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Edited by Jeff Jones
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has reacted to the Spanish Cycling Federation's (RFEC) decision to suspend the case into Txema Del Olmo, who tested "non-negative" for EPO in the prologue of the 2001 Tour de France. The RFEC announced yesterday that they would not be pursuing Del Olmo's case any further, because of what they believed to be unreliabilities in the French developed EPO urine test. They claimed that taking action against Del Olmo would be unconstitutional according to Spanish law.
The UCI will protest this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Cycling's governing body issued a statement saying that the RFEC's decision "is based on an erroneous interpretation of the anti-doping rules, and rather artificial general criticisms of the urinary detection method developed by the of Châtenay-Malabry...The RFEC did not consider it necessary to submit these criticisms to the UCI, nor with the scientists who are cognisant with and apply the test."
The UCI reiterated its complete confidence in the method, "which has already proved its reliability and constitutes an essential weapon in the fight against doping."
Erik Dekker has been awarded the Dutch the Sportsman of the Year 2001 at a ceremony in Amsterdam. Dekker won the World Cup this year as well as a stage in the Tour de France, and finished second on the UCI rankings behind Erik Zabel. In second place was speed skater Rintje Ritsma and third went to swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband. Swimmer Inge de Bruijn was awarded the Sportswoman of the Year 2001.
Speaking of awards, there is not long to go in our end of season Reader Poll page. 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. Entries close at the end of the year, with the winner announced early in the New Year.
The best U23 cyclist of the year, Yaroslav Popovych, has been awarded the "Forze Nuove" prize by the Gruppo Sportivo Domus of Bergamo. The award is in its 34th year, and attempts to stimulate potential champions of the future. Riding for the Vellutex-Zoccorinese team, Popovych won more than 20 races in 2001, including the U23 World Road Championship. He will ride as a professional next season with the Belgian Colnago-Landbouwkrediet team.
Mario De Clercq recently announced that he would continue as a cyclo-cross rider for another season, riding for Collstrop-Palmans. After he retires in 2003, he may well stay in the sport as a coach, should Belgian national cyclo-cross coach Eric De Vlaeminck retire. De Clercq admitted that this scenario was a possibility, but nothing concrete has been discussed yet.
Jean-Paul van Poppel will have a part time job with the US cycling federation, according to ANP. He will coach the US national women's team for 30 days next season, focusing on the World Cup and the women's Tour de France.
"This is a really nice role for me," said Van Poppel. "I don't want to do too much next year because I don't want to be away from the Netherlands for too long. But in this way I can stay in cycling."
Van Poppel was formerly the national coach of the Dutch women's squad, but he left that role to be the team leader of the Acca Due O team in 2001.
Dual Giro d'Italia stage winner and one of the season's revelations, Pietro Caucchioli, will serve as a testimonial for the DMT company next season. After finishing the Alessio team meeting in Padova, he went directly to be photographed in order to perform a service for the technical sponsor of the team.
By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent
The Navan/Avonmore Road Club in Co. Meath host a double header over the festive period with an event on Christmas Day and Stephens Day (Boxing Day). Both events will be run by Noel and Larry Clarke (not related) and two charities will be the main beneficiaries.
On Christmas Day the local St. Vincent de Paul will benefit, with a host of top names from all walks of life getting in some exercise prior to the fare that will served in the afternoon.
The Organisation has Meath footballer and All-Star Award winner Evan Kelly, who will not only drop the starting flag but has also signaled his intention of participating in the two-up time trial. No doubt Evan will have a choice of cyclist who wants to accompany him on the test.
It is a good bet that Leisure Cyclist of the Year, Noel Collier or the President of the Irish Cycling Federation will test his ability against the clock. Fortunately for all participants they will be obliged to post a time in which they expect to cover the journey, which more or less will give in particular the All-Star some breathing space.
The event gets under way from the Ramparts and goes out the Kentstown Road with a scheduled start of 11 am.
On Stephens Day the action transfers to the village of Slane for the Tour of the Boyne Valley. The scheduled start time for this leisure cycle is 11 o'clock from the Village Inn via Slane/Newgrange/King Williams Glen/Collon/Slane. This is a very scenic route with many historical sites on route. Again the organisers have roped in Meath footballer, Donal Curtis to do the honours.
Both events should raise substantial funds for St. Vincent de Paul and Cairde and the presence of the Meath footballers will swell the participants and aid both charities.
For more info on the festive events, call Larry Clarke on 041-9824460.
Kona Bicycles today announced their 2002 cross-country and Clump team rosters. It is a reintroduction of sorts as the teams are unchanged from 2001. "Great cyclists, great people - the kind of feisty riders we want flying Kona's colours on the race course and in the air," said Jacob Heilbron, Kona COB.
Geoff "Kaboom" Kabush returns to anchor the men's cross-country team. As a 24 year old, Kabush finished 9th in the 2000 Olympics, and continues to improve, currently ranked 21st by the UCI. He is joined by fellow Canadian Peter Wedge. Wedge is a two-time Canada Cup Champion and five-time Canadian Cyclo-Cross Champion.
Joining the Canadians is a pair of very-Americans: Former U.S. National Road and SuperCup cyclo-cross champ Bart Bowen returns after graduating from the 2001 school of hard knocks. A burnt down VW bus and a broken femur have not quenched his desire to make his mark on the mountain bike scene and return to the top of the cyclo-cross podium. As well, Seattle's cyclo-cross star and mountain bike stayer Dale Knapp will be back.
America's Queen of 'Cross, Ann Grande, will be returning to the Kona team as well. Fresh from her 5th consecutive SuperCup cyclo-cross title, Ann also had considerable cross-country success in the 2001 NORBA series, finishing the season 13th overall.
Kona team members will be competing NORBA events, North American World Cup stops, the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the Canada Cup series.
Kona's Clump team of John Cowan, Robby Bourdon and Joe Schwartz will also be returning to action in Kona colours and on Kona bikes.
John Cowan went from a day job as a UPS driver in San Diego to Superman status in 2000, with a featured segment in New World Disorder. This year, he won three jump competitions in Europe, raced biker X both in Canada and Europe and appeared in movies, magazines and television programs throughout the world.
20 year-old Robbie Bourdon's video credits include New World Disorder and Fat Tire Fury. He placed 5th in the All Terrain Mountain Bike Challenge in Jindabyne, Australia and 3rd in the Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah. He will be attending the Red Bull Free-ride competition in Jindabyne, Australia in January 2002 and involved in the filming of New World Disorder 3.
British Colombian native, Joe Schwartz has featured in Kranked III, New World Disorder and Fat Tire Fury. He stays connected to his bike through "DH Racing, cross-country epics, hucking cliffs, dirt jumping, riding big lines to commuting to work on the big bike every day."
He plans to be part of the Red Bull Ride in Australia, filming for New World Disorder III and riding Pro DH.
Cross Country
Bart Bowen (USA)
Geoff Kabush (Can)
Dale Knapp (USA)
Peter Wedge (Can)
Ann Grande (USA)
Clump Team
Robbie Bourdon
John Cowan
Joe Schwartz
Managers: Mark Peterson, Dik Cox
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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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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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