News for January 16, 2001Recent results and new features Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under gets underway at the HiltonBy Jeff Jones The twelve teams that comprise the field for the 2001 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under were officially presented in Adelaide's Hilton Hotel late yesterday. The best field yet for the JCTDU was introduced by race commentator Phil Liggett, who put several riders on the spot (and occasionally himself) to the entertainment of the large crowd.
The Ag2r-Decathlon team is back, with defending champion Gilles Maignan sporting blond hair a big smile and not a French TT Championship(!). Maignan made the race's critical breakaway on the second day last year, and held off the challenge from Stuart O'Grady and Michael Rogers to win the race. He is of course hoping to do it again in 2001. His Estonian teammate, Jaan Kirsipuu hopes to win here as well and has been acclimatising for two weeks. The temperature is the key, according to Kirsipuu: "40 is too much," said a reasonably tanned Kirsipuu. "In Estonia at the moment, it depends - maybe it's zero, maybe minus 10 degrees." Credit Agricole has brought a strong lineup, including local favourite Stuart O'Grady, Bobby Julich and Chris Jenner, who recently won the Tour of Wellington. O'Grady has finished first and second on GC in the preceding two tours. "Hopefully the form shouldn't be that bad," he said. "I was pretty happy with yesterday's result in the National Championships, even though I didn't get up there on the podium...I want to try and win this race again." Bobby Julich admitted that being here is "Much better than Philadelphia at the moment." Do you feel the pressure? "Yes (laughs). I've found the last two years pretty difficult because the pressure is kinda difficult to deal with, mentally and physically. But I've dealt with a lot of it over this winter and I hope to start this year 'sans baggage'."
Saeco Macchine per Café arrived again without speedster Mario Cipollini, but has brought former Italian champion Salvatore Commesso in his place. Commesso (despite pic on left) is in "great form" according to translator Jörg Ludewig, who didn't actually ask the question. The team has also recently signed young Aussie, Brad Davidson who declared that "It is my big chance and I've got the opportunity, so I'm going to take it up 100 percent." The German Telekom team carry one of the race's big favourites, Steffen Wesemann, who has been in Australia since December 3 last year and is 'perfectly' acclimatised. "I like to come back every year to have perfect training in perfect weather," said 'Wese', who has been doing plenty of 200 km training days mixed in with motorpacing. He will be a danger man.
His teammate, Kai Hundertmark has not had much success in the past two Tours Down Under. He has broken bones (wrist and collarbone) each year and hopes not to repeat. "We'll see tomorrow, but I have been training well," he said. Is it a race for sprinters or breakaway riders? "It depends on the first stages, there are chances for both types of riders...I think it will be a very interesting race." Team Linda McCartney presented their new green and gold strip, with co-sponsor Jacob's Creek prominently displayed. Led by Max Sciandri, the riders hope for some good results although they know they have a long year ahead. David McKenzie, the first Australian to win a stage in the Giro d'Italia, is a handy sprinter as well, but "We've got two other good sprinters in the team, so I think I'll be doing a bit for them. It's great with a home country and home crowd to race in such a big tour." CSC-World Online is the new Memory Card outfit, managed in this race by ex-rider Christian Andersen. The team's main drawcards are quietly confident Nicolaj Bo Larsen and one day Classics specialist, Tristan Hoffman. "I am in good shape at the moment," said Hoffman who finished 5th in the Tour of Flanders, 4th in Gent-Wevelgem, and 4th in Paris-Roubiax last year. "I hope to do really well on one day." But it's a six day race...
The Mapei-Quick Step team has come to Australia for the first time, with the possibility of overall success with Daniele Nardello. However, they also hope to show in the sprints with Tom Steels, who has been out of competition for some time. "I expect to suffer," he admitted. "I haven't raced for 5 months (virus) so we don't know how it will go. It's a good start for the rest of the season." Michael Rogers is Mapei's young Australian signing, and he won a stage in this race last year. Can he repeat that? "We'll see...I may have to do a few work duties. We've got Tom Steels and Stefano Zanini for the sprints, and Daniele Nardello for the overall...but if I get a chance I'll give it a go." Big Mat, although a French team, has local legends Jay Sweet and Pat Jonker, the latter who has taken out an Australian license this year and is racing in the Tour Down Under for the first time. I''ve ridden the Tour de France many times and what Mike Turtur has put on here is exceptional - it's like a mini Tour de France," he said. Jay Sweet was looking a little tired, but still hopes to show the crowd his speed in the sprint finishes. "I had quite a big day at the Australian Championships yesterday [he finished 17th]. The home ground support is great." Note: the spelling is 'Sweet' not 'Sweat' The final three teams were essentially all Australian. United Water-AIS is led by the indefatigable Graeme Brown, who became Australian Espoir Champion at the championships in Portarlington on Sunday, where he finished fourth. "Certainly I'm happy with 4th, as I thought I wasn't going to finish. To get the national champion's jersey is fantastic," he said, and will be aiming to have his team lead him out for a stage win.
Sunsmart Mitsubishi is without Scott Sunderland, who pulled out with sickness. Nick Gates has taken his place, and the team is probably the strongest of the Aussie outfits. Their GC man will be newly crowned Australian Champion, Steve Williams, who also commented on his brilliant effort in Portarlington, the culmination of years of hard work. "I knew I had pretty good form - I have been riding well for the last 5 months," he said. "I've been 3rd a couple of times, I've been 4th once and 6th and 7th, so I filled the places quite a few times. To win this now, especially as it's more prestigious than it has been in the past, was great." The team also boasts MTB star, Cadel Evans, who wants a more "consistent" year this year after injuries interrupted his plans in 2000. Evans is a handy road rider as well, winner of two Tours of Tasmania and finishing 16th in Portarlington and could feature in a key break during this tour.
The last team to be presented was the University of South Australia sponsored team, which will presumably not evolve into an international division I team, but will certainly gain good exposure from this race. A late call up to the team is the Melbourne-Sorrento winner, Kristjan Snorrasson, who has an Icelandic father. "Snozza" has raced in triathlons since 1990 and only turned to road racing two years ago, when he raced in Belgium midway through the season. Always aggressive, he could turn a few heads in this race, and has hopes that he will be able to ride internationally again this year. Remember, Lance Armstrong was a triathlete. Luke Roberts, Commonwealth Games track champion, is another South Australian and was the final rider to be questioned. "I've been with the AIS track program for the last 5 or 6 years, and now after sitting back I want to progress to road racing. This is part of the change," he said. "I rode the Bay Series and the Melbourne-Sorrento, then I did some track racing (last weekend) in Adelaide." He is a pursuit rider, similar to Rogers, and could well surprise in the JCTDU 2001.
Tour startThis evening in Glenelg, the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under will officially get underway with a one hour criterium. Starting at 1930 local time (2000 Aus EST = 0400 USA EDT = 0900 GMT) the crowd is expected to be huge after a substantial promotional campaign in the city over the past few months. Join cyclingnews.com for live coverage of all the action from stage one, so you won't miss the break. Who is the yodelling cyclist?Local ABC radio station 5AN 891 has heard of a cyclist who was yodelling while ascending the popular climb of Norton Summit in the Adelaide foothills. Apparently a group of local riders were passed (effortlessly) by a group of yodelling cyclists training for the Tour Down Under recently. Roving reporter Tim Noonan is trying to find out who the yodeller was. If you know who the rider or riders are please let the 5AN Morning Show hosts know by e-mailing the bald brothers John Kenneally and Tony McCarthy at baldbrothers@abc.net.au Weather coolWeather wise, it is thankfully going to be a cool start, with a refreshing 18C on Tuesday morning, heating up to less than 28C by the end of the day. However it's going to heat up as the week progresses. Fortunately the hills are usually a few degrees cooler than the coastal plains. The big test will be the stage 5 on Saturday in the Barossa Valley which can be one or two degrees warmer than Adelaide with a forecast in the high 30's. Let's hope that a forecast change comes in on time for the final stage in Adelaide on Sunday.
Cyclocross World's teamsAustria Elite men: Peter Presslauer Espoirs: Daniel Hufnagel Elite Women: Isabella Wieser Elite men: Henrik Djernis Espoirs: Peter Riis Andersen, Kim S. Petersen, Tommy Nielsen, René Lohse (reserve) Juniors: Dan Andersen France Elite men: David Pagnier, Dominique Arnould, David Derepas, Arnaud Labbe. Elite women: Laurence Leboucher, Maryline Salvetat Espoirs: Francis Mourey, Thomas Lecuyer, Julien Absalon, John Gadret. Juniors: Julien Belgy, Pierre-Bernard Vaillant, Steve Chainel. Elite men: Richard Groenendaal, Wim de Vos, Gerben de Knegt, Camiel
van den Women: Daphny van den Brand, Corrine Dorland, Inge Velthuis, Debby
Mansveld Espoirs: Wilant van Gils, Roel van Houtum, Ronald Mutsaars, Freek de
Jong and Juniors: Kor Steenbergen, Bart Dirkx, Steven Peters, Gerben de Vries
and Slovakia Elite men: Robert Glajza, Vaclav Metlicka, Pavel Medved, Lubos Kondis Juniors: Stefan Gajdosik, Vladimir Hradisky, Tomas Cervenan, Michal Stanik Freire's biggest aimDeposed World Champion Oscar Freire enjoyed some good results in the rainbow jersey last year, but was unfortunately plagued by back problems, which will no doubt be attributed to the "curse of the rainbow jersey". The Mapei rider's biggest goal now is to recover from these, and if possible, to build on his results from last year. He is currently in Marbella, under the supervision of Dr Muller, who has treated the Bayern-München soccer team, in addition to golfer Txema Olazábal, tennis player Boris Becker, footballer Rafael Alkorta and cyclist Stephen Roche. He has been undergoing ultrasound treatment and will delay his early season start. "I want to start strongly and I will have to delay," he said. "I will not be in Mallorca because I prefer to postpone my debut and not have as many stops during the season as I did in 2000." He has been frustrated at is slow progress though, as he has "not improved" despite 15 days of gym training. "I am not sure if I am going to recover from the pain, but as the season has not yet begun I am not feeling envious of my colleagues who will be in the heat of competition," he added. "This year will be totally different and I can be better. But my biggest intention is to rebuild my back," he finished.
Moser gives a press conferenceFrancesco Moser gave a press conference yesterday in Milan, where he presented his election programme and supporting group for his tilt at the presidency of the Italian Cycling Federation (F.C.I.). Moser is one of the most charismatic figures in cycling, and hopes to use his popularity to build momentum for his campaign. Moser said that he aims to "renew the national level of government in cycling, in order to give back to this sport at least a small part of what it has given to me. As a candidate I am convinced that I can bring cycling back to a better level than it is today." The aim is to go back to fundamental values and to get more younger riders involved in the sport. Doping, he believes is a "relative problem". "The federations and international organisations will have limit it a little at a time, but not too much so as not to cancel the tradition. Doping is given to someone in order to increase their speed, but is not a substitute for training. In order to defeat doping completely, we will have to work together in without creating too much disorder...We must not condemn but help those who have erred." Another important part of Moser's campaign is to give power back to the small groups in cycling, which he hopes will unveil new Italian talent "all along the peninsula". He also plans on building up track cycling and raising the profile in the south again, where he is convinced that there is "great potential". One of his supporters is former Olympic gold medallist, Antonella Bellutti, who retired from competition last year. She spoke of her admiration for Moser and his mandate, and if he wins, she hopes to play a part in "improving the state of things", especially cycling facilities (velodromes) in the country and the relationship between women's cycling and the UCI.
Pantani gets new dealMercatone Uno's Marco Pantani has signed sponsorship agreement with Italian (Piemontese) mobile phone company, SBS. The company has acquired the rights to Pantani's image and will also have a logo on the Mercatone Uno team strip. Hervé's fate suspendedPascal Hervé will have to wait another two weeks before he finds out if he will be suspended from competition. He, along with former teammate Richard Virenque, admitted to taking EPO last October during the Festina trial in Lille. Virenque has already been sanctioned (9 months), but Herve has to wait for the disciplinary commission of the Ligue du Cyclisme Professionnel to examine his case.
Ronde van Nederland 2001The five day Ronde van Nederland (Tour of the Netherlands) takes place from August 28-September 1 this year. The following stages are planned. Stage 1 - August 28: Rotterdam-Tilburg NSW Cycling Federation collapsesThe Bankstown Office of NSW Cycling Federation was extensively damaged as a result of the freak wind storm which swept Sydney on the evening of January 15, 2001. The roof of premises was crushed to floor level under the weight of falling concrete blocks from a collapsed adjoining wall. Police and the Fire brigade evacuated the building and fortunately there were no injuries. Both Kevin Young and Tom Skulander were working in the office at the time. The NSWCF Office will operate under very restricted conditions until all office equipment can be recovered and relocated to the Dunc Gray Velodrome. The federation is asking all members to be patient.
Texas bill to limit bunchesWant to ride in groups of more than three in Texas? The following bill proposes to curtail that, if and when it comes into force on September 1 and therefore has serious implications for organised cycling events in that state. The representatives concerned may be contacted via the following: By Senator Wentworth - S.B. No. 238 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 551.103, Transportation Code, is amended by amending (c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway shall ride single file
[may ride two (e) Persons operating bicycles in a group of three or more bicyclists
may not SECTION 2. Section 551.104, Transportation Code, is amended by amending (a) A person may not operate a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with: (1) a brake capable of making a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean
pavement; (2) a slow-moving-vehicle emblem, as defined by Section 547.001, that
conforms (d) Subsection (a)(2) does not apply to a person operating a bicycle
on a path SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. Recent results and new features on cyclingnews |
