News for March 11, 2001

Paris-Nice news

Belli out

Fassa Bortolo has withdrawn Wladimir Belli from the starting line up for the 68th Paris-Nice that begins today in Nevers. Belli will be replaced by Leonardo Giordani, who will ride in support of Dario Frigo, Fabio Baldato and Raimondas Rumsas for the team.

Beloki in

Spaniard Joseba Beloki (ONCE) has been confirmed as a starter in Paris-Nice, despite suffering from a fever for the last five days. Beloki finished third in the 2000 Tour de France, and switched from Festina to ONCE this season.

Steels out

Mapei sprinter Tom Steels has also pulled out of Paris-Nice. He is too tired after Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne last weekend, and still has problems with glandular fever (which forced his retirement from the Tour de France last year).

"Tom was in 80 percent condition; otherwise he couldn't come 7th in K-B-K," said Mapei's Eric Vanderaerden. "But he isn't still recovered from his illness of last year. So this coming week, Tom will go to the Mapei medical centre in Castellanza, Italy for some tests."

Tom Steels hopes he can continue racing, but with an alternative programme. Via the Omloop van het Waasland in Kemzeke, Nokere Koerse and GP Pays-de-Loire in Chôlet (a day after Milan-San Remo). "Then we will know more. At the moment we think we can use him in Dwars door Vlaanderen in Waregem and in E3-Prize of Harelbeke," said Vanderaerden.

Merckx aims high

Axel Merckx (Domo) is aiming for a top 10 finish in Paris-Nice. "I didn't study the parcours, but some French riders told me this race is more difficult than last year," said Merckx. "And you have to think about the stage on Friday to Saint Raphaël. A pure condition test; for me as well."

Axel has ridden Paris-Nice six times with only one DNF (in 1994, his first pro year). "Three times in the top 20, two times in the top 30. Not bad for a Hors Categorie stage race. After the Tour, Giro and Vuelta it's the most important tour on the international calendar," he added.

Merckx hopes to be in the top 10 this year, and will return to Belgium for a month for more race preparation for Milan-San Remo and the Catalonian Week. "My first race in my home country is Brabantse Pijl. Then we go to the north of Spain, followed by the Waalse Pijl, Liege Bastogne Liege and maybe the Amstel Gold Race too."

In 2000 based his whole pre-season around the Giro, but not this year. "We are not doing the Giro and I'll have a holiday from other racing in the first two weeks of May. I asked for that free period because Jody and I expect a daughter at that time, and I don't want to miss that."

Mercury-Viatel

Mercury-Viatel
Photo: © JF Lemond

The Mercury-Viatel team will be the only US team in Paris-Nice, containing just one US rider. The team is as follows: Fabrizio Guidi (Ita), Geert van Bondt (Bel), Jans Koerts (Ned), Floyd Landis (USA), Pavel Tonkov (Rus), Peter van Petegem (Bel), Leon van Bon (Ned), and Henk Vogels (Aus).

Noon start

183 riders from 23 teams will take the start in Nevers tomorrow. The first rider off for the 6.2 kilometre prologue will be Austrian Peter Wrolich at 12:05. Last year's winner, Andreas Klöden (Telekom) will leave at 15:08.

1000 people pay tribute to Ochoa brothers

Approximately 1000 cyclists have taken to the streets in Bilbao in homage to the Ochoa brothers Ricardo and Javier, the first of whom died and the second is still in a coma after an accident in Málaga on February 15.

The demonstration began in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento de Berango, with the motto "Respect Life". The rain did not deter the riders, who travelled 20 kilometres to finish in front of the Palacio Foral, on the Gran Vía Bilbaína.

Well known riders Joane Somarriba, Ramontxu González Arrietal, José Ramón Uriarte took part as well as representatives of the Vasca and Vizcaína federations, the Euskadi foundation and several other sporting groups. They demanded improved safety on Spain's roads, including more cycling paths, signals, preference for cyclists on highways during certain hours, a better respect for the road rules, and more driver awareness.

Traffic law reform is high on the agenda of the Spanish Government this week, with several items being debated, some of which relate to cyclists.

Traksel update

19 year old Bobbie Traksel (Rabobank) has 10 broken ribs after his crash in the GP de Fayt-le-Franc last week, but is, according to director sportif Theo de Rooy "safe and sound without complications in the Eemland Hospital in Amersfoort, where he was transported on Friday afternoon."

De Rooy told cyclingnews that "he will stay in quarantaine till at least Monday (Dutch requirements: all patients coming in form foreign hospitals have to stay in quarantaine for 48-72 hours to prevent penicellin resistant MRSA bacterias from speading)."

2001 BMC Software Grand Prix

BMC Software has announced the schedule for the 2001 BMC Software Grand Prix, a four race series that takes place across America. With a potential prize pool of $US225,000 the BMC series is one of the most hotly contested cycling events in the USA, and has attracted an increasing number of international cyclists over the past three years.

The series starts on April 7 with the BMC Software Downtown Criterium in Austin, Texas, which the organisers say will feature two time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The next event on the calendar will be the Tour of Arlington in Boston on July 8, followed by a race in the San Francisco Bay area on September 9, finishing with the BMC Tour of Houston on September 16.

The Austin event is conducted on a 1.6 kilometre 'hot-dog' circuit, with just two corners. The Arlington course is longer and hillier at 5.6 kilometres, while the Houston event is modelled on a Belgian-style parcours. Details of the San Francisico Bay event are yet to be finalised.

Each event carries a combined prize pool of $US25,000, save for the BMC Tour of Houston which has a combined prize total of $US50,000. An additional $50,000 is being offered for any male and female cyclist who manages to win all four events.

BMC Software Grand Prix Schedule

April 7: BMC Downtown Criterium
July 8: BMC Tour of Arlington
September 9: BMC Bay Area event
September 16: BMC Tour of Houston (UCI 1.3)

Canyon Velo

Canyon Velo is one of the oldest clubs in California. Founded in 1985, it is a combination of fitness riders and championship amateur racers, with a focus on junior rider development.

In 1989, former member Jeff Evanshine won the Junior World Championship, one of only two Americans to do so. Other former members include 1990 national champion Kurt Stockton, and Masters National and World Champion Kenny Fuller. Miguel Meza is the latest ex-junior member to turn pro, signing with the Italian team Polti for 2000, and currently riding for Colpack. Canyon Velo's juniors have won nine Junior National Championships in the 1990's and currently hold the 17/18 Road and Crit. California State Championship.

Team Roster

Alex Collins (Junior Coach)

Juniors

Robert Graham
Elijah Baker
Dane Jankowiak
Jorge Zuno
Brian Baker
Jonthan Visquerra
Kari Andrew

Masters