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By Gerard Knapp
Three times TdF winner - and recent father of twin girls - Lance Armstrong, has announced his plans in the lead-up on his attempt for a fourth consecutive Tour de France victory with a program that includes an expanded campaign in the Spring classics.
Armstrong plans to enter not only the Amstel Gold, a race where he has finished second on two frustrating occasions, but will also enter Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and possibly Liege-Bastogne-Liege, in addition to the Dutch classic at the end of April.
Significantly, Armstrong has said that he will enter the Spring classics in a support role for his team-mate George Hincapie, who has come very close to securing a win in a major one-day classic and has often found himself the sole rider from the US Postal Service team in the final selection of these races.
In an interview with Jean-Pierre Bidet of French sports daily L'Equipe, Armstrong said "If it all goes to plan I will take part in Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders for George Hincapie. He works for me throughout the year and I hope to be able to pay him back.
"As for Liege-Bastogne-Liege, that is still up in the air," he told L'Equipe, although it is certain he will again enter Amstel Gold. On the other hand, it is extremely unlikely the TdF winner will enter the brutal and dangerous Paris-Roubaix, which celebrates its centenary in 2002, due to the risks involved. "They are prestigious races and it is always an honour to take part," Armstrong said.
In this year's Spring classics, Hincapie was perhaps the most unlucky of all the strong men, although he did bag a win in the Gent-Wevelgem semi-classic. He was always in the final selection of the major classics, with a 9th place in Milan-San Remo, 13th in Flanders at 19 seconds behind and then a fourth in Paris-Roubaix.
In the Queen of the Classics, Hincapie found himself in the company of four Domo riders in the closing kilometres and his fellow break-away rider, Lampre's Ludo Dierckxsens, said afterwards "I think Hincapie was the strongest, but you can forget it with such a Domo-clan."
It was apparent that the American needed more help from his team, but Hincapie himself remained statesmanlike throughout. In an interview on Cyclingnews shortly after Paris-Roubaix, all he would say is "People were wondering where my team was at Roubaix. If they had only seen how strong the team rode for me at Flanders you know, they support me 100%."
Change of plans for LA's TdF preparation
Armstrong has also revealed that instead of racing in the Tour de Suisse, as he did this year in the lead-up to the TdF, he may instead ride the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (June 9-16, 2002), for two special reasons. The first is that there is a mountain top finish on Mont Ventoux, while the other reason is the penultimate stage of the Dauphine includes most of the climbs of stage 17 of next year's TdF.
The Tour de Suisse (June 18-27, 2002) starts two days after the Dauphine ends, so it appears unlikely he will enter both races. If Armstrong does indeed ride in the Dauphine, then it is impossible for American fans to see him in the First Union USPRO Championship, which is being held on June 9, the same day the Dauphine commences.
To kick off his 2002 season, it appears likely that Armstrong will ride in the Tour of Murcia, from March 6-10, while he did not rule out entering Paris-Nice, which starts a few days later and runs from March 10-17.
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a España (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 Città 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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Armstrong, Boulder & California 'cross, More Pan-Am, Canberra, Boston & REI
'cross (December 13)
Cyclingnews survey -
Reader Poll 2001 - Vote for your favourite riders
Letters
- VDB, Lance, Boring Tour, Coastal Post, Respect (December 13)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Ryan Bayley - the KFC-fuelled world champ (December 13)
Cyclingnews Interview
- David McKenzie - Macca's back (December 12)
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- Laurent Jalabert - Jalabert looks ahead (December 11)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Charly Wegelius - A coffee stop with Charly (December 8)
Cyclingnews
Interview - Sven Montgomery - Moving up in the world (December 6)
Cyclingnews Interview
- Rochelle Gilmore - Road scholar (December 6)
Tales from the Peloton
- 12 Hours of Oleta - MTB endurance race in Miami (December 6)
Tales from the Peloton
- Tony Cruz - back to his roots (December 7)
Marco Polo
Diary - Tour du Faso - Part II - Nathan Dahlberg's report (December 3)
Tech
maintenance - Wheels - how to keep them true and tight
Tech letters
- Headsets, Pegoretti, Carbon cage, gloves & tubes (December 10)
Tech news - Navigators
power-tap, Headsets, Carbon cages (December 7)
Tech- Recycling
- How to protect your chainstay for free
Tech Reviews:
Egg Beater pedals; Park
Tool belt; Shimano shoes;
Speedplay
Breaking
the Chain - Dope planning and testing - From Willy Voet's book
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