News for January 11, 2001Ullrich on trackJan Ullrich has started the year in excellent fashion, according to reports in Mallorca where he and the Telekom team have just arrived for a training camp. Prior to this he has been in South Africa, training "between 170 and 190 kilometres per day", over 3,000 kilometres in total. He successfully avoided overindulging at Christmas, and is keen to continue his "Operation Yellow Jersey" plan for 2001. In interviews with the German press in Mallorca, Ullrich said that he knew what he had to do this time. "I know how I can best bring myself in form. Last year, I simply arrived too late and I managed my best performances only in the last week of the Tour and following that. This time, I must arrive at the prologue at 95 percent of my best," he explained. Currently, Ullrich is "feeling good and riding well. I am having no problems keeping up with my teammates, who need to have power for the spring." However, there is a long road to travel between now and July, and Ullrich knows that: "The worst time is at the beginning of the year." He is not concerned with meeting his main rivals, Lance Armstrong or Marco Pantani in the Tour of Murcia in March because "None of us can win there. Everyone prepares differently, and Armstrong has not done particularly well there in recent years." Telekom has acquired the services of Armstrong's close friend and former U.S. Postal teammate, Kevin Livingston. Could this be more valuable in learning the enemy's strategies and methods? The answer is a firm "No" according to Ullrich. "I don't want to end up copying another rider, therefore I must also know nothing about their training methods." Although Telekom boss, Rudy Pevenage promised Ullrich a holiday if he wins the Tour, the latter has other ideas. "If you win the Tour, you have the form of your life, and that must be used - as long as it lasts," he said. The important question of whether Ullrich will ride the Giro d'Italia or the tour of Germany still remains unanswered. "I do not want to commit myself yet, and that decision will be made at relatively short notice. If I am in good form, I will race the Tour of Germany, but if still need hard kilometers for my Tour de France preparation, then I'll start the Giro," he explained. The elevation of Team Coast to division I this year will mean that Germany has two division I crews. Does Ullrich feel the competition? "In the last five years Germany has become a popular cycling country. Naturally there will be more competition. I believe however that this team needs a few years, in order to find the correct harmony, which for big wins is necessary."
Final teams arrive for Jacob's Creek TDUThe final three teams (Ag2r, Big Mat-Point P, and Credit Agricole) have arrived in Adelaide for the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under that starts next Tuesday, January 16, with an evening criterium in Glenelg. However, former stage winner and yellow jersey wearer in the tour, Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r) gave himself an extra few days in Adelaide in order to acclimatise to the heat. There will be no shortage of it next week, according to the South Australian Bureau of Meteorology, which is predicting a maximum of 37 degrees today, and 39 in the outlying suburbs. In the coming days, the forecast looks a little warmer than most Europeans are experiencing at this time of year. Note, temperatures are in Celsius. Friday: Min 21 Max 36 Dry. Sunny day. Saturday: Min 24 Max 41 Dry. Sunny day. Sunday: Min 28 Max 40 Dry. Mainly sunny day. Trend for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: Remaining dry with maximum temperatures in the low to mid 30's.Will the 'heat' transfer to the peloton? Without Fred Rodriguez there, we may never know. One thing for sure is that cyclingnews.com will be there providing live coverage of each stage, and plenty more from the TDU.
Mercury Sea Otter ClassicThe 11th edition of the Sea Otter Classic will once more be held in Monterey, California from March 22-25, combining road and mountainbike events into a cycling extravaganza. The event has continued to grow in recent years, and maintains its UCI ranking of 2.4 for the road stage race. Title sponsors Mercury Vehicles, SRAM Corporation and the Outdoor Life Network are continuing to support the event at the top level, and these have been enhanced by several new second tier sponsors. Seagate computers has entered into a one year contract and will sponsor the major cross country cycling events: MTB Stage Race, Short Track, Cross Country,and the Industry Cup. In addition, SoBe beverages will add its name to the downhill and dual events. Finally, Monterey based Robert Talbott handmade neckwear and shirts, and Robert Talbott Vineyards. will be the presenting sponsor of all Sea Otter road racing events. Road events Stage 1 - March 22: Road Time Trial MTB events Stage 1 - March 23: Cross country Time Trial Dual Slalom finals - March 24 Vuelta a Argentina cancelledArgentina's major stage race, the Vuelta a Argentina (February 25-March 11) has been cancelled for 2001 after organisers failed to meet UCI requirements. The 2000 race was marred by the death of a cyclist, Saul Morales (Relax-Fuenlarada) who was killed by a truck that had entered onto the parcours. For the race to continue into 2001, the UCI Management Committee decided to allow its entry subject to certain conditions that were to be met by December 1, 2000. The UCI's Philippe Chevallier told cyclingnews.com that "The organiser was informed of this decision at the end of October along with the list of requirements that it was obliged to meet before 1st December 2000. After several requests, the organiser did not meet the Management Committee's requirements and consequently the UCI decided to withdraw the race from the 2001 calendar."
Saeco's new web siteTeam Saeco Macchine per Caffè, one of the first professional cycling teams to use the internet as a means of providing information rather than just to have a presence on the web, has relaunched its web site. Built using some (but not dependent on) Flash elements, the site will provide plenty of information as to who, where and what the team is. Brief staff and rider bios are available, as well as news updates, results, racing program and a soon to be introduced photo section. As yet, an English version is not available but it is anticipated soon. Team manager Claudio Corti expressed his satisfaction for the new version of the site: "The site over the years has given us a lot in terms of visibility," he said. "Our team has always focussed on image and communication. Our press office has always had an eye on new technologies and has been one of the first, four years ago, to conceive our site as a means of direct information, always to be kept updated." The graphical appearance of the site has been completely improved and conforms to the main Saeco site. The Italian coffee machine manufacturer has recently launched a new advertising campaign, and wanted a new look site to go with it.
ONCE loses Deutsche BankTeam ONCE has lost its main co-sponsor for the past three years, Deutsche Bank, who announced that they will not be continuing with the team as of January 1 this year. ONCE is currently seeking another company to help finance the team this year, but the team will continue regardless.
Scott McGrory signs for MapeiOlympic Madison Champion, Scott McGrory has signed a one year contract with Mapei-Quick Step, the team announced today. 31 year old McGrory brings the total of Australian riders in Mapei to three after Michael Rogers and Alan Davis, and Mapei now have 41 riders in total. Mapei has always been interested in track racing with Adriano Baffi's representation in the Six Dayers. They also contributed to the restoration of Milan's Vigorelli velodrome, now also named after Antonio Maspes. McGrory will partner Baffi for the second half of the 2001 season, with his big aim being the World Championships in Antwerp between September 26-30. In the near future, McGrory is racing in the Bremen Six that starts tomorrow night, as well as in Stuttgart (Jan. 19-24) and Berlin (Jan. 25-30).
Van Kessel to GerolsteinerMiquel van Kessel (Farm Frites) will ride for Team Gerolsteiner this year after there was no room for him in the new Domo-Farm Frites team. However, there is still a court case about the end of the contract, so Van Kessel couldn't officially confirm his transfer to the German team. But Gerolsteiner released an official statement about signing Van Kessel, and he has been training with them in Mallorca. Earlier, they contracted Georg Totschnig (Telekom).
New Spanish team: SIME-GymSportA new Spanish division II will make a last minute debut into the professional scene this year, Sime-GymSport. The team will have 14 or 15 riders, with a fairly small budget of 160 million pesetas ($US 900,000). Its main sponsors are a computer company (SIME - Servicios Informáticos del Mediterráneo), and Italian publicity agency, GymSport. The team will be managed by Vicente Martínez, former manager of the Mavisa and Wigarma teams and president of the Luis Ocaña foundation. Directeur sportives are Vicente Morán and Franco Chioccioli. Riders that have been mentioned include Vicente Elvira (Matesica), Ernesto Manchón (Vitalicio), and amateurs Jerónimo Sanroma (Kelme), Rubén Cuenca and Antonio Gras (Leyma-Winterthur), Mariano Fernández (Sodexho-Morella), Yuri Precopenko (Nagares), as well as Joona Laukka, Óscar López Uriarte, Stefano Della Santa and Marco Traversoni. Courtesy of Ciclismo Catalan news
Post Swiss 2001Top Swiss division II squad, Post Swiss has extended its lineup to 15 in 2001, although the team will still largely be composed of Swiss riders. It is a young team, with an average age of 24 (Pierre Ackerman is the oldest at 29). The team has lost some of its experienced riders including Roger Beuchat, Marcel Strauss and Bruno Boscardin. The team has gathered twice in recent weeks, with plenty of winter activities (cross country skiing, ice hockey and curling). Its first race will be the Mallorca Challenge, February 4-8, but the team's main racing focus will be in Switzerland. The GP Gippingen, Tour de Romandie, Tour de Suisse, Championship of Zurich, Swiss National Championship and the Tour de l'Avenir are the main goals for 2001. Team Roster Team Manager: Kurt Bürgi Riders Pierre Ackermann (Swi) Courtesy of Swiss Velo Pages KIA-Suisse professional Cycling TeamLast year's division II KIA-Villiger Suisse team has become a division III squad this season, with one less name in the team title. The title sponsor is still KIA motors, but the team will now simply be known as KIA-Suisse. The team has just eight riders on its roster, including three from last year (Pascal Hungerbühler, Philippe Schnyder and Christian Weber). However, there are a couple of acquisitions from division II teams, namely Italians Simone Mori (Coast) and Alessandro Pozzi (Costa de Almeria). The team is also trying to sign Alexandre Moos (Swi), who may only be interested in MTB/Cross racing however. Team roster Team Manager/Directeur Sportif: Walter Schnyder (Swi) Riders Bertrand Bourguet (Swi) Neo pro Blackburn Motivator winner announcedWe can at last confirm that the competition winner of cyclingnews.com's Christmas poll, "Best ride of 2000" is Tom Grothe, of St. Paul, Minnesota. He wins a Blackburn Motivator DVD training system, courtesy of Blackburn and Exerscape. More details about the poll and its winner have been posted here.
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