News for December 26, 2001

Edited by Paul Goldsmith

Recent results and new features

Cyclingnews' season review

Over the next week or so between Christmas and New Year, Cyclingnews staff will be presenting their impressions of the 2001 season.

Today, Cyclingnews.com publisher, Gerard Knapp, looks at the Tour de France. Gerard takes a rider's view of the final stage into Paris, and looks ahead as the Tour heads into the 21st century. The following week will include more stories from the Tour de France, Vuelta a España, Giro d'Italia, MTB exploits , tech highlights and plenty more.

For those of you who observe the tradition, the team at Cyclingnews wishes you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. Ride lots!

Moto-madness as the Tour heads home

By Gerard Knapp

Click for larger image
Armstrong and Leblanc
Photo: © Sirotti
 
"Hey Jean-Marie, give us a wave!" Given that he was comfortably seated in the back of the plush Alfa 166 saloon cruising into Paris on the final stage of the 2001 Tour de France, the race director smiled at the Cyclingnews reporter on the back of the official Kawasaki 1000, piloted by Thierry Bouton. The pilot was on his 15th Tour and was collecting some visual souvenirs via his disposable camera and his pillion passenger was all too willing to assist record his memories. Jean-Marie gave us a smile and a wave as he posed for his happy-snap.

It was that kind of day. The final romp into Paris is a good opportunity for some on-the-road skylarking with a more relaxed attitude overtaking the military-like evacuations which take place each morning as the Tour leaves the Village Depart, a cordoned off area which resembles something of a mobile trade show, except for a few lean figures with shaved legs fighting their way through the throngs of invitees feeding on the free fromage, jambon, café, etc, distributed from stalls with outrageously tacky displays. The overt commercialism of the Village only helps to remind us that it is indeed a bike race doubling as a mobile advertisement for France.

The riders visit the Village before the start of this stage where they take a seat and talk, sign autographs and have a last coffee or Coke. Many are looking forward to the end - they approach the sign-on area by a secure access road lined by thousands of fans trying to get a glimpse of their heroes, some more visible than others.

 
Click for larger image
The ever popular Zabel
Photo: ©AFP
 
It is worth noting there was only muted applause for the maillot jaune, who was just so cut off from any contact with the fans by way of the five men who surrounded him, jogging alongside the rider in the manner of Secret Service men who surround the US President's limousine when it passes through crowded areas. They were mainly press and one hired minder, but it was a little embarrassing and could easily be interpreted as an indication of pompous self-importance. Laurent Jalabert rode in by himself and smiled at the adoring French public, while Erik Zabel was also happy to acknowledge that yes, those people who line the roads are the heart of the sport. Without them, there would be no million-dollar endorsements.

But by this time, the race was well and truly on its final run home. The only things being fired by the moto gendarmes were the contents of the 330cl plastic water bottles supplied for free by yet another TdF sponsor. A gendarme would slow down to give the medical support moto a refreshing spray, while the CL boys in yellow with their little greenboard had little to do, except pose for photos and avoid the water-spray. These skillful motorcycle riders had looked out for each other for three weeks, squeezing through impossible gaps and respecting each others' presence, while jockeying for best positions - after all, only a few motos are allowed near the peloton at any time.

The moto riders relaxed and enjoyed the ride home. The American was in yellow, a Frenchman was also going to be on the podium and a legendary German sprinter and great TdF campaigner was about to break a record held by another great cyclist. The sun was out, it was warm, and the doping control staff had had very little to do, in terms of filing reports which required further attention. The world - in this case, France - was at is should be.

However, Jean-Marie's relief would be only a fraction of the palpable sense of relief felt by the riders as they took the last gradual descent into the heart of Paris, clearly indicated by the Eiffel Tower poking its steely nose above the horizon and framed by trees on either side. The riders could sit up, let their bikes follow the well-worn road down into Paris and reflect for a moment on what they had achieved - each rider had a ringside seat of this beautiful view - and they didn't even have to turn their legs.

It's a win-win deal

As the US Postal squad led the peloton onto the Champs Elysées to rapturous applause from thousands of American spectators, it was apparent these people had brought more than flags to the Tour. Armstrong's fans had brought their US$ to the waiting French economy, so it was a win-win deal all round, even if these tourists are subject to indifference from French brasseries, taxi drivers and Parisians in general. Some things never change - the French are what they are, without apology.

Is it also this disregard for the opinions of others which saw the race be less that what it possibly could have been? This is not to imply that the wildcard selections earlier this year affected the overall outcome of the GC - that was always unlikely and in this case they had no impact on the overall outcome. Indeed, only a few teams went home empty-handed.

It seems that the Western media really only has the time for one bike race per year, even though aficionados know it is a global sport, dominating our lives 52 weeks a year. But for sports editors on the major English-speaking newspapers and TV stations, there is only one bike race worth covering, and that is the Tour.

Similarly, did these same editors really care who was selected? No. The Tour was not even a blip on their story radars until the prologue started.

Would a second US team have generated more interest in the US media? Would a British team in the tour have meant that Channel 4 would have actually exercised its free-to-air broadcast rights for the UK? Would an Australian team also see the Tour receive more than 15 minutes per day of real race coverage on free-to-air TV?

 
Click for larger image
Optimism from Leblanc
Photo: © AFP
We will only ever know if those teams are selected by the Sociètè, and in turn, the Sociètè must encourage the people with the vision and passion who are trying to form those teams that it will be worth their collective efforts. Those same teams and their sponsors - emerging or real - could hardly have been encouraged by this year's wildcard selections.

Ultimately, you would have to question if the wildcard selections were in the best interests of cycling in general and cycling in France; the second division French teams could begin to look like subsidised farmers: protected from the realities of foreign competition as they maintain their links with their past and their culture, which in turn, gives the Tour its overall appeal.

We should remember the vast majority of people lining the parcours of the TdF are French. The majority of banners are supporting Jalabert, Moreau, etc. It is their race. Nonetheless, I for one would argue that fewer French teams on the road would not result in smaller crowds. If some French fans were turned off by not seeing their Division 2 squads making up the numbers, then they would probably be replaced by more fans from overseas countries. It could result in even greater economic benefits for France.

The performances of Jalabert and Francois Simon show that French cycling does not need special assistance. To be strong it must be able to fight on world terms - and for the Tour de France to take cycling to the next level in recognition by Western media, it must become more accessible to foreign teams. At the same time, the French authorities must not impose rules on foreign teams which are designed to address the problems of the sport in their country. They should realise that while Credit Agricole won the Teams Time Trial, none of the finishing five riders from CA was actually French. Or that the greatest exposure for La Francaise de Jeux was from a foreign rider.

There are lessons which can be learned from le Tour. It has broken through, if you like, as the race which stands alongside other great sporting events, at least in the minds of editors and producers in mass-media outlets. While aficionados may pine for April, the masses know le Tour. What the rest of the cycling world must ask themselves is how to take other cycle races to that level of mass-appeal.

Tour of Wellington 2.5

The start list for the Tour of Wellington, has been released. The tour which is to run from January 2 - 6, 2002 has a new sponsor in Trust House, with the race offically called the Trust House Cycle Classic

Click here for 2001 Tour of Wellington Results

Starting list

Trust House - New Zealand                   Hong Kong National Team 
 
1 Hayden Roulston                           41 Kam Po Wong
2 Shane Melrose                             42 Lau King Yu
3 Matt Randall                              43 Ho Siu Lun
4 Lee Vertongen                             44 Wong Ngai Chin
5 Jason Allen                               45 Tsoi Chun Ming
 
VIC Cycles Team                             Indonesian National Team
 
6 Bryce Martin (B)                          46 Hari Nugroho
7 Stephen Collins                           47 Hadi Riyono
8 Manu Robson (B)                           48 Ferry Taridi
9 Stuart MacDonald (B)                      49 Galup Purwanto
10 Anthony Strong                           50 Novita Sari
 
Penny Farthing                              BRC Kennermerland - Holland
 
20  Stephen Blair                           56 Braam De Ward
21  Darren Gordon (B)                       57 Eijk Meubelen
22 Adam Smith                               58 Sander Lormans
23 Adrian McCabe                            59 Arien de Heer
24 Mark Iremonger                           60 Francis De Jager
 
Avanti B Team                               Burkes Cycles - Australia 
 
26 Matthew Gilbert                          66 Tim Bartholomew 
27 Ryan Hoogenberg                          67 Jan Weber 
28 Micheal Frankovich                       68 Sebastian Retzlaff
29 Craig Pitt                               69 Christian Wengler
30 Troy Klink                               70 Brent Backhouse
  
Ultimo Sports Clothing                      Avanti Cycles
 
31 Dan Warren                               71 Jeremy Yates
32 Peter Cook                               72 Jeremy Houltham
33 Andrew Bott                              73 Bryce Shapley
34 Gareth Aplin                             74 Robin Reid
35 Saul Gudsell                             75 Matthew Yates
 
Pins Cycles - Wellington                    Southend Cycles
 
36 Andrew East                              76 Kurt Lancaster
37 Niels Madsen (B)                         77 Ben Somerton
38 Nick Hotchw                              79 Jason Clement
39 Paul Hattan (B)                          80 Adam Curry
40 Brett Witherly (B)                       81 Ben Robson
 
Pack & Pedal                                Tourism Southland
 
82 Scott Allen                              98 Stuart Lowe
83 Matt Webber                              99 Gordon McCauley
84 Mike Willary                             101 Craig Thomson
86 Aaron Tuckerman                          102 Heat Blackgrove
87 Andrew Eagles                            104 Dayle Cheatley
 
Wallis Cycles                               Johnsonville Cycles
 
88 Tim Paviell                              106 Roger Gray
89 Andrew Widdup                            108 Stuart Houltham
90 Jordan Wood                              111 Stephen Elden
91 Mark Tindle                              112 Justin Ralph (B)
92 Paul Odlin                               113 Bevan Williams (B)
 
Sandoval Promotions                         Pedal Pushers 
 
93 Alasdair Duncan                          116 Neil Sentance
94 Michael Carter                           117 Andrew Mildenhall
95 Mike Smith                               118 Brendon O'Neill
96                                          119 Marcell Holstien
97                                          122  Derek Solomon

Home stretch for the Cyclingnews 2001 Reader Poll

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. However you need to act soon as entries close December 31, 2001.

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.

Road test: Giant TCR ZERO

Never heard of Giant Bicycles? Surely not. Giant has been around for almost 30 years, with their inception way back in '72, in Taiwan. The company's philosophy is to cater for the needs of many rather than the few, and it produces approximately three million bicycles per year, from round-town knockabouts to pro quality race bikes like the TCR team and TCR ZERO.

Click here for the full tech review

Recent results and new features on Cyclingnews

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
   Latest Photos - Olympic Armstrong, Boulder & California 'cross, More Pan-Am, Canberra, Boston & REI 'cross (December 13)
   Cyclingnews survey - Reader Poll 2001 - Vote for your favourite riders
   Letters - VDB, Lance, Boring Tour, Coastal Post, Respect (December 13)
   Cyclingnews Interview - Ryan Bayley - the KFC-fuelled world champ (December 13)
   Cyclingnews Interview - David McKenzie - Macca's back (December 12)
   Cyclingnews Interview - Laurent Jalabert - Jalabert looks ahead (December 11)
   Cyclingnews Interview - Charly Wegelius - A coffee stop with Charly (December 8)
   Cyclingnews Interview - Sven Montgomery - Moving up in the world (December 6)
   Cyclingnews Interview - Rochelle Gilmore - Road scholar (December 6)
   Tales from the Peloton - 12 Hours of Oleta - MTB endurance race in Miami (December 6)
   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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