|
|
|
The United States Postal Service team finished its most successful ever season last Sunday by placing three riders in the top seven in the general classification of the Vuelta a España. Levi Leipheimer became the first American to reach the final podium of the Vuelta, placing third overall, while last year's winner Roberto Heras placed fourth and Jose Luis Rubiera seventh. The previous top finish by an American at the Tour of Spain was Lance Armstrong's fourth place finish in 1998.
"The final balance of the Vuelta for our team is more than positive," said director Johan Bruyneel. "A spot on the podium, three riders in the top seven, second in the team GC, lots of top five placings and having been a determining factor in the race - full satisfaction."
"The fact that Levi reached the podium has been, for sure, a surprise, including for himself," Bruyneel added. "But he has been on a very good level the whole year, with a strong month of August. His first three-week stage race and a finish on the podium is maybe the real start of his career as a stage racer."
Leipheimer capped off an extremely consistent Vuelta with a second place finish in Sunday's final time trial in Madrid, good enough to move up two spaces on the overall, from fifth to third. Relaxed and satisfied, Leipheimer said he came to the race set on helping Heras win a second consecutive Vuelta.
"My primary objective was to show how valuable I could be to Roberto in the mountains and go for a result in the first time trial," Leipheimer said. "I wanted to show everyone I had the ability to climb and then set tempo on the last climb - like I did at Lagos (de Covadonga, the first mountain stage of the race). Stage five was more than what I really hoped for. When I was done (setting tempo for Heras), I had dropped the yellow jersey and there were only eight or so guys left. I was very satisfied - I really wanted to show what I could do."
"Two days later was the long time trial (stage seven's 44 km race in Torrelavega) and I placed second. Then the next day was another mountain finish. I didn't plan on doing anything for myself but in the team meeting in the morning, Johan said I should try for the stage win. He was letting me do my own climb, as did Roberto. I then placed fourth and from there it changed; we had no need to control the race since we were not in the lead so Chechu (Rubiera), Roberto and I rode our own race to keep all of us up there, to keep the strength in numbers."
Leipheimer added that since Heras did not have the lead and was not showing the same dominant form he displayed at last year's Vuelta, Bruyneel told Heras to attack in order to make up lost time. But when Heras simply could not ride away from the field, Leipheimer maintained the ability to ride his own race. "I was able to keep following and in a way, do my own race and stay strong, which helped me keep my placings."
"Roberto has been performing well, especially in the second half of the Vuelta, but his problematic Tour de France period made it impossible for him to be on his normal level," said Bruyneel. "Considering the circumstances, he has to be happy with his fourth place. For Chechu, I have nothing but good words. He supported Roberto and Levi whenever it was necessary, and when possible, he tried for a stage win. As usual with Chechu, nothing but top class."
"Overall, we saw a very strong team performance," he said. "Julian (Dean), Benoît (Joachim), Victor (Hugo Pena), Chann (McRae), Matthew (White) and especially Antonio (Cruz), in his first big Tour, were there wherever the team leaders needed them. I would like to congratulate all nine riders and all the staff for such a great performance in the month of September. I feel really good about this season, since we've accomplished all of our goals - winning a classic (Gent-Wevelgem) with George (Hincapie) and winning the Tour de France with Lance. We didn't win the Vuelta with Roberto but the team's performance compensated for that."
Leipheimer recalled: "When I was on Saturn, I would ride strong and win all or most of the races that suited me," he added. "I wasn't a criterium rider at all, but when it came to races like the Tour de Beauce (a Canadian stage race), a more European-style race, I would win (in 1998 and 1999), along with the time trial nationals (1999). When I came to this team (in 2000), it was a big change for me and naturally, I did not have much confidence going in. It took me a year to feel really comfortable and at ease and after the break in July, I came back with better results. Then my motivation and confidence grew. I knew I needed to lose some weight, which I did, and gained the confidence and self assurance to go to my limit all the time, not being afraid to fail."
Looking ahead, Leipheimer said he will never have the same expectations he once did. "I will always want more now," he said. "I have been a consistent person in sports, that's how I am. My personality is pretty consistent and it showed after three weeks. I'm not an explosive rider. For me, it's always about being there, never cracking and being strong. It adds up after three weeks."
Leipheimer will finish season at the World Championships in Portugal later this month, competing in the time trial on the October 11 and the road race on the October 14.
With just two races left in the World Cup, there are theoretically nine men who can win the overall trophy. Although Erik Dekker (Rabobank) holds a 105 point lead over second placed Erik Zabel (Telekom), a win in a World Cup is worth 100 points. Anything can happen, but probably won't. Zabel will have to place very highly on Sunday and also ride the Giro di Lombardia to try and score points, a race that doesn't suit him. Dekker will have to almost finish out of the points in both remaining races to lose.
Telekom director Rudy Pevenage said recently that Zabel "is in super form" after winning three stages in the Vuelta. Zabel will make his decision about whether to race right through to the end of the season on Sunday, depending on the outcome of Paris-Tours.
The final 12 man French team was named after the 51st Paris-Bourges today, and includes the winner of that race, Florent Brard, as well as the winner of the Coupe de France, Laurent Brochard. However, Stéphane Heulot (BigMat) who was named in the squad was injured in Paris-Bourges, and may miss out on Lisbon. Heulot fell after 70 kilometres and injured his nose. After the race he was immediately taken to hospital for X-rays. It is not known yet how serious the injury is, and whether it will take him out of the French team.
Franck Bouyer (Bonjour)
Sylvain Chavanel (Bonjour)
Jean-Cyril Robin (Bonjour)
Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour)
Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour)
Stéphane Goubert (Jean Delatour)
Jean-Michel Tessier (Cofidis)
Frédéric Bessy (Crédit Agricole)
Richard Virenque (Domo-Farm Frites)
Florent Brard (Festina)
Ludovic Turpin (Ag2R)
Stéphane Heulot (BigMat-Auber)
Unofficial
Road Race
Cadel Evans (Saeco/Volvo-Cannondale)
Patrick Jonker (BigMat-Auber 93)
Mathew Hayman (Rabobank)
Tom Leaper (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo)
Nathan O'Neill (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo)
Michael Rogers (Mapei-Quick Step)
Scott Sunderland (Team fakta)
Time Trial
Nathan O'Neill (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo)
Michael Rogers (Mapei-Quick Step)
Elite Men
Road Race
Dariusz Baranowski (ibanesto.com)
Piotr Chmielewski (Mroz Supradyn Witaminy)
Zbigniew Piatek (Mroz Supradyn Witaminy)
Piotr Przydzial (CCC Mat)
Zbigniew Spruch (Lampre)
Sylvester Szmyd (Tacconi Sport)
Piotr Wadecki (Domo Farm Frites)
Arkadiusz Wojtas (Nürnberger)
Time Trial
Piotr Przydzial (CCC Mat)
Piotr Chmielewski (Mroz Supradyn Witaminy)
Elite Women
Paulina Brzezna (Polmot)
Bogomila Matusiak (Mikomax)
Anna Skawinska (KK Ziemia Darlowska)
Monika Tyburska (Atlas Ambra)
Malgorzata Wysocka (BoGo)
Courtesy of Milosz Wisniewski
The Swiss cycling federation has announced the withdrawal of two top riders from its team for the World Championships. 1998 World Champion Oscar Camenzind (Lampre) declined to participate after consulting his team doctor Pietro Maria Ronci. Laurent Dufaux (Saeco) will not start due to an inflammation of his prostate. The two riders will be substituted by Daniel Schnider (Francaise des Jeux) and Felice Puttini (Alessio).
BankGiroLoterij-Batavus director Johan Capiot wants to ensure his team's position in the top 30 Division I squads next year. "According to the new guidelines of the UCI, a first division team has to employ at least 16 riders. At the moment we have only signed 10 contracts," said Capiot according to Belga news agency. "Another six are needed to get into first division and in fact, we're two riders short to function properly in second division. We will have to stay active on the transfer-market to get the number we aim for. At least another six riders need to join us."
"If we stay in second division then we can forget getting a start in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Amstel Gold race or Luik-Bastenaken-Luik. This can't be what it's about?" he questioned.
However, he doesn't necessarily require expensive riders with a lot of points. "I have got more than enough knowledge to make a rider "big", to make him believe in himself. Look at Stefan Van Dijk, leaving us to go to Lotto. Haven't I formed him completely? And I can do that with more cyclists. It's up to our manager now, Arend Scheppink, to go and look for sponsors who can make sure we'll be riding in first division next year."
 |
The Kiron Group has confirmed that Professional World Cyclocross Champion Erwin Vervecken will compete at the Gloucester opening of the 2001 SuperCup Cyclocross Series. Cyclocross, deemed the steeplechase of bicycle racing, has grown dramatically in both participation and popularity since the Kiron Group took over promotion of the SuperCup series in 1998. So popular, it seems, that Europeans are starting to dabble in U.S. racing.
Cyclocross in Vervecken's Belgium is akin to football at Lambeau Field. Vervecken comes from Herentals, Belgium and has benefited from living in a country that "is" cyclocross. In the span of his career, he has won the Belgian national title in all age divisions, having collected four national titles since his first in 1989. The career highlight to date for Vervecken was his ride to a world champion's rainbow jersey, won last winter in Tabor, Czech Republic and his victory at the 2001 Overijse (Belgium) Super Prestige race.
"Erwin loves fast but hard circuits with lots of short uphill climbs and running parts... (but) dislikes the faster technical tracks and the flat races on grassland. He's a fast starter and a fast finisher. His weakness is the lack of ambition for smaller races and the races where they keep a fast speed from the start on."
Vervecken's attendance at the SuperCup raises the bar on this series, widely acclaimed as one of the most spectator-friendly events in cycling. German national champion Tobias Nestle will also be lining up on October 13, making his third straight autumn in America. Undoubtedly the Americans will be ready. U.S. national champion Tim Johnson (Saturn) is racing on his home turf and he'll be joined by two Saturn teammates, Frank McCormack, the 1996 and 1998 national cyclocross champion and his brother, Mark McCormack, the 1997 national champion and 1998 SuperCup champion.
 |
There will be two individuals to contend with in Marc Gullickson (Mongoose), the 1999 national champion and 2000 SuperCup champion, in Johnny Sundt (K2), a bunny-hopping crowd-pleaser who has yet to live up to his potential. Sundt recently beat Johnson and Mark McCormack and shows form to move into the top ranks.
The first event is the Boston SuperCup to be held on October 13, 2001 at Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, Mass. The Gloucester venue was popular for its spectacular views and difficult course layout in 2000 and Kiron Group has chosen to return.
Team Saturn's Mark McCormack, a former national champion and winner of the 1998 SuperCup series, will return to defend his victory here last year. He will fend off his teammate, Tim Johnson, the current national champion, Marc Gullickson (Mongoose), the current SuperCup champion and 1999 national champion. Also due to appear will be the powerhouse Team Kona, featuring Dale Knapp, 1999 SuperCup champion Bart Bowen and Canadian National Champion Peter Wedge.
Team Kona will definitely have the goods to win the women's race, with four-time SuperCup champion Ann Grande and newly signed Gina Hall on the starting line. They'll have to watch for three-time SuperCup race winner Carmen Richardson (Volvo/Cannondale), who placed second overall the last two seasons.
In a last minute coup the 2001 Australian Criterium Championships have been secured by Brisbane on November 10 at the beautiful South Bank Parklands in inner city Brisbane. The Championships will be held in conjunction with the traditional Brisbane International Criterium, an annual event which started in 1997 to celebrate the five Aussies who completed the Tour de France that year.
International stars expected to attend the championships include Dave Millar (Cofidis), Cadel Evans (Saeco/Volvo-Cannondale), Brad McGee and Sven Montgomery (Francaise des Jeux), Scott Sunderland, Marcus Ljungqvist, Morten Sonne, Kurt Asle Arvesen, Jorgen Bo Petersen (Team fakta), Robbie McEwen (Domo-Farm Frites), Matt White (US Postal), Nick Gates (Agro Adler-Brandenburg), and Jason Phillips (Team Coast)
There will be a Men's and Women's event with racing kicking off at 2.30pm and going through to 5.00pm. Prize money will be in excess of $8000 for the two events.
One week prior to the Brisbane race is the Noosa Multi Sport Festival from the October 28-November 4. this includes the Noosa Criterium on Saturday November 3 which will have all the internationals competing in addition to Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole).
Other events will be the Cannibal Tour De Noosa Cycle, a ride with the stars on Friday starting at the Surf Club at 6am. There is also an opportunity for riders to be placed in a team with a 40km cycle to compete in Australia’s biggest Olympic distance Triathlon event.
Anyone wishing to enquire about any of these event including entries should contact United Sports Marketing on (07) 54490711 or by email at usmsport@optusnet.com.au
Cycling NSW has advised that the 89th edition of the Goulburn to Camden Cycle Classic, scheduled for Sunday October 28, has been cancelled. NSW Government policy introduced during the past two years has now forced the NSW Police department to charge for all non-charity special events. This has resulted in a charge of AU$12,400 being levied against the Goulburn to Camden Classic for the supply of Police services which in the Federation's view is simply unaffordable, necessitating the cancellation of this years event.
Cycling NSW has been negotiating with the NSW Police Minister and Commission for Police for a reduction in costs which has not been forthcoming. The negotiations will continue in order to re-establish this important historic road event onto the Cycling NSW Road Calendar in 2002. Entry Fee's will be placed into a credit fund which can be offset against race entries for future Cycling NSW events.
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
Recently on Cyclingnews
Latest Photos - Olympic
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)
Cyclingnews Interview
- 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
| Home Search Survey Contact us |