News for March 23, 2001Recent results and new features 92nd Milan San RemoLatest starting list (March 23, 2200) Zabel on Boogerd and moreErik Zabel commented on the absence of Michael Boogerd, who will miss Milan-San Remo despite a strong performance in Tirreno-Adriatico: "Big names have to be here. It's strange to find that he is not starting in Milano while Rabobank is so strong at the moment. Look at the Tirreno-Adriatico. But it's his decision and honestly, I don't have bad feelings about it. I have already enough competitors to look out for." Zabel is probably the biggest favourite for MSR, having won the race three times and posting five early season wins already. The 30 year old is aiming for a 4th Milan-San Remo win, "It is the first great race of the year, you breathe in the spring there," he said. "There is always such a huge intensity in Milan-San Remo. On this day, I become a completely different rider...The Cipressa is the hardest climb, but the Poggio is the most important. That close to the finish there is no room for error." Since he took a break at the end of last year, Zabel has covered 18,000 kilometres in training and racing, and is 100 percent fit for Milan-San Remo.
The Saeco PlanSaeco-Macchine per Caffe have brought one of their strongest and fittest ever squads to Milan-San Remo. Headed by 1999 Tour of Lombardy winner, Mirko Celestino, the team also boasts Mario Cipollini, Fabio Sacchi, and Biagio Conte - all of whom have won races this year. In addition, there is Paolo Savoldelli (4th overall at Tirreno-Adriatico), Mario Scirea, Pavel Padrnos and Francesco Secchiari. The following pre-race interviews were provided, courtesy of the Saeco team, which should give an indication of their strategy and goals. Antonio Salutini, director sportif Q: Why did you decide to select all the riders who ride Tirreno-Adriatico for Milan-San Remo team? A: Because they showed that they are one of the best teams in the sport at the moment. At Tirreno I believe they were the best team in the race. They knew how to control and be active in every part of the race. True we won less than we had hoped but we were really strong and we worked perfectly as a team. Q: Celestino, Cipollini, Savoldelli and even the name of Biagio Conte. Aren't there too many riders in the team who want to win Milan-San Remo? A: To get to the bottom of the Poggio with five riders is a miracle for any team. But I believe Saeco Macchine per Caffe' can do it this year. I trust my riders too much to think that they will put their own personal interest before those of the team. In the past they have all shown that they are willing to work for each other. Q: Who do you think is the number one favourite to win? A: If Savoldelli and Celestino continue to race with the same spirit as they have done recently and as they did when Celestino won the Trofeo Laigueglia race, I think I've got the favourite in my team. Q: What do you think about the new course? A: It's much more difficult. I'm sorry for Cipollini because he's at a disadvantage because of the new Bric Berton climb but saying that Mario will be giving it everything and so I won't be surprised to see him up there at the finish. Fortunately I still have riders like Fabio Sacchi and Biagio Conte who will almost certainly won't be dropped on the new climb, and so the teams chances have actually increased. Mirko Celestino
Q: At Tirreno-Adriatico we didn't see at the front very much. Why was that? A: I raced carefully so that I didn't waste any physical or mental energy. I was already in great form and I could have tried to win stages. Tirreno-Adriatico is a prestigious race but I preferred to concentrate on getting ready for Milan-San Remo. On Saturday I want to be really "mean" so that I can give it everything without worrying about being tired or not having enough energy. Q: That means you're in great form? You've already won two World Cup races and your racing on your home roads like you did at the Trofeo Laigueglia which you won. Do you feel under pressure for all of this? A: Not really, perhaps I will a bit during the race but I'm used to it. I can't deny that this race is not special for me. I've been thinking about it for months but it won't stop me sleeping tonight. I'll be one of the Saeco team leaders and the other riders are going to work for me, that is reassuring. Especially knowing that Fabio Sacchi -who joined the team this year with me, will be looking after me. Q: Do you know the Bric Breton climb? How much difference will it make? A: I didn't know it until the organisers announced the change in the route. The biggest difference is that the new route means there is 50km less to race along the coast and so there could be attacks on the Bric Breton, especially by teams such as Liquigas, Fassa Bortolo who will be trying to make the sprinters suffer. It's possible that the race could split on the climb with a group of say 70 riders going clear. Q: What is Milan-San Remo like in your dreams? A: San Remo is the longest race I've ever done but I've never suffered while riding it because when I ride along the coast road I know like the back of my hand and there always lots of my fans along the route cheering me on. Sometimes I imagine the race as a nice ride along the coast between my fans with a great party at the finish with on the podium spraying them all with the winner's champagne. Mario Cipollini
Q: Mario you've didn't race in February and have only returned to racing recently, how do you feel after Tirreno-Adriatico? A: If I think I have hardly raced since the Giro d'Italia last May, I have to say that I'm happy with how I'm going. My form is getting better even if I'm still not at my best and hopefully two days rest after the race will help me feel even better. Q: You've never denied that to win San Remo would be a dream for you. How do you feel going into this year's race? A: I'm going to ride it with a different mentality, most of all because of the change in the route. Compared to previous years, it's difficult to predict just how the race will go. For example it'll depend a lot on the weather -which should be good...at least I hope so. Q: Do you think the Bric Berton climb will affect the race considerably? A: According to what I've heard -because I haven't ridden the climb before, everybody says it a harder climb. This doesn't mean the race will be decided there but it could mean the climbers will attack and that the sprinters will have to chase along the coast road to get back on. Q: This year the Saeco Macchine per Caffe' team will have several riders who can win. Is this a problem for you or will it be a advantage? A: It can only be an advantage. I won't ask that the team tries to control the race for me. Even if I make it over the Cipressa with the leaders, my team mates will still be able to ride for themselves. However if the race finishes in a sprint, I'm sure that riders like Savoldelli, Celestino and Conte will do everything they can to help me in the sprint. Paolo Savoldelli Q: Tirreno-Adriatico finished with several riders within a few seconds of each other. Does this mean that there are a lot of possible winners for this year's Milan-San Remo? A: Exactly. Almost everybody who has the right athletic characteristics to win San Remo is in great form. I don't think there's a clear favourite, even if I saw Erik Zabel pedalling really well this week. Q: This season the Saeco Macchine per Caffe' team has asked you to be in form earlier in the season. Are you happy with how things have gone with this new programme? Are you happy with the results you've achieved or did you expect to have won a race? A: I've tried to be in form earlier because it's not definite that we'll get a place in the tour de France. I rode the Vuelta Valenciana to get some miles in my first important objective was Tirreno-Adriatico. I finished six seconds behind Rebellin who won but know that I lost five seconds because of a split in the bunch in the sprint for the finish. It's true that I haven't won a race yet but I'm happy with how I've trained this year, I'm happy with how I'm going and for the fact that I haven't had any injuries or illnesses. I'm sure I win something soon. Q: Do you think you are rider for Milan-San Remo? A: I'm sure I can ride a great race but I also know that because of my characteristics as a rider, I have to be much better than the other riders if I want to win. Unfortunately I'm not a good sprinter and in Milan-San Remo that's a weakness. If the race finishes in a small group I won't much chance of winning. Q: You are famous for your incredible descending skills which allows you to pull back any time you lose on the climbs, If you make it to the top of the Poggio with the leaders, will you try to attack? A: I don't think the descent of the Poggio is long enough to really make a difference. The curves are too sharp. If you gain a few metres, you lose them as you brake for the next hairpin. If I had a few seconds advantage at the top of the climb then it would be a different story. Then I could probably stay clear. La Primavera veteransOf the still active riders in the pro peloton, CSC's Rolf Sörensen has the most starts in Milan-San Remo with 14, followed by Franco Ballerini with 12, Andrea Tafi with 11 and Laurent Jalabert, Adriann Baffi, Mario Cipollini, Gianluca Bortolami, Mauro Gianetti and Maarten Den Bakker all with 10 starts. Note, some of these riders will not contest the 2001 edition. In terms of reaching the goal, Italian Wladimiro Panizza managed to finish the race 17 times in a row, between 1969 and 1985. His best result was third in 1976. Other riders who finished over more than 10 years:
Moldavian born Belgian Andrei Tchmil is the oldest winner of Milan-San Remo. He won in 1999 when he was 36, beating Erik Zabel in the process. Until that year, Hennie Kuiper was the oldest, also 36 but 16 days younger than Tchmil. The youngest winner was the Italian Ugo Agostoni in 1914: he was 20 years old/young. Eddy Merckx was 20 when he took his first MSR first victory (1966), but he was 24 days older than Agostoni.
German TV viewers get some MSRFoot and Mouth disease hasn't been all bad for cycling. Germans will be able to follow the last two hours of Milan-San Remo live, due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak in the Netherlands. An equestrian event in 's Hertogenbosch was cancelled, freeing up some air time on the WDR TV channel. In its place will be a live report from MSR, with Herbet Watterott commentating. Watterott left Germany in a hurry on Thursday for Milan.
La Primavera RosaDespite not having World Cup leader, Anna Millward present, La Primavera Rosa (the women's Milan-San Remo) still boasts an impressive starting list. World Cup number two, Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O) will be trying to maximise her opportunities to win in the absence of Millward. However, there will be no Diana Ziliute in the Acca Due O line up, as the Lithuanian champ is suffering from bronchitis, and is also not targeting the World Cup this year. World Champion Zinaida Stahurskaia (GAS) is another rider to watch, and she will surely try something on the Cipressa or the Poggio. Alfa Lum has brought in Joane Somarriba and Daniela Veronesi to strengthen their line up, which includes Mari Holden, Edita Pucinskaite, Sara Felloni and Tatiana Stiajkina. Farm Frites-Hartol will make its return to the peloton, with Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel and Hanka Kupfernagel the two big guns to watch out for. Edilsavino will bring Svetlana Boubnenkova and Fabiana Luperini, and there will also be several national teams in attendance (Czech Republic, Great Britain, Denmark, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Austria). The race is significantly shorter than the men's, at 118 kilometres. It starts in Varezze (along the Milan-San Remo parcours) and follows the same route as the men's race until the finish. Expected arrival time is approximately 1500. Trade Teams Acca Due O (Melchers, Doppmann) National Teams Austria
Bartoli's new site"The Warrior is Here" announces the Flash introduction to Michele Bartoli's new website, www.michelebartoli.com, which was launched yesterday in Milan. It's certainly an impressive site, with a stylish layout and a wealth of information about its subject. It's in English as well as Italian, which will no doubt please the many anglo-Bartoli fans. The most popular section will no doubt be the daily diary, where he published his first entry today. As the following excerpt shows, you won't lack for detail: "This year our march towards the Milan-San Remo is very different from the past. I'm returning from the Paris-Nice instead of the Tirreno-Adriatico and today, Friday, I'm already waking up in Milan Precisely I'm at a smart hotel in Assago. It's 7:30 a.m. and Alessandra is next to me. This eve will be different from the others also because today I will present my official web site. First of all I must train for three hours (since 9:30 to 12:30) two of them behind the team-car. The team-car will be driven by my faithful masseur Luigino Moro."
Christophe Moreau back for CholetFrenchman Christophe Moreau (Festina) will make his return to racing in Sunday's Cholet - Pays de Loire, the third round of the Coupe de France. He was unable to ride Paris-Nice due to bad health, and is not expected to be in good form for this race. However, he is still aiming to ride the Critérium International (March 31-April 1).
Matt Stephens to ride for new Sigma Sport teamFormer Linda McCartney rider, Matthew Stephens, will race for the new Sigma Sport Pro Cycle Shop team this year. In the wake of Team Linda McCartney's demise, Sigma Sport is touted as Great Britain's biggest team, and hopes to continue through 2002. Other Linda McCartney staff will be involved with the team, including Sean Yates (technical advisor) and the ubiquitous John Deering (press officer). The team aims to do well in the Preimer Calendar races, especially this weekend's opening round, Romford-Harlow. Team Roster
Manager: Dom Stewart Riders Matt Stephens (GBr) Foot and mouth: cancellations spread to NetherlandsEurope's foot and mouth outbreak has spread to the Netherlands causing Dutch governing body KNWU to cancel three races this weekend. The cancelled events are: Börkeromloop: start and finish in Westerbork These three races cover more ground than others over the weekend — races with shorter courses have not been cancelled. The KNWU has said it will monitor the foot and mouth situation on a day-to-day basis. Recent results and new features on cyclingnews |
