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Jan Ullrich recently recorded his fourth second place finish in the Tour de France which finished last Sunday in Paris. An impressive record, given that in his only other Tour he finished first, however he is not yet up to Dutchman Joop Zoetemelk's record of six second places and one win.
Ullrich is hoping that he won't reach Zoetemelk's mark, as he is determined to come back and win the Tour for a second time, sooner rather than later. At 27, he is two years younger than his sporting rival, Lance Armstrong, who was simply unbeatable in this year's Tour. Armstrong has now racked up three wins in a row, and shows now signs of slowing down.
However, Ullrich is both confident and patient that he will win the Tour again. "I will keeping come back for long enough until I win it," he said yesterday in Karlsruhe, after finishing fifth in the 72 km EnBW paired time trial with Andreas Klöden.
In front of an estimated 190,000 spectators, Ullrich and Klöden finished 1'47 behind French pairing Christophe Moreau/Florent Brard (Festina), with Lehmann/Liese (Nürnberger), Ekimov/Pena (USPS) and Gontchar/Zanette (Liquigas) filling second to fourth places.
"Of course, I haven't yet recovered completely from the three weeks," added Ullrich, who has also been riding in a few post-Tour criteriums this week. Ullrich's last time trial win was in the World Championships in 1999, almost two years ago, although he has finished second many times since then.
Today, he raced in the Luk Cup-Bühl, where he managed 4th behind Verheyen, Rebellin and Camenzind. He will continue racing in the Hamburg and Zurich World Cups, and will make a decision about the World Championships later.
Report by Ted Arnold
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Austin's Golden Boy took another step towards hometown immortality. The strange part is he had to nearly die to do it. Cancer can't stop him. The Tour de France doesn't faze him and Saturday night he stood on stage in front of 30,000 screaming Texans to finish off his post tour week-long whirlwind.
Austin was flurry of activity all day in final preparation for the festivities. One local radio station even gave away bikes all day as part of their "What's in Lance's pants" promotion. Rumours swirled that Lance would be accompanied by U.S. President Bush to the party. Rumours that later turned out to be untrue as Lance did make the trip to Texas on Air Force One but left the President at home in Crawford. Lance said "everyone should get to travel that way at least one time" referring to his flight.
Austin, known for it's live music treated the vocal crowd to musicians, fireworks, and most of all Daddy Yo-Yo, as Lance referred to himself. Yo-Yo standing for how his infant son Luke refers to Lance in the Maillot Jaune.
The highlight of the evening was the second of Lance's two appearances. The fiercely proud Texan showed genuine gratitude towards a city that cared for him when he was "just another cyclist" and most of all a cancer patient.
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Receiving awards and declarations from both the Austin mayor Kirk Watson and Texas Governor Rick Perry, Lance seemed more at ease with his public persona than in years past. Armstrong showed a genuine look of concern when the Governor delivered a personal message from his mother who is recovering from cancer in West Texas. The Governor later went on to comment that "Lance is a lot of different things, but most of all he is a "spokesperson for hope".
Other highlights were fresh chips and salsa delivered to Lance and wife Kristin on stage as well and a video show played on big screens. The show featured Lance video clips over the past weeks. The biggest cheers came when they replayed Lance playing along on the TV talk show host Dave Letterman show saying "Man, my ass is sore".
As the show wound down the Double Trouble, best known as Stevie Ray Vaughan's band closed out the party under warm Texas night skies and a full moon. Cries of "we want four Lance" were heard throughout the crowd.
German rider Hanka Kupfernagel was a late withdrawal from La Grande Boucle Feminine, which began today in Bilbao, Spain. The Farm Frites-Hartol rider fell in a race in Germany, and decided not to start in Spain. Others not present include her teammate Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel, who is concentrating her efforts on the track this year; and the world's top women's team, Saturn (Millward, Rossner, Bessette, etc.) which is focusing on the World Cup.
Lithuanian stars, Edita Pucinskaite and Diana Ziliute (Acca Due O) are others not competing in LGBF.
According to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, the following moves and renewals are happening within the various Italian teams.
Lampre-Daikin
Gilberto Simoni will renew his contract at least for one more year, as will
Juan Manuel Garate, and perhaps Jan Svorada (who was going to retire last year).
However, South African sprinter Robert Hunter is in negotiations with Mapei.
Dario Frigo, after he serves a six month suspension, may come back to the peloton
with Lampre.
Mapei-Quick Step
Giorgio Squinzi's team has signed sprinter Tom Steels until 2004, as well as
Fabien De Waele and neo-pro Frederik Willems.
Saeco
La Gazzetta affirms that Cipollini is "on the point of leaving" to Cantina Tollo,
as reported a few weeks ago, and Paolo Savoldelli may be on the move as well.
CSC-Tiscali
Reportedly negotiating with Mapei's Michele Bartoli, who seems likely to leave
Mapei. Gerolsteiner is another candidate for Bartoli.
Phonak
Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) may become a new recruit for Phonak, leaving a big
hole in Fabio Bordonali's team. This could be filled by Danilo Di Luca (now
with Cantina Tollo).
Fassa Bortolo
Giancarlo Ferretti's team wants Giro stage winner Denis Zanette (Liquigas),
but may lose Lithuanian Raimondas Rumsas to Mapei or Domo. In addition, Francesco
Casagrande only signed a one year contract with Fassa Bortolo, and he is sought
after by Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola.
Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola
Apart from Casagrande (who will be expensive), Tacconi also want Italian TT
champion Marco Velo, and Daniele De Paoli, both Mercatone Uno.
Mercatone Uno
Manager Martinelli will be replaced, probably by Alexander Giannelli. Marco
Pantani will stay as undisputed team captain.
The San Francisco Grand Prix 2001 presented by BMC Software needs hundreds of volunteers on Sunday September 9, 2001. Come out and be a part of the team that will bring triple-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, his U.S. Postal Service team and an international field of over 120 of the world’s best professional cyclists to the streets of San Francisco.
Volunteers work side by side with Volunteer Chairman, Chris Spaeth of Threshold Sports, coordinating all aspects of the volunteer efforts. With hopes of making the San Francisco Grand Prix a yearly event, Spaeth is looking forward to working with the many volunteers who are essential to making this race a success in San Francisco.
Volunteering opportunities include, but are not limited to, marshalling, security and hospitality. Marshals are located throughout the course, in prime viewing areas, to help make the race safe for spectators and competitors. Security volunteers are placed in positions to protect race equipment and check credentials to restricted areas. Volunteers are also needed to help work in hospitality areas throughout the course
How: To volunteer please contact:
Volunteer Chairman, Chris Spaeth at cspaeth@thresholdsports.com
Local Volunteer Coordinator, Sam Marye Lewis at sammarye@ix.netcom.com
or call 408-297-4192.
Register on-line at www.sfgrandprix.com
When: Sunday, September 9, 2001 at 9:00am.
Where: San Francisco, Calif. - The Start/Finish line is located on the Embarcadero at Market Street, near the city’s famous Ferry Terminal. The race course is a 10-mile loop through the streets of San Francisco.
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a España (GT) - Preview, stage list
May 11-June 2, 2002: Giro
d'Italia (GT) - Preview, stage list, photos
July 6-28, 2002: Tour
de France (GT) - Full preview & official route details
December 8: Superprestige
Rd 5 (Cat. 1) - Erwin Vervecken
November 29-December 4: Six
Days of Noumea (6D) - Sassone/Neuville victorious
November 26-December 1: Six
Days of Zurich (6D) - Day
6 - McGrory/Gilmore/Schnider win
December 1: Melbourne
Cup on Wheels (IM) - Scott Moller, Keirin,
Sprint, Support
races
December 2: Cyclo-cross
World Cup #2 (CDM) - Sven Nijs again
November 24-December 3: Juegos
Deportivos Centroamericanos (JR) - Final results
December 8-9: Frankfurter
Rad-Cross (Cat. 2) - Alex Mudroch, UK
National Trophy Series #4 (Cat. 3) - Roger Hammond, Grote
Prijs Industrie Bosduin - Kalmthout (Cat. 1) - Bart Wellens, Int.
Radquer Obergösgen (Cat. 2) - Björn Rondelez, Trofeo
Mamma e Papa Guerciotti (Cat. 3) - Enrico Franzoi, Premio
Egondo (Cat 3) - David Seco, Irish
cyclo-cross championships - Robin Seymour
Results: local racing
Australia - CycleWest
Promotions Omnium Series #2, Eastern
Suburbs Summer Criterium Series, Carnegie
Caulfield Tuesday criterium, Southern
Cross Junior Track Open & Madison Cup, Manly
Warringah CC, George
Town Track Carnival, Carnegie
Caulfield CC, Randwick
Botany CC, Gold
Coast CATS CC, Caesar's
Illawarra CC, Caesar's
Illawarra (track)
Denmark - Danish
cyclo-cross Post Cup #3
Italy - Gran
Premio Città di Bassano
Luxembourg - GP
De Kopstal
New Zealand - Cyco
Criterium series
Spain - Elorrio
cyclo-cross
USA - Georgia
Cross Series Championship, Chimborazo
Grand Prix cyclo-cross, Boulder
Cross Rd 6, New
Mexico State Cyclo-x Champs, Sorrento
Cyclo-x & California State Champ's, Boulder
Cross Rd 5, Verge
New England series, Northampton
CC Cyclo-cross Championships, Chris
Cross International CycloCross
Recently on Cyclingnews
Latest Photos - Olympic
Armstrong, Boulder & California 'cross, More Pan-Am, Canberra, Boston & REI
'cross (December 13)
Cyclingnews survey -
Reader Poll 2001 - Vote for your favourite riders
Letters
- VDB, Lance, Boring Tour, Coastal Post, Respect (December 13)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Ryan Bayley - the KFC-fuelled world champ (December 13)
Cyclingnews Interview
- David McKenzie - Macca's back (December 12)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Laurent Jalabert - Jalabert looks ahead (December 11)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Charly Wegelius - A coffee stop with Charly (December 8)
Cyclingnews
Interview - Sven Montgomery - Moving up in the world (December 6)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Rochelle Gilmore - Road scholar (December 6)
Tales from the Peloton
- 12 Hours of Oleta - MTB endurance race in Miami (December 6)
Tales from the Peloton
- Tony Cruz - back to his roots (December 7)
Marco Polo
Diary - Tour du Faso - Part II - Nathan Dahlberg's report (December 3)
Tech
maintenance - Wheels - how to keep them true and tight
Tech letters
- Headsets, Pegoretti, Carbon cage, gloves & tubes (December 10)
Tech news - Navigators
power-tap, Headsets, Carbon cages (December 7)
Tech- Recycling
- How to protect your chainstay for free
Tech Reviews:
Egg Beater pedals; Park
Tool belt; Shimano shoes;
Speedplay
Breaking
the Chain - Dope planning and testing - From Willy Voet's book
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