News for April 23, 2001Recent results and new features Winner's Bio - Oscar CamenzindBorn: September 12, 1971 in Switzerland Major wins 1997 Swiss Championships 1998 World Championships 2000 Tour de Suisse 2001 Liege-Bastogne-Liege LBL ReactionsOscar Camenzind (Lampre Daikin, winner):"It's not a relief [to win after two hard years]. Above all, it's a great joy. I have always wanted to win the Doyenne; I've dreamed of this race for a long time. I never doubted there'd be a day like this, even if 1999 and 2000 were not good years. I had lots of problems; I was ill." "I approached this season a little more calmly and I trained a little less too. In fact this victory is partly because of my rediscovered peace." "I followed my instincts in the sprint, knowing the profile of the finish was well suited to me. I think I have a good feeling for this race. When Casagrande started the sprint it was the ideal situation for me. In the last turn I was perfectly positioned to take advantage, even if I wasn't the strongest in the group." "I had some difficult moments in the race, notably when Fassa Bortolo took control of the peloton to speed up the pace. I had to grit my teeth, but these efforts didn't tire me too much." Davide Rebellin (Liquidas, second):"I am very disappointed. Second in a monument like Liege-Bastogne-Liege is really the worst place. I love this race so much. It is bitterly disappointing to fail so close to the goal. A kilometre from the finish I was very confident and sure of my sprint. But Camenzind was the most cunning and without a doubt a little tougher. After a very satisfying start to my season and six victories, I really wanted to win the Doyenne." David Etxebarria (Euskaltel, third):"I knew I was not the fastest of the five men in the breakaway. In the final analysis, to finish third is therefore a good performance. But to get this close to a victory in a World Cup race is always frustrating" Claude Criquielion (directeur sportif Lotto):"Rik Verbrugghe [winner of Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne] was as strong as four days ago. Our leader took his chances in the final kilometers but against explosive riders like Boogerd or Rebellin it's hard. At the finish we had four Lotto in the first main bunch. I am not disappointed in the bahaviour of my men, but I am well disappointed with the final result." Patrick Lefevere (directeur sportif Domo):"The team rode well, anticipating others' moves, as I had asked. Unfortunately, the break that Dave Bruylandts was part of did not last till the end. As for Axel Merckx I think that he was a little short compared to the hot favourites." Hamilton fractures elbowTyler Hamilton (US Postal) sustained a fractured left elbow in a fall in yesterday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He is expected to make a rapid recovery as the fracture is a simple crack with no displacement of the bones, and has not required a cast. According to US Postal's team doctor, Hamilton should be fit for the Tour. LBL blood tests all negative24 cyclists from four teams were blood tested by the UCI before today's 4th round of the World Cup, Liege-Bastogne-Liege/Luik Bastenaken-Luik. Telekom, Festina, US Postal and iBanesto.com were the teams, and all riders were deemed fit to race.
Mercatone Uno get nervousMarco Pantani's Mercatone Uno team are already on the defensive, should they not be selected among the four wildcard teams by the Sociètè du Tour de France on May 2. Team directeur, Giuseppe Martinelli, said on Saturday that "It is impossible to consider not inviting Pantani to the Tour de France, the symbol of cycling." "I am annoyed at having to speak about something that there should be no doubt about," he added. "I understand that six French teams are invited after the first 10, but after them? Of the four remaining places, one of them should be ours by right."
Magnusson's new start
For Glenn Magnusson (Domo-Farm-Frites) the second stage of Settimana Lombarda was a welcome comeback to big time racing. The three time Giro stage winner (1996-98) was in the 30 man break that got away early on. He then went off with three other riders but was caught ten kilometers before the finish. Due to this, the Swedish sprinter didn't have legs enough to fight it out for the stage win, but was still content with ninth in the stage, third overall and the blue jersey of the sprint classification leader. "The sprints are my major goal. The third stage is too hilly for me to keep my position in the general classification," Magnusson said in an interview with Roberto Vacchi, information officer at the Swedish Cycling Federation. After a not too successful season at US Postal in 1999, last year's season at Farm Frites was spoiled by a heavy crash in April and a broken collarbone. After a bad World's in Plouay he had second thoughts about his racing, but decided to put in a final effort. However, in December 2000, Glenn's father passed away. "We were quite close, and I know that he wanted me to continue, so I decided to honour him with a fine season. It started with a crash and an injured hand on the final training tour before his first race at Mallorca, but now he is back where he belongs in the sprints. Courtesy of Tomas Nilsson with thanks to Roberto Vacchi
Kim van Bouwel dies21 year old Belgian, Kim van Bouwel, died suddenly on Saturday April 21. A member of the Nieuwe Hoop Tielen cycling team, he won 21 road races and 22 cyclocross races. He was Belgian cyclocross champion. His funeral is on April 28 at 10 am in Lichtaart.
8th Tour of Slovenia - "Dirka po Sloveniji"Metod Mocnik has sent in the stage list of the 8th Tour of Slovenia, which runs from May 8-13.
Wheelworks/Cannondale addsThe New England based category 1 U.S. amateur squad, Team Wheelworks/Cannondale, has recently added to its roster. The team has brought in the young and talented Jon Hamblin, a former member of the Navigators Pro squad, Hamblin had made the move during the winter to the newly formed, but ultimately toothless Noble House team. After that team's difficulties, Hamblin moved to the Wheelworks/Cannondale team. He has ridden with Wheelworks/Cannondale in selected events in the past, but now will give his full commitment to the squad. He is a talented climber and stage racer, placing well at the Killington stage race in 1999.
Cannondale Jekyll gets Velo Vert's Bike Of The YearCannondale's Jekyll 4000 SL has been voted the 2001 "Bike Of The Year" by leading French MTB magazine, Velo Vert. The full-suspension, disc brake equipped Jekyll was chosen from a list of 35 bikes for the award, with a 16 person panel, including former pro Fred Moncassin, taking it through its paces. The panel gave the Jekyll top ratings in handling, comfort, stability, climbing efficiency, braking, aesthetics and overall performance, before doing a price comparison to determine its final rating. It turned out that performance outweighed the relative expense (US$5,500) of the bike. "Pure pleasure is priceless," said VV publisher, Didier Coste. Last year the Jekyll was also named Bike of the Year by the US magazine Mountain Biking. Its features include a TIG-welded 6061-T6 aluminum frame, and a HeadShok Lefty Carbon ELO (Electronic Lock Out) fork.
New Velodrome for Edinburgh?Meadowbank Velodrome, for long the hotbed of track racing talent in Britain, is due to get a new lease of life, and may well end up as the next covered Velodrome in Britain. Officials from the East of Scotland Cycling Association have been in talks with the City of Edinburgh Council over recent months in a determined bid to boost track cycling in Scotland. A five year plan has been drawn up and presented to the Council who have pledged to support the plan as much as possible. "The recent successes of Chris Hoy and Craig Maclean have confirmed that cycling is a major priority for them (the Council)," said Brian Annable, General Secretary of the Association and Manager of The City of Edinburgh Racing Club. "Rather than looking at a covered velodrome project in isolation, a coherent strategy for track cycling has been put forward by us. This involves providing mini-bikes for young school kids, providing them and novice riders with coaching, and a structured competition path for riders to develop." Edinburgh Leisure are currently reviewing the Meadowbank Sports Complex in a move to revamp the sports facilities in the city. This includes looking at the possibility of knocking down the velodrome, which was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, and replacing it with a covered facility. It however has been stressed that a final decision is still "some way off" and that all options are being looked at. In the meantime track racing at Meadowbank thrives.
UK Foot and Mouth cancellation updateAlthough road racing is rapidly returning to normal in most parts of Great Britain, mountain biking continues to face problems. Cancellations list Road April 29: Aldwyn Robinson Memorial RR, Yorkshire MTB April 28-29: SAMS RD1 Note: Round two of the WCO MTB Cross-Country series (Southern) at Afan Argoed on May 13 is on.
Canberra Tour date changeThe Canberra Tour has had to change dates from May 4-6 to May 11-13, 2001, one week later than previously advertised due to a clash with the "Rally of Canberra". The Canberra Tour, a Category 1 Tour, forms part of the Australian National Road Series. All start times for stages remain unchanged, with the stage on Friday
11 May only applicable for A grade Men and Women. The Canberra Tour race entry form, and further information, can be
found on the Canberra Cycling Club's website http://www.canberracyclingclub.org.au/.
Entries are now due by 27 April.
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