News for May 12, 2001

Peace race expels four

Blood tests prior to yesterday's first stage of the Peace Race revealed four riders to have haematocrit readings above the maximum permitted level of 50 per cent. Bjoern Glasner (Team Cologne) and three members of the Polish CCC Matt team - Piotr Przydzial, Ondrej Sosenka and Marcin Gebk - were therefore excluded from starting the nine-day race and banned for two weeks.

It's not yet known whether the riders will be subject to a urine test under the new UCI rules.

Bartoli skips Giro, aims for Tour

Michele Bartoli (Mapei) won't ride the Giro d'Italia, but does intend to start the Tour de France. He says his condition is not good enough for the Giro, but he will start his preparation for the Tour with the Tour of Germany (May 29-June 4), the Tour of Switzerland (19-29 June) and the Italian championships on the road on July 1.

Priem appeals

Cees Priem has appealed against the verdict in the Sunderland case. The case will now go before the 'correction judge' Tongeren (Belgium). A final sentence is expected in September 2001.

Mysterious malady sidelines Hoffman

Tristan Hoffman (CSC-World online) has had knee problems since the Tour of Flanders and is still unable to train. His doctors are unable to find a material cause, so he is unable to take steps to improve the situation. "For the first time in my career I'm injured without a recovery-programme. So I'm sitting at home, without training," said Hoffman. It remains to be seen whether Hoffman will be fit to join CSC-'s nine-man team in the Tour de France. He's hoping that the specialist he was scheduled to see Friday in Gent will be able to shed some light on the problem.

World Cycling Centre enters final phase

Hein Verbruggen is sure that within a few years it will be possible for a black African cyclist to win a Classic. The building of the UCI's World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland has entered its final phase and from next year will offer one-year scholarships to African and Asian road talents. Professional medical supervision, good equipment and modern training technology will be available.

WADA to allocate research funds

The Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will hold its second meeting of the year on Friday, 1 June 2001, in Cape Town, South Africa. Among the topics to be discussed is the allocation of WADA's US$5 million research fund. WADA has already reviewed the forty applications it received as a result of its call for research. Priority is expected to be given to research into detection of EPD, human growth hormone and steroids.

The WADA committee will also discuss the organisation's future direction, strategic plan and permanent base.

Renäng awarded

Team Crescent pro cyclist Petter Renäng has won the Karl-Erik Norrby Award for achievements in culture and sports issued by the Center Party of Värmland county, Sweden, in the memory of MP Karl-Erik Norrby. Renäng gets the award for his great success in cycle racing including a silver medal at the Swedish ITT Championships last year.

Larson gets triathlon fourth

Proving that he's not a one-trick pony, NORBA mountain bike champion Steve Larson swapped over to triathlon last weekend and took fourth place in the Wildflower tri. Larson came out of the water in 30th place, but out his bike fitness to good effect to move up to third, despite a recalcitrant wetsuit that didn't want to come off. Finally rid of the neoprene, Larson set a new course record for the cycling leg.

MTBA adds recreational members

Mountain Bike Australia the mountain biker-run off-road alternative to Australia's mainstream cycling federation has added a non-racing, 'recreational' option to its range of membership packages. Unlike the Australian Cycling Federation's equivalent non-racing membership, the MTBA's deal does not require riders to join a club, rather they join MTBA directly to get the insurance benefits of membership: $10m public liability, $50k capital benefits and $10m personal indemnity. Membership costs $35, a portion of which goes toward MTBA's access work.

BCF restructures World Class programme

The growth of the BCF's World Class programme and changes in the organisation of the programme's three branches, have led to changes in the staff structure at the organisation. A new post of Programme Director has been created to oversee the three programmes (World Class Start, Senior World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) and England Potential Programme); Dave Brailsford is currently in the post in a caretaker capacity, but there will shortly be an open recruitment process for the post.

With the Programme Director assuming responsibility for much of the non-coaching side of the original Performance Director remit, Peter Keen's role has been revised with greater focus on coaching and strategic performance.

A new National Talent Co-ordinator will implement the World Class Start programme, and in the role of Paralympic National Team Manager Ken Matheson will bring his coaching and managerial skills to bear on the Paralympic programme.

Dave Mellor joins the WCPP as caretaker manager of the Women's Endurance National Team, which will be coached by Peg Hill. On the track, Doug Dailey will now combine the day-to-day management of the Track Sprint discipline with management at Track World Cups and Track World Championships, in the role of Track Sprint Manager, while Steve Paulding will manage the Men's Track Endurance team.

Top UK riders line up for Lincoln GP

A mouth-watering line-up of riders will contest the Lincoln GP, the latest round of the Premier Calendar, this Sunday. Heading the entries and wearing number one will be Chris Newton, recent winner of the Circuit Des Mines stage race and, going back a little further, of last year's Lincoln GP. With a field of over one hundred and twenty, picking a winner is virtually impossible, but you could do worse than back Bradley Wiggins (number 59) who continues to mature at a frightening rate. Former world Junior champion, Mark Scanlon (number 29), will be representing Ireland and his extensive European experience should prove useful on the tough Lincoln course. Of the home-based riders, Mark Lovatt, defending Premier Calendar champion and National Champion, John Tanner, are always in contention in the really big domestic races. Matt Stephens (number 126) is coming back to form after a quiet spring, whilst Tim Buckle (Number 43) and Rod Ellingworth (number100) are both likely to have good form after spending a week away with the GB Team racing in Brittany. Finally, watch out for Premier Calendar series leader Anthony Malarczyk (number 60).

As well as an Irish team, there will be overseas representation in the form of the BRC Kennemerland/Ton Scholten and MGI Fietsen teams from Holland, Team Down Under from Australia and the wonderfully named Marco Polo Cycling Club, featuring a cosmopolitan line-up of riders from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Holland and Mongolia!

For those of you wishing to see the race - and the Lincoln is one of the best races for spectators - the riders start from the Yarborough Sports Centre in Lincoln at 11.30 am and leave via the cycle track and Breedon Drive to join the circuit on Burton Road. They then leave the City to Burton Village and descend Burton Hill to Fen Lane and the A57 where they turn left towards Lincoln. At the old Racecourse they turn left in to Long Leys Road passing St Georges Hospital to climb to Yarborough Road and a right turn to take them into West Parade. They then cross in to Motherby Lane, turn left in to Hungate to start the tortuous 1 in 6 cobbled climb of Michaelgate. This leads them through to Wordsworth Street and a right turn in to Drury Lane and through Castle Square where the finish will take place after the 13th climb of Michaelgate. The circuit is completed by continuing in to Bailgate and Newport, turning left in to Yarborough Crescent and right in to Burton Road. The Grand Prix covers 13 laps of the circuit to finish in Castle Square at approximately 3.15 pm.

UK event updates and news

Leeds Festival of Cycling includes MTB races for Under 8 to Under 18 plus Adult Fun and Novice in Roundhay Park, Leeds on June 17. And entry is free!

The BCF Western Promotions Circuit Races (incorporating the Western Regional Zipvit Finals) have been moved from Sunday July 15 to Sunday July 22.

Zipvit South East Regional Final due to have been held on May 20, has been moved back to June 17. All other details for the race are as Page 69 of the BCF Handbook.

The Royal Sutton Road Race Yoxall, Staffs, due to have been held on April 8 will now go ahead on September 16.

The Worcester St Johns Road Race has been put back from May 13 until July 1.

The BCF Western Promotions Circuit Races originally scheduled for Saturday March 31 have been rescheduled for Saturday August 4.

The Blacklands Triangle Road Race, which will take place on Sunday August 5 at Calne, Wiltshire, will now also be open to first category riders.

New event - the BCF Western Promotions Circuit Races at Castle Combe on Sunday August 19 - there are races for all categories. Details from Shirley Powley on 01249 812674 (before 7pm).

Handbook correction, Surrey - the Older Man's Road Race Incorporating the Ken Warren Memorial, Ellens Green, Surrey on Saturday August 18, is open to riders born 1966 or before.

The Hantspol Daedalus Crits (Wessex) on May 19, have been moved to the Thruxton circuit.

The Janus RC RR (Manchester) scheduled for June 15 has been cancelled.

The Welsh Cycling Classic (BCF/Reynolds National Women's RR Series) scheduled for May 26-28 has now been reduced to a one day event, to be held on Saturday May 26.

The Manchester International Youth Tour runs from Friday August 17 to Sunday 19 , with plans for a Circuit Race on the Friday afternoon, a short time trial Saturday Morning, then further Circuit Races on Saturday afternoon and in Manchester City Centre on the Sunday Morning. Along with the usual strong representation from abroad, a large domestic participation is expected. Organiser is Dave Bishop, 67 Grandale, Sutton Park, Kingston Upon Hull HU7 4BL. (01482 824635) Entry Fees are £15 for Youth D & E, £20 for older Youth Riders. Entry is also open to Junior Girls.