News for February 23, 2001Recent results and new features 85th Ronde van VlaanderenThe 85th edition of Belgium's most popular race, the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) will take place on April 8, as the second round of the UCI World Cup. The Ronde this year is 269 kilometres, starting in the popular tourist town of Brugge and finishing in Meerbeke, some six and a half hours later. This is the fourth year in a row that the race has started in Brugge, and it will again visit the west coast of Belgium first, passing through Johan Museeuw's home town of Gistel (km 35). The first of the 16 climbs this year will be the Achterberg (km 119), after Den Ast has been cut from the race. Wolvenberg follows shortly afterwards before the first cobbled climb (Molenberg, km 135). In total, the race takes in seven cobbled climbs, finishing with the Muur at Geraardsbergen (km 253) and the Bosberg (km 256). Route summary Distance: 269 km Major climbs Pantani not out of the fire yetThe case(s) involving Marco Pantani's high hematocrit levels have taken another turn, after police seized Pantani's pre-Sydney Olympic Games medical dossier complied by CONI, the Italian Olympic Committee. Pantani is currently trying to clear his name in the 1995 Milan-Turin episode, after he was found guilty of sporting fraud late last year and given a probationary sentence of three months. Prosecuting attorney in Ferrara, Pierguido Soprani, ordered the seizure of the 2000 file based on a letter from professor Mario Cazzola, a hematologist in the University of Padua. Cazzola had advised CONI that Pantani should not race, on the basis of two hematocrit tests prior to the 2000 Olympics, on August 1 and 5. In the letter, professor Cazzoli described "abnormal values" which revealed an "iron overload", adding that Pantani had a 49% hematocrit on September 5 (under the limit) but his hemaglobin had increased by 10 percent from August 1. He expressed concern as to Pantani's long term health, and advised him not to compete in Sydney. Many fingers were pointed at Pantani at the time, and there were calls for him to withdraw himself from the team (due to lack of form, if anything). However, Pantani did ride and finished anonymously in 69th place. There are now three legal disputes surrounding the Pirate. He is appealing against the Milan-Turin decision, but judge Luisa del Bianco has actually re-opened the case due to the fact that some important medical records went missing. In addition, there has been a preliminary investigation started against him in relation to his expulsion from the 1999 Giro d'Italia due to a high hematocrit. This, compounded with the above could mean a busy year for his lawyer Federico Cecconi. His manager, Manuela Ronchi commented that "We are not surprised: our lawyers have informed us of these latest developments in the Turin and Ferrara inquiries, and they have explained to us that they were routine assessments." "The timing surprises us though: these things always happen 2-3 days before important races for Marco," she added, as Pantani is due to start in the Vuelta Valenciana on February 27. Moser criticises Saronni appointmentBeppe Saronni is expected to be appointed the new head of Italy's national team selectors, replacing Antonio Fusi. While the decision has been greeted positively by Italy's riders - with both Michele Bartoli and Francesco Casagrande reported as very happy with the idea - Saronni's long-time rival Francesco Moser is less impressed. Saronni is manager of the Lampre-Daikin squad, and therein lies Moser's objection. The former hour record holder said, "To go to races and see the riders, Saronni must leave his engagement with Lampre, he must not try to mix the two jobs. He must be discharged from his duties in the team, not try to have a foot in each camp." Ochoa: Driver expresses remorseThe driver of the car that killed Ricardo Ochoa and severely injured his brother Javier has expressed his regret in an interview with a local TV station. Sebastian Fernandez Lopez, the director of the sports department of the University of Malaga, said, "I want to send my condolences to the family," and added that it was an "accident" and the only thing that he was worrying about right now was that "Javier recovers soon and can speak."Schur at 70Gustav Adolf Schur, known to everyone simply as "Täve", celebrates his 70th birthday today. "Täve" was one of the most popular sportsmen in the 50s and 60s in what was then the GDR (East Germany), winning the world amateur road championship in 1958 and 1959, and the Peace Race - the amateur Tour de France of its day - in 1955 and 1959. His ride in the 1960 worlds was notable for his tactical sacrifice, blocking Belgian rider Willy Vandenberghen so that Schur's teammate and friend Bernhard Eckstein could take the rainbow jersey, with Schur settling for silver.Schur was offered lucrative contracts in the West as early as 1956, but remained an amateur, declining to race for cash. He was voted the GDR's 'sportsman of the year' nine times and twice voted 'most popular sportsman of all time'. After his retirement from racing in 1964, "Täve" was active in politics as a member of the GDR's people's chamber and since 1998 has been a Democratic Socialist member of the German Federal parliament. He says his current term of office will be his last. His ambition is to live to be 100, and he plans to travel Northern Europe with his wife Renate. His bike will be in the luggage. Sciandri's first race for LampreRecent Lampre-Daikin signing, Max Sciandri, will have his first ride in the team colours this Saturday in the Tour du Haut Var in France. According to Lampre: "Due to the temporary absence of Frank Vandenbroucke, the 34 year old Englishman will reinforce the team with regard to the spring classics." The other riders for Haut Var (and the Classique Haribo that follows) are Marco Serpellini, Ludo Dierckxsens, Johan Verstrepen, Rubens Bertogliati, Robert Hunter, Matteo Frutti, and Zbigniew Spruch. Serpellini, Hunter and Dierckxsens are all recovering from various illnesses, but are expected to take their places in these races. A second contingent of the team will be riding in the Trofeo Luis Puig (February 25) and Vuelta Valenciana (February 27-March 3), consisting of Oscar Camenzind, Sergio Barbero, Mariano Piccoli, Juan Manuel Garate, Matteo Algeri, Jan Svorada and Marco Della Vedova.
Hulsmans still sickOne of Mapei's potential young stars, Kevin Hulsmans, will not be able to race until June due to illness. Team leader Eric Vanderaerden told Het Laatste Nieuws that he has not yet recovered from glandular fever. "Kevin is now in Italy for further treatment," said Vanderaerden. "I think that he must rest another month. No competition before June." It is bad luck for Hulsmans, who has to wait even longer before making a serious attempt at professional racing. Mapei to Sea OtterMapei-Quick Step has added the March 22-25 Sea Otter Classic to a US racing schedule that already includes the Redlands Classic (March 13-19), giving US bike racing fans an additional chance to see the 2000 world number 1 team in action. Other European teams rostered for Sea Otter include Lotto-Adecco, led by four-time Tour de France stage winner Jeroen Blijlevens; and Germany's Gerolsteiner featuring Georg Totschnig, and Olympic gold medallist Olaf Pollack.US-based talent arrayed against this European invasion includes the Mercury-Viatel squad, led by 2000 Sea Otter winner Jamie Drew; The mighty US Postal team and top US domestic squad, Saturn. The reputation of US races has been growing in the last few years, and for European teams, a well organized event in California during March can be good preparation for the year's main events back in Europe. But little by little, these early season North American events are becoming more important. In off-road competition the Mercury Sea Otter Classic is already among the top multi-stage races in the world. While the road stage race will never be the Tour de France, the fact that top European teams send riders to compete signals a strong trend of improvement. In other Sea Otter news, the event's facilities for keeping the little ones amused now includes the Sea Otter Kids Book, an eight-side folded booklet to be included with the March 1 edition of the Monterey & County Herald. Aimed at 3-12 year olds, the Kids Book features the Sea Otter Adventure Trail American Cup postponedThe American Cup criterium omnium series, scheduled for May 15-20, 2001 in the Boston, Massachusetts area has been postponed for this year due the inability to secure a title sponsor for the event. Plans are for the American Cup to return in 2002. Contact: Paul Salvucci New Zealand MTB finalsThis weekend Christchurch hosts the finals of New Zealand's national mountain bike series, run by the NZ MTB Association. The downhill finals are scheduled for Saturday February 24 at Victoria Park, Port Hills, Christchurch. Racing begins at 11 am. The finish line of what organisers describe as a spectator-friendly course is situated at the end of Bowenvale Avenue. On-the-day entries will be accepted; an early arrival is suggested.Friday and Saturday evenings see the CPIT New Zealand Gravity Cross Championships at Cashmere Road Event Village, Halswell. Four riders go head to head under lights over a course with 100 tons of dirt jumps, moguls and berms with a generous helping of speed. Qualifying heats: Fri 23rd 6pm and Sat 24th 10am (On-the-day entry $25) Main event Sat 24 10pm. Dirt Jump contest Sat 24 11pm. Spectators $3. Sunday February 25's cross-country finals start at 9am on the legendary Halswell course. For more information contact Event Organiser Matthew Hughes on 025 816 894. Australian MTB downhill championshipsMt Buller, Victoria is the venue for this weekend's AMBA Cup national downhill MTB championships. The course has been open for practice since Wednesday but Saturday sees the Official Practice included in the entry fee, registration will be open till 16:00. A Big Air contest at the Spurs table top is planned for Saturday afternoonSunday February 25 things get serious with compulsory practice from 09:00 to 11:00 and racing starts at 12:00. It will still be possible to register until 10:00, but try not to cut it too fine. Organiser Colin Battersby says spectators can expect to see Australia's best downhillers in action as they vie for places in the Australian World's team. Series DH leader Jarrod Rando, Nathan Rennie, Sean McCarroll, Michael Ronning and Chris Kovaric are planning to attend. In the women's category, 2000 World Junior champ, Kathy Pruitt from the USA will lead a field that will include Katrina Miller and current Aussie champion Tai-Lee Muxlow. For more information contact event organiser Colin Battersby on 0418 225 265 Australian Polaris venue announcedNarooma on the NSW South Coast is the central point of this year's Polaris Challenge, March 9-11. Polaris Challenge is an annual, two-day mountain bike competition that combines fitness with orienteering-style navigation and outdoor skills in a unique challenge for all-round mountain bikers.The Event Centre is at Dalmeny, right on the beach some 5km north of Narooma and 4.5hrs drive from Sydney. The event area covers some 600 square kilometres and while most of it is at around 200m, it's almost a certainty that the organisers will have posted a control point at the top of the 800m MT Dromedary. The 2001 event will be raising funds for Careflight. At the mudfest that was last year's event one competitor with a badly broken hip was airlifted from a remote part of the area by Careflight. Last year, Sean Fitzgerald, a regular Polaris competitor, suffered a broken neck in an MTB fall in the Northern Territory. Sean is now a quadraplegic but fighting incredibly hard. He was brought to hospital from Darwin by a Careflight plane. For more information see the event website. Team Cycle-Logical/Continental-Teves2001 is the Cycle-Logical/Continental-Teves team's second year, and its riders will participate in both road and mountain bike events throughout the Southeastern US. The Cat. 1/2 road team is new for 2001, and will focus on events such as Athens Twilight, Shelby Criterium, Michelin Classic, as well as the Tour of Ohio and Superweek. The Cat. 3 and Cat. 4 riders will also represent the team regionally. The main focus for the mountain bike team will be the Cane Creek Cup and other regional events. Cycle-Logical is a shop located in the mountains of North Carolina and Continental-Teves is a division of Continental International that manufactures components for anti-lock brake and traction control systems for the automotive industry. Team Roster Team Directors: Zach and Tonya Lail Road Team Cat 1/2 Brock Helms 2 Cat 3 Chad Carleson Cat 4 Kirk Gwaltney Mountain Bike Team Expert Dennis Helton Sport Tim Bartee Team Sponsors Cycle-Logical Bicycle Shop-Morganton, NC (www.ncbikes.com) Western North Carolina Business Sponsors Black Dome Mountain Sports Supply-Asheville, NC Equipment AXO Cycling Nantucket Nectars/Specialized 2001 additionsThe Nantucket Nectars/Specialized MTB team continues to focus on under-23, junior and developing pro riders for 2001 Additions to the team include veteran rider Jay Henry who finished 13th overall in the 2000 NCS series; Magen Long, the 2000 junior national champion in cyclocross, track and road; top Super Cup cyclocrosser and up-and-coming second year pro, Brandon Dwight; as well as under-23 contender Brian Mater.Returning members include 2000 Duathlon National Mountain Bike Champion Brian Hughes; Heather Irmiger, the 2000 Expert and Collegiate Mountain Bike Omnium National Champion; top ranked Xterra pro and semi-pro mountain biker, Justin Thomas and Skyler Reeves, a former national team member.
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