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German champion Jan Ullrich participated in two of the three races in the Trittico Lombardo series in Italy this week, placing second in the Coppa Agostoni but pulling out of today's Coppa Bernocchi with 50 kilometres to go. Up until that point, Ullrich had an active role in the race, helping to bring back Matjaz Batic, who had ridden solo for 77 kilometres. But he chose to pull out in anticipation of Sunday's World Cup race in Zürich.
"Jan did not want to finish all the laps, and abandoned after approximately 150 kilometres of riding," said Telekom director Mario Kummer to DPA. "All the other competitors were stuck to his back wheel."
Ullrich has finished second in Zürich twice in 1997 and 2000, and certainly has the form to win, although he can expect stiff competition from Casagrande, Rebellin, Dekker, Bettini, Armstrong and Dufaux, to name a few. He has never won a World Cup race, and wants this Sunday to be his first.
Lance Armstrong will not be attempting the World Hour Record this year, according to reports from Spain's Vuelta a Burgos. Although it was part of a tentative late season program, Armstrong says that he is mentally and physically too tired to contemplate it after winning his third Tour de France.
"I will not try this year," said Armstrong. "I want to do it some time, therefore I don't want to leave anything to chance. I need to make technical tests, to try out equipment, the position, then I will try next year, certainly at the end of the season."
Armstrong is currently lying in 61st place in Burgos, after missing the cut on the crucial second stage. However his teammate Jose Luis Rubiera is in second place, just 6 seconds behind leader Juan Miguel Mercado (iBanesto.com), winner of stage 2.
According to a survey of cycling conducted by Sport + Markt AG, German sprinter Erik Zabel is more popular than Jan Ullrich amongst his countrymen. The Cologne based market research institute found that of 1015 people surveyed, 84% responded that Ullrich was liked or very well liked. Zabel recorded a slightly higher value of 87%, while Lance Armstrong (by way of comparison) scored 81%.
Jens Voigt was the next best German with a 74% popularity rating, and in the cycling team stakes, Telekom scored a whopping 98%.
As reported recently, Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel has chosen the Manchester Velodrome for her attempt on the World Hour Record. The current Olympic Women's 3000m Individual Pursuit Champion and World Record holder will make her assault on Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli's distance of 45.094 kilometres on September 12 at 2:00pm.
Manchester was chosen by Leontien due to the lack of similar facilities in her native Holland and because of Manchester's reputation as one of the world's fastest tracks. At present, Manchester has held five successful world record attempts, a feat shared by only one other track in Mexico.
All spectators are welcome and there will be no charge for admittance.
Starting in Dronten one day after the finish of the men's Ronde van Nederland is the 5th edition of the Ronde van Nederland voor vrouwen, also known as the Holland Ladies Tour. The race is only given a 2.9.2 classification by the UCI, something that the organisers wish to change soon. A higher UCI class makes it more attractive to ride, due to the extra UCI points on offer. As women's professional cycling gradually builds its hierarchy, race promoters will want to improve their events to cement them as top class before there is too much competition.
Currently, women's stage races are either given a 2.9.1 (first tier events) or 2.9.2 (second tier), while one day races are either CDM (World Cup), CM (World Championship), 1.9.1, or 1.9.2. Compare that with the men, who have eight different classes of stage race, and nine different types of one day races. It is rare on the women's calendar that there are more than two UCI races held at the same time, but the season is growing.
The Holland Ladies Tour is a candidate for an upgrade, but it will need a new top sponsor next year, as the contract with Formido runs out. Finding big sponsors for big tours is surprisingly difficult in the Netherlands, given that it is one of cycling's heartlands. Witness the difficulty that the Olympia's Tour and the men's Ronde van Nederland had this year.
"If our sponsor also pulls out, then we will also have problems, but we have confidence that we can maintain it," said chairman Wim van Duivenbode to Dutch newsagency ANP.
He hopes to have more international teams in future, but the quality of the field this year is excellent, with 8 of the top 10 in the UCI rankings taking part: Anna Millward (Saturn), Diana Ziliute (Acca Due O), Hanka Kupfernagel (Farm Frites-Hartol), Judith Arndt (Germany), Suzanne Ljungskog (Vlaanderen) are some of the top foreigners, while defending champion Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O), Chantal Beltman, Yvonne Brunen and Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Farm Frites-Hartol) will fly the Dutch colours, although Leontien will only do two or three stages.
Dutch cyling team Bik-Toscany Sport are hoping that recent winner of La Grande Boucle Feminine, Joane Somarriba (Alfa Lum), will join them next season. Spaniards Rosa Bravo and Enevitz Iturriaga are already part of the team, which has a Spanish co-sponsor.
"She will be able to ride with her compatriots," said Bik-Toscany sport team manager Arie de Jager. "We still have to wait, but it would be very nice if we could sign her."
Yesterday it was reported that German sprinter Sven Teutenberg (Festina) had signed a contract with German Team Coast for next season, along with Steffen Radochla and Andre Korff. However according to Teutenberg this is incorrect. "I am still in the negotiation phase with some teams," he told Cyclingnews.
The fifth and final round of the Track World Cup will be held in Ipoh, Malaysia starting this Friday August 24. The three day event will determine the final qualification for the World Championships in Antwerp in September, with France leading the way in the countries' standings.
France is trying to qualify in first place in the women's individual pursuit, and has sent Cathy Moncassin to do the job, although she will make way for Juliette Vandekerckhove and Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli in Antwerp.
The French team will be substantially different from the one that dominated round 4 in Mexico City, leaving home Laurent Gane and Arnaud Tournant, but taking Laurent's New Caledonian cousin Herve Gané for the sprint events.
Olympic champion Marty Nothstein is another top sprinter who will be present in Malaysia.
By Bert Sarloos
In April the organisers of the Heuvelland Tweedaagse decided to cancel the race, which was scheduled for May 12-13, because of mouth and foot disease in the Netherlands. The parcours is in a very rural area, and it would have to pass more than 25 farms. Although FMD was not (and has never been) detected in this part of the country (South of Limburg), the risk of the disease possibly being spread by vehicles, riders or staff from teams of ('infected') parts of Holland was too high. An alternative route was not possible, neither were costly disinfection measures.
"I got a call from the American team saying they had to order plane tickets now or not come at all. If we would have said yes and had to cancel the race in later stage, we would have received a claim", said organiser Lou Maessen. After consultation with the farmers union (LLTB) Maessen decided to cancel the race. Also, some big sponsors who have a lot of stakes in the agricultural sector, especially Rabobank and fertiliser producer DSM, were afraid for their image if they gave their approval.
Maessen took a look at the international calendar and saw that it was piled with races. Except for the weekend of August 25 and 26. And so here it his: the 11th edition of the Euregio Autolease Heuvelland Tweedaagse, a World Cup race for juniors.
Stage 1, 5 laps of 21.2 km
Climbs each lap: Holleweg (3.1 km - 500 metres at 5.4 %), Fromberg (GPM 4.5 km - 800 metres at 6.25 %), Ribbelheide (8.6 km - 1000 metres at 5.7 %), Klingeleberg (GPM 13.3 km - 900 metres at 5.8 %), Korenweg (16.3 km - 300 metres at 10 %), Kerkveldweg (finish - 350 metres at 6.6 %).
Sprint classification: each passage of the finish line
Stage 2, 4 laps of 19.9 km
Climbs each lap: Koekoeksweg (4.4 km - 1000 metres at 5.5 %, peak to 10 %), Fromberg (GPM 12.9 km - 1300 metres at 5.5 %, peak 10 %), Walemerberg (GPM 17.6 km - 1400 metres at 4.7 %, peak 12 %).
Sprint classification: each passage of the finish line
Stage 3, ITT 9.8 km
Climbs of Ransdalerweg (0.3 km - 250 metres at 8.0 %), Koekoeksweg (6.2 km - 1000 metres at 5.5 %), Kerkveldweg (finish 350 metres at 6.6 %).
Netherlands: Rabobank, District North, District South West, District Limburg, District Noord-Holland, TWC Maaslandster (including Finnish guest rider Jukka Vastaranta, WC leader)
Belgium: KSV Deerlijk, Kortrijk Groeninge Spurters, Sport & Steun Leopoldsburg, Sweet Paradise Cycling Team, Think Media Cycling Team
Others: Germany, Estonia, Slovenia, Moldavia, Poland, Ireland, Württemberg (Ger), Saturn (USA).
*Bert Saarloos is a correspondent for Dagblad de Limburger
Todd A. Sowl, CPA, has been appointed to the USA Cycling's senior management team as its chief financial officer. A Denver-area resident, Sowl most recently served as an assurance and business advisory services manager at Price-Waterhouse-Coopers LLP focusing on SEC compliance audits, initial public offerings, acquisition audits, due diligence reviews and management consulting.
Sowl earned his bachelors of science and masters of accounting from the University of Denver where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Sowl is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accounting and the Colorado Society of CPAs.
"Looking to the future, we anticipate that Mr. Sowl will provide the financial expertise needed for us attain some very aggressive goals that are necessary to take USA Cycling to the next level," said USA Cycling COO Steve Johnson.
As chief financial officer, Sowl will direct the senior management team in the planning and preparation of the annual budget as well as monitoring budget activity. Additionally, he will be responsible for all finance, accounting, risk management, legal, and human resource functions.
Eileen Johnston, the organization's previous chief financial officer, took a position at the Billiards of America in Colorado Springs.
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Cycling, Inc. recently joined forces to provide humanitarian aid to El Salvador, which was devastated by a series of earthquakes earlier this year.
Hernando Madronero, USOC Managing Director of International Relations, visited the Central American country earlier this month to present a check for $10,000 to the El Salvador Olympic Committee and to deliver seven of the approximately 100 bicycles which are being donated by USA Cycling. The Colorado Springs-based national governing body also is contributing parts that El Salvador's competitive cyclists need including wheels, handlebars and forks as well as lubricants, coolers and water bottles. The initial shipment of equipment was valued at nearly $5,000.
"The items donated help support the efforts and dreams of cyclists, while fostering a relationship between countries. Our passion for cycling is something we are willing to share with any competitor," said USA Cycling CEO Lisa Voight.
A major earthquake, 7.6 on the Richter scale, shook Central America in mid-January of this year. With its epicenter just 20 miles off the southern coast of El Salvador, the smallest and most densely-populated on the seven countries in the region, the strong tremor resulted in death and destruction. While still trying to cope with that disaster, the area was hit again a month later by another major earthquake. The United States and many other nations provided immediate assistance, however the USOC found there is a need for additional aid.
To date, it is estimated that more than $200,000 in equipment has been delivered to countries like Bolivia, Panama, Honduras, Peru, Uruguay and more. Donated items are delivered by the U.S. State Department, past USCF chairperson Mike Fraysee and the U.S. Cycling Team. This year marks the fifth year for the program, which is looked on as a model for other sports by the USOC.
Bicycles, wheels, parts, clothing, shoes, even tires that need patching, and other donations may be sent to: Pan Am Solidarity, 2665 County Road 41, Glen Spey, NY 12737-0329.
USA Cycling thanks all of those who have donated to this program, as well as Mike Fraysee for the time and effort he has dedicated to this project.
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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