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Edited by Jeff Jones
Although there will be no Pyrenean climbs featured in next year's Vuelta España, which was unveiled yesterday in Madrid, the mountain goats will still be able to have their time in the sun. Next year's edition features four uphill finishes (down from seven this year). However, there are several climbs in particular that will make a difference: the mythical Alto El Angliru, used in the 1999 and 2000 editions; the 2500+ m ascent to Sierra Nevada, the highest point in the Vuelta; and a brand new climb, La Pandera, which concludes stage 6.
Although La Pandera is not as tough as El Angliru and has only been given a Category 1 rating (El Angliru is Special Category), it should still serve to sort out who the real contenders are in the 2002 Vuelta. In the final 24 kilometres of the stage, the riders will climb over 1200 metres, including the Category 2 Los Villares (km 140), followed by a short descent and then the assault on La Pandera (1840 m).
The main part of this climb is eight kilometres long, starting with a 600 metre section at 15% before leveling out for a while. The final five kilometres are the toughest. The top of the climb houses a military installation, which is why it has not been used in the Vuelta as yet.
Second place finisher in the 2001 edition, Oscar Sevilla (Kelme), will certainly be a favourite in next year's race. He gave his comments about the climb to the Spanish newspaper Marca. "It is hard, worse than I thought. The last five kilometres seem like they go on for ever, but I like it," he said.
"More than one rider is going to lose the Vuelta here," added Sevilla. "This part is harder than the Huesera, at Lagos de Covadonga. Those who come to the Vuelta out of form will find it hard here, because the Sierra Nevada comes one day before La Pandera."
"There were no climbs like it in this year's race. The slopes, the landscape and the fog reminds me of El Angliru. At least a 39x25 will be needed to climb it....But El Angliru is harder," concluded Sevilla.
Former World Cyclo-cross champion Mario De Clercq has decided to continue his career for at least another year. The 35 year old Domo-Farm Frites rider has not yet decided whether to stay with his current team however. Collstrop-Palmans has made him an offer, as has Domo. He will make his decision on Sunday after the World Cup race in Wortegem-Petegem.
De Clercq had previously said that he would retire after the World's in Zolder (February 2002), but he has in the meantime reconsidered.
US Postal rider Stéphane Barthe did not, in the end, renew his contract with the American team. Instead, he has signed for French division II squad St Quentin-Oktos for 2002.
Dortmund's Westfalenhalle will once again host the Großer Weihnachtspreis, an evening of spectacular track racing held on December 26. The star of German cycling, Erik Zabel, will be present to do a few laps of the track, along with his Six Day partner Rolf Aldag. Other stars who will be competing include Stefan Steinweg, Jens Fiedler, Jan van Eijden, Bruno Risi, Silvio Martinello, Jimmi Madsen, Ainars Kiksis and Pavel Buran. It's expected that 12,000 people will watch the action.
Terry Precision Cycling for Women is sponsoring a Professional Women's Road Cycling Team in 2002. Terry began team sponsorship in 2001 by supplying bike frames and saddles to the Credit Suisse First Boston Team. The success CSFB had in winning the National Criterium Championships and Junior National Points Race Championships inspired Terry to increase its sponsorship to a greater level in 2002.
Georgena Terry, CEO and founder of Terry Precision, commented that "Women who race do so because they love the sport and they're willing to make sacrifices in family and career to pursue their dreams. I hope our sponsorship will make those dreams more obtainable."
Team Terry will race the National Circuit including many NRC races. The team will debut at McClane Pacific in California. Other early season races will include Redlands, Sea Otter and Tour of the Gila.
Micki Buckley (USA) ex-CSFB
Rosie Coleman (USA) ex-CSFB
Lauren Gaffney (USA) ex-CSFB
Catherine Powers (USA)
Janel Bedard (USA)
Laura Schmidt (USA)
Chloe Black (USA) ex-Intersports
Sponsors
Terry Precision Cycling for Women
Bikeworld.com
TeamEstrogen.com
M & T Bank
Voler
Time
Reynolds
Speedplay
Cane Creek
Chris King
Rudy Project
Panaracer
Webmountainbike.com
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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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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:
Egg Beater pedals; Park
Tool belt; Shimano shoes;
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