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Edited by John Stevenson
Australian track cyclist Graham Sharman has received a two year ban after testing positive for testosterone in June this year. Perth-based Sharman had been subjected to a series of tests by the Australian Sports Drug Agency over the last several months to ascertain his normal testosterone level.
Cycling Australia CEO Graham Fredericks told Cyclingnews, "On the one side you don't like these issues coming up but on the other hand it shows that the testing regime works and that if people are using we will test them and catch them."
Sharman, the husband of controversial rider Lucy Tyler-Sharman was a member of Australia's silver medal winning Olympic Sprint team at the 1998 world championships.
Two names were missing from yesterday's listing of the candidates for male road Cyclist of the Year in the Fielders Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards. Scott Sunderland and Nathan O'Neill were omitted because of over-enthusiastic editing of the press release before it was sent out by Cycling Australia, according to CA CEO Graham Fredericks. Expressing his apologies to Sunderland and O'Neill, Fredericks said, "I should have checked it more thoroughly – I looked for what was there but missed what was missing."
By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent
Bernard Hinault, Laurent Fignon, Roger de Vlaeminck, Eddie Merckx and Stephen Roche were among a crowd of over 1200 including professionals, amateurs and leisure cyclists who turned up in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary to mark the retirement of Sean Kelly in 1994 in the annual Hamper Race. This event has been on the go since long before Sean became a household name. It is 29 years since the Hamper was started and the magic that Kelly brought to it in his halcyon days still burns brightly.
Unfortunately, like a lot of things in Ireland today, there is change and for the first time in its long and distinguished history, the race will be held in the village of Mothel, just outside the town of Carrick which is now associated with Sean.
Vincent, one of Sean's brothers is now the organiser and handicapper. "I suppose the position of handicapper is the most daunting. The limit group will have 10 minutes on the scratch lot and in between there will be intermittent groups. I hope that I get it right. Without doubt there have been guys in training for this outing since early October. They have this notion that they beat the great Kelly, despite the fact that he will not be in the scratch group. Presumably it is mind over matter.
"In a way the Celtic Tiger forced a move on us to the country. Shopping today is a big item and also there are a number of roundabouts on the outskirts of the town, which also had a big bearing on us moving out," said Vincent.
The Cycleway team that dominated the domestic season this year are scheduled to appear along with Tracey Piggott who simply enjoys the sport. Her dad was Lester Piggott who was one of the finest jockeys in the world and particularly on Epsom Derby Days was the housewives choice with their bets.
An interesting entrant is Belgian Fons Gucht who represents VC Locomotive. This year he has won 10 races, which should give him the edge.
Vincent Kelly is anticipating a turnout of 60-80 competitors, a far cry from the 1200 back in '94. "That was some day. I'm pleased that I will not have so many, but still I'll have 20 Civil Defence Personnel and a number of Gardai on duty to avoid any hassle. The problem with this event! Everybody wants a piece of the action and the number of volunteers is thin on the ground, even in this stronghold of cycling!" said Vincent.
The race starts at mid-day on Sunday in Mothel. I'm sure the village will be mildly surprised by the numbers that will arrive from early morning, in preparation and to take on the great one who won four green jerseys in the Tour de France, bronze in the Worlds Road Race in 1982, winner of the Vuelta a Espana and a long list of Classics.
That day back in '94 when asked why he came to Carrick, Eddie Merckx said, "I am very busy, but I had to come. Sean is such a great champion."
And so say all of us.
Also on the menu on Sunday is the Gentleman's Grand Prix, which like the Hamper Race has a 29 year history. The scheduled start time is 11 o'clock from the Bray Wheelers Club House on the Upper Dargle Road in Bray. The race will run in its tried and true method: teams of two submit their estimated time for the time trial. The winners are those who are the most accurate with their time prediction. Of late the event has seen resurgence because of the influx of new members who regard the event as a festive occasion.
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US Division III squad Prime Alliance has announced its roster for 2002, adding several high-profile domestic riders to strengthen the team and increase its visibility.
Added to the team for next year will be Chris Horner (transfer from Mercury), John Peters (also ex Mercury), Matt Decanio (ex Saturn), David McCook (ex 7-Up/Colorado Cyclist), Alex Candelario (neo pro) and Canadian Svein Tuft (neo pro). The back bone of the 2002 squad will be returning with 2001 Prime Alliance Cycling Team members Michael Creed, Jonas Carney, Jame Carney, Ryan Miller, John Walrod and 2001 World Champion U23 Time Trialist Danny Pate.
The team will continue to focus on the US domestic cycling arena, putting a heavy emphasis on National Racing Calendar events. Members of the team will also travel outside the U.S. both in support of the U.S. National Team U-23 road program, the U.S. National Team track program and as a professional trade team.
In 2001, the team attended over 110 events scoring 30 wins, assisted in producing a world champion and finished as the third-ranked professional cycling team in the U.S. The team's competition goals for 2002 include expectations of producing wins at most major events – criterium or stage race – and leading the U.S. National Racing Calendar rankings by year's end.
Riders
Alex Candelario (neo pro)
Jonas Carney
Jame Carney
Michael Creed
Matt Decanio (ex Saturn)
Chris Horner (ex Mercury)
David McCook (ex 7-Up)
Ryan Miller
Danny Pate
John Peters (ex Mercury)
Svein Tuft (neo pro)
Personnel
Organization President: Tom Irvine
General Manager: Roy Knickman
Director Sportif/Road Manager: Kirk Willett
Mechanic: Ken Whelpdale
Therapist: Brenda Phelps
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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