA) 800.com                          254
5 Kim Smith (USA) autotrader.com                        209
6 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team              169
7 Susy Pryde (NZl) autotrader.com                       167
8 Anne Samplonius (Can) Intersports                     148
9 Tina Mayolo-Pic (USA) autotrader.com                  142
10 Jimena Florit (Arg) Sun International                138
10 Sandy Espeseth (Can) Intersports                     138
12 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team              137
13 Julie Young (USA) autotrader.com                     135
14 Anke Erlank (RSA) Saturn Cycling Team                125
15 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn Cycling Team              124
16 Alison Dunlap (USA) Team GT                          116
17 Suzanne Sonye (USA) Saturn Cycling Team              105
18 Judith Arndt (Ger) German National Team              102
19 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Proctor & Gamble             93
20 Stacey Peters (USA) 800.com                           84
21 Pam Schuster (USA) autotrader.com                     79
22 Nicole Freedman (USA) Credit Suisse                   66
23 Andrea Ratkovic (USA) 800.com                         63
23 Jenny Eyerman (USA) Jane Cosmetics                    63
25 Caroline Alexander (GBr) Total Trainer                56
25 Catherine Cardwell (USA) Jane Cosmetics               56
27 Nicole Demars (Can) 800.com                           53
28 Catherine Marsal (Fra) Intersports                    50
29 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Talgoamerica.com               49
30 Amber Neben (USA) Harbor Lights-Velo Motion           44
31 Katie Safford (USA) Earthlink                         43
32 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) autotrader.com                      40
33 Laura Charmeda (USA) Michella Fanini                  37
34 Leah Goldstein (Can) 800.com                          35
34 Gina Grain (USA) 800.com                              35
36 Jessica Phillips (USA) Verizon Wireless               32
37 Merideth Miller (USA) Santa Cruz Spokesman            30
38 Lysle Wilhelmi (USA) 800.com                          29
38 Cheryl Binney (USA) Proctor & Gamble                  29
38 Cynthia Mommsen (USA) Santa Cruz Spokesman            29
41 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn Cycling Team           28
42 Alison Sydor (Can) Subaru-Gary Fisher                 27
43 Karine Dalmais (Fra) Sun International                25
44 Erin Carter (Can) Intersports                         24
45 Elizabeth Emery (USA) Intersports                     22
46 Kori Kelly (USA) Proctor & Gamble                     21
46 Andrea Hannos (Can) Press Enterprise                  21
48 Gabriela Gonzalez DeFerrat (Mex) at Rona Cycling      20
48 Krystyna Kras (USA) Webcor-Alto Velo                  20
48 Cindy Bauwens (Bel) Verizon Wireless                  20
51 Rhonda Quick (USA) Jane Cosmetics                     19
52 Liane Bahler (Ger) German National Team               16
52 Sue Palmer-Komar (Can) Jane Cosmetics                 16
54 Kelli Emmett (USA) Team GT                            15
54 Dotsie Cowden (USA) Earthlink                         15
56 Lauren Smith (USA) Santa Cruz Spokesman               14
57 Mina Pizzini (USA) Proctor & Gamble                   11
58 Sarah Hammer (USA) Zero Wait                          10
58 Annie Gariepy (Can) autotrader.com                    10
58 Brooke Blackwelder (USA) Goldy's-Grovestreet          10
58 Tina Liebig (Ger) German National Team                10
58 Joy Shaffer (USA) Verizon Wireless                    10
58 Erin Mirabella (USA) Jane Cosmetics                   10
64 Allie Warfel (USA) Genesse Valley Cycling              9
65 Joan Wilson (USA) Santa Cruz Spokesman                 7
66 Carla Koehler (USA) Velo Club LaGrange                 6
66 Brenna Wolford (USA) Santa Cruz Spokesman              6
66 Barbara Blatter (Swi) Total Trainer                    6
66 Jan Despas (USA) Webcor-Alto Velo                      6
66 Andrea Smessaert (USA) Trek-Volkswagen-Midwest-RBM     6
71 Heather Cole (Can) Soul Craft                          5
71 Chrissy Redden (Can) Subaru-Gary Fisher                5
71 Melanie McQuaid (Can) Rona Cycling Team                5
71 Claire Hall-Patch (Can) Subaru-Gary Fisher             5
71 Rebecca Cooke (USA) Landis-Trek-Volkswagen             5
71 Catherine Powers (USA) Verizon Wireless                5
71 Darnelle Moore (Can) Press Enterprise                  5
71 Simone Klewitz (Ger) German National Team              5
71 Manon Jutras (Can) Rona Cycling Team                   5
71 Jacqueline Brabentz (Ger) German National Team         5
71 Charmain Breon (USA) Talgoamerica.com                  5
71 Annelie Chapman (USA) Jane Cosmetics                   5
83 Stacey Spencer (USA) Proctor & Gamble                  4
83 Kirsten Raudenbush (USA) Helen's                       4
83 Ashley Kimmett (USA) Saturn Cycling Team               4
86 Patricia Mackey (USA) Team Tailwinds                   3
86 Mary McLaurin (USA) Trek-Volkswagen-Midwest-RBM        3
86 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum                             3
89 Meridith Mills (USA) Echelon Santa Cruz                2
89 Lisa Magness (USA) Boise Cascade Office                2
91 Monica Erdosh (USA) Palace                             1
91 Sandra Kolob (USA) Credit Suisse                       1
91 Amy Babcock (USA)                                      1
 
Women's teams
 
1 Saturn Cycling Team                                  1103 pts
2 autotrader.com                                        732
3 800.com                                               489
4 Intersports                                           382
5 Rona Cycling Team                                     325
6 Jane Cosmetics                                        164
7 Sun International                                     163
8 Proctor & Gamble                                      158
9 German National Team                                  138
10 Team GT                                              131
11 Verizon Wireless                                      88
12 Santa Cruz Spokesman                                  86
13 Credit Suisse                                         67
14 Total Trainer                                         62
15 Earthlink                                             58
16 Talgoamerica.com                                      54
17 Michella Fanini                                       37
17 Subaru-Gary Fisher                                    37
19 Goldy's-Grovestreet                                   30
20 Webcor-Alto Velo                                      26
21 Vit All                                               20
22 Zero Wait                                             10
23 Genesse Valley                                         9
24 Olympic Club                                           7
25 Velo Club LaGrange                                     6
26 Press Enterprise                                       5
26 Soulcraft                                              5
26 Landis-Trek-Volkswagen                                 5
29 Harbor Lights-Velo Motion                              4
29 Helen's                                                4
31 Team Tailwinds                                         3
31 Alfa Lum                                               3
31 Trek-Volkswagen-Midwest-RBM                            3
34 Echelon Santa Cruz                                     2
34 Boise Cascade Office                                   2
36 Palace                                                 1

Hetton Lyons park re-opens

Hetton Lyons Park Closed Road Circuit in Sunderland (UK), which had been closed due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak has re-opened. Orgainsers interested in running races at the venue should contact Sonia Hodge, City Contracting Services, Sports Development Section, South Hylton House, Hylton Bank, Sunderland SR4 0JL - telephone 0191 553 4691

BMC correction

The third race in the BMC Software Grand Prix is the San Francisco road race for the men, and the San Rafael Women's BMC Software Criterium. The San Rafael event is the day before and approximately 20 minutes away from the San Francisco event.

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