News for May 30, 2001Recent results and new features 84th Giro d'Italia newsToday's stage 10 was the third time in the history of the Giro that the race has visited Slovenia. Despite there being 6 Slovenians in the peloton, the only one in the break - Andrej Hauptman - was not able to be there in the finale, and had to settle for fifth. Stage winner comments
Denis Zanette (Liquigas, 1st stage) His last win in the Giro was in 1995 in Vicoforte (Piedmont), and since then his palmares have not exactly been bursting with victories. However, he is a strong team rider and almost won the Ronde van Vlaanderen this year through his strength. Today he succeeded with a solo attack with 6 kilometres to go, after having been away for nearly 130 kilometres in a larger break. "I decided to attack at that moment, after we had chased some other attacks. I gained 15 metres, and behind me they were not organised and I continued to gain ground. But only in the final 200 metres I knew I had it, because I was afraid I would collapse." Cipollini & Pantani to make a beautiful team?The good old 'rumours and speculation' are gathering momentum around Mario Cipollini, and his team for next year. His contract ends with Saeco, where he has been an institution for the last 6 years, and at the moment there is only a slight possibility that he'll stay with them. Today he wore his red Saeco outfit, in contrast to his teammates who were all dressed in "Black Lightning" [see separate article]. Perhaps to emphasise his departure from the team? Or maybe because he's already been fined once for wearing improper clothing. Cipollini added some fuel to the fire by saying that "with Marco Pantani and Mario Cipollini in the same team, we would be a perfect tandem."
Marco Pantani admitted that it would be an interesting proposition: "We would be in a position to do great things, and that would be a big advantage for the sponsor." One option that is being discussed in the Italian press at the moment is whether Ivan Quaranta will take Cipollini's place in the Saeco team. This may be the reason why Cipollini and Quaranta have not seen eye to eye in the last few days. In stage 8, Quaranta claimed that Saeco were trying to put him out of the race after an attack during the stage. Saeco DS Antonio Salutini said that "For now, nobody has proposed a renewal of Mario's contract, who up until a short time ago, did not know his future, whether he would still be riding or not." "Now he has won the races, has found his condition again, and wants a sign from us. This is why he has said those things. Before the end of the Giro, Mario will meet the patron of Saeco Zappella. The same thing happened two years ago in the Tour, the contract of Cipollini was expiring, he started winning and signed for two more years." "We have worked with Cipollini for eight years and we would not change it now. Saeco is Cipollini and Cipollini is Saeco, it is hard to imagine this team without him." That Cipollini will remain "is my hope...but we speak here about billions, and these are decision that are of particular concern to our team and to Cipollini obviously."
Black Lightning for Saeco
No, it was not a day of mourning for Saeco losing Mario Cipollini, as team members donned black outfits for today's 10th stage from Lido Di Jesolo to Ljubljana. Rather it was to mark Cannondale's 30th anniversary with a re-issue of their "Black Lightning" road bike, first seen in 1986. The bike features a jet black CAAD6 frame with gold decals. The frame is outfitted with black anodized Campy Record components with gold highlights, a black Cannondale carbon fiber Slice Si fork, and a gold Cannondale Hollowgram crankset. Fabio Sacchi was seen riding one in the nine man break, complete with a very striking black top, and he propelled it to fourth place in the stage. Mario Cipollini (who wasn't wearing the outfit) called it in the press release "a stunning bicycle. It is a celebration of elegance and speed, the incarnation of style and performance - much like myself. It is my pleasure to ride such a gorgeous bicycle." Cannondale will produce just 99 additional Black Lightning units this year, with each one individually numbered.
Pantani a father?According to La Repubblica, Marco Pantani is due to become a father soon, a fact that was strongly refuted by the pirate today. "Me a father? It appeals to me, but it is false and in bad taste," said Pantani of the article. "If it were true, there would not be a problem. Inasmuch as it is not, this news is pure ignorance." There is no pedalling of little feet on there horizon either, "Certainly not in the next nine months," he said. "It is something that every man is interested in. Perhaps in a few years..." A new climber? "No, a sprinter," laughed Pantani. Squinzi commentsThe departure of Patrick Lefevre last year to form his own new super team, Domo-Farm Frites, left Mapei-Quick Step with some large holes to fill. Riders like Museeuw, Peeters, Merckx, Van Heeswijk and Rodriguez all left for Domo, meaning that Mapei is now no longer the undisputed world number one team. Patron Giorgio Squinzi said in his visit to the Giro today that they had a "strategic review" at the beginning of the season, which has so far produced only modest results. "We are lacking Freire, Bartoli and Steels [the latter no longer] but the problem is that it is difficult to manage a team of 40 riders," said Squinzi. "In the natural evolution of things, we will have a less sizable team, we will aim at the young people like Cancellara, Pozzato, and Paolini." "Up to now, it seems to me that Garzelli has maintained his promise: it would be a good result if he succeeded in arriving on the podium in Milan. For this Giro d'Italia, I see Simoni as the favourite, and Pantani could surprise in some way." To the question of Pantani riding for Mapei, Squinzi responded: "It seems difficult for me to take him, he has not spoken for a long time. In regard to the choice by the Sociètè du Tour de France not to invite Cipollini and Pantani, it seems to me to be correct. There were stronger teams than Mercatone Uno and Saeco that were excluded." Guido Trenti: an American in ItalyNot to be confused with Cofidis' Guido Trentin, Cantina Tollo's Guido Trenti is one of the domestiques working for Danilo di Luca this year. The Italian with a US passport proves his nationality with a little anecdote involving Lance Armstrong. In Milan-San Remo this year, he approached the Texan with a request. "Hey Lance!" he said. "Yes?" came the reply. "Did you know I have an Italian name but my passport is American? My mother's name is Cynthia Taylor." Floored by that piece of life history, Armstrong was surprised: "Oh good!" he responded. Then came the sting. "Lance, I would like to ride for the American national team, with the star spangled jersey, can you help me?" Upon which Armstrong said that he did not select the team, and that the request should be directed elsewhere. Trenti's only win was in the Tour de Langkawi in 2000... Now he is better known in the peloton. "You want to make the American team?...Then pedal!"
Stage 11: Bled-GoriziaThe race will remain in Slovenia for one more day with the 187 kilometre stage 11 from Bled to Gorizia. The first 50 kilometres will be "nervous" racing, including the important climb of the Passo del Predil (1156 m at 5%, with sections of 12%). After this, there is still 124 kilometres to go, and it is mostly downhill so it is unlikely that the mountain will decide the stage. The second GPM is at Vrhovlije with 45 kilometres to go, and may prove more important although it is a smaller climb. The last 40 kilometres are quite flat, and the stage concludes with a finishing circuit around Gorizia.
TVM trial - Day 1 and 2Bressole's testimony Although no cyclists are being charged in the current TVM trial in Rheims, a medical expert brought in to testify yesterday named four former TVM cyclists who he believed were using illegal drugs. Based on hair, urine and blood tests, Dr. Francoise Bressole (University of Montpellier) concluded that in 1998 Jeroen Blijlevens, Servais Knaven, Bart Voskamp and Sergei Outschakov used EPO. Her theory was based on the fluctuations in blood and iron levels of the four riders. However, at that stage, neither the IOC nor the UCI had approved Bressole's analysis method, saying that is was "not watertight". Corticoids and amphetamines Traces of corticoids were found in Blijlevens, Voskamp and Outschakov, while in Tristan Hoffman and Laurent Roux, traces of amphetamines were found. Barrister Joost van Mierlo defended Hoffman's case, saying "A hair test can give signals for a whole year. Hoffman was treated that winter for his groin." Sergei Outschakov and Laurent Roux supposedly had medical certificates to use these medicines with the permission of the UCI. Mikhailov said Blijlevens had a certificate too, but during the hearing in Rheims, Blijlevens never mentioned the certificate, and the organisers of the Tour de France too don't know anything about it. Medicine money pool The TVM team had a pool with 7.5 percent of the athletes' winnings used for medical supplies. Joost van Mierlo: "The medicine money was only for vitamins, minerals and feeding supplements." However, these kind of payments are not mentioned in the riders' contracts. So the court considered that these payments were "secret payments for forbidden products." Priem's fax Cees Priem has to give an explanation for a fax which was found during a search in his house. A Belgian doctor (who is also member of the Belgian cycling union) asked Priem to bring certain pharmaceutical products from Italy for him. The same products which were found in the TVM affair in 1998. Mikhailov's evidence Andrej Mikhailov could only show an undated fax that the EPO was for a children's hospital in Russia, where the letterhead appeared to be not genuine. Mikhailov admitted: "With that I made a mistake. I regret I transported the EPO in the team cars. But I did this with good intentions". The copy of the undated fax came from the Russian doctor Volkov, a friend of Mikhailov, and the public prosecutor said Volkov has connections with the national Russian sports institute. Andrej Mikhailov said today that he bought the 104 ampoules in Murcia in Spain. But nobody from the TVM team declared they saw the Russian doctor in Murcia. "I had the key of the TVM-truck," said Mikhailov. So far, Mikhailov has borne the brunt of the blame in this case (he served four months in custody in 1998). The public prosecutor in Rheims wants to prove it wasn't just Mikhailov who did business with EPO. Other members of the TVM team may be involved too. For the past three years, Mikhailov has learned French in order to be ready for this trial and studied the documents. He has a barrister, but according to Van Mierlo "He prefers to defend himself." Priem questioned Later this evening, Priem and Moors were questioned by Judge Craiguero. Priem was questioned about the financial arrangements in the TVM team. He admitted that the riders gave 15 percent of their prizemoney for "expenses". A portion of this money was used for buying food supplies and the rest for buying medicine. Soigneur Jan Moors admitted he prepared vitamin injections, but he didn't administer the injections. "That was done by the riders on their own." The trial will last two more days: Tomorrow (Wed) is a rest day because all parties were not present at court. Thursday and Friday will be devoted to the pleas of the three TVM barristers and the summing up of the case.
Millar for Malta in Small StatesCofidis' Scottish ace David Millar raced and won the European Small States Games' time trial for Malta where he was born 24 years ago, although he grew up in Hong Kong. Millar will not take part in the road race on Saturday, in which the Luxembourgians are the favourites as usual in this event. The ITT was held on a 4 km circuit raced over 4 laps plus another 1400 metres making a total of 17.4 kms. The race was relatively flat starting at 445 metres with the highest point at 483 metres. The road races covers 104.3 kilometres and will be held om Saturday, the last day of the games held in San Marino. Iceland, Cyprus, Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein also participate. All nations have four riders except the hosting nation (San Marino) which is allowed eight starters.
Obree movieThe life of Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree will be the theme of a movie. It is not known yet who will play the role of Obree, but Sean Connery (one of his big fans) will play the role of his mentor. In 1993 Obree broke the World Hour Record with a home-made bike using an unconventional position. In 1994 he repeated this stunt, prompting the UCI to ban these kind of bikes. His second radical position, the so-called "superman position", was used by Chris Boardman in 1996 to increase the World Hour record to nearly 57 kilometres. It was used by a number of other pursuit cyclists as well to ride at higher speeds than before, before the UCI banned it too. Obree had to stop his career for a while because he had cancer, but now the 36 year old is coming back. He has still one target: to break the World Hour Record again. Specialized to pull out of MTB teamMountain bike manufacturer Specialized will no longer be the head sponsor of the mountain bike team of the same name next year. The team that includes Bas van Dooren, Elsbeth Vink and manager Gert-Jan Theunisse has had financial problems, and therefore Specialized has to pay more than expected. Next season, they only wish to be a co-sponsor. Last year, just before the start of the new season, manager Theunisse had to survive the withdrawal of co-sponsor Subaru. Theunisse is talking with potential sponsors at the moment. "It would be dramatic for the sport if our team can't find a sponsor. We are number one in the team classifications and our image is okay," said Van Dooren.
US Postal news: Ventura has a good weekendUS Postal Service's Robbie Ventura managed to win three out of four races - two criteriums and one road race - over the Memorial Day weekend in Iowa and Illinois, giving the first-year team member four victories in his last five starts. Ventura will join seven USPS teammates this weekend at the Capitol Cup in Washington, DC, and the Clarendon Cup in Arlington, VA. "I'm fired up," Ventura said. "I'm really excited about this upcoming weekend, and then the First Union races after that. I am going as fast right now as I have been in the last four or five years. Maybe not as strong, but as fast." Ventura kicked off the weekend with a win in Friday's Burlington-to-Burlington (Iowa) road race. Racing with teammate Kenny Labbe, Ventura took Labbe's leadout until one kilometer remaining and moved towards the front of the pack. With 400 meters remaining, Ventura hit the front and held on for a convincing victory. "You could see the finish line in the distance, so I was getting a little antsy," Ventura added. "I didn't want to mess around, so I took off." After finishing seventh in Saturday's Snake Alley Criterium, Ventura took the next two races - the Melon City Criterum on Sunday in Iowa and yesterday's Rock Island Criterium in Illinois - winning the latter event for the third time since 1996.
Lampre newsDirecteur sportif Brent Copeland is currently preparing the Lampre-Daikin team for the Tour de France, taking Frank Vandenbroucke, Ludo Dierckxsens, Robert Hunter, Marco Serpellini, Johan Verstrepen, Rubens Bertogliati, Raivis Belohvosciks and Matteo Algeri to the Euskal Bizikleta, which begins tomorrow in Spain. After Midi Libre, Copeland commented: "The victory of Jan Svorada, the leader's jersey, and several good places for Robert Hunter: we could have done worse, all the more since Hunter, Spruch and Serpellini have barely raced during the past few months. Also Frank Vandenbroucke surprised me, not only with his excellent performance during the time trial of the Midi Libre, but also by showing great motivation. It is clear that he is on the right track and already today I predict that next Saturday, in Hiper Eroski at the end of the 20 km of the time trial, VDB will finish very closely to the winner. The minor inflammation of his heel has nearly disappeared." Ludo Dierckxsens is back racing again, after having 10 days off the bike after the Amstel Gold Race and a very heavy classics season. He has gradually started building up his physical condition in time for the up coming Belgian Championships and the Tour. He is suffering from a minor bronchitis, and although he hasn't been taken any antibiotics, he doesn’t expect to perform extraordinarily well during the Bizikleta. Zbigniew Spruch is still having physical problems after his crash in the Tirreno-Adriatico. He suffered from a bruised and displaced hip which caused muscle contractions. As a result, one of his legs is more than 1 centimeter shorter than the other. During the Midi Libre this problem was thought to be solved by adding a small plate underneath his shoe, but caused tremendous back pains after 150 km of racing. Therefore Spruch preferred to consult an Italian specialist instead of racing this week. His participation in the Tour de France is not jeopardized.
La Transocéane women's raceIn 2002, two international women's races will combine to form one big one run across two continents. The Tour International Féminin de Bretagne and the Grand Prix Féminin International du Québec will be known as "La Transocéane" after an announcement on Monday by the organisers at a press conference in Rennes. The first edition of "La Transocéane" will take place between September 3-15, 2002, and will consist of 11 stages: 6 in Brittany, followed by a rest day/transfer, then 5 more in North America: 4 in Quebec (Can), and one in Vermont (USA) where the race will finish.
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