News for March 22, 2001Recent results and new features Milan-San Remo TV coverage poorThe cycling world's biggest one day race of the season so far will be largely ignored by the major European broadcasters this Saturday. The 92nd Milan - San Remo, which is also the opening round of the men's World Cup, will only be broadcast on RAI (Italy), VRT and RTBF (Belgium) and NOS (Netherlands), as even the mighty Eurosport has pushed it aside. The same situation will occur with the Tour of Lombardy, the 10th and final round of the World Cup, also organised by RCS Sport. However, the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) has bought the rights to the remaining eight rounds of the World Cup until 2004, and these will be seen on the major channels in all popular cycling countries. The EBU made an offer to RAI TV to buy the rights to the Giro d'Italia, Milan-San Remo and the Giro di Lombardia, but it was rejected as too cheap. Of course, cyclingnews.com will be providing text based updates as the race progresses, starting from 0930 European time (1930 Aust EST/0350 USA EST) Latest Milan-San Remo start list Spruch unlikelyZbigniew Spruch (Lampre-Daikin) is a big question mark to start in MSR on Saturday. The Polish sprinter who was third in 1999, crashed in Sunday's warm up session for the time trial stage of the Tirreno Adriatico. He is suffering from burns and bruises over the complete right side of his body and will be forced to take a rest for a few painful days. It is likely that 25 year old Raivis Belohvosciks (Latvia), will replace him. Milan - San Remo facts
The 2001 Men's World CupConsisting of 10 races throughout the season, the UCI World Cup has become the definitive season-long points series for professionals. It was introduced by the UCI in 1989, and was first won by Irishman Sean Kelly. Johan Museeuw, Maurizio Fondriest, and Michele Bartoli have all won it twice, with Museeuw holding the record for the most World Cup race wins (9). The current rules state that a rider must race in at least 6 of the 10 rounds of the World Cup to be eligible for the overall points score. A win in a race is worth 100 points, while the remaining places are awarded points as follows: 70, 50, 40, 36, 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. There is also a teams competition, Races for 2001 March 24: Milan-San Remo (Ita) World Cup winners 1989 Sean Kelly (Irl) Winning teams 1989 PDM Casagrande to testifyWorld number one, Francesco Casagrande has been asked to testify as part of the investigation into three Italian Olympic cyclists. Public prosecutor in Ferrara, Pierguido Soprani, has already questioned Marco Pantani and Paolo Bettini to try and determine whether they were unfit for competition at the time of the Sydney Games last year. After today's final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, the carabinieri told Casagrande that he would have to present himself to the judge in Ferrara. The topic of concern is the three riders' hematocrit levels in September last year.
France and Norway reach anti-doping agreementAn agreement has been signed in France today between French sports and youth minister, Marie-George Buffet, and her Norwegian counterpart Ellen Horn in relation to combating doping within sport, as well as the promotion of women's and disabled sports. In an official statement, the two ministers said that "they would work together for the protection of young sportspeople, and desired that UNESCO play a greater role in this." The French and Norwegian national laboratories will collaborate more closely in future in their anti-doping research, while the French will take on board some of the Norwegian programs for disabled sports. Both authorities also wish to promote more women to positions of responsibility within the ministries.
A 'new' EPO?Dr. Leon Schattenberg, head of the UCI medical committee told Dutch daily "Trouw" that the pharmaceutical industry is busy manufacturing a new EPO-like product. "It is based on another molecule and works faster. Instead of using it daily, you only have to inject it once a week. It should be on the market in 2002," he said, without choosing to name the products or companies that are involved. "The battle with doping is an eternal fight. A sportsperson always will look for something that you can't find. The UCI anticipated this culture by introducing health controls in 1996."
Foot and mouth cancellations update
Finally, the two next two Surrey League events have been transferred to the Eastway circuit in London. March 23 (2/3/4/W/J - 9.30 AM -Woolwich CC) and April 1 (3/4/W/J - 9.30 AM - De Laune CC). Marty Nothstein Gold Medal Golf ChallengeThose who have been reading the "What constitutes a sport?" debate on the letters page may find the following story particularly relevant. The Lehigh Valley Velodrome and Marty Nothstein have announced the inaugural Marty Nothstein Gold Medal Golf Challenge. This will be an annual golf tournament held at the Center Valley Club in Center Valley, PA. This year's event will be held on May 31 starting at 8:00 a.m. "I love to golf and this is a great way for me to combine my passion for cycling and golf, while raising money for the community programs that gave me my start in cycling," said Nothstein. The proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Lehigh Valley Velodrome Community Cycling programs. The Velodrome Fund is a non-profit corporation and operates the Lehigh County owned cycling facility. The tournament will be a scramble format with an 8:00 a.m. shot gun start, preceded by a continental breakfast with the Olympian. Immediately following will be an awards banquet luncheon where players can compare their score to the Gold Medalist's. Other prizes will be awarded to player who can drive further and straighter than the Olympic cyclist. Corporate partners and individual players are encouraged to participate. For more information or to reserve your space, please call the Lehigh Valley Velodrome at 610-967-7587. In addition to golf, Nothstein will also be cycling at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome this year. His first appointment since Sydney will be on June 1, 2001 at the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter "Olympic Reunion", featuring Nothstein and other Olympians. Nothstein will race at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in two other appearances this summer. "It is tremendous that he has committed to racing here this summer, when he has had numerous opportunities to race abroad," said Pat McDonough, Lehigh Valley Velodrome's executive director.
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