Second Edition News for December 23, 1997

The Second Summer Rio Cycling Race - Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro

The II Summer Rio Cycling Race - the international criterium - opened the "Summer Olympic Festival 98". More than just show their skills in an easy 2km circuit, cyclists had suffered with high temperatures (something like 40º celsius, or 110º F). The surprise was the participation of Casino's Jacky Durand.

Europe was also represented by the french pursuit team (Jerome Neuville, Carlos da Cruz, Frederic Magné and Sylvain Anquetil), as well as the Spanish Eleuterio Anguita (Estepona-Toscaf). Leading the South American competitors was Kross-Montanari's Cesar Goyeneche, from Colombia, Chilean Angel Arroyo and Brazil's only pro, Cássio Freitas (Troiamarisco, Portugal).

But there was no foreigner in the top three. Good work by the Caloi-Petrobras squad gave the victory, at the sprint, to the young Luciano Pagliarini (19 years old). Pagliarini, born at Londrina, is expected to be Brazil's next professional. He completed the 60km race in 1h08min59sec, at the stunning average of 52.170 km/h (the pace was really furious). Durand was the best foreigner, in fifth position.

In the women's race, an easy victory for Claudia Carceroni, from Belo Horizonte (where Rodrigo, our correspondent, lives). In fact, she is married with Christophe Santaigne, director of French National Cycling Center, at Montry. Claudia had no problem to open a good gap and complete the 30km race with 38min05sec (avs 47.30 km/h).

Men, 60 km

 1. Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) Caloi-Petrobras		     1.08.59
 2. Hernandes Quadri Jr. (Bra) Caloi-Petrobras
 3. Hamilton de Souza (Bra) Unattached
 4. Alessandro R. Silva (Bra) Magalhães
 5. Jacky Durand (Fra) Casino, C'est votre equipe
 7. Eleuterio Anguita (Spa) Estepona-Toscaf
 8. Cesar Goyeneche (Col) Kross-Montanari
 
Women, 30km

 1. Claudia Carceroni Santaigne (Bra) Caloi-Petrobras		38.05
 2. Carla Gardenal (Bra) Carmo-Pro Specs
 3. Rosane Minervino (Bra) Unattached

Riding in Vietnam

There is to be a Vietnam Challenge - a bicycle journey for reconciliation. The information page is located at: http://www.askasia.org/gateway_to_asia/gta_frm6.htm

On New Year's Day 1998, abled and disabled veterans from both sides of the War in Vietnam will begin the Vietnam Challenge, a bicycle journey down Vietnam's previously war torn Highway 1. The Asia Society, America's premier cultural and educational institution dedicated to fostering understanding and communications between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific, will enable millions to follow the historic 16-day, 1,200 mile trek virtually via the AskAsia Web site (http://www.askasia.org).