News for May 19, 2001Recent results and new features 84th Giro d'Italia newsPress conference in Pescara: Can Garzelli keep the pink?
The final teams were presented in Pescara, Italy today, and Stefano Garzelli (Mapei) will have the honour of wearing the first Maglia Rosa when the Giro gets under way tomorrow afternoon. It's highly unlikely that the climbing specialist will keep it in the opening time trial, but he is certainly a good chance for the overall GC. In an AFP interview given at the press conference, Garzelli said that "the pressure will be greater, but I hope to be able to manage it with the help of my team." I have worked so much for this Giro, and now I am anxious for the start. Compared to last year, I kept the same program. It was successful for me and I had no reason to change. I especially tried to improve in the time trials." The other riders in the team have arrived at the Giro in good form," he continued. "In the mountains, I can count on Beltran, who showed his excellent form in the Tour de Romandie, and on Lanfranchi and Noè. On the flat stages, we have experienced riders with Bramati, Fornaciari, Scinto and Zanini. Plus Nocentini, who has a great future in front of him." "I think that the three favourites are Francesco Casagrande, Gilberto Simoni, and myself. Pantani is likely to be very competitive in the first week."
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Giro TV coverageThe presence of 9 of the top 20 cyclists in the world, including Francesco Casagrande, Davide Rebellin and Jan Ullrich has made this year's Giro d'Italia one of the most anticipated in several years. Throw in a variable Pantani and an in-form Mario Cipollini, and the race should certainly entertain the masses - in Italy that is. The price is high for outside TV coverage, and the broadcast rights owned by RAI Sport have caused some European channels to baulk at the cost. Only this week, the world's biggest sports station Eurosport decided to air it, much to the relief of many non-Italian based fans. Belgian TV1 and France TV will also be covering it. Of course, there is always cyclingnews.com, and we will be bringing you all the action as it happens, including several stages (TBA) that will be covered live.
Benelux start for Giro 2002It has been well known for some time that next year's Giro d'Italia will start in the Dutch town of Groningen. But the race will also remain in the Benelux region for the first few stages. Stages passing through Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France are on the agenda, before the Giro heads back to Italy. The prologue is in Groningen, while the first stage will end in Munster (Germany). Stage two will start in Cologne (Germany) and finish in Liege (Belgium); stage three will start in Liege and travel to Luxembourg for the finish; and stage four will begin in Luxembourg and end in Strasbourg, France. After this, the riders will have to transfer a considerable distance back to Italy for the remainder. The multi-cultural start is designed to coincide with the release of the Euro, Europe's new all-in-one currency next year.
Leblanc defends Tour selections againTour de France Director Jean-Marie Leblanc has once again defended his selections for the 2001 race, which ignored big names such as Pantani, Cipollini, Escartin, and Zülle in favour of lower ranked French teams. In comments made to L'Equipe, Leblanc said that "the presence of old stars does not ensure a spectacle". He added that his selection was neither "nationalistic" nor "chauvinistic", as was suggested by UCI president Hein Verbruggen (and more than one journalist). "Some have spoken of private interests, like Indurain; others, like Verbruggen, have said that the country is favoured, LeMond has spoken about political reasons...What we have done is open the doors to the cycling of tomorrow." Speaking about Pantani, Leblanc said that he had to demonstrate that he was an important part of the Tour. "As he says, 1998 was a tumultuous year, we requested him to finish the Tour because we need him and he did so. But the following year he did not come, and I don't know why, and last year he did not finish." He added that in deciding the final 4 (5) teams from the list of 29, he did not give preferential treatment to teams "created by a chequebook" (Mercury) and certain riders who had gone to other teams for large sums of money (Escartin and Zulle). Finally, he said that the final selection for the Tour was to support French cycling, which is in crisis at the moment and is at a great disadvantage compared with other countries if it cannot participate in its national race. Latest cyclingnews letters on Tour selections
PMU continues as Tour sponsorOne of the top sponsors of the Tour de France for the past 11 years, PMU, will continue its involvement with the Tour, possible until 2004. The sports betting company is best known for having its name on the Green Jersey (best in the points classification), won for the last five years by German Erik Zabel. The company's logo also appears prominently at the village depart, and the finish of each stage. PMU's primary source of income is horse race bets, and its yearly turnover is over FF38 billion (US$5 billion). It has 8200 outlets in France. Longo sues for defamationFrench cyclist Jeannie Longo has been in court in Périgueux this week in relation to case of defamation. The feisty 12 time world champion, world Hour Record holder, triple Tour de France winner and Olympic medallist, has accused Alain Brunel, a president of a club in Dordogne, of defaming her in a letter he wrote to the French Cycling Federation last year. The letter was addressed to FFC president Daniel Baal in June 2000, and criticised Longo for defending the use of creatine, a forbidden product in France. Longo is asking for FF200,000 (US$28,000) in damages, and the case will next be heard on June 20.
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