News for March 29, 2001

Jalabert may be back in four weeks

Laurent Jalabert
Photo: © AFP

CSC-World Online's major coup for 2001, Laurent Jalabert, may be able to race for the squad by the end of April, according to the latest report. The Frenchman who injured himself in a home-handyman accident in February is currently training between 3-5 hours per day, and anticipates a return to racing in the Tour of Lower-Saxony (April 25-29).

JaJa is keen to get back into racing, as the final Tour de France wildcard selections will be made at the beginning of May, and CSC-World Online hopes to be one of them. A fit Jalabert would be a big plus for the team's chances.

Jalabert said from his home in Geneva today that he felt "happy" and was not experiencing any after-effects from his accident where he fractured several vertebrae in his back. He commenced riding on March 14, and has covered approximately 1,200 kilometres, both indoors and outdoors.

Jalabert also indicated that the Spanish Tour of Aragon (April 18-22) may serve as his re-entry point, but he said that this might be too challenging first up.

Pantani wants the Tour

Marco Pantani has let his intentions for the major races of the season be known during the Semana Catalana. He repeated that his main objective is the Giro d'Italia, but he also has his eye on the Tour de France.

He said that he is racing the Tour of Catalonia for form only, "Not to attack. Just to get some good training kilometres...I am going well, steadily but good."

His Mercatone Uno team is one of many vying for a wildcard entry into the Tour, and obviously his desire to ride the Tour would carry weight with the Société. "My objective is to prepare and win the Giro, and after that I think there will be no doubt I will want to ride the Tour," said Pantani. "Indeed, I hope to be able to win it!"

Paris-Roubaix changes

The parcours of Paris-Roubaix (April 15) has been reduced from 272.5 to 254 kilometers. In total there are 3 less cobblestone sections, including part of Pavés von Bersée and the complete Mons-en-Pévèle section.

After a change in direction for the past two years, the lead up to the famous Arenberg Forest (86.5 km before the end) is back to the traditional way (downhill). Organizer Jean-Francois Pescheux doesn't want to have a big sprint at the beginning of this dangerous section after Museeuw's terrible accident in 1998, so he has put in three new cobbled sections in the 5 kilometres leading up to Arenberg.

Tour de France 2008

Tour de France race director Jean-Marie Leblanc has told an IOC evaluation committee that: "In case Paris organizes the Olympic Games in 2008, the Tour de France will change its programme. Maybe it's possible to put the finale of the Tour in the opening ceremony of the Olympics. If the Olympics come to Paris, we have to co-operate."

The 1992 Olympics (Barcelona) and 1996 Olympics (Atlanta) were on at the same time as the Tour de France.

Ex-Linda McCartney signings

Two more riders from the former Linda McCartney team have signed contracts for the coming season. Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero signed with Italian division II team Cantina Tollo last week, and is now racing in the Semana Catalana to try and rebuild his race fitness.

Australian David McKenzie has also found a place, although at one stage he was seriously considering staying in Australia for the year with his family. Via contacts with Jacques Jolidon, he signed for Ficonseils-RCC Conseils Assurances, a Swiss division III team. He will be based in Switzerland for the season, along with his wife Susan and young child, Lulu.

The team hopes to make division II next year, and McKenzie has been given an option of leaving the team if he receives a better offer this year.

Rousseau back to France

French sprint/keirin specialist, Florian Rousseau, has been forced to return home from Japan due to an aggravated knee injury. Rousseau was intending on competing in the international keirin circuit, which starts next month in Japan. Despite the potential to earn large sums of money, the triple Olympic champion did not wish to compromise the rest of his season.

He consulted a French speaking Japanese doctor last weekend, who told him to rest for two days. However, as soon as he commenced training on Monday, he felt a pain in his knee when he accelerated.

He hopes to be back in Japan next year.

Track World Cup round in Australia

Cycling Australia is negotiating with the UCI to host a round of the track cycling World Cup for at least six years starting in 2002. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Launceston will be eligible to host the event as the five cities each have a world class indoor velodrome. Cycling Australia will assist the UCI in co-ordinating a tender process to determine which state will host the prestigious event.

The World Cup is the qualifying series for the World Championships and is therefore attractive to the top cyclists. "The UCI is very impressed with Australia's record of hosting world class events and our commitment to developing the sport from junior through to elite level competition," said Cycling Australia President, Mike Victor.

Cycling Australia is also exploring possibilities to host a series of events in conjunction with the World Cup to utilise the other venues and to give more Australians the opportunity to see the world's best in action.

"We are likely to secure the opening round of the 2002 series in either late April or early May which will create additional opportunities for all states," said Mr Victor, who will travel to Switzerland on April 10 for a meeting with the UCI.

Cycling Australia expects to review submissions in May with the UCI set to finalise the calendar in June.

Hantspol Club cancellations

The foot and mouth crisis in Great Britain continues to impact on road racing there, and there have already been cases in the Netherlands where races have been cancelled. Amongst those clubs that have been hit is the Hantspol Cycling Club, which has cancelled its forthcoming circuit races.

The races at Thruxton motor racing circuit near Andover, Hampshire on April 1 have been cancelled, along with the circuit races which were due to take place at Daedalus, Lee on the Solent, Hampshire. The latter cancellations have nothing to do with F&M, but the land on which they were to be held has become unavailable, to the dismay of the organising club. The circuit races at Daedalus were due to take place on April 21, May 5 and May 19.

Going ahead are the club's two road races for Cat 3/4/Veterans/Juniors to be held on the Portsdown Hill Circuit on May 13 and June 24. Event headquarters are the D-Day Memorial Hall, Southwick near Portsmouth. The organiser for both races is John Lewry, 16 Camp Road, Gosport, PO13 0XU. Tel: 01329 317331...the way things are going these could be two of the few road races in 'Wessex division' this side of July. 'Get your entry in early' could be good advice!