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Recently retired top female French track cyclist, Felicia Ballanger, has done her bit to allay the air of suspicion that still clouds cycling, as doping accusations continue to flow freely. In 1998, Ballanger asked for her blood and urine samples to be frozen, and left them at the disposal of scientists. Her reason is that so no-one in future can say "At the time of Ballanger, no-one could detect this product."
Ballanger has formidable palmares in women's cycling, with three Olympic titles and 10 World Titles. She won two gold medals in Sydney last year in the sprint and 500m time trial, and has since retired.
"I don't wish that someone can waste my career by sowing the seeds of doubt with a simple sentence, whereas I always respected the rules," said Ballanger during the Tour de France, where she is present to promote women's cycling.
The Festina affair in 1998 prompted the decision. "Everyone made the analogy that cycling corresponded to doping," she said.
30 year old Ballanger currently holds a vice-president position in the French Cycling Federation, and is also a professor of sport. She is also aiming to help train elite athletes on the track.
Finnish rider Joona Laukka has signed a contract with Jean Delatour for next year, announced directeur sportif Michel Gros during the Tour de France today. The 29 year old is currently riding for the French amateur but of Bressuire, but has ridden professionally in the past for Festina (1995-1998), Lotto (1998), Acceptcard (1999) and Benfica (2000).
He was runner up in this year's Finnish time trial championships, and has signed a contract for one year.
Bradley Wiggins will be amongst the favourites for the Individual Pursuit at this weekend's European Track championships, to be held in Brno, Czech Republic. As with the European Road Championships, the majority of events are restricted to Under-23 athletes. In addition, the European Championships is being brought into line with its equivalents on other continents, with event winners now qualifying directly for the World Track championships.
National Track champion, Doug Dailey, is confident that GB has already qualified one place in the men's Individual Pursuit at the World championships through strong performances at this year's World Cup races. He now views Bradley's attendance in Brno as an excellent opportunity to qualify for a second slot in Antwerp later in the year.
Bradley will be joined in the Individual Pursuit by Steve Cummings. Steve has had a busy first season with the Track Endurance squad, riding continental road stage races and training hard for the Individual and Team Pursuit events. He will also be riding the Points Race, looking to gain vital competition experience. Doug Dailey is aware of the difficulty younger members of the Endurance squad have in gaining competition experience.
"With World Championship qualification always our first priority at the World Cups, we always have to put out a strong and experienced quartet. This often means that younger riders miss out. From next year, the European Track Championships will probably include a Team Pursuit event as well, offering more opportunities for us to blood young riders in international competition."
Victoria Pendleton and Craig MacLean complete the GB team for Brno. Victoria, who has had an excellent season in the domestic Omnium series will be riding both the Sprint and the 500m Time Trial. Craig will be riding an "open age" Sprint Omnium, looking to build on some impressive sprint results, including a win at the Grand Prix de Vitesse St. Denis. The Omnium will consist of a Keirin, Flying Lap and Sprint. Marshall Thomas will manage the team.
Dutch track star Arie van Vliet passed away on Monday at the age of 85. He won a gold medal in the 1,000m time trial during the Olympics in Berlin in 1936, and silver in the sprint. In 1953 he was Sportsman of the Year in the Netherlands.
He ended his career in 1957 at an age of 41 with a second place in the World Championships for professionals. He broke the world record four times between 1934 and 1957.
76 year old Al Kreitler, of Ottawa, KS, passed away on Saturday, July 7, at Foxwood Springs Living Center, Raymore, MO. Services will be 10:00am Thursday, July 12, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 7009 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, MO, burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Al was born on August 1, 1924, in Victoria, KS to Meinrad and Beata (Dreiling) Kreitler. He served in the Army during World War II. He married Mary Lee Kasserman on August 1, 1949, in Garnett, KS. Al and his wife, Mary founded Al Kreitler's Custom Rollers, Inc., in 1965, in Kansas City, MO, and moved to Ottawa, KS in 1988. They designed and produced bicycle-training equipment, which became the exclusive equipment used by Olympians.
Courtesy of www.kreitler.com
Major Races and Events
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a España (GT) - Preview, stage list
May 11-June 2, 2002: Giro
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December 8: Superprestige
Rd 5 (Cat. 1) - Erwin Vervecken
November 29-December 4: Six
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November 26-December 1: Six
Days of Zurich (6D) - Day
6 - McGrory/Gilmore/Schnider win
December 1: Melbourne
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World Cup #2 (CDM) - Sven Nijs again
November 24-December 3: Juegos
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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
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Promotions Omnium Series #2, Eastern
Suburbs Summer Criterium Series, Carnegie
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Town Track Carnival, Carnegie
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New Zealand - Cyco
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Spain - Elorrio
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USA - Georgia
Cross Series Championship, Chimborazo
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Cross Rd 6, New
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CC Cyclo-cross Championships, Chris
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