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Edited by Jeff Jones
Three time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has, amongst a good many other things, expressed concerns about his security at the Tour de France. In an interview with Jean-Yves Donor of Le Figaro, Armstrong said that "I am indeed concerned about my security. If it is necessary, we will engage a private company to ensure my safety and that of my team."
Observers at this year's Tour were surprised at the presence of Armstrong's personal bodyguards, who accompanied him each day on the journey from the US Postal team bus to the sign on area before the start of each stage. None of the other riders in the Tour employed this level of protection, but Armstrong obviously felt that it was warranted.
He also voiced his concern about the numbers of fans that line the roads in the mountains - a unique feature of professional cycling, but potentially dangerous as past incidents have shown. "There will never be zero risk, evidently. We cannot close the mountains and tell everyone: watch the show on television! The beauty of the Tour? It is an immense popular fair."
"On the one hand, there are the risks inherent in my trade as a cyclist and those I take on. On the other hand, before the stage starts, after the finishes, outside the framework of the race, anything can happen. I remember the descent of Ventoux, last year, in the middle of an incredible crowd, on our own. We should be able to find ways so that we are better protected."
Armstrong was (predictably) questioned about the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. "I have the impression that the world changed with these events. With my American eyes, I do not see it in the same way any more. The shock was terrible. However, in Austin, nothing was upset. Life is still quiet, I feel secure with my family."
The way the media reacted after the attacks was too much, according to Armstrong. "I know how the media behaves. These short headlines answer the desire of the public which require shock solutions. On the day of September 11 for example, it was: "America Under Attack". The whole of America was attacked! And me, during that time, I was lunching with Kristin in a Texmex restaurant in Austin, not changing any of our habits. New York and Washington, yes, they knew the horror. Not the whole of America."
"Those images will remain engraved in my memory for ever. No American will forget them. And who will in the world? I flew in a helicopter over the ruins of the World Trade Center: a vision of the Apocalypse. Fortunately, life regained its pace in New York which for me, a Texan, was the town of all excesses. Ebullient, noisy, a place where nobody paid attention to anybody. But New Yorkers showed in these circumstances such a solidarity that, I will tell you with all my heart, made me even more proud to be American."
Returning to racing, and for Armstrong that means the Tour de France, "Today, yes, my motivation is still there...I race neither for glory, for money, nor to be the first rider to win six Tours of France: I like the competition. Cycling, quite simply. The last few months I have not spent three days without riding my bicycle."
On retirement, there are no plans yet. "I had even thought of stopping in 2004: I am not sure any more. I am already excited by the idea of taking part in the Centenary Tour in 2003! I always want to win."
The ever present question of doping raised its head in the interview, with a comment on the Llaneras/Strazzer false positives. "It is a troubling affair. And a dangerous situation for cycling. In any case, it is inadmissible to accuse without having all the proper evidence. I support the EPO test but I think it has to be one hundred percent effective."
Armstrong defended his relationship with the controversial Dr Michele Ferrari. "Ferrari is a brilliant doctor, competent in training matters as well as nutrition and recovery. I do not have any reason to believe he is guilty. He never betrayed my confidence. Yes, I called him several times during the last Tour to ask his advice."
Finally, he was asked whether he had beaten cancer. "My doctor is confident, I am confident. But I will never turn my back on cancer and say, there, it is finished! I will never lower my guard in the face of this terrible illness."
The president of the UCI, Hein Verbruggen, has once again spoken out in support of the French developed urine test for the detection of EPO. The test has come under fire recently after two false positive cases (Llaneras and Strazzer) came to light, as well as the choice of the International Olympic Committee to use both a blood and urine test to detect EPO at next year's Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Verbruggen told L'Equipe on Monday that he was "astonished" by the IOC's decision. "The IOC was to come to a decision about the criteria of positivity of the French urine test and, at the end, we saw a complete reversal of situation".
He added that to use a blood and urine test for a cycle race such as the Tour de France would be "too complicated, too hard, and too expensive...We all have to be able to agree on the method to use in order to discover those who cheat. I have already met riders and directeurs sportifs with whom we will try to reach a common agreement. But the battle must continue. EPO has changed the world of doping. It has changed from generic and general medicines to products that are much more effective and complex."
As for the surprising false positives of Spaniard Juan Llaneras and Italian Massimo Strazzer after they were tested at the World Track Championships, Verbruggen is certain that they are innocent. "There was an incident at the laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry, which we asked for an explanation."
Verbruggen also addresses the issue of RSR-13, a new artificial oxygen carrier that was found during the Giro d'Italia raids in June. "It is not consumed," said Verbruggen. "It is not yet on the market, and in any case, it is nothing like as effective as EPO. In order to function properly, a rider would almost have to race with an oxygen cylinder on his shoulders."
Finally, Verbruggen spoke about corticoids, which are legal in cycling in certain forms and with the correct authorisation. "We will continue to detect them," he said. "The prescriptions will be noted in the health booklets. Those who use it improperly will be convened."
This season's best young rider in the major tours, Oscar "one day they won't ask me for ID" Sevilla, will not begin racing next year until the Vuelta a Aragon, which takes place from April 17-21. This means that he will enjoy a six month break from racing after he finished the 2001 season with the World Championships in Lisbon. He has just 20 days of racing planned before the start of the Tour de France, where he will be a good candidate for a podium finish.
Promising Italian rider Luca Paolini has prolonged his contract with the Mapei-Quick Step team until 2004. Paolini signed for Mapei after the 1999 World's, where he finished second in the U23 road race. This year he has won three races, bringing his career total to six.
By Rod Morris
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The days of Australian riders grabbing all the glory on the summer cycling tracks could be over - particularly if a small but strong band of Japanese cyclists have their way. The Basslink Tasmanian Carnival Series will be invaded by up to eight Japan riders - all of whom have excellent credentials and could surprise the locals.
Led by Shinichi Fukushima and Kouji Yoshii, the Japanese team will be out to make their presence felt at all of the carnivals. Fukushima is the current Japan Points Score champion and is fresh from a bold showing in the recent Noumea Six Day, where he impressed Tasmanian scratchmen Gareth Atkins and Nathan Clarke. ,p> The contingent of Japan riders will include Fukushima, Yoshii, sprint champ Yasuharu Kawai, Makoto Tanabe, Masashi Aoki, Keiichi Maruyama and Mick Veda. The team will be accompanied by 48-year-old Kimihiko Aoki (Masashi's father) who will act as manager and coach and could also race himself.
In the past, Japanese riders have struggled to come terms with the unique Australian style of handicapping racing, but given the fact Kawai and Tanabe have raced here before - the team is much better prepared. Even Tasmanian Cycling Federation Track Handicapper Peter Coventry is treating the Japanese riders with caution.
"They are all capable riders and it wouldn't surprise if one or more of them snatched one of the smaller handicap finals," Coventry said.
Fukushima has excellent credentials, including this year's Japan Points Score Championship and Japan-American Team Race with his partner, Koji Yoshi. Maruyama may be the surprise packet, boasting a 200 m best time of 10.9 seconds and 1000 m time trial effort of 1.06.57.
SCAT Chairman Mr Grant Atkins said the inclusion of the Japanese riders adds further international flavour to what is already shaping as one of the best Carnival Series on record. The Land of the Rising Sun will be well represented at the Basslink Tasmanian Carnival Series and may even just make an appearance on the podiums.
The first Dutchman to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, Wim van Est, now has a street named after him. The appropriately titled "Wim van Eststraat" was unveiled in Sint-Willebrord last Saturday, in the presence of the town Mayor, KNWU chairman Joop Atsma, and Wim van Est himself. The rule that a person must be dead for 10 years before a street can be named after them was overruled in this case.
Also see: Cyclingnews feature on Wim van Est
What was the best performance of 2001? Who was the best rider? It's time for you, the readers of Cyclingnews, to tell us the stand-out riders, rides and equipment of the year.
Go to our Reader Poll page to cast your vote for the Legend of Cycling; the Cycling Personality of the Year; Photograph of the Year; the best teams and male and female riders across a range of disciplines, and the best bikes and equipment.
Click here to vote now! Results will be announced in the New Year.
Note: Please answer all categories and complete your form (including your name and email) to ensure your vote is counted. This is to ensure the accuracy of the poll as you may only vote once. Your details will not be revealed to any other party.
USA Cycling announced the 2001 Club of the Year Awards, recognizing the top clubs from around the country. Honours were given to Division I, II and III clubs, as well as to the best groups with a focus on collegiate, junior, women's and track cycling.
The White Mountain Road Club is being presented with the Division I Club of the Year award. Based out of Phoenix, Ariz., the group promotes diverse programs including grassroots clinics, coaching activities, junior development and masters and women's support programs. With 85 licensed members, the White Mountain Road Club is also strong in the areas of race promotion and community service. (www.wmrc.org)
The Division II Club of the Year is the Mercy Fitness Cycling Team from Fort Smith, Ark. The organization's 40 members actively promote USCF and NORBA races statewide and have high levels of involvement with the local community to promote bicycle safety and helmet awareness. Results during 2001 included Brice Jones' fifth place finish at the USCF Elite National Road Cycling Championships.
Olympia, Wash. based Rad Racing Northwest was awarded the Division III Club of the Year in recognition of its extensive junior development program and numerous community activities. Rad Racing's 21 members are involved on the local level, hosting Muscular Dystrophy Association fund raisers and bike safety clinics. The group also had some impressive race performances in 2001. (www.radracingnw.org)
The 2001 Collegiate Club of the Year is the Texas A&M Cycling Team from College Station, Texas. The group's 40 licensed members actively promote USCF and NORBA races, hold daily training rides and put on cyclocross clinics. The Aggie cyclists are also proactive in working to increase interest in the sport within the local community. (www.amct.tamu.edu)
Pennsylvania's East Coast Velo is the 2001 Junior Development Club of the Year. With 52 members, the club's mission is to promote and encourage road and track cycling development among junior and espoir riders.
For the second consecutive year, Artemis has been named the Women's Club of the Year. Located in Silver Spring, Md., the 29 members actively promote a criterium series for Cat. 3-4 women and encourage competitive cycling by hosting women's introductory clinics. (www.artemisracing.org)
The Memorial Hermann Junior Cycling Team is the 2001 winner of the Track Club of the Year. All 25 junior members train at the Alkek Velodrome in Houston, where they promote the Marty Nothstein Junior Olympic Track Series and host numerous track clinics and seminars. The club provides free coaching and training sessions for members, free entry fees to races at the velodrome, clothing, licenses, team track bikes and travel stipends for national championships.
Since no applications were received for the mountain bike or masters development categories, no awards were given.
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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Tales from the Peloton
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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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