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As reported in August 21 news, Davide Rebellin has signed with the German Gerolsteiner team for two years. Team director Rolf Gölz said today that "The engagement is official. We have the agreement of the Italian."
The signing of Rebellin is quite significant, as he is currently number 2 on the UCI rankings behind Lance Armstrong, and should move to number 1 by the end of the year, as Armstrong has practically finished his season. It will give Gerolsteiner enough UCI points to ensure a position in the top 30 teams next year, which will be important in the New Team Order.
Rebellin will take three of his Liquigas teammates to Gerolsteiner: Gianni Faresin, Daniele Contrini and Ellis Rastelli. Liquigas will not be sponsoring a top cycling team in future.
Marco Pantani is attempting to start next season with a clean slate. As indicated in July, he will not be working with his current director at Mercatone Uno, Giuseppe Martinelli, or manager Felice Gimondi. Next on his program are the Giro del Friuli and Vuelta España, but his main goal is to get ready for 2002.
His manager, Manuel Ronchi, would not reveal the composition of the team or its sponsor today, but it looks as though it will be a complete separation from Mercatone Uno apart from Bianchi, the bike supplier. This of course places doubt on the existing team, although it does have some good riders other than Pantani.
The president of the Italian Cycling Federation, Giancarlo Ceruti, and the president of the UCI, Hein Verbruggen, have met in Lausanne to discuss matters of doping. In the past, Ceruti and Verbruggen have butted heads over the best methods to combat doping. But today they cleared up "old misunderstandings" in what was described as a cordial meeting.
The restoration of the Koppenberg climb has already begun, in anticipation of its use in the Ronde van Vlaanderen 2002. It was used in the race between 1976 and 1987, but was removed after the Jesper Skibby incident mentioned in yesterday's news. The climb is approximately 550 metres long and averages 11.6 percent, with its steepest part at 22 percent. It is only a few kilometres from Oudenaarde, meaning that if the race finishes in future years it could be a critical part of the race.
The following photos from a Cyclingnews "reconnaissance" show the work in progress.
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The Breton village which hosted the World Championships last year will welcome some of the world's top cyclists again next Sunday, September 2. According to the latest UCI rankings, 17 out of the top 50 are scheduled for the GP Ouest-France. Alongside the defending champion Michele Bartoli (Mapei), currently ranked 7th, there will be: 13. Paolo Bettini (Mapei), 15. Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali), 18. Andrei Tchmil (Lotto), 19. Serguei Gontchar (Liquigas), 23. Daniele Nardello (Mapei), 24. Christophe Moreau (Festina), 28. Didier Rous (Bonjour), 29. Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto), 31. Markus Zberg (Rabobank), 35. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour), 36. Nico Mattan (Cofidis), 39. Beat Zberg (Rabobank), 41. Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour), 48. Mirko Celestino (Saeco), 49. Gianluca Bortolami (Tacconi), and 50. Serge Baguet (Lotto).
The World Championships in Plouay were such a popular success last year that the organizing committee wants to recreate a long weekend of world class events in collaboration with the UCI. Next year, they will host the 7th round of the women's World Cup on Saturday, August 24, the day before the GP Ouest-France.
Courtesy of Jean-Francois Quenet
37 year old Wilfried Peeters (Domo-Farm Frites) will ride his last race in Paris-Tours on October 7, and will not be a candidate for the World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal. He is currently racing in the Ronde van Nederland, which will be his last stage race abroad. Following that he will do Franco-Belge, Paris-Brussels and Paris-Tours.
His last race will be one organised in his hometown of Mol by his brother Jef on October 21, and then he will begin his new career as a team director. He will work alongside Patrick Lefevere, Marc Sergeant and Hendrik Redant in the Domo team.
The organisers of Schaal Sels (UCI 1.4) which will be held on September 4 in Merksem on a new parcours, have secured some big names to ride. Johan Museeuw (Domo), Peter Van Petegem (Mercury), Marc Wauters (Rabobank), Jo Planckaert (Cofidis) and the whole Lotto team have confirmed their participation.
Jan van Velzen will ride next year for Bankgiroloterij-Batavus. The 25 year old from Zoetermeer came to an agreement with team manager Arend Scheppink to extend his contract by a year. Australian Corey Sweet has also extended with Bankgiroloterij for another year.
The Belgian track team to race in this weekend's Goodwill Games in Brisbane will consist of six riders: Nicky Cocquyt, David Giancola, Iljo Keisse, Andries Verspeeten, John Van Den Abbeele and Jan Meeusen.
The organisers of this year's Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic are pleased to announce the major sponsor for this year's event. For the second year running Print Anything of Inverell have come on board with their support. "Grafton to Inverell is an important part of Inverell's sporting history and deserves to be supported by local business," said proprietor Mark McNeil. "Print Anything is proud to be associated with the classic for a second year."
Both Inverell Shire Council and Grafton City Council have again given financial backing for the classic, which is a big plus for the organisers. The Inverell and Grafton councils have given the race great support over the years and the organisers are grateful for their continued involvement.
There will be a major change to the feeding zones for this year's race. The traditional first feed at the bottom of the Gibraltar Range (70 km) will be scrapped. The organisers felt that the feed zone at the bottom of the range creates a traffic snarl and this should be alleviated through the change.
The Country Energy neutral water station has been introduced at Heffron Lookout half way up the mountain. The water station has been sponsored by way of sports water bottles from Country Energy. Riders will get their first chance for a full feed station at Mt Mitchell at 115 km into the race and a final zone on the western outskirts of Glen Innes (160 km).
Celebrities Gary Fisher and Juli Furtado will join the Trips for Kids Benefit Festival on September 23, 2001 and everyone else is invited to ride with these mountain bike greats. The event will offer the opportunity to do an epic ride, take your kids on a family ride, enjoy an after-ride festival and support a good cause - all in ONE day! The Festival taking place at the beautiful Marin Headlands celebrates enjoying the environment from the seat of a mountain bike.
There are three ride options: 38, 25, or 16 off-road miles. Each route results in a ride filled with beautiful coastal views, non-technical fire roads and lots of climbing. Fun Stations offering food, water and good cheer, along with short options, will make the ride easier. Those with kids who are budding mountain bikers might want to try the 7-mile option.
Funds raised from the Festival will go to support Trips for Kids National which helps individuals and groups in other areas develop local chapters. We are proud to announce that in just 3 months, we have expanded from 8 to 15 chapters! With a recent addition in Vancouver, B.C., we are now INTER-National!
In addition to Sunday’s Festival fun, there will be a kick-off party on Saturday evening presented by Tam Valley Bike Club at the Presidio Yacht Club in Sausalito.
For more info, please contact Corry Wagner at Trips for Kids at 415-458-2986 or tfknatl@pacbell.net, or www.tripsforkids.org. The National Program is sponsored by Re-Cyclery, Clif Bar and Defeet.
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
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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
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Tech news - Navigators
power-tap, Headsets, Carbon cages (December 7)
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Tech Reviews:
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Tool belt; Shimano shoes;
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