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By Gabriella Ekström, cyclingnews.com correspondent
Niclas Axelsson admitted today in an interview with CeGe Berglund/Göteborgsposten that he took injections of erythropoietin (EPO). Niclas was also asked if he had taken banned substances before but, he chose not to comment on this.
Ulf Näslund, chairman in the Swedish Cycling Federation did not want to reveal the substance Axelsson tested positive for, and wants to wait until the results of the B-sample is known before commenting on this case. However there's a clause in Niclas's contract which means "instant dismissal" should A and B samples be positive, or should he admit to using banned substances. Axelsson has already been fired by his Alessio team after he admitted to taking EPO.
His team has been contacted by the UCI and team director Bruno Cenghialta expressed his disappointment and denied all involvement from the team. He says that this initiative has been taken by the rider and the rider only.
Axelsson is expected home from his vacation in Spain tonight, but there is no press conference announced. He is now awaiting at least a two year suspension and it is likely that the 29 year old rider's career will end with that.
Behind Italy and Spain, Germany is the third ranked cycling nation on UCI points. It may come as a surprise to some, with France, Belgium and the Netherlands all ranked below Germany, but Erik Zabel (number 1) and Jan Ullrich (number 5) are two of the world's best cyclists, and Deutsche Telekom is the world's number two ranked team.
In the last few years, German cycling has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Jan Ullrich's win in the 1997 Tour de France was a catalyst, and Telekom magenta outfits suddenly became popular amongst the cycling community. Telekom is still the dominant team in Germany, and looks likely to remain that way for some time. However, at least two teams are looking for a piece of the first division pie in 2001, and this will only help the sport in the country.
Team Coast bounced into first division this season after signing riders with plenty of UCI points. Although they were one of the least successful division I teams in 2001, the 2002 lineup looks healthier. The addition of several former Festina will boost the team, with David Plaza (2000 Tour of Germany winner), Jaime Hernandez, Luis Perez, Francisco Lara Ruiz, Andre Korff and Steffen Radochla. Perhaps more important is the arrival of Marcel Wüst and Juan Fernandez as directeur sportifs.
Division II team Gerolsteiner is trying the same tactic for 2002, acquiring no less than world number 3, Davide Rebellin (Liquigas), as well as his former teammates Ellis Rastelli, Daniele Contrini and Gianni Faresin. Neo pro Florian Wegmann will also join the team, which is looking for a first division ticket for 2002.
For its part, Telekom has added Credit Agricole's Bobby Julich, Khazakh Sergej Yakovlev (Cantina Tollo), and neo pro's David Kopp, Dirk Reichel and Steffen Schumacher. They will still be the team to beat, but manager Walter Godefroot said the rise of the other teams will help "the development of the sport in Germany."
Triple Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has signed a three year deal with Power Bar, beginning in December 2001. Power Bar will be able to use Armstrong's name, voice and image for its advertising campaigns, beginning with one next January.
Interestingly, Armstrong's US Postal team earlier this week signed a contract with Clif Bar, a rival company to Power Bar. The deal is also for the next three years i.e. until the end of 2004, and is an extension of a deal that was to run through 2002.
During the 2001 season, the U.S. Postal Service team consumed a total of 8,500 Clif Bars, 5,000 LUNA ("the whole nutrition bar for women") and 14,000 packets of Clif Shot. Which begs the question: How many female riders are there on US Postal?
Former World Cyclo-cross champion Mario De Clercq (Domo-Farm Frites) will make a decision in mid-December about his future career. The 35 year old will ride the World Cup race (GP Van Vlaanderen) on December 16 in Wortegem-Petegem. It is possible that he will make that his last race in his career.
"I don't know what I would like to do yet, it is a difficult choice to make," said De Clercq at the presentation of the race in his home town. "But I am a winner. I want to ride for first place, not for fifth or sixth. The competition at the moment in Belgium is big. It's becoming harder to box with the younger ones. After the race in Wortegem-Petegem I will make my decision."
Credit Agricole has extended its sponsorship of the Coupe de France, the most important series for professionals riding for French teams. The bank has given another two years funding for the 15 race series. This year's edition was won by Laurent Brochard, with his Jean Delatour team taking the team prize.
By Jeff Jones
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Although it's only his second time in Australia, Malta born Hong Kong raised Scot, David Millar, is not doing too badly. He was down under again for the Noosa International Criterium, an annual event that puts some of the best road cyclists in Australia up against a strong selection of visiting professionals. But it wasn't really the racing that brought the 16th ranked cyclist in the world over to Australia. His fiancee Shari, who he met last year, lives in Noosa and he came over to visit her. Marriage plans are a vague two years away at the moment, when he hopes to get all his friends together for the big occasion.
Click here for the full interview
USA Cycling announced the addition of Jeff Pierce as the organization's vice president of athletics. Pierce, a former professional cyclist, will oversee competition, athlete development and coaching development programs.
Pierce competed for 22 years on the road and track. He is only one of five Americans to win a stage at the Tour de France. His victory came in 1987 on the Champs Elysées. He was the number one ranked rider in the United States in 1985 and won an elite national track title in the Madison in 1995. Pierce was inducted into the U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame as a member of the 7-Eleven Team, the first American team to compete in the Tour de France.
Cycle ball
Roman Schneider (Mosnang)
Reto Gmür (Wil/SG)
Reserves: Paul Looser (Altdorf), Peter Jiricek (Winterthur)
Artistic Cycling
Solo men/women
Reto Zellweger (Stein am Rhein)
Daniela Keller (Hombrechtikon)
Anita Kälin (Wädenswil)
Women pairs
Letizia and Seraina Stahel (Pfungen)
Eliane Zeller (Niederwil)/Petra Storchenegger (Jonschwil)
Women fours
Zeller/Storchenegger/Sabrina Lenherr/Jeanette Schneider (Uzwil)
By Andrew Albright
International Cycling Union (UCI) cyclo-cross returns to the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend, Saturday, November 7th. The Chameleon Cyclo-cross race, a UCI category 3 event, promises to bring fun, exciting racing to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The title sponsor of the event is the Chameleon club, a club in downtown Lancaster, which is home to live music in Central Pennsylvania. Why did they choose to sponsor a 'cross event?
Owner Rich Ruoff, a former racer came up through the ranks as a junior during the Lemond-era when Junior racing was in its hey-day. Ruoff understands the excitement that bicycle racing can provide and it spectator potential. "Cyclo-cross is an excellent spectator sport that attracts the same demographic as the customers of the Chameleon Club."
"We look forward to an exciting event this Saturday with some of the top US riders scheduled to attend", said race director Bill Laudien, now in his 9th year of promoting. Top-ranked Lyne Bessette (Saturn) and Mark Gullickson are among the pre-race favourites. "There has even been interest from the local media for the race, with a sports show planned on a local FOX station".
Laudien hopes to attract many new riders to the sport of cyclo-cross. "We've put the word out. The course suits new riders as it's not overly technical".
Also, this course is designed to be spectator friendly since 90% of the course can be viewed from one central location. "We've also tried to make the race accessible to the local junior, by having a super-lo $2 entry fee," said the race director.
What does UCI-status mean to riders? UCI points are the currency for many things important: USA Cycling's world championship selection, start positions in World Cup/Championship races in Europe, 'start money' in Europe, fame, and fortune. No rider has shown a greater proclivity toward UCI points than former US National Champion (1999), Marc Gullickson, now in his second year with the professional Mongoose-Hyundai team.
"In past years UCI races have not been as important for me, but this year part of the World Team selection is off of UCI points," said Gullickson.
He has been successful in this quest as he has risen from 38th place at the end of last year's rankings to 23rd in the world as of the end of October. This increase in ranking is on the back of outstanding results in fall 2001 United States cyclo-cross races, and put him past Tim Johnson (31st), reigning cyclo-cross national champion. All things point to several more Johnson-Gullickson battles before National's in December in Baltimore.
Cannondale is sponsoring five New York City firefighters as they pedal across America to say thanks to the nation for its support following the terrorist attacks of September 11. The five firefighters are all from Ladder Co. 9, Engine Co. 33, which lost 10 members in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. Located less than a mile from the former site of the twin towers, Ladder Co. 9 and Engine Co. 33 were among the first on the scene following the attacks.
The firefighters will leave from Ground Zero in Manhattan at 8:48 on November 11th, exactly two months after the first plane struck the World Trade Center towers. The team will pedal first to the Pentagon, site of the second terrorist attack on September 11th, and then traverse the southern U.S. to arrive in Los Angeles, the original destination for one of the flights that crashed into the World Trade Center towers.
For firefighter Dan Rowan, organizer of the Thank You America bike tour, the trip is a month-long chance for the riders to express their appreciation for the outpouring of support that their station house has received from all across the U.S. "The response to our loss has been so amazing," says Rowan, who cites numerous examples. The homeless man who insisted upon donating all of his money, $1.22, to the station. The three young girls who donated a coffee can full of change - the proceeds from an impromptu lemonade stand. The $15,000 in cash from a fund-raising party organized by a neighbourhood bar, or the $10,000 that came from the Hell's Angels.
Rowan also recounted the many cards and letters that arrived at the station daily, and the tremendous support from other fire departments. "I was at a memorial service for one of our guys," said Rowan, "when I realized that none of the firefighters standing beside me were actually from New York." With so many memorials, the city's fire department can only afford so many men for each memorial service. "There were literally hundreds of brothers standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me, and they were from fire departments from all across the country. All of these people have done so much for us," said Rowan. "They're the reason we need to go out and say thanks."
Rowan and the other firefighters will be pedaling "USA" R700 Cannondales with special stars and stripes red, white and blue graphics. Cannondale is adding the new USA color scheme to its 2002 line, and will donate $50.00 from the sale of each stars-and-stripes R700 to the Uniformed Firefighters Association Scholarship Fund. 100% of all money raised for the Scholarship Fund goes directly to help pay college tuition for firefighters' families, including the families of those who died on September 11th.
A web page devoted to Australian Rabobank pro, Mathew Hayman has just been launched. The site will focus on up to date information directly from Mathew. The page will keep abreast of events with race to race progress of Mathew as he rides in the classics and stage races in Europe. Mathew's diary, photos, an email newsletter and more are featured.
The site is at: http://surf.to/mhayman. Also see: Cyclingnews pro sites
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a Espaņa (GT) - Preview, stage list
May 11-June 2, 2002: Giro
d'Italia (GT) - Preview, stage list, photos
July 6-28, 2002: Tour
de France (GT) - Full preview & official route details
December 8: Superprestige
Rd 5 (Cat. 1) - Erwin Vervecken
November 29-December 4: Six
Days of Noumea (6D) - Sassone/Neuville victorious
November 26-December 1: Six
Days of Zurich (6D) - Day
6 - McGrory/Gilmore/Schnider win
December 1: Melbourne
Cup on Wheels (IM) - Scott Moller, Keirin,
Sprint, Support
races
December 2: Cyclo-cross
World Cup #2 (CDM) - Sven Nijs again
November 24-December 3: Juegos
Deportivos Centroamericanos (JR) - Final results
December 8-9: Frankfurter
Rad-Cross (Cat. 2) - Alex Mudroch, UK
National Trophy Series #4 (Cat. 3) - Roger Hammond, Grote
Prijs Industrie Bosduin - Kalmthout (Cat. 1) - Bart Wellens, Int.
Radquer Obergösgen (Cat. 2) - Björn Rondelez, Trofeo
Mamma e Papa Guerciotti (Cat. 3) - Enrico Franzoi, Premio
Egondo (Cat 3) - David Seco, Irish
cyclo-cross championships - Robin Seymour
Results: local racing
Australia - CycleWest
Promotions Omnium Series #2, Eastern
Suburbs Summer Criterium Series, Carnegie
Caulfield Tuesday criterium, Southern
Cross Junior Track Open & Madison Cup, Manly
Warringah CC, George
Town Track Carnival, Carnegie
Caulfield CC, Randwick
Botany CC, Gold
Coast CATS CC, Caesar's
Illawarra CC, Caesar's
Illawarra (track)
Denmark - Danish
cyclo-cross Post Cup #3
Italy - Gran
Premio Cittā di Bassano
Luxembourg - GP
De Kopstal
New Zealand - Cyco
Criterium series
Spain - Elorrio
cyclo-cross
USA - Georgia
Cross Series Championship, Chimborazo
Grand Prix cyclo-cross, Boulder
Cross Rd 6, New
Mexico State Cyclo-x Champs, Sorrento
Cyclo-x & California State Champ's, Boulder
Cross Rd 5, Verge
New England series, Northampton
CC Cyclo-cross Championships, Chris
Cross International CycloCross
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