Second Edition News for December 3
BRAMATI SEEKS WORLD 'CROSS IN TOMORROWS POKER GAME
PRAGA (Czechoslovak Republic)
Luca Bramati is seeking to write his name into the history books.
If he should win in Prague tomorrow, he will be the first athlete
to win four races, and he will also sew up the Worlds Cup
(Cyclo-Cross)
The Italian Squad member has many (19) points in hand and can
afford to play a little poker. He has to be considered the winner
with only three more races to come, and he is devoting December
almost exclusively to his quest for the Worlds Cup.
Almost 100 cross practitioners from 15 countries will take to the
trail tomorrow and tackle the Strahov Hill which is close to the
Spartan stadium where the 2.510 kilometer circuit starts.
Other Italian contenders are, apart from Luca Bramati and technical
specialists Gregori and Di Tano; Pontoni, Gian Mario Bramati,
Fontana, Zoli and Cioni.
Standings before Praha:
1. Luca BRAMATI (Ita) punti/points 60
2. Groenendaal (Ola) 41
3. De Vos (Ola) 32
4. Wabel (Svi) 31
5. Chiotti (Fra) 25
..
16. Pontoni (Ita) 6. (A pretty disappointing season)
ZEN GOES TO ROSLOTTO-ZG
Argentin's new squad has definitely signed up Marco Zen, now
completing his ninth professional season.
____________________________________________________________________________
Paulsen wins US TT Title(Originally written June 1995 for Cycling USA)
BY JOHN REZELL
SEATTLE -- Mari Paulsen fumbled a little bit with the champagne
on the victory stand and laughed when she got aeyeful after
taking a swig, but hey, that's expected after winningyour first
US National Cycling Championship.
"It's not just my first championship," Paulsen said. "It's
myfirst win, period."
Paulsen soaked the rest of the field June 7 winning the 40K(24.8
miles) Individual Time Trial at the Fresca National
CyclingChampionships in rustic Stanwood north of Seattle.
Paulsen, riding for the Shaklee Team, covered the out-and-back
course in 57 minutes and 59.16 seconds.
Paulsen was more than 48 seconds faster than second-placeJeanne
Golay, a former two-time US champion, and 1:19 betterthan
third-place Dede Demet, who won the gold medal in thisevent in
the Pan Am Games in March. Both ride for Saturn.
The next closest pursuer was Elizabeth Emery of Chevrolet-LA
Sheriff, more than 3:20 behind.
"I can't believe it -- I'm still shaking," Paulsen said
asreporters started crowding around. "I've just been having
aterrible month. I went to Europe and raced poorly and I've had
acold for the last several weeks and have been on antibiotics.
Ithought I'd just come out here and give it my best shot,
andeverything just came together."
Paulsen cruised on the curvy course through the rolling
hillsnorth of Seattle in championship form.
"Everything felt great," said Paulsen, a former triathlete
wholives at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs,Colo. "I just love this course. It was challenging. It
keeps mefocused and keeps me from spacing out."
Most riders praised the cource.
"I thought the course was pretty difficult at times, but
overallit was a great course," Golay said. "I felt good. It's
nice to knowmy time trialing is coming back."
Demet also said she had a good race.
"But Mari just had a great race," Demet said. "That's just
asuper time. I feel great for her. It was a hard course,
veryselective, which you can see by the big difference in the
times."
Paulsen was sixth in the US Championship Individual TimeTrial in
1993 and 1994. Last year she rode even though she hada
compression fracture in her back, which wasn't diagnosed
untilafter the race.
"Last year I could hardly walk after the race," Paulsen
said."This is just great."
"It's just nice to know that I have some form,"
Paulsencontinued. "I was riding pretty good early in the year,
but then Ihit some hard times. I can't say how good this feels
right now." World Time Trial Champion Karen Kurreck couldn't say
the same.
"It was a nightmare," Kurreck said.
Kurreck dropped a chain on the first hill, continued and
gotchased by two dogs and later was steered off the course.
Still,she finished seventh
"It's been a very frustrating few weeks, and I feel like I
havegood form so that just makes it all the more frustrating,"
Kurreck said.
RESULTS US CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Individual Time Trial(40K)WOMEN
1. Mari Paulsen, Shaklee, 57:59.16
2. Jeanne Golay, Saturn, at :48
3. Dede Demet, Saturn, 1:19
4. Elizabeth Emery, Chevrolet-LA Sheriff, 3:20
5. Eve Stephenson,Timex-Cannondale, 3:29
6. Carmen Richardson, Timex-Cannondale, 3:38
7. Karen Kurreck, Alto Velo, 3:52
8. Laura Reed, Puget Sound Cycling, 4:14
9. Marci Mauro, unattached, 4:50
10. Stephanie Owen, Lackawanna Bicycle Club, 4:52
_______________________________________________________________________
1996 Should Be A Thriller
- Report filed Dec. 1
BY JOHN REZELL
It's a long cry from my old days in Wisconsin, where a blanket of
snow puts one season to rest and gets a warm heart longing for the
next
The night and morning fog of Southern California is a lame
substitute. Still, my insides are aflutter.
I can't wait for Redlands.
The Velo-O-rama is a little slow these days. I know that's not
easy for netters who expect something fresh, new and exciting
every day. There just isn't that much going on right now, save for
a bunch of cyclists climbing on their bikes complaining they don't
have any off-season. Sorry about that. It will change, though,
sooner than you think.As I write, the top racers in the US are
descending on Southern California for USA Cycling's training camp,
where guru Chris Carmichael will forge the foundation for '96.
Just a matter of days before I'll pop over and start giving you
some reports.
For now, as pumpkin pie heartburn lingers for another day as an
endless reminder it will be impossible to maintain this weight
through the holidays, I can't help but look ahead and get
excited.
I realize there are thousands of Euro-maniacs out there. I have
nothing against you. Nothing at all. But if it's Euro-news you're
looking for, the Velo-O-rama isn't for you. This is a page for US
racing.
Before you get all excited and start an emailing frenzy, let me
tell you I need no arguments on which racing reigns supreme. I'm
not an idiot. The bottom line is I cover US Racing, and US racing
alone. And I love it. It's great racing. It's a great scene. It's
not Europe. But, it's ours.
I can't help but excited about '96. If the Olympic Trials and
Olympics weren't enough, the new lineups look exciting.
Forgive me if I overlook Motorola here. Lance and the boys will
get their due soon. Right now let's just look at the Big Three
who butter their bread stateside.
Of course, right after I say that I'll point out that both bth
Saturn and the US Postal Service (formerly Montgomery-Bell) will
make a European presence this year with trips to the continent.
The major work across the Atlantic will be preparations for
DuPont, although Eddy B's boys plan more than that later in the
year.
For the most part, Chevrolet-LA Sheriffs, Saturn and the US Postal
Service have lineups set for the Olympic year, although Saturn is
still negotiating with former Motorola rider Steve Bauer with the
status of another veteran, Ron Kiefel, still up in the air.
With sprinting a pmium in US racing, just imagine the field
sprints with Chevy's Roberto Gaggioli and Malcolm Elliott;
Saturn's Frank McCormack, Fred Rodriguez and Mike McCarthy and US
Postal Service's Nate Reiss and Sven Teutenberg charging to the
line.
Think about the Tour DuPont with Andy Hampsten. Or the time trial
stacked Olympic Road Trials with Steve Hegg, Norm Alvis, Scott
Mercier, Mike Engleman and Clark Sheehan in the race of truth.
Ahh, better than T-day turkey. Here's the breakdown of the three
top domestic teams:
CHEVROLET-LA SHERIFFS
The Sheriffs lineup looks like a couple of hot Corvettes in the
showroom with some vintage old reliable sedans.
Chevrolet boasts winners of the past three US PRO POINTS series
championships with the signing of Roberto Gaggioli (1995 and 1993)
and the return of Malcolm Elliott (1994), not to mention two of
the winningest racers in the world with nearly 300 victories
between them.
The Sheriffs top gun for the Olympic Trials will be Steve Hegg,
who hopes to return to the five-ringed circus 12 years after his
golden ride in Los Angeles.
Hegg will have his two longtime Chevy teammates Jeff Pierce and
Jim Copeland at his side for the Trials, along with returners
Scott Moninger and Trent Klasna. Simeon Hempsall also
returns.hevy's other addition for '96 is Peter Steubenrauch.SATURN
The meat of the team that led US Teams in victories last season
remains intact, butossible addition of Bauer could give Saturn an
added punch, not to mention another Olympic spot, something Saturn
cherishes.
Reigning US Pro Road Race Champion Norm Alvis returns with US Pro
Criterium Champion Frank McCormack as two of Saturn's top Olympic
candidates.
Bart Bowen, Scott Mercier, Scott Fortner, Scott McKinley, Brian
Walton and Mike McCarthy also return, with Walton and McCarthy's
sights set on Olympic track berths (if not road spots, too).
Saturn's two new riders will be Fred Rodriguez and Mark McCormack,
Frank's brother.
If Saturn doesn't sign Bauer and Kiefel doesn't return, there may
be more signings to come.
US POSTAL SERVICE
The heart of the team that had the most success in last year's
DuPont returns with some added muscle.
Darren Baker, Tyler Hamilton, Nate Reiss and Clark Sheehan are
the core of Eddy B's group with Michael Engleman and Andy
Hampsten joining the fold.
Marty Jemison, Chad Gerlach and Eddy Gragus are the other
Americans returning.
The Euros joining the bunch are Dariusz Baranowski, Tomasz
Brozyna and Remigijus Lupeikis, not to mention German sprinter
Sven Teutenberg.
__________________________________________________________________
Demet Coming Of Age BY JOHN REZELL
Get Dede Demet away from her bicycle and her quietconfidence
casts an easy-going, laid-back attitude. She's fun,engaging --
the kind of person to be around on a rainy day.
Put Demet on her bike in front of a huge crowd and her youthful
enthusiasm bursts out from her glowing eyes.
And special things happen.
After knocking on the door for a year, Milwaukee's Demet smashed
down all barriers two weeks ago winning the Thrift
DrugInvitational in Pittsburgh, the second-richest one-day
women'scycling event in the world. Demet, 22, riding for the
Saturn Team, pulled away fromCanadian Susan Palmer of the Van
Wood Team in the final 400 meters to win solo before a crowd
estimated at 50,000 along the7.8-mile course to claim the $5,000
first-place prize.
On Sunday Demet will race in front of a couplehundred thousand
cycling fanatics in Philadelphia in theCoreStates Liberty
Classic, the richest one-day event in theworld. Demet was second
in Philadelphia and second at the USCF Amateur National
Championship road race in Seattle lastyear.
Right after Philadelphia she flies to Seattle. Back-to-back dates
with huge crowds to spur Demet intoanother world.
"I just like the scene around big races," Demet said from
hertraining home in Colorado Springs, Colo. "I like the big
crowds,it's kind of like a carnival. I get so excited my
adrenaline getsgoing and I just seem to race better."
Lately it's been hard for Demet to tell the difference
betweenracing well in front of big crowds and just racing well.
With the1996 Atlanta Olympics just more than a year away, Demet
isemerging as one of US cycling's top threats for a medal.
And, maybe not just one.
Demet won the gold medal in the individual time trial at thePan
Am Games in Argentina in March. She was fourth overall inthe
prestigious Tour de l'Aude in France in early May, losing
theoverall lead when some Eastern European racers from
Lithuaniaand Russia literally ran her off the road.
"I'd have a lot more respect for them if they just let the racebe
decided on their bikes," Demet said. "They're good racers.They
don't have to resort to tactics like that." Demet doesn't. She
continues to grow stronger on the climbsand faster in the sprints
with each passing day, or so it appears.
"I feel like I've gotten a lot stronger in the last year and
ahalf," said Demet, the 1989 Junior World Road Race Champion."A
lot of it is just maturity, both psychological and physical."
It's something that isn't lost on her competition. Demet'sstrong
abilities combined with her attack mentality have her
oneveryone's who's who list.
Just look at Pittsburgh.
"I knew Saturn would try to get someone away from the fieldbefore
we hit the hill," Palmer said. "And I know Dede is alwaysso
aggressive, so I kept my eyes on her." Demet, a 1990 graduate of
Devine Savior High School, wasaggressive from the start of that
race. She won two of the mid-race sprints.
"I was just feeling very strong ...," Demet said. "This is a
bigwin for me, it's huge. I've been coming close this past
year,getting a lot of high finishes but not winning. This feels
great tofinally come across first." Saturn and USA teammate
Jeanne Golay, the defending USroad race champion, just smiled.
"This has been coming for a long time," Golay said. "Dede isa
very talented racer and she really works hard. I think
everyoneknew it was just a matter of time before she started
getting somereal big results." In 1993 as a member of the US
National Team TimeTrial squad, she earned a silver medal at the
WorldChampionships in Oslo, Norway. But it was a bittersweet
year. Psychologically last year was very hard for me," Demetsaid.
Demet's father, Francis Demet, 69, died of cancer June 4, 1993,
after a two-year battle.
"My Dad was always my biggest supporter," Demet said."When I was
a kid he came to every race. "My Dad passingaway really stuck it
to me. I've realized in the big picture, itdoesn't matter whether
you win or lose. It's having fun that'simportant. It's the
history of sport: it's supposed to be fun. It's agame."
But Demet, who attends Colorado College each fall aftertwo years
at Marquette University, also learned the fine linebetween fun
and games and reality.
During a training ride in Colorado Springs, Colo., last December,
Demet was hit by a car at an intersection. Sheflipped onto the
car. Her bike was thrown 100 yards. Aside fromsome knee troubles,
she got off easy.
"My helmet saved my life," Demet said. "I used to go outsometimes
without a helmet -- I almost didn't wear one that day.But from
now on, I'm a helmet advocate."
JACKSON MAKES CAREER ADJUSTMENT
BY JOHN REZELL
Linda Jackson returned home to Los Altos Hills from
asuccessful weekend at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in
earlyMarch, and reported in to an old colleague.
"An old buddy of mine from investment banking called tosee how
I did," said Jackson, 35, who left the business world inAugust
to pursue racing full-time. "I told him I did great. Won
astage. Finished third overall. He asked how much I won. I
toldhim, a couple hundred dollars. He just laughed."
Times have changed for Jackson.
"I've gone from the Ritz Carlton to Motel 6," Jacksonsaid.
"And I just love it." Jackson opened the racing season with a
victory in the48-mile road race in Stage 2, and finished third
overall atRedlands, crashing in Stage 3 while wearing the
leader's jersey.Not bad considering the class of the field.
"Everyone who is anyone is here," US National Teamrider Eve
Stephenson said of the Redlands field.
Jackson has moved up the cycling ladder as quickly asshe
ascended the rungs in investment banking. After graduatingfrom
Stanford with an MBA in 1988, Jackson eventually moved tovice
president at Alex Brown & Sons in San Francisco.
In 1990, Jackson did what most investment bankers do:ease the
stress of an 80-hour work week with a quick ski trip toLake
Tahoe. There she tore up her knee. After surgery, shehopped on
her bicycle.
"I wanted to find something to get back into shape,"Jackson
said. "With all the hours I was putting on the stationarybikes
in rehab, I figured cycling was perfect." Jackson took a
couple of rides and opened a lot of eyes.
"Everyone kept saying, 'You should race,' " Jacksonsaid. "So
eventually I did."
Jackson joined the Midtown Racing Club of Palo Alto,where she
met former US National Team rider and Tour deFrance veteran
Liz Chapman.
"The first thing I noticed about Linda is that she isdriven,"
said Chapman, who left cycling in 1989 to pursue acareer as a
technical writer. "I could drop Linda a climb justbecause of
my experience, but eventually she'd be back therewith us."
Jackson learned a little about perseverance in the
high pressured business world, where she earned a six-figure
salary.
"I know you don't get anything for nothing," Jacksonsaid.
"It's not like it's magic. It's takes a lot of hard work
tosucceed in anything."
Jackson mostly raced locally in 1992, but competed inthe
Canadian National Championships, where she was third inthe
road race.
"Everyone wondered who I was," said Jackson, who grewup in
Ottawa. "Everyone wanted to check my birth certificate."
Jackson raced most of major races in 1993 whilejuggling
cycling and her career. She took third in the individualtime
trial at the Canadian National Championships and competedin
the road race at the World Championships.
Jackson would get up at 5 a.m., drive to Palo Alto for
atraining ride, change in the car while commuting to
SanFrancisco and then work 60-80 hours a week.
"I knew it was just a matter of time," Jackson said. "Iknew
I'd eventually give up investment banking for cycling, but
Ijust didn't know when."
By late 1993, Jackson caught the eye of MarianneBerglund, an
experienced Swedish racer and former WorldChampion (1983) who
has been living in Southern California forabout six years.
Berglund got Jackson on her Bodywise team.
"She has a special ability, and that's climbing,"
Berglundsaid. "That's a very rare quality in any racer, and
she fit inperfectly with our team."
Jackson wore the Bodywise colors as she won her stageat
Redlands, climbing in a two-rider breakaway with mountainbike
star Julianne Furtado, who won 17 races lastyear off-road.
"Juli Furtado kept pushing the pace up the hill,"Jackson said.
"I just stayed on her wheel on the way down. Ididn't know what
kind of a sprinter she was, so I wasn't sure whatto do."
With 150 yards remaining, Jackson bolted around to victory.
The next week Jackson left for New Zealand, to competewith the
Canadian National Team in a stage race.
"The key for Linda is that she's always looking forguidance
and advice," Chapman said. "She has a way of makingyou get on
her side. You want to help her and you want her to dowell."
Jackson's enthusiasm bubbled over after her victory
atRedlands. But she's hardly ready to sit back and savor the
thrill.She's aiming for a spot on the Canadian team for
theCommonwealth Games this summer, and a spot on the
OlympicTeam in 1996.
"I used to think going to Stanford and being in school were the
best days of my life," Jackson said. "Not any more.These days
are the best days of my life. And I know this is justthe
beginning."