News for May 6, 2001Recent results and new features Countdown to Giro d'Italia begins
The first Grand Tour of the year begins in two weeks time in Pescara's Piazza Salotto, with an 8 kilometre individual time trial around the city centre. At 3,572 km, the 84th Giro d'Italia is shorter than its recent predecessors, and also contains less climbing and time trialing, with only one additional ITT scheduled after the prologue. But it will be no doddle for the 20 teams of 9 riders that have been invited to ride. The key stages look to be Stage 13 (Montebelluna - Passo Pordoi, 224 km), which takes the riders twice up the 11 kilometre, 7.1% Passo Pordoi, as well as the Passo Rolle (19.5 km at 6.2%) and Passo Fedaia (15.4 km at 6.6 %); and Stage 18 (Imperia - St. Anna Di Vinadio, 234 km), which includes the highest point (Cima Coppi) in the Giro, the 2511 m Colle Faunieraand. This is a 14.5 kilometre slog at a savage gradient of 9.5%. Added to this are three other 10-15 km climbs, each averaging between 6.8 and 7.4%. The race will be officially opened on Thursday May 17 in the Villaggio Rosa in the centre of Pescara. Following this will be the team presentation on Friday, May 18 at 17:30, where the field will be formally announced. Afterwards, the public will be able to see the teams parade around in the Piazza della Repubblica. Some teams have already named the nine representatives who will take part in the Giro. Mercatone Uno-Stream TV have built its squad around Marco Pantani, who is expected to show plenty of fireworks in this race. He will be supported principally by Oscar Mason, Riccardo Forconi, and Simone Borgheresi. Telekom will be bringing Tour de France favourite Jan Ullrich, but the GC man will probably be Roberto Sgambelluri. The Mapei-Quick Step team is hoping that new recruit Stefano Garzelli will put in a good show at defending his Giro title. After a slightly lacklustre spring, the Mapei boys could really bounce back to the top with a win in a Grand Tour. Garzelli's support includes Stefano Zanini, Paolo Lanfranchi, Andrea Noè and Manuel Beltran. Ibanesto.com have been producing some good quality placings of late, and will bring Leonardo Piepoli and Jose Luis Arrieta to Pescara as part of their armada. Kelme and O.N.C.E. are the other two Spanish teams that will take part in the Giro 2001. The biggest favourite at the moment is World Number one Francesco Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo) who recently won the four day Giro del Trentino, and has been prominent in the final selections of many recent races. He came within a stage of winning the Giro last year, but a bad time trial on the second last day gave the race to Garzelli. The team registration is expected to be completed by May 12, subject to last minute changes of course. Giro d'Italia teams Alessio (Ita)
Ochoa updateJavier Ochoa continues his physical rehabilitation from the accident that put him in a coma for two weeks and killed his brother Ricardo in February this year. At the moment, he can eat solid food, as well as read and write, but does not speak of cycling. According to his brother Andoni, Javier is taking "short steps, but forward" in his recovery. With the assistance of Andoni, Javier is building up his atrophied muscles in the hospital gym. He currently weighs 50 kilos but is at least able to eat and do some exercise again. However, he still has a broken leg and twisted vertebrae. His mental rehabilitation is also progressing, albeit slowly. "He intellectual abilities are relatively good," said Andoni. "He knows how to read and write. If you ask him how much 5 and 5 are, he responds well...It is necessary to go a little at a time, with calmness." "Sometimes we have commented to him something about cycling - like the Fleche Wallonne or the Vuelta a Pais Vasco, but he doesn't like it if we speak of the subject of cycling," added Andoni. Immediately after he came out of his coma, Javier asked about his brother Ricardo. "We told him that he was in rehabilitation with other injuries, but he said 'lies, lies'". The truth will be a hard blow when it comes. "Of the accident, Javier said that he remembers it, but doesn't really know what happened. He said it was between a truck and a car." Javier's family hope to send him to a special rehabilitation centre in Mondragón (Guipúzcoa) so he can continue his recovery.
27th Trophée des GrimpeursToday in Argenteuil will see the staging of the 27th edition of the "Trophée des Grimpeurs", the unofficial French hill climber's championships. The 132.8 kilometre race is held over an 8.3 kilometre circuit in the Paris suburb, which has to be completed 16 times. The principal difficulty is the Côte de l'Ermitage, a steep 300m 13 percent climb that usually breaks up the field into small pieces. The Trophée des Grimpeurs is also the ninth round of the Coupe de France. The race is quite well endowed with prizemoney, with FF800,000 ($US110,000) up for grabs. Last year's winner, Patrice Halgand, will go in as favourite for the cash, along with his Jean Delatour teammate, Laurent Brochard. Other riders who could challenge include Cofidis' David Moncoutié or Andrei Kivilev, Christophe Agnolutto (Ag2r), Emmanuel Magnien (FdJ), Didier Rous (Bonjour) or Leon van Bon (Mercury). In total, there are just 11 teams of 8 riders enrolled in the race, mostly from France. Teams Jean Delatour Past winners 2000 Patrice Halgand
Peace Race: return of Tom SteelsOne of Mapei-Quick Step's key fast men, Tom Steels, will make his return to racing a little later than previously announced, in the 9 day Peace Race that starts on May 11 in the Czech Republic. Steels was due to come back in the Four Days of Dunkirk or the Tour of Slovenia, both running from May 8-13, but decided to go for the longer Peace Race. He will also ride in the GP van Wallonie and the Tour of Germany, with the hope of gaining good enough condition for the Tour de France.
BankGiroLoterij-Batavus replaces Mapei in DunkirkDutch team Bankgiroloterij- Batavus, led by Johan Capiot, has taken the place Mapei-Quick Step in the upcoming Four Days of Dunkirk (May 8-13).
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