News for March 18, 2001Recent results and new features Paris-Nice: stage 6 comments
After the decisive Col d'Eze mountain time trial, the 68th edition of Paris-Nice looks like ending in an Italian victory, the first in 46 years. Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) won the penultimate stage, and moved into the GC lead, 26 seconds ahead of teammate Raimondas Rumsas. "Since the St Etienne stage, I have raced according to the time trial. Last year, I finished fourth but this time, I knew I was in better shape," said Frigo. "In the team, I am perhaps not a leader, but that perception may change if I win Paris-Nice." 27 year old Frigo has been pro since 1996, when he raced solely for Mario Cipollini in Saeco for four years. He has won 4 races, and has ridden for Fassa Bortolo for just over a season. "I started cycling at the age of 15, and nothing was ever easy for me. In this time trial, I saved my strength for the second half when the grade was not as severe."
EPO testing for April 8The UCI will introduce testing for Erythropoetin (EPO) on April 8, according to president Hein Verbruggen. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Verbruggen said that EPO testing will be carried out during the Tour of Flanders, the second round of the men's World Cup. It is anticipated that the test will be a combined blood and urine test, with the details to be revealed at the beginning of April. The move follows the International Biathlon Federation's decision to introduce EPO testing last week. It too has implemented a blood-urine test, with the first results expected to be known by April. The top five ranked male and female biathletes in the World Cup were tested. "It's important that as many federations as possible adopt this method," said Verbruggen, who commented that IBU president Anders Besseberg had "skillfully seized the occasion of the World Cup biathlon finals for the opportunity." In addition to the IBU, the International Skating Union (ISU), the International Ski Federation (FIS) have already implemented EPO testing. For over a decade now, EPO was the scourge of endurance sports drug testing, as it is naturally produced by the body and artificially injected EPO is difficult to detect. French researchers at the Laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry developed a urine test that is effective up to 72 hours of an injection, and this was used (more as a deterrent than anything else) at last year's Sydney Olympics. No athletes were found to be positive. The other part of the test is blood-based, being primarily developed by researchers at the Australian Institute of Sport. One version of this test can detect EPO for up to three weeks after an injection, while the other can simply verify current use of EPO. It is not known yet which version (if any) will be used by the UCI. The three winter sports federations currently use a test known as SAFE, developed by former cross-country skier, Jim Stray-Gundersen at the Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education. Stray-Gundersen uses Bayer Diagnostics' Advia Hematology System, a machine that was also used at the Sydney Olmypics last year. The machine analyses the blood using spectrometry, where light is shined through the sample and hematocrit determined by how much is absorbed. It is also possible to measure haemoglobin, the size of the blood cells and the level of RNA which is shed by a mature red blood cell. In this way, it is possible to detect the level of new red blood cells (normally only 1 percent), their size and haemoglobin content. People injecting EPO have more new cells, which are larger than normal and contain more haemoglobin.
Fulst to receive light sanctionGerman Olympic gold medallist Giudo Fulst will receive no more than a three month suspension after he tested positive for caffeine at a Six Day race in Stuttgart in January (he finished 6th, with Juan Llaneras). Caffeine is considered a soft drug and athletes are allowed to take it so long as they stay under the limit of 12 mcg/mL in a urine test. Both the German Federation and Fulst's KED-Bianchi team commented that they didn't class caffeine in the same league as anabolic steroids. "We will stand behind him 100 percent," said KED trainer Dieter Stein. "We were completely surprised by the result in Stuttgart." It is possible that the German Cycling Federation will give Fulst a warning for his offense, and at any rate he will be able to race the World Championships in Belgium on September 26-30.
Qantas Cup - Australia's Champions hit the trackThe 2001 Qantas Cup will commence at Perth's Speed Dome this coming Thursday, March 22. The four race series will then move to the Adelaide Superdrome on March 24, Melbourne's Vodafone Arena on March 25 and Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome on March 31. The Qantas Cup is a "State of Origin" series with each State team represented by three male and two female cyclists that race for points (5-3-2-1) in each event. The State team that accumulates the most points is declared the overall winner. Western Australia won the initial series in 1998 by a solitary point when Scott Suckling recorded third place in the final scratch race on the last night of the series. Suckling was the "cyclist of the series" while Sean Eadie, the Olympic bronze medallist led NSW to a comfortable series win in 1999. Last year it was Victoria that won on the final night after several sensational performances by Olympic star Lyndelle Higginson, who paved the way for a close victory over New South Wales and Western Australia. This year's series however is open with Western Australia confident of overall victory. Ryan Bayley, the 19 year old speed machine, was one of the sensations of last year's series when he defeated Australia's Olympic representatives, and is certain to be one of the stars of the series again this year. Bayley won the 2000 National Junior Sprint title and then the World Junior Sprint and Olympic Sprint Championship. He, along with Scott Suckling and Peter Dawson make a very formidable team while Kristine Bayley and many times National champion Sandra Smith complete the WA team. The Western Australians will be hoping to get away to a flying start in the opening round but will have some extremely tough competition, especially from defending champions Victoria and New South Wales. Sean Eadie, the powerhouse Big Man from NSW, will head a very talented Blues outfit into the competition. Eadie is an Olympic Games bronze medallist and reigning National and Oceania Sprint Champion, and is keen to confirm his status as the number one sprinter in the country. He will team with current World Junior kilometre champion Mark Renshaw and World Cup endurance rider Steve Wooldridge in the Olympic sprint. Rochelle Gilmore, the speed machine at last year's Qantas Cup is even much stronger and will be hoping to reproduce her top form and will gain much support from World championship medallist Kate Bates. Victoria will always be a major force with such a strong depth of talent. Sean Collins will head their sprint team while Todd Wilksch and World Champion Brett Lancaster covering the longer endurance events. Lancaster, a Sydney Olympian is already producing some exciting performances. Sydney Olympic star Lyndelle Higginson, the rider of the Series last year, will need to be at her best for a Victorian victory. Queensland have opted for former National champion and World Championship medallist Danny Day to head the maroons line up. Wade Cosgrove from Rockhampton and Bundaberg's Aaron Kemps, the two form cyclists in Queensland will ensure a very solid team while the Meares sisters, Kerrie and Anna will certainly record some victories during the competition. Tasmania will also field a strong team of cyclists including National champion Nathan Clarke, Darren Young and Stephen Rossendell as well as women cyclists Belinda Goss and Louise Yaxley. Kial Stewart, the sensational 17 year old from Canberra and the riding star of track cycling will gain enormous experience from racing with the All Stars team including former dual World champion Jeff Hopkins and Olympic Games gold medallist Brett Aitken. Racing starts at 7pm each night.
John Harris seriously injuredIn yet another all too familiar accident involving negligent driving, Canadian based New Zealand cyclist, John Harris had his cycling career brought to a bone shattering halt earlier this week when he was hit from behind by an 18 year old female motorist while training in Auckland. 'Harry' (37) suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis and serious concussion when the motorist ran over him as she attempted to beat a lane of stationery traffic at an intersection. The accident has dashed any hopes Harry had of finishing his career with his Atlas Cold Storage/Ital Pasta team he has managed and ridden for during the past 13 years. If his rehabilitation over the coming months is successful he hopes to return to Canada to continue managing the team. Brief career bio
Primary Team Sponsor: Atlas Cold Storage/Ital Pasta CC Results 1998/2000 1st, Star Windsor Classic (Canada) University of Vermont Cycling TeamThe University of Vermont (UVM) has announced its 2001 Collegiate roster. Coached and directed by Jason Baer and Benjamin Peters, the team will debut at the 2001 Tour de Hempfield this weekend, March 17-18. Afterwards, the team will head to its annual week long training camp in the mountains of Dahlonega, Georgia. The team's goals for the year will include a repeat performance of last year's conference championship, winning the ECCC championship race weekend (which the team is hosting on April 28-29), and improving on its 9th place performance at Collegiate Road Nationals last year. The team includes category 1/2 riders, several strong category 3 riders, and two semi-pro mountain bike racers who are strong regional road candidates. Team roster Jason Baer (director/coach) Riders Jason Baer Sponsors University of Vermont Student Government Association Website: www.uvm.edu/~cycling Recent results and new features on cyclingnews |
