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Marco Pantani is back racing again, in an attempt to get fit for the latter half of the season. The Mercatone Uno rider is competing in the Vuelta Castilla Leon, where he is lying 99th overall after losing 24 minutes today on a tough stage. This is not an unexpected result, with so much time off racing, but Pantani is not altogether happy with the way things have gone in recent months.
Top of the list is his non-participation in the Tour de France, a race that he won in 1998. When the final selections were announced in early May, Mercatone Uno missed out, much to the disappointment of many. Pantani told Spanish daily AS that this was "the worst thing of all" coming as it did right before the Giro d'Italia where he didn't have a particularly stellar race.
"I did not expect it," he said. "I did not see any stages of the Tour. It was not a pleasant experience for me. On the contrary, it is a bad atmosphere."
"We have a number of problems, and under these conditions, we can not race in peace...the detonator was the exclusion from the Tour. Many of our sponsors were unhappy, because their profitability depends on the participation in the Tour. While we were excluded, other things started to emerge. One cannot race well under these conditions."
"It is necessary to think of next year. To create a team united under a new director, other riders. Next year, only those who believe in me will be with me."
Pantani's next goal is the Vuelta a España, starting on September 9.
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Vuelta a Castilla Leon defending champion, Francesco Mancebo (iBanesto.com) had an unfortunate end to his race, after he fell and broke his left collarbone in stage 2 today. Mancebo fell near the start of the stage, and received facial wounds with fractures of the skull feared. Examinations showed that he did not lose consciousness, and he will be operated on this evening.
The injury may mean that he will not ride in the Vuelta a España, which starts in less than 5 weeks.
Lance Armstrong will make his return to racing in this weekend's Clasica San Sebastian World Cup, a race that he won in 1995. After having four days off the bike and doing the rounds in the USA, Armstrong will travel back to Spain this week, remaining for the Vuelta a Burgos (August 20-24).
Three cyclists are within 14 points of each other after the latest update in the women's UCI rankings. Still number one is Australian Anna Millward (Saturn), followed by Bielorussian World Champion Zinaida Stahurskaia (Gas Sport), and Dutch rider Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O). These three have some 250 points lead over fourth placed Leontien Zijlaard - Van Moorsel (Farm Frites-Hartol), who is not concentrating on road racing this year.
Recent winner of the Trophee International World Cup race in France, Olga Slioussareva (Carpe Diem) moved from 20th to 12th, while second place in that race Regina Schleicher jumped from 97th to 42nd.
In the teams rankings, Saturn still leads Acca Due O-Lorena Camicie, but only by 36 points, meaning that the women's Tour de France could change things again.
Individuals 1 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn-Timex 745.00 pts 2 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Gas Sport Team 734.00 3 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie 731.50 4 Leontien Zijlaard - Van Moorsel (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol 485.00 5 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 445.00 6 Judith Arndt (Ger) 403.00 7 Chantal Beltman (Ned) 370.50 8 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn-Timex 340.00 9 Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger) Farm Frites-Hartol 331.67 10 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Alfa Lum R.S.M. 330.50 11 Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (Fra) 319.34 12 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Carpe Diem-Itera 306.00 13 Fabiana Luperini (Ita) Edilsavino 301.00 14 Diana Ziliute (Ltu) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie 297.00 15 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum R.S.M. 281.00 16 Petra Rossner (Ger) Saturn-Timex 264.00 17 Rasa Polikeviciute (Ltu) Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie 240.00 18 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Edilsavino 237.00 18 Ceris Gilfillan (GBr) 237.00 20 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) Alfa Lum R.S.M. 235.00 Teams 1 Saturn-Timex 1,507.00 pts 2 Acca Due O-HP-Lorena Camicie 1,471.00 3 Gas Sport Team 1,121.00 4 Farm Frites-Hartol 1,083.67 5 Alfa Lum R.S.M. 1,007.00 6 Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 833.00 7 Edilsavino 758.00 8 Carpe Diem-Itera 551.00 9 Team Sponsorservice 335.00 10 C.A. Mantes La Ville 78 222.00 Nations 1 Netherlands 1,786.00 pts 2 Germany 1,306.67 3 Australia 1,059.00 4 Lithuania 1,056.50 5 Russia 838.50 Complete women's rankings
By Greg Taylor, Team Lardbutt correspondent
Well, I did something different Friday afternoon - I walked over to the White House to see what I could see of Mr. Lance Armstrong, three time Tour winner and all around American hero. To cut to the chase, I don't think that I saw the dude, but it wasn't for lack of trying.
First off, I wasn't the only person who had this idea. There were about a dozen or so cycling nuts circling the White House all carrying stuff that we, in our delusional state, thought that we might get autographed by The Great One. The trinket that I was carrying is a picture of me and Lance taken at the 2000 Ride for the Roses - a really cool picture. Others had caps, posters, jerseys, and even a baby. Yes, a baby. There was a woman standing milling around with us who had a cute 4 month old named Lance...she claims that the name was her husband's idea. Yeah, right lady.
The main problem was that we did not know where Lance would be showing up - none of the press reports mentioned that particular little fact. The White House has about eight different gates, and the uniformed police wisely treat anyone hanging around outside and asking about celebrity visitors as, well, a potential threat. The police were mum on which gate Lance would be using to enter and exit. A little group collected over by the East Side (near Treasury) and started to stake out those gates. In the past, celebrities have used those gates so chances seemed good that this is where Mr. "It's Not About The Bike" would make his entrance.
The shindig with the President was scheduled to blast off at 1:45. We had a bunch of false alarms, with vans and other cars pulling through the gates. Finally, at about 1:30 or so the secret service cleared out the walkway, and a long black limo and a couple of vans pull up to the gate. Our little knot of fans began to wave and cheer. The windows of the limo were blacked out, but behind the glass I could see folks waving back. Other folks now were getting caught up in the excitement...confused tourists are jumping up and down, babies are being thrust at the car windows, and everyone is cheering! Great! But is it Lance?
Hell no, it ain't Lance.
It's a bunch of suits, who are probably baffled about the grand greeting that they just got. For all we know, we could have been cheering the trade representative from Latvia.
Anyway, it was getting late, and I had to get back to work. The afternoon wasn't a total loss as I met some good folks and had a good time, even if I didn't see Lance. A couple of us traded e-mail addresses and we promised to get together and go ride. Which, after all, is what it is all about...
Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) will be returning home to Sydney this week for some well earned rest, recovery and deep consideration. McGee has completed his first attempt at the Tour de France and with many impressive performances, has a long list of professional teams chasing his services for the 2002 season.
"Every other day I am receiving calls or have team directors tap me on the shoulder," says McGee. "It has been fantastic to have the attention, but is also mentally draining as I sort through the proposals."
McGee has been working with French journalist Jean-Francois Quenet, who has helped him handle the contractual negotiations while the Tour was on. Sometimes, you can't plan for every eventuality though.
"I had to laugh when one director approached me during the descent of the Col du Tourmalet on Stage 14. We were doing over 65km/h on a twisting road and this guy is screaming through his car window 'have you got a contract for next year?'"
"It is all new to me. Arranging 'secret meetings' and sneaking around hotel rooms seems a little absurd at times but I must admit that it is also exciting."
McGee started his professional career with La Francaise des Jeux in 1998, perhaps the worst year that cycling has had to endure. He is considered one of the 'new breed' of cyclists who are trying to shake off the culture and stigma of doping. For this reason, together with some solid results in 2001 (two wins and several near misses), plenty of teams are interested in the young Australian.
This year saw the UCI introduce a test for EPO, the first international sports federation to do so, and there have been a number of positive cases already. The UCI claim that although the test has a short detection window, its main strength is as a deterrent, because tests can be taken out of competition. Is this the beginning of a revolution?
"Sure I have noticed a big change in the peloton this year," says McGee. "I notice more riders are suffering and I am now constantly riding at the front of the bunch. I am loving it."
He has welcomed the return to Australia after the Tour, as it will give him some time to decide about his future. "I am not taking this decision lightly as I feel I am at a major turning point in my career. I feel my professional apprenticeship is over and now it is time to take more of a team-leader role."
"More importantly is that my little girl, Tahlia is now 5 months old and has not been on Aussie soil since she was 3 weeks old. We joke that she can already speak as much French as she can English!"
Brad, with his wife Sharni and daughter Tahlia will land in Sydney Thursday morning. He will stay in Sydney for 3 weeks, and then return to Europe for the final 4 weeks of the season, including the World road Championships possibly followed by Australia's Herald Sun Tour.
Beginning on Wednesday, August 8 is the 28th edition of the Tour of Hungary. First held in 1925, the tour has been interrupted several times the past 76 years for a number reasons, but will make its return on Wednesday in Veszprém. The four day race will finish in Budapest on Saturday, with the winner getting 8000 Euro.
The organiser is Karoly Eisenkrammer, who holds the rights for the next five years.
Britain's brightest cycle race gets back on the road in Newport, Shropshire, on Saturday, September 15. It is the return of the only floodlit road race in the country, a popular formula in Holland but only tried in Britain on this brilliant round-the-town circuit.
Over 10,000 spectators lined the barriers for previous versions of the race. It evolved from the classic Davies & Jeggo Motors road race, which brought all the top professionals to Newport for two decades. It was the British Professional Championship in its final three years as a long-distance event before promoter Michael Jeggo hit on the idea of putting it on as a Nocturne.
The riders snake through the little market town under a combination of street lights and industrial floodlighting brought in specially for the occasion. They power up the cobbled St Mary Street each lap, cheered by the most knowledgeable crowd in cycling.
Now the race is back by popular demand. Newport Town Council is backing it and a host of supporters and local businesses are chipping in to maintain its position as the most entertaining - and richest event of the year for the riders.
Simon Broad, of the Ultrasport shop in Newport has launched a 100 Club, to persuade at least 100 people in the town to chip in £20 to boost the prize list to encourage Britain's top racers.
The Wrekinsport and Newport cycling clubs are giving their support, and there have been pledges of help from the towns Rotary and Lions club as well as Newport Motor Cycle Club.
For more details contact Michael Jeggo on 01952 810964
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
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