News for May 26, 2001Recent results and new features 84th Giro d'Italia newsStage 6 from Nettuno to Rieti produced another fast mass sprint finish. Saeco's Mario Cipollini took the stage, sans his red train; Dario Frigo retained the Maglia Rosa; and a crash involving a motorbike, 6 riders, and wet, slippery roads reduced the Kelme team to 4 and prompted a "go slow" protest from the riders.
Stage 6 commentsMario Cipollini (Saeco, 1st stage)
"When I win, I am always satisfied. For a long time, I have tried for a victory, and finally it has arrived." "If I can still win at 34 years, it is because I have a passion for this trade. I have been competitive for 13 years, I am thinking here a little longer. If not, what will the journalists do?" "Today, I did not use the train of my team but I had good legs. To those that say that they let the old man win, I say that there are many in this case that could have won. Our team has suffered a lot since the beginning of the Giro. This evening, we are all relieved. "One should not compare me [see below] with the great champions who won over all types of terrain. I am only a sprinter. In 1993 and 1994, I did not race the Giro. If I did, I would be even higher." He also criticised the RAI TV program 'Processo all tappa', which he refused to take part in after the stage. "The television? I did not want to go after the race to the television program and I will never come to it. You six are accustomed to other sports, and make fun of it. You have created useless controversies between me and Castellano [Giro organiser], therefore I will not come." "I don't like it, it is constructed like a parody, it is not good for cycling. In football, there is the same type of program, but it is done more seriously." Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo, 1st GC) "The next stage will be harder. I fear the rain, because they say the descents are dangerous. I expect to be attacked on the last climb." "Today, we did not race too hard after the fall out of respect for the riders who had fallen."
Cipo up to equal second on the all-time Giro stage wins list
41: Alfredo Binda (Ita), between 1926 and 1933
31: Learco Guerra (Ita), between 1930 and 1937
Mario Cipollini (Ita), between 1989 and 2001
30: Costante Girardengo (Ita), between 1913 and 1926
25: Eddy Merckx (Bel), between 1967 and 1974
24: Giuseppe Saronni (Ita), between 1978 and 1985
23: Francesco Moser (Ita), between 1973 and 1986
22: Fausto Coppi (Ita), between 1940 and 1955
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel), between 1972 and 1979
21: Franco Bitossi (Ita), between 1964 and 1975
Head injuries for Jesus Manzano
The site on the side of the road at the 41st kilometre of today's stage from Nettuno to Rieti was an unfortunately familiarly sad one. A Kelme rider had been knocked off his bike by a race motorbike whose driver had lost control. The unfortunate cyclist was Jesus Maria Manzano , who was stretchered off to hospital where doctors found he'd suffered a minor cranial trauma. He also had back pain and various arm and leg wounds. Fortunately, he was released later in the afternoon, and could rejoin his depleted team at their hotel. Spaniards Manuel Beltran (Mapei) and Miguel Angel Pena (ONCE), Colombian Ruben Marin (Selle Italia), Slovenian Gorazd Stangelj (Liquigas) and Italian Michele Coppolillo (Panaria) were also wounded in this crash, but all managed to finish the stage. Afterwards, the riders rode along at a deliberately slow pace, with Fabio Baldato (and others) arguing with organisers about the race conditions. After heavy rain has fallen during the past few days in Italy, the 4.4 km finishing circuit in Rieti could have been potentially quite dangerous. Fortunately, it dried up well before the end, and the peloton made up for lost time by riding at 54 km/h for the finale. Some riders didn't make it today, and there were 5 withdrawals including Leonardo Piepoli (iBanesto.com), Nathan O'Neill (Panaria), Gustavo Otero, Carlos Garcia and Jesus Manzano (Kelme). The Kelme team was reduced to just four riders after this stage.
Stage 7 previewThe longest stage of the Giro will be held tomorrow from Rieti to Montevarchi, over 239 km, with the final climb of Monte Luco with its summit at 7.5 kilometres to go likely to decide things. The first 200 kilometres are fairly easy, with the Intergiro sprint located at Marsciano (100 km). The sprinters have had two days to enjoy themselves, but tomorrow it will be tougher for them, and we may see another small break escape on the climb. It is 8 kilometres long, averaging 4.62%(portions are at 10%) with its summit at 834m.
Bartali museumThe building of a museum dedicated to the memory of Italian great, Gino Bartali, will officially start on June 3, when the first stone will be laid by his widow Adriana, and children Anna Maria, Luigi and Andrea. An engraved bicycle with "Ginettaccio" will be also erected on the Ponte a Ema, a few metres from the house where Bartali was born. The stone for the museum will come from Castellaria, where Fausto Coppi was born, and will be delivered by mayor Pietro Coppi, Fausto's cousin and Bartali historian. The announcement was made by Eugenio Giani, council member of the Sporting Association of the Community of Florence, "after years of long procedures, the museum becomes reality." It will cost 2 billion lira (US$900,000) with a large part of the money coming from the Community of Florence, with the rest coming from various financiers in Tuscany, the Province of Florence and the communities of Bagno and Ripoli. Construction will take approximately 1 year, with the finishing date expected to be July 18, 2002, Bartali's birthday. Freire returns in the Tour of GermanyAt last Oscar Freire (Mapei) will make his return to the peloton in the Tour of Germany, that starts next week on May 29. The 1999 world champion and 2000 bronze medallist is currently at home in Torrelavega. He has bad back problems throughout his career, and hasn't raced since the World's year. However, his doctor Manuel Rodriguez said that he had been training for 6 hours a day.
Track World Cup Round 1Starting today in Cali, Colombia is the first round of the UCI track World Cup, that will feature more than 10 World Champions including Olympic Kilometre TT Gold Medallist, Jason Queally, and French sprint guru, Laurent Gane. Others in attendance include Spaniard Juan Llaneras, Germans Jens Fiedler and Stefan Steinweg, as well as dual world champion Natalia Markovnichenko, and Canadian Lori-Ann Muenzer. There are a total of 5 rounds of the Track World Cup, which includes all the Olympic track events. Racing schedule Friday, May 25
MORNING
09.00 - 09.40 Men Sprint Qualifications (18 best)
09.40 - 10.00 Women Sprint Qualifications (12 best)
10.00 - 10.35 Men Sprint 1st Round
10.35 - 11.00 Women Sprint 1/8 Final
11.00 - 11.15 Men Sprint Repechages
11.15 - 11.25 Women Sprint Repechages
11.25 - 12.45 Men Individual Pursuit Qualifications
EVENING
17.30 - 17.55 Men Sprint 1/8 Final
17.55 - 18.10 Women Sprint 1/4 Final - 1st heat
18.10 - 18.25 Men Sprint Repechages
18.25 - 18.45 Women Sprint 1/4 Final - 2nd heat
18.45 - 19.05 Men Sprint 1/4 Final - 1st heat
19.05 - 19.35 Inaugural Ceremony
19.35 - 19.50 Men Individual Pursuit Finals 3-4 & 1-2
19.50 - 20.10 Men Sprint 1/4 Final - 2nd heat
20.10 - 21.00 Men 1km T.T. Final
21.00 - 21.10 Women/Men Sprint 1/4 Final (3rd heat)
Saturday, May 26
MORNING
10.00 - 10.40 Women Individual Pursuit Qualifications
10.40 - 11.50 Men Team Pursuit Qualifications
EVENING
17.00 - 17.20 Men 1km T.T. & Ind. Pursuit. Awards Ceremonies
17.20 - 17.40 Women/Men Sprint 1/2 Final - 1st heat
17.40 - 17.55 Women Individual Pursuit Finals 3-4 & 1-2
17.55 - 18.15 Women/Men Sprint 1/2 Final - 2nd heat
18.15 - 18.25 Men Team Pursuit Finals 3-4 & 1-2
18.25 - 18.40 Women/Men Sprint 1/2 Final (3rd heat)
18.40 - 19.00 Women Individual Pursuit Awards Ceremonies
Men Team Pursuit
19.00 - 19.15 Women/Men Sprint Finals 3-4 & 1-2 - 1st ht
19.15 - 19.25 Women/Men Sprint Final 9-12
19.25 - 19.40 Women/Men Sprint Finals 3-4 & 1-2 - 2nd ht
19.40 - 19.50 Women/Men Sprint Final 5-8
19.50 - 20.05 Women/Men Sprint Final (3rd heat)
20.05 - 20.25 Women/Men Sprint Awards Ceremonies
20.25 - 21.00 Men 30 km Points Race Final
Sunday, May 27
MORNING
10.00 - 10.20 Men Keirin 1st Round
10.20 - 10.40 Women 500m T.T. Final
10.40 - 10.55 Men Keirin Repechages
10.55 - 11.10 Women 500m T.T. Awards Ceremonies
11.10 - 11.40 Men Olympic Sprint Qualifications
EVENING
15.20 - 15.30 Men Points Race Award Ceremony
15.30 - 16.00 Women 20km, Points Race Final
16.00 - 16.10 Men Olympic Sprint Finals 3-4 & 1-2
16.10 - 16.30 Women Points Race Awards Ceremonies
Men Olympic Sprint
16.30 - 16.40 Men Keirin 2nd Round
16.40 - 17.30 Men 40km Madison Final
17.30 - 17.50 Men Keirin Finals 7-12 & 1-6
17.50 - 18.10 Men Madison & Keirin Awards Ceremonies
18.10 - 18.20 World Cup Trophy Presentation to the first Nation
TjejtrampetBy Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent Scandinavia's no. 1 women's event, Tjejtrampet, this coming Sunday has the best field so far in its 12 year history with several top teams and riders. Triple Olympic gold winner Leontien Zijlaard van Moorsel leads Farm Frites-Hartol, where reigning Swedish Champion Madeleine Lindberg and German ace Hanka Kupfernagel also ride. With Acca Due O Lorena Camicie comes Lithuanian Diana Ziliute and La Rosa dei Venti has Swedish cross country ski(!) star Emelie Öhrstig on the starting line. This is the first time that the race will give UCI points. The race is only 51 kms and Tjejtrampet is also a tour ride for women on basically the same parcours as the international race. Thousands of women participate each year. The day before, the racers take part in an Spanish style criterium, Via Direkt Race, on a 900 metre circuit in an open park area, Gärdet, in central Stockholm, where the start and finish of Tjejtrampet takes place. First there is a 20 laps points race with points to the top three on each lap. The ten riders with the most points then start in an elimination race until two riders are left to fight it out.
Bob Hansing Memorial at The Encino VelodromeTrack racing is alive and well in southern California, some may even say it is flourishing in spite of the demise of the Olympic Velodrome at Dominguez Hills. The first ATRA event at San Diego in March was a huge success. Southern California's "other velodrome" in Encino will be hosting the Bob Hansing Memorial Race this Saturday, May 26. Racers from all categories will be competing for over $5000 in cash and merchandise in the event honoring Bob Hansing, who passed away earlier this year. Hansing was one of the four founders who helped raise money for construction of the Encino Velodrome in 1961. He was also President of Shimano America in the seventies as well as helping to start EuroAsia Bike Imports and Montrose Bikes in the Pasadena area.
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