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By Jeff Jones
The UCI has released some statistics on the number of wins per rider and team for 2001 (up to October 21, 2001 and not including the Sun Tour). Although certainly not equivalent to the UCI points scale, the win list is of relevance to sponsors who want to know how much exposure they're getting. This begs the question: has anyone tried to compile a list of "suicide breakaway riders" (riders with little chance who attack early in a big race to try and get on TV) for the season?
It's not at all surprising that the top individual on the list is Telekom's Erik Zabel with 24 wins in races carrying UCI points. Zabel, the complete sprinter, has won everything from World Cup classics to stages in Grand Tours, and is well deserving of the honour. He is followed by Estonian sprinter Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r), who has also had a very consistent winning season, although he lacks Zabel's big wins.
Surprisingly in third place is the giant Czech time trialist, Ondrej Sosenka. He is almost guaranteed to win the TT in any stage race he enters (he's also a track pursuit rider), and has picked up a few wins in smaller tours in this way. In this list, a win is a win, no matter whether it came from a 2.5 stage race or a World Championship.
Davide Rebellin (Liquigas) has probably had his best season in 2001, with 11 victories to show for it, and he is in fourth place on this list. Jens Voigt, Andrus Aug, Mario Cipollini, Erik Dekker, Angel Edo and Thor Hushovd round out the top 10, all with nine wins or more.
The race for bragging rights in the teams category goes to Mapei-Quick Step, which amassed 46 wins during the 2001 season, four more than Telekom and 13 more than the number one ranked team on UCI points, Fassa Bortolo. On the other end of the division I scale, Mercatone Uno (5) and Team Coast (1) did not have productive seasons.
Division II winner is Alessio, again not a surprise with several decent sprinters in its ranks. In second place is Ag2r, which had 18 of its 25 wins supplied by Kirsipuu. Third place is shared by CCC-Mat and Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy, but the latter will move up once the Sun Tour results are counted.
Finally the division III win list is headed by Colombian team 05 Orbitel (11 wins), which is the dominant team in that country. German team Wiesenhof Leipzig is next with 6 wins, followed by Stabil Steiermark and Team Crescent with 5 wins apiece.
Riders
Wins
1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 24
2 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance 18
3 Ondrej Sosenka (Cze) CCC-Mat 12
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Liquigas-Pata 11
5 Jens Voigt (Ger) Credit Agricole 10
6 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita-Beretta 9
6 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Caffe' 9
6 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 9
6 Angel Edo Alsina (Spa) Milaneza-MSS 9
6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 9
11 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service 8
11 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 8
11 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 8
11 Endrio Leoni (Ita) Alessio 8
11 David Millar (GBr) Cofidis 8
11 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei-Quick Step 8
17 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone 7
17 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 7
17 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Domo-Farm Frites 7
17 Didier Rous (Fra) Bonjour 7
17 Omar Slimane (Alg) 7
17 David McCann (Irl) CCC-Mat 7
23 Piotr Chmielewski (Pol) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 6
23 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto-Adecco 6
23 Florent Brard (Fra) Festina 6
23 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 6
27 Joseba Beloki (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 5
28 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step 5
29 Bogdan Bondariew (Ukr) Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 5
30 Hernan Buenahora (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific 5
31 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 5
32 Gil Cordoves (Cub) 5
33 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) iBanesto.com 5
34 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada 5
35 Robert Förster (Ger) Team Nürnberger 5
36 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 5
37 Manuel Guevara (Ven) 5
38 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Jean Delatour 5
39 Ruslan Ivanov (Mda) Alessio 5
40 Fabian Jeker (Swi) Milaneza-MSS 5
41 José Maria Jimenez Sastre (Spa) iBanesto.com 5
42 Nico Mattan (Bel) Cofidis 5
43 Juan Miguel Mercado Martin (Spa) iBanesto.com 5
44 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 5
45 Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Alexia Alluminio 5
46 Lubor Tesar (Cze) Wüstenrot-ZVVZ 5
47 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 5
Teams
Division I
Wins
1 Mapei-Quick Step 46
2 Team Deutsche Telekom 42
3 Fassa Bortolo 33
4 Lotto-Adecco 33
5 Saeco Macchine Per Caffe' 28
6 Cofidis 26
6 Rabobank 26
8 Mercury 25
9 iBanesto.com 24
10 Credit Agricole 22
11 Festina 21
11 Tacconi Sport-Vini Caldirola 21
13 Kelme-Costa Blanca 20
13 Liquigas-Pata 20
15 Domo-Farm Frites 19
15 O.N.C.E.-Eroski 19
17 US Postal Service 17
18 CSC Tiscali 16
19 Lampre-Daikin 14
20 Euskaltel-Euskadi 12
21 Mercatone Uno-Stream TV 5
22 Team Coast 1
Division II
Wins
1 Alessio 35
2 Ag2R Prevoyance 25
3 CCC-Mat 24
3 Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy 24
5 Team Nürnberger 20
6 Jean Delatour 19
6 Milaneza-MSS 19
8 Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 17
9 Team Fakta 16
10 Amore & Vita-Beretta 14
11 Cantina Tollo Acqua & Sapone 13
11 Selle Italia-Pacific 13
13 Atlas-Lukullus 12
13 Bonjour 12
13 Phonak Hearing Systems 12
16 Gerolsteiner 11
16 La Francaise Des Jeux 11
18 Bigmat.Auber 93 10
19 Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada 8
19 Saturn Cycling Team 8
21 Itera 7
21 Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 7
23 Alexia Alluminio 6
23 Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo 6
23 Collstrop-Palmans 6
23 La-Pecol 6
27 De Nardi-Pasta Montegrappa 5
27 KRKA-Telekom Slovenije 5
27 Post Swiss Team 5
30 Navigators Cycling Team 4
30 Wüstenrot-ZVVZ 4
32 Mobilvetta Design-Formaggi Trentini 3
32 Porta Da Ravessa 3
34 Flanders-Prefetex 2
34 Jazztel-Costa De Almeria 2
34 Ville de Charleroi-New Systems 2
34 Vlaanderen-T Interim 2
38 Carvalhelhos - Boavista 1
39 Team Cologne 1
40 Team Colpack-Astro 1
Division III
Wins
1 05 Orbitel 11
2 Team Wiesenhof Leipzig 6
3 Stabil Steiermark 5
3 Team Crescent 5
5 PSK Remerx 4
6 Weltour Radio Katowice 3
7 Agro-Adler Mark Brandenburg 2
7 AXA-VVZ Professional Cycling Team 2
7 Cantanhede-Marques De Marialva 2
7 Ficonseils-RCC Conseils Assurances 2
7 Legia 2
7 Servisco 2
7 Team HSBC 2
14 Barbot-Torrie 1
14 Defeet-Lemond 1
14 Kia-Suisse 1
14 Mikomax-Browar Staropolski 1
14 Netzero Cycling Team 1
14 Sympatico.ca 1
14 Zetelhallen 1
The Italian narcotics squad (NAS) has carried out a search of the Italian Cycling Federation's offices in Rome today. The raid was authorised by Florence public prosecutor Luigi Bocciolini, who also authorised the Giro d'Italia raids.
In the raid, documents were seized relating to doping cases against nine riders, including Dario Frigo and Daniele de Paoli. Both cyclists were suspended for six months after they were found with illegal substances during the Giro. That investigation is still going on, with some 80 people involved with the Giro under suspicion.
The highest profile rider involved in this affair is Telekom's Jan Ullrich, who together with many of his teammates and staff will answer to the judge via an Italian attorney. Ullrich is on holiday in Bali at the moment and is confident that nothing will come of the investigations, as the drugs (corticosteroids) in his possession were for the treatment of asthma, and he had a doctor's certificate to use them.
How did Domo-Farm Frites come up with the necessary funds to sign Richard Virenque for two years? Before the announcement last Thursday, team manager Patrick Lefevere said that his main sponsors did not extend his budget and that it would be a "small miracle" if he could hang onto Virenque.
Enter Eddy Merckx, the world's best ever cyclist who is now a major bike manufacturer and sponsor of Domo-Farm Frites. He personally guaranteed the Frenchman's salary so that Domo could keep him. It also means that Patrick Lefevere has more time to look for another sponsor, and possibly another rider.
Belgian paper De Standaard reports that both Frank Vandenbroucke and Laurent Roux (Jean Delatour) have had contacts with Domo.
"Frank talked to me," said Lefevere. "I like the challenge. Everyone was also against me signing Virenque. Frank is talking with [Domo] doctor Vanmol and will undergo tests in Leuven."
Frank responded that his manager, Paul De Geyter, has had contact with three teams, including Domo. But first Vandenbroucke wants to build himself up into an athlete again.
Laurent Roux was the other rider named, should Lefevere find a co-sponsor by December 1. He is a compatriot of Virenque's. Like Virenque, Roux was also involved in a doping affair (in 1999). He had a bad year with Mobilvetta before joining Jean Delatour in 2000. There he had some success in the 2001 Tour de France, when he pulled on Virenque's favourite climber's jersey after a long breakaway on the stage to Alpe d'Huez.
"At the moment I have 24 riders," said Lefevere. "Therefore, just one more can come. It could be a Frenchman (I have had 40 solicitations from that country) or VDB, we'll see."
By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent
Participation in the 'Wicklow 200' for the ordinary cyclist is liken to riding a stage in the mountains in the Tour de France," or words to that effect, so said Sean Kelly.
But for some strange reason the Irish Veteran Cyclist Association who held their AGM last week in the Maples Hotel, Glasnevin, Dublin, had a recommendation on their agenda which certainly caused a lot of interest. 'That the organisation and running of the Wicklow 200 should be handed over to a Professional Body or the Irish Cycling Federation (ICF) or the Cycling Touring Club (CTC).'
Unquestionably this has been one of the greatest success stories of any organisation. The Vets as they are commonly called got this event up and rolling in the 80's and it has stood the test of time. The professionalism that is behind the running of the event is second to none and it would a great pity from Joe public's point of view if they had turned their back on it.
In the end after a debate on the pros and cons, they decided to keep the running of the event within the membership. The beauty of the debate that was a number of organisations had intimated their desire to take over the reins.
They also had listed 23 motions, which were dealt with in a professional manner. Interestingly they have a motion, which is common to a lot of sporting organisations today. 'That all the funds, assets and liabilities of the association be and are hereby transferred into the ownership of the Irish Veteran Cyclists Association Limited with effect from the 21st October 2001.'
This was also passed, plus there was engaging talk about the racing calendar because of emergence of new members who were not au fait with racing.
The Tour du Faso (October 31-November 11) will be for the first time organised by the Sociètè du Tour de France this year. It attracts an interesting line up of teams, both from Africa and abroad, one of which will be the Marco Polo Cycling Club, the most diverse professional cycling team on the circuit.
However, Marco Polo has had big problems in getting to Burkina. "After rebooking their tickets six times, the team is now on its way to Ouagadougou," reports team spokesman Gudo Kramer.
"Problems with tickets involved extra security measures at Air France, cancellations and strikes with Air Afrique and overbookings with Sabena. The Sociètè du Tour has been very helpful and Travel agent Ulysses (specialising in bike-travel) from Belgium did an incredible job, changing the tickets from Friday night to Saturday evening three times, getting the team on the (Sabena) plane in Brussels just in time Sunday morning. The Marco Polo management is used to some stress, this being the 10th stage race (8th one outside of Europe) the team is flying to this year, but this time all of the organisational power had to be used."
"The Marco Polo management doesn't hope this is the start of a Tour full of problems and is very confident that it will be one of the strongest teams in the Tour. Because Ulzii Orshikh Jamsran from Mongolia and Damir Iratov from Uzbekistan (due to the situation in Uzbekistan!) had to cancel, the team will not have the very exotic line-up that followers are used to. Dutch riders Dona, Dijkhuis, De Waard, Legtenberg and Tjallingii and road captain Nathan Dahlberg from New Zealand (president of the Marco Polo Cycling Club) comprise the team, which will be led by Edwin Achterberg, assisted by Petra Hofs."
Cyclingnews technical editor John Stevenson has compiled a report on the latest bike bits to hit the Australian market for 2002. The Bicycling Australia Show was held over the weekend of October 19-21 at Rosehill Racecourse in Parramatta. A mixture of local distributors and manufacturers were exhibiting there alongside big overseas companies such as Shimano, Trek and Giant.
What can we expect in Australia for next year? Click here for a summary.
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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Tales from the Peloton
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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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