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Edited by Jeff Jones
With his victory on Saturday in round 1 of the World Cup, and his win last weekend in the SuperPrestige in Asper-Gavere, Belgian Sven Nijs (Rabobank) has claimed the number one spot on the UCI Cyclo-cross rankings. Nijs jumped from third to first place, displacing his teammate Richard Groenendaal from the top position. World Champion Erwin Vervecken is still in second place, but has not been able to match Nijs' skill and power in the big races this season.
Bart Wellens (Spaar Select) and Mario De Clercq (Domo-Farm Frites) round out the top 5. Of note is US rider Marc Gullickson, who has broken into the top 20 for the second time in his career. With the increase in the status of US cyclo-cross, and more points available, expect to see US riders move up the rankings in the coming years.
Individuals 1 Sven Nijs (Bel) Rabobank 1,751.00 pts 2 Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Spaar Select 1,632.00 3 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 1,581.00 4 Bart Wellens (Bel) Spaar Select 1,415.00 5 Mario De Clercq (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites 1,165.00 6 Petr Dlask (Cze) 905.00 7 Daniele Pontoni (Ita) 793.00 8 Jiri Pospisil (Cze) 709.00 9 Tom Vannoppen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 651.00 10 Peter Van Santvliet (Bel) Spaar Select 627.00 11 Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank 573.00 12 Beat Wabel (Swi) 497.00 13 Wim De Vos (Ned) Spaar Select 493.00 14 Vaclav Jezek (Cze) 400.00 15 David Pagnier (Fra) 366.00 16 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) 361.00 17 Luca Bramati (Ita) 288.00 18 Roland Schätti (Swi) 277.00 19 Marc Gullikson (USA) 275.00 20 Arne Daelmans (Bel) 274.00 Nations 1 Belgium 6,614.00 pts 2 Netherlands 3,117.00 3 Czech Republic 2,422.00 4 Italy 1,540.00 5 Switzerland 1,377.00 Full rankings
The chairman of the Belgische Wielerbond (BWB), Laurent De Backer, has reacted to the protest on Saturday by riders and team managers about wearing national jerseys instead of trade team jerseys in World Cup races.
"I find it regrettable that the 'crossers let their feelings known to the press instead of first contacting us," he said. "That doesn't mean that I am not prepared to talk to them. I can understand most of their complaint and there must be a possible solution. Trade team jerseys in place of national ones in the World Cup, that suggestion I want to take up with the UCI. Then we must come to an arrangement with the sporting groups."
Former professional cyclist Roger De Vlaeminck says that Frank Vandenbroucke is preparing for his first race back, a cyclo-cross event in Wielsbeke on Christmas Day, December 25. Vandenbroucke agreed to ride after receiving an invitation from promoter Noël Demeulenaere.
By Jean-Francois Quenet
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It's no surprise: Lampre-Daikin's Robert Hunter has been awarded South African cyclist of the year in a wonderful ceremony organised by Pick'n Pay and Supercycling at Montecasino near Johannesburg on Monday, November 19th.
The first South African to participate in the Tour de France received a 105 year old trophy. He was delighted to answer Phil Liggett's questions at the end of a season made of ups and downs, from back injuries and broken ribs to a magnificent stage win in the Tour of Spain.
"If you'd been on a good team, you would have won a stage in the Tour de France, no?", asked 'the voice of cycling'. Hunter couldn't answer anything else but: "Yeah... You're possibly right." Then he revealed: "I didn't talk to my team-mates for two days. Unfortunately, they didn't do the job they were supposed to."
This is referring to his Belgian partner Johan Verstrepen who didn't chase down his compatriot Marc Wauters of Rabobank when he attacked with one kilometre to at the end of stage 2 finishing in Antwerp.
Robbie was also disappointed not to finish the 2001 Tour de France. Asked by Liggett to describe how a cyclist gets over the Alps and the Pyrenees, he said: "Over the Pyrenees, I wouldn't know, I didn't go over it this year."
Even being now very well known as a world class athlete in his country, Hunter remains humble. Aged 24, joining Mapei next year, he knows there's still a lot to do to achieve his two goals: winning a stage in the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix.
"He has had a wonderful season and there's a lot more to come!" were Liggett's final words about one of the most promising talents in the sport, who's putting South Africa on the international map of professional cycling.
The Koninklijke Nederlandse Wielren Unie (KNWU) has put itself in as a candidate to host the 2006 World Cyclo-cross Championships. The World's were held in the Netherlands last year in Sint-Michielsgestel.
"A number of communities have expressed their interest to us, but the book is still open," said chairman Joop Atsma at a meeting of the KNWU on Monday. Zeddam and Heerlen are two of the interested parties. The KNWU will inform the UCI on February 1 of the two candidate towns to host the World's.
July 27: Time Trials, Rivington, Lancs
July 28-August 2: Track Events, NCC, Manchester
July 29: Mountain Bike Cross Country, Rivington, Lancs
August 3: Road Races, Rivington, Lancs
Mountain Bike Champion, Cadel Evans, will debut with the Italian registered Mapei-Quick Step team at the 2002 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. In 2001 the 24 year old Australian competed in both mountain bike (Volvo-Cannondale) and road events (Saeco) but he has signalled his desire to concentrate on a road cycling career in future.
Evans' results on the road this year included overall victories in the Tour of Austria, Brixia Tour (Ita) and the Travers de Lausanne (Swi) where he also picked up wins in both mountain time trials despite the presence of Lance Armstrong in the post Tour de France, invitation only event.
Joining him in Adelaide will be reigning Italian road race champion, Daniele Nardello, Giro d'Italia stage winner, Stefano Zanini (Ita) and Laszlo Bodrogi, the 2000 Hungarian road race champion and Hungarian road time trial champion for the past two years.
Daniele Nardello (Ita)
1st Italian National Road Race
1st Stage Tour of Austria
4th Overall Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
Andrea Tafi (Ita)
1st Stage Vuelta a Burgos
Luca Paolini (Ita)
2nd Grand Prix di Lugarno
3rd Stage 6 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun)
1st Hungarian National Road Time Trial
1st Stage Tour of Sweden
1st 2 Stages Tour de l'Avenir
Stefano Zanini (Ita)
1st Stage Tour of Slovenia
1st Stage 7 Giro d'Italia
Cadel Evans (Aus)
New signing for 2002. Transfer from SAECO
1st overall Tour of Austria
1st overall Brixia Tour
1st overall Travers de Lausanne
1st 2 time trial stages of Travers de Lausanne
10th Overall Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
Kevin Hulsmans (Bel)
Fabien De Waele (Bel)
New signing for 2002. Transfer from Lotto Adecco
1st Stage Paris Nice
1st Stage Dauphiné Libéré
2nd Belgian National Road Race
5th Stage 1 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
More information: Tour Down Under Website
Cyclingnews recently talked to British junior phenononen Nicole Cooke, winner of four rainbow jerseys in the twelve months between the start of the 2000 road worlds and the end of the 2001 events.
The multi-talented Cooke talked about her start in cycling, her favourite world's victory and her plans for the next few years. read what she has to say here
The official name of the Saeco team in 2002 will be Saeco Macchine per Caffč-Longoni Sport. Managed by Claudio Corti, the team will have Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni and recent Tour of Lombardy winner Danilo Di Luca as its top riders.
Longoni Sport, a chain of sports equipment shops based in Cassago Brianza (near Milan), have agreed to become the team's co-sponsor for two years.
The new look team will get together for the first time on December 3 at Comerio, Varese. The riders and staff will spend three days together for medical tests and the scheduling of the 2002 season. The official Team Saeco Macchine per Caffč-Longoni Sport presentation will be on Tuesday, January 29 in Milan.
The only Swedish trade team, third division Team Crescent, continues its efforts to develop young talents for the road, whith a smaller but stronger team on the road as well as in MTB.
Last year MTB rider Jonas Holmqvist had some good races on the road at a national level and he will concetnrate on the road this year. Swedish junior champion Jonas Jelvin from Örebro, is new on the road team, while Jonas Ljungblad will leave for Amore & Vita in Italy.
Erik Wendel, Petter Renäng, Jonas Olsson, Tobias Lergård and Gustav Larsson are staying for another year while Jonas Rydberg, Johan Flodin and Klas Johansson are leaving.
The MTB team will have only two riders, promising Fredrik Kessiakoff and "veteran" Roger Persson, age 27.
The struggle against doping will be important in the team's profile with the slogan "Fair Play - No Drugs" on the black and orange jerseys. The team also cooperates with schools and social workers and holds lectures on doping and its medical and social consequences.
Road
Jonas Holmkvist (Swe)
Gustav Larsson (Swe)
Tobias Lergård (Swe)
Jonas Olsson (Swe)
Petter Renäng (Swe)
Erik Wendel (Swe)
Johan Jelvin (Swe) neo
Leaving:
Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Amore&Vita
Jonas Rydberg (Swe)
Johan Flodin (Swe)
Klas Johansson (Swe)
MTB
Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)
Roger Persson (Swe)
Leaving:
Calle Friberg (Swe)
Courtesy of Tomas Nilsson
Mexican cyclist Victor Eladio Alvarez has signed a one year contract with Amore e Vita, according to Italian news agency ANSA. The 24 year old was scouted by Italian veteran, Rodolfo Massi whilst he was training in Mexico. Massi is also part of Amore e Vita, along with recent signings James Perry (RSA), Jamie Burrow (GBr), Jonas Ljungblad (Swe).
The third round of the British Cyclo-Cross National Trophy round 3 next Sunday (25th November) with a first visit to the Hetton Lyons circuit at Hetton Le Hole near Sunderland. This is the first time for 30 years that the national cyclo-cross series has visited the North East, the last occasion being when the old International Cycle Sport Trophy was staged at Jarrow in the early 1970s.
With Roger Hammond still recovering from a post-road season operation, and series leader Matt Ellis opting to stay closer to home in Belgium, the stage is set for another contender to grasp the nettle and don the leader's yellow jersey. Stuart Blunt (Team Corridori) is best placed to do this, but the regular appearances by Nick Craig and Barrie Clarke this season have spiced up the battle for podium places. This will suit Ellis, who will return to the fourth and penultimate round in December in the knowledge that Roger Hammond took the series victory last season by winning all four of the races in which he competed. However, by then he may also have Hammond himself to contend with.
The Veterans Competition has proved the most exciting of the supporting races to date, with sprint finishes galore. In the last round it was Yorkshire's Paul Gilbert (Universal CC) who edged out Mick Bell (London Fire Brigade CC) and in doing so took the leader's jersey. Elsewhere, Les Lloyd (Didcot Phoenix CC - Vets 50+), Steven Roach (Rugby Velo - Junior), Sammy Cotton (Ancillotti UK - Youth) and Shaun Snodden (Ace RT - Under 23) will be aiming for third consecutive victories to consolidate their leads in their respective competitions. Isla Rowntree (Stourbridge CC) regained her familiar top spot in the women's series in the last round, and will be hard to dislodge, but the Under 14 category is delicately balanced with just two points separating the top three: Adam Blyth (Sheffield Phoenix CC: 70 pts), Tom Last (Matlock CC: 70 pts) and David Wood (VC Deal: 68 pts).
The Hetton Lyons Circuit is off the main A182 through Hetton Le Hole. Turn off the A690 Durham to Sunderland road and turn left at the Library. The first race is at 10.30 am with the final senior event at 2.15 pm.
Courtesy of the BCF
It's perhaps not one of the better known records in cycling, but it is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, making it kosher. The record in question is the 24 hour fixed tandem record, which now stands at 1284.26 kilometres (53.511 km/h), after it was broken by Belgians Maria Azzolina (51, blind) and Alfred Vanderstukken (62, retired racer) on October 25-26, 2001. The attempt took place in the Centre Culturel of Seraing in conjunction with the Italian festival of Tarentalle Qui.
It should be pointed out that this remarkable speed was not accomplished on the road - the tandem's rear wheel was attached to a home trainer with a light resistance. However, the endurance aspect cannot be ignored. There aren't too many people who would pedal on a home trainer for 24 hours!
The record that had to be beaten was set by two Englishmen, who averaged 45 km/h for 24 hours. The Belgians heard of it and after some preliminary tests, they believed it was possible. They were carefully supervised by a medical team of three doctors, who ensured that they were in good physical condition throughout.
More information on the attempt can be found at www.cyclotandem.be.tf/
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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