News for April 21, 2001Recent results and new features
87th Liège-Bastogne-Liège/Luik-Bastenaken-LuikBy Jeff Jones This Sunday's fourth round of the men's World Cup is the oldest of the spring classics, nicknamed "La Doyenne" in recognition of its age. Although there have been more editions of Paris-Roubaix, LBL was first held in 1892, making it even older than the Queen of the Classics. This year's race is 258 kilometres, 10 kilometres shorter than the maximum distance that this race has been run over (1968, 1989, 1994). As many people know, length doesn't always count - the hardness of the parcours is more important. Liege-Bastogne-Liege, or Luik-Bastenaken-Luik for Flemish/Dutch speakers, is certainly a tough race. Although cobbles are not in abundance as they are in the Ronde van Vlaanderen or Paris-Roubaix, there are more hills than in either of these two classics. The race therefore is favourable to the more lightly built climber, albeit one who can stand nearly 6 and a half hours of intense racing. Recent winners include Pascal Richard (1996), Michele Bartoli (1997, 1998), Frank Vandenbroucke (1999) and Paolo Bettini (2000), with the record average speed of 41.079 set in 1999 by Vandenbroucke. In fact, only during the past three years has the average gone over 40 km/h, a testament to the tough nature of the race. The record for the most victories is held by Eddy Merckx, with 5 (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1975), followed by Moreno Argentin with 4 (1985, 1986, 1987 and 1991). Mapei's Michele Bartoli goes into this year's race as one of the principal favourites, although he has yet to win a race since Het Volk. His teammate and 2000 winner, Paolo Bettini will be in attendance, but a strong challenge is expected to come from the Rabobank squad with Michael Boogerd, Erik Dekker and the Zberg brothers as key riders. Fleche Wallonne winner, Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto) will be hoping that his form holds good for LBL, and he will be supported by Mario Aerts, Serge Baguet, with Andrei Tchmil a likely starter. World number one Francesco Casagrande will lead a powerful Fassa Bortolo outfit, with Raimondas Rumsas, Dario Frigo, Ivan Basso and Wladimir Belli all dangerous riders. Domo-Farm Frites are presenting their "other" classics team, led by Axel Merckx and Dave Bruylandts, but they will have a hard time emulating their crushing Paris-Roubaix performance. In the absence of Erik Zabel, Telekom will probably be riding for Alex Vinokourov and Andreas Klöden, although the latter has not shone so far this season. ONCE's Jörg Jaksche put in a good showing at Fleche Wallonne, and he will start in Liege as their top man. US Postal are also presenting a somewhat different team to the cobbled classics, with Tyler Hamilton, Levy Leipheimer, and Christian Vandevelde all good prospects. The other US team, Mercury-Viatel, has brought its stage racers to LBL: Pavel Tonkov, Niklas Axelsson, Chann McRae, Chris Horner, Floyd Landis, Andrei Teteriouk, Wim Vansevenant with Peter van Petegem also due to start. Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) will be trying to go two places better this year, and is certainly in better form than at the same time last year. Saeco Macchine per Caffe will not have Mirko Celestino in their line-up. The Italian rider who won the Trofeo Laigueglia and who is one of the leaders of the Saeco team, is still suffering from a bad dose of flu which also caused him to miss Fleche-Wallonne on Wednesday. The team should still be strong with Paolo Savoldelli and Laurent Dufaux as leaders. Another team hoping to break through in LBL is the bright orange Basque outfit, Euskaltel-Euskadi, who have last year's runner up, David Etxebarria as leader. The big question that Lampre-Daikin fans will no doubt ask, is whether former car painter, Ludo Dierckxsens, will finally win a classic. The balding 36 year old is not short of puff, and perhaps could combine with Max Sciandri to take La Doyenne. Tacconi Sport's Gianluca Bortolami will have a hard time repeating his Ronde van Vlaanderen win, but the canny Italian might be up in the top 10, providing his battered body can take it. Credit Agricole's Jens Voigt was in the action last weekend, although Bobby Julich might find the hillier parcours to his liking. Other rides to watch include iBanesto's César Solaun, Festina's Christophe Moreau, Team Coast's Alex Zulle, Christophe Detilloux (Collstrop) and Michel Van Haecke (Landbouwkrediet).
Race informationThe parcours of the 87th LBL is 258 kilometres, starting in Liege at 1000 CET, and finishing in Ans (a suburb of Liege) at approximately 1640 CET. There are 10 principal climbs, including the Stockeu (km 170), La Redoute (km 223), Sart-Tilman (km 244), and Saint-Nicolas (km 252.5). Winners Out of 86 editions, there have been 57 Belgian victories, followed by 9 Italian, 5 French and Swiss, 3 Dutch, 2 Irish and German, 1 Russian, Danish, and Luxembourgish win. The record for the most victories is held by Belgian Eddy Merckx, with 5 wins between 1969 and 1975. Last 10 winners 2000 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Record average speeds 1 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel, 1999) 41.079 km/h
All first division teams in LBLFor the first time this season, all of the 22 division I teams will be represented in a World Cup race, the 87th Liege-Bastogne-Liege/Luik-Bastenaken-Luik. There will in addition be three division II teams, who have been granted wildcards for the prestigious race: Collstrop, Landbouwkrediet, and Ville de Charleroi, all from Belgium. Notable absentees from the start list include Erik Zabel (Telekom), who doesn't consider his prospects good; Lance Armstrong and Roberto Heras (USPS), both racing in Spain; Romans Vainsteins (Domo), for similar reasons to Zabel; Jan Ullrich (Telekom), Gilberto Simoni (Lampre), and Stefano Garzelli (Mapei), who all racing in Italy; Daniele Nardello and Oscar Freire (Mapei), both injured; and Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour).
Amstel Gold Race - the 25 teamsThe fifth round of the World Cup is the Amstel Gold Race, on Saturday April 28. The last of the 25 teams has now been selected, with the wildcard going to the Italian Alessio squad, who have been the dominant division II team this season. Alessio, together with Bankgiroloterij, Collstrop-Palmans, Team Cologne and Team Fakta, are the five non-division I teams to be granted a start. Team List Alessio
Ullrich updateTelekom's Jan Ullrich has had a much smoother transition this year leading up to the Tour de France, although there is still some work to be done before July. Currently, he is racing in the Settimana Lombarda in Italy, and has not yet decided whether he will race the Giro d'Italia (May 19-June 10) or the Tour of Germany (May 29-June 4). He will make his decision after the Rund um den Henninger Turm on May 1, where he will ride in support of Erik Zabel. Team director Rudy Pevenage quelled doubts that Ullrich was still overweight, as according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he still has 5 excess kilos. "Jan did not increase or decrease," said Pevenage. Ideally, he could weigh 2-3 kilos less. But the crucial thing is that his motivation is good." "He is optimistic for the Tour, and I am as well. He is looking much better than last year," added Pevenage. Should Ullrich race the Giro, he probably won't finish it, using a similar method of preparation as he did for last year's Olympics when he withdrew from the Vuelta.
Mason injuredMercatone Uno's Oscar Mason has probably broken his collarbone, as a result of a fall sustained in yesterday's Dutch classic, Veenendal-Veenendal (won by Steven De Jongh (Rabobank)). Mason has returned home to Italy and will visit professor Terragnoli in Brescia, who will x-ray him. Mason is part of Mercatone Uno's Giro d'Italia team.
Nardello out until the end of MayAnother victim of last weekend's Paris-Roubaix was Mapei strongman, Daniele Nardello, who fell and damaged his left shoulder. He was subjected to an MRI scan yesterday, but has been given the all-clear to return to training this weekend. However, it's unlikely that he'll race until the Tour of Germany on May 29. His teammate Tom Steels, who has been suffering from the effects of glandular fever (mononucleosis) will probably return to racing on May 8 in the Four Days of Dunkirk.
Ochoa will leave intensive careSeriously injured Spanish cyclist, Javier Ochoa, is finally able to leave the intensive care unit of Bilbao hospital, after his condition improved today. A car accident which killed Javier's brother Ricardo, also left Javier in a coma for several weeks, and there were doubts about his survival. He will be transferred to Cruces Hospital, as he is now conscious and is aware of his surroundings. "He has a good capacity for oral communication," said a hospital medical report. "The development of his neurological and orthopaedic injuries is satisfactory. The patient is being fed via his mouth and the hospital has begun a programme of rehabilitation treatment involving movement which will gradually be intensified in the next few days."
Housatonic Classic to feature 5 top pro teamsConnecticut's inaugural Housatonic Valley Classic, scheduled for May 20, will draw five of the USA's top professional teams, including the Division I Mercury Cycling Team, Jet Fuel Cycling (Canadian, Div. III), Navigators (USA, Div. II), Saturn (USA, Div. II), and 7-UP/Colorado Cyclist (USA, Div. III). For a first year event, this is an impressive showing according to promoter John Eustice, and bodes well for future editions of the race. "I have every reason to believe the other US,Division I team (US Postal) will join the competition as well," he said. Connecticut's Wheelworks/Cannondale team will be among the amateur teams on starting line, and will benefit from the top line competition given by the pro's. "The amateurs could pull off a 'Cinderella win' over the pros," said Eustice. "It has certainly happened before." The race totals over 200 kilometres, and starts by winding through the ten towns of the Housatonic Valley in a clockwise circuit of 160 km (100 miles). The course begins in Danbury, speeds north along Candlewood Lake, passes through rolling meadows in Sherman and New Milford. Before returning southward, the race crosses the old expansion bridge in Bridgewater sprints past the churches in Brookfield Center rounds the flagpole in Newtown and will skirt the Memorial Day parade in Bethel. The final 72 km (40 miles) of the Housatonic Valley Classic ends on a circuit around Danbury, making the total race distance a breathtaking 200 km (140 miles). Each town will have an official spectator viewing site, scheduled festivities and a Town Sprint, intense one-mile competitions as the bike racers enter each town. Bethel 's St. Mary's Church is having it's annual carnival; Bridgewater offers a craft fair; Ridgefield has scheduled Sidewalk Sale Days; New Milford plans children's bicycle sprints on the town green prior to the race's arrival and Danbury's Green will host a Health Expo. Additionally, three Criteriums , scheduled at 9:10am, 10:20am and 11:30am will keep crowds cheering in Danbury till the racers return for the final laps at 12:30. For more info, visit the HVTD web site at: www.housatonic.org Finnish skiiers given two yearsThe six Finnish cross country skiiers who used blood thinners at the recent World Championships, have been given 2 year suspensions by their national federation. In addition, the doctor and trainer who were also implicated in the Nordic skiing version of the Festina affair, have been suspended for life. The six athletes were found to have taken Hydroxyethyl Starch (HES), a blood thinning agent than can mask the effects of EPO, or similar substance.
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