News for February 20, 2001Recent results and new features Final UCI cyclocross rankings for the 2000/2001 seasonDespite losing a few hundred points by not winning the World Championships, Dutchman Richard Groenendaal has finished on top of the UCI's cyclocross rankings for the 2000/2001 season. Groenendaal had a clear lead on new World Champion, Erwin Vervecken (Bel) with Bart Wellens making a late charge after winning two races last weekend. Belgians Mario de Clercq and Sven Nijs round out the top 5, putting Belgium clearly on top in the cyclocross nations ranking. Final rankings Individuals 1 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) 1,918 pts 2 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 1,525 3 Bart Wellens (Bel) 1,364 4 Mario De Clercq (Bel) 1,346 5 Sven Nijs (Bel) 1,221 6 Petr Dlask (Cze) 905 7 Daniele Pontoni (Ita) 769 8 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) 729 9 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) 708 10 Jiri Pospisil (Cze) 645 11 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) 566 12 Beat Wabel (Swi) 432 13 Vaclav Jezek (Cze) 393 14 Wim De Vos (Ned) 392 15 David Pagnier (Fra) 389 16 Luca Bramati (Ita) 334 17 Kipcho Volckaerts (Bel) 333 18 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) 311 19 Roland Schätti (Swi) 305 20 Arne Daelmans (Bel) 275 Nations 1 Belgium 6,185 pts 2 Netherlands 3,325 3 Czech Republic 2,358 4 Italy 1,492 5 Switzerland 1,298 6 France 1,050 7 U.S.A. 601 8 Great Britain 527 9 Poland 509 10 Germany 501 11 Spain 454 12 Denmark 400 13 Slovakia 316 14 Luxembourg 248 15 Austria 200 16 Japan 165 17 Hungary 135 18 Ireland 130 19 Ukraine 127 20 Canada 125 21 Croatia 75 22 Sweden 8 23 Russia 5 Heerlen awarded World Cup for 2002The Dutch town of Heerlen will play host to the final World Cup cyclocross race this coming season (2001/2002). The proposed World Cup calendar is as follows: Monopoli (Ita) - November 17 or 18 (Host of the 2003 World Championships)
Tour Méditerranéen "more nervous" each yearAlthough some teams escaped unscathed, this year's edition of the Tour Méditerranéen saw several crashes mar the closing stages of the bunch sprints. On almost every stage after the first, there was some sort of pile-up which according to Lampre-Daikin director Pietro Algeri was due to an increase in "speed and nervousness, which is quite dangerous." Some teams suffered terribly, like Fassa Bortolo who lost Ivan Basso whilst he was leading the race and Alessandro Petacchi in stage 2. Lampre finished with one second place after Jan Svorada finished just behind Jimmy Casper in stage 3. More importantly, Svorada came out of the race with his body intact, unlike Jimmy Casper who managed to squeeze himself into the barriers in the final stage that was won by Jaan Kirsipuu. As the following photos from Fotoreporter Sirotti show, it was a long finishing straight.
Perdiguero signs for NettisportFormer Linda McCartney cyclist, Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Spa) has signed a contract with the Portuguese division III Nettisport team. The Spaniard has reached a two year agreement with the Portuguese outfit, but will be free to for another team during the Vuelta a España if the possibility arises. He will sign on February 25. Of the defunct Linda McCartney team, Spaniards Iñigo Cuesta (Cofidis) and Juan Carlos Domínguez (iBanesto.com), Italo-Brit Max Sciandri (Lampre-Daikin), Dane Tayeb Braikia (Lotto-Adecco), Irish Ciaran Power (St. Quentin) and Colombian Marlon Perez (05 Orbitel) have all found new teams. VDB to sue GaumontFrank Vandenbroucke has told Belgian VTM TV program Telefacts he will sue Philippe Gaumont, his former Cofidis teammate. Gaumont said in a recent newspaper interview that Vandenbroucke was the victim of addiction to drugs and gambling, and loved women."If somebody accused me of having a drugs problem, I will sue him. I was a party-animal, once, but I never had anything to do with drugs or gambling," said Vandenbroucke. VDB also denied he was treated by a psychiatrist. "I was in bad shape because of the doping affair around Sainz, I went into depressive. But no treatment. I solve that kind of problem in my own way, with people I can trust. I still work together with Sainz."
Finnish skier tests positive to plasma expanderIt may be related to a different sport, but there are many parallels between cycling and cross-country skiing. At the current Nordic Skiing World Championships in Lathis, Finland, Finnish skier Jari Isometsä tested positive to hydroxyethyl starch (HES), a substance banned by the International Olympic Committee a year ago. HES is a plasma volume expander and is taken intravenously. Isometsä, who placed second in the pursuit last Saturday, confessed that he has used the medicine to lower his haemoglobin level because he had problems keeping within the new haemoglobin limit of 17.5 g/dL set by the international skiing federation (FIS). He also underlined that the medicine was taken on his own initiative and that no one else in the Finnish federation or team management were involved. FIS recently lowered the acceptable haemoglobin rate from 18.5 to 17.5 g/dl and several skiers have had problems with that value. Isometsä (32) will now be banned from skiing for two years which means that his career is likely to be finished.
Comparison with cycling Current UCI regulations state that riders showing a hematocrit level of greater than 50% and a haemoglobin of greater than 17 g/dl will be banned from competition for 15 days for health reasons. Although there appears to be no specific prohibition of HES or other blood thinners in the UCI Prohibited Classes of Substances, "Blood doping and pharmacological, chemical or physical manipulation shall be forbidden and shall be punished as the use of a doping agent" The 50 percent rule can never be considered a doping test because of the widespread variation in athletes' blood profiles. Several scientific studies have shown that as many as 2.8 percent of clean athletes can have haematocrits of over 50 percent, a similar distribution to the non-athletic population. On the other hand, it is possible to dope right up to 49.9 percent. The UCI was aware of this when it instigated the rule, but in the absence of a reliable blood doping test, it had to suffice. However, president Hein Verbruggen has said that the UCI is close to implementing a test for EPO based on research and methods largely developed by French and Australian scientists.
Rebellin heads field for Italian season-opener
Daniel Nardello (Mapei-Quickstep) will be attempting to repeat Eddy Merckx' feat and win two consecutive editions of the Laigueglia, but he faces severe competition from a high quality field. Fresh from his win in the Tour de Mediteranean, Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) is a favourite, and clearly the man in form, but the field is studded with other previous winners. 1997 winner Michele Bartoli (Mapei-Quickstep) will be keen to demonstrate that he's back and fully recovered, and the presence of Bartoli and Nardello on the same team could be decisive. Saeco's Paulo Savoldelli is another previous winner, while his teammate Mirko Celestino showed strongly in the Tour de Med (finishing sixth) and as a native of Albenga has the home roads advantage. Equally you can't discount significant names such as Danilo Di Luca (Cantina Tollo ), Giuliano Figueras (Ceramiche Panaria Fiordo) and Axel Merckx (Domo Farm Frites) and Algarve winner Andrea Ferrigato (Alessio) The most significant obstacle in the Laigueglia's 172.6 kilometres is the climb of the Paravenna, 30 km from the finish. In previous editions of the race, the Paravenna has been the critical point of the race; crest it first, and you're in with a strong chance.
Italian FCI election result: good or bad?By Alessandro Gretter There was one question to be asked at the end of the Bellaria Convention: "Could the re-election of Giancarlo Ceruti be considered a good achievement for the Italian Cycling Federation?" Maybe neither Ceruti nor Moser would be the right President in this difficult situation, because in each candidate there is some capacity missing in one that the other can show. Francesco Moser could have brought something new to the Federation, a partial renewal in the management framework and, maybe, new funding. The former Hour Record holder reacted fiercely to his non-election. "Some people changed their minds at the last moment, convinced by Ceruti's personal promises," said Francesco on Sunday. "Thus I've lost the votes of Tuscany, Campania and Basilicata." All of those local committees together had more than the 16 votes that Moser needed to become President. The election wasn't really a simple task; at first glance in fact Ceruti didn't reach the quorum of 204 necessary for direct election. He gained 203 preferences compared with 194 to Moser, but after further scrutineering, the other 7 votes "in doubt" were granted to the former President. "The Sinistra (left-wing of the Italian Chamber which now holds the balance of power) decided that Ceruti will remain President, and he did!" erupted the "liberal" Moser. All who were present at the Meeting, which was held in Bellaria close to Pantani's home, were reflecting upon the situation in Italian cycling. The third candidate Angelo Francini, who retired himself just after the discussion started, spoke about the Financial and Moral relationship that Ceruti read at the beginning of the day, where there were a lot of problems. First of all there was the huge financial deficit. During 1999-2000, the FCI budgeted 1,500 millions lire (US$750,000) with more money required over the next 5 years in order to pay for the medical controls. Then there was the total absence of any Italian members of the UCI Commission, and last but not least, a 6 month period with no insurance coverage during 1999 for the entire Federation, especially cyclists! This situation was highlighted by a young director sportif who recalled that the family of a junior, Lorenzo Laner (who was killed by a truck in Trento in October 1999), hadn't received any payment from the FCI's insurance. The Italian cycling teams were also not covered during the 1999 World Championships held in Verona. Ceruti didn't reply in a way expected by the delegates to this problem. In fact he argued that it was due to a mistake by a former Federciclismo manager, who did not have a good relationship with him. After the election, Ceruti continued his polemical and destructive work. First he attacked the companies that granted Moser money for his electoral tour (about 25 million lire - US$12,500), then more poison went to "La Gazzetta dello Sport" which is his view, sustained the Moser candidature. All these things are not useful to Italian cycling, and many hope that he will change his mind first and then try to stimulate a renewal. The renewal will start from the basic level with more promotional activity. After the nomination of the President, all the delegates were left free to vote. Thus the ballot gave strange results, especially for the three athletes representatives. Prestigious names like Olympic Medallist Antonella Bellutti, former WC Mirko Gualdi, and pro's Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo) and Claudio Chiappucci were defeated by "internationally unknown" (and to many Italians too) Fausto Scotti, Morena Tartagni and Stefano Notari. At least for the coaches, Giosuè Zenoni, former National CT and Vini Caldirola's DS was elected. At the end of the meeting some good news arrived: former professional CT Alfredo Martini (who turned 80 last Sunday) was proposed to be the President "Ad honorem". President: Giancarlo Ceruti
British Cyclocross Awards announcedThe British Cyclocross Competition Management Team has revealed the recipients of two of its most prestigious annual trophies.The Ray Richards Memorial Trophy for the "single most meritorious ride" has been awarded to Matt Ellis for his storming comeback in the World Championships in Tabor. Ellis snapped his chain just yards after passing a pit on the first lap, and was obliged to run virtually half the course to the second pit before he could change his bike. At this point he was almost last, but managed to claw his way back through the field to finish in 16th place, the highest finishing place recorded by a British rider in the Elite race since the Championships went "Open" in 1994. Ellis, 26, hails from Whaley Bridge in the cycling hot bed of High Peak, but has based himself in Belgium for the cyclocross season, where he has steadily been making a name for himself. He also finished 16th in the third round of the World Cup in Luxembourg in December. The second trophy is the Sgt. H.J. Colley, V.C., M.M. Memorial Trophy, commonly known as the VC Colley, awarded for the most improved rider. This year's recipient is Dave Collins, who rides for the Pedal Power team in his home town of Loughborough. Collins is one of a number of riders who have come through this season to challenge the "old guard" and forced his way into the World Championship team with a series of good performances. Nothstein awarded and heads for the road2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, Marty Nothstein received the "Award of Distinction" for his performance at the Sydney Olympics. The award was given at the 46th annual banquet of the Touchdown Club of Columbus on February 17, and featured prominent athletes in other sports (especially football). "I'm honored to receive this prestigious award," said Nothstein. "I think it's great that the sport of cycling is being recognized along side other mainstream sports such as football and baseball." Nothstein will now return home to the Lehigh Valley to prepare for a training camp in South Carolina at the end of February. "I had the same training camp last year and it worked for me so I'm not going to alter it. Both the weather and roads are great down there to prepare for a long and grinding season," said the Olympic Champ. Nothstein will turn his attention to the road this year - something he has not done in the past. "I need a new challenge. I have done everything in this sport that can be done. I have won world titles, national titles, Pan Am Games, as well as the Olympic Games. I'm not leaving the track, but I just want a few new challenges and I think the road will give me that," added Nothstein.
Mapei to race RedlandsThe Mapei-Quickstep team has announced that it will take part in the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the USA's premier road stage race. Mapei-Quickstep's presence at the Redlands Classic indicates the growing importance of this race.Redlands Classic Director of International Team Development Brian Swope said, "Having Mapei and nearly half of the men's field from international teams demonstrates that the Classic has achieved the status of a world class event." But Mapei-Quickstep won't be without competition. Belgium's Lotto-Adecco, ranked 16th in the world, has also confirmed its attendance and is sending multiple Tour de France stage winner Jeroen Blijlevens, probably the hottest favourite to win the Redlands Classic. Other top teams confirmed include US Postal Service (USA, 11th in 2000), Gerolsteiner (Germany), Wüstenrot-ZVVZ (Czech Republic), Mercury-Viatel (USA), Saturn Cycling Team (USA), Navigators Cycling Team (USA), KRKA Telekom (Slovenia) and Nürnberger (Germany). Gerolsteiner and Wüstenrot-ZVVZ have both announced that they will race with their first squads. Among the riders to watch is Georg Totschnig, a climbing specialist (sixth in the Vuelta, ninth in the Giro), Michel Rich (second at the TT Worlds 2000), Tobias Steinhauser (fifth Worlds 2000) and Olaf Pollack (2000 Olympic Gold medallist 4000m team pursuit), all from team Gerolsteiner. Redlands based team Jelly Belly will be racing with local resident Norm Carter. Other team members include Mariano Friedick of Los Angeles and former USPRO Champion Eddy Gragus. For the women's race, two international teams have been acquired, the German National team and the Canadian team Equipe Cycliste Rona. No rosters are available yet. Negotiations with several other teams are on-going. Team Schroeder/IncycleThe Schroeder/Incycle cycling team is an elite amateur team based in Southern California. The team was created in order to support top regional riders reaching for the pro ranks and to develop talented espoir riders. The team is led by by multiple national champion and rider/manager Sean Watkins. The team will be targeting races in the Western Region as well as the West Coast National Racing Calendar and National Road Championships. Shroeder Iron Corp. is a Los Angeles County based steel company which specializes in complicated structures, while Incycle Bicycles is a Los Angeles County chain of bicycle shops. Team Roster Victor Ayala (Mex) *U23 Sponsors Schroeder Iron Corp. Contact: ryancady@home.com
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