News for December 30, 1997

Contracts and Transfers

European Weekend Cyclocross

Kayl, Luxembourg, Cat 2, December 27, 1997:

 1. Peter van der Abeele (Bel) 
 2. Peter van Riet (Bel) 
 3. P. Triebel (Lux) 
 4. E. Vervaet (Bel) 
 5. K. Nielsen (Bel) 
 6. H. Schoonackers (Bel) 
 7. J. Arenz (Ger)
 8. M. Eberhardt (Ger) 
 9. M. Kovac (Slo)
10. G. Glajza (Slo)

St. Jozef Rijckevorsel, Belgium, Cat 2, December 27, 1997:

 1. Adri van der Poel (Ned) 
 2. Danny de Bie (Bel)
 3. Marc Janssens (Bel)
 4. D. Willemsens (Bel)
 5. P. Willemsens (Bel) 
 6. Paul Herijgers (Bel)
 7. Paul Janssens (Bel)
 8. J. van Donink (Bel)
 9. G. David;
10. G. Lauwers (Bel)

Hombrechtikon, Switzerland, Cat 2, December 27, 1997:

 1. Dieter Runkel (Swi) 
 2. J. Pospisil (Cze)
 3. Beat Wabel (Swi) 
 4. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) 
 5. R. Schätti (Swi) 
 6. Thomas Steiger (Swi) 
 7. Peter van der Abeele (Bel) 
 8. Roman Peter (Swi) 
 9. Beat Blum (Swi) 
10. O. Lukes (Cze)
11. Patrick Blum (Swi) 
12. A. Büsser (Swi)

GP Fonti San Benedetto, Scorzé (Italy), Cat 2, December 28, 1997:

 1. Paul Herijgers (Bel) 
 2. F. Dall'Oste (Ita)
 3. Daniele Bertoni (Ita)
 4. G. Bilato (Ita)
 5. A. Fontana (Ita)
 6. P. Prosek (Cze)
 7. F. Scotti (Ita)
 8. M. Sargenti (Ita)
 9. I. Tavella (Ita) 
10. ?. Polo (Ita)

Steilacoom, Washington, Super Cup Cyclocross Series, Race #5, December 28, 1997

Men: 1. Dale Knapp (Redline) 2. Bart Bowen (Saturn) 3. Marc Gullickson
(Team GT) 4. Jed Fox (Bontrager) 5. Brent Prenzlow (TCB/Steelman) 6. Kevin
Merrigan (Otis Guy/Weatherford BMW) 7. Craig Undem (Redline) 8. Mark Hanson
(Control Tech) 9. Narayan Mahon (Redline) 10. Jonathan Sundt (Redline) 11.
Ron Schmeer (Ray's Boathouse/Wedgewood Cycle) 12. Geoff Proctor
(Guerciotti) 13. Mike O'Brian (Control Tech) 14. Chris Pike (Tacoma
Bicycle) 15. Carter Hovey (Rocky Mtn/Riders Cycles) 16. Karl Haunold (Idaho
Mtn Touring)
									
Women:	1. Ann Grande (Redline) 2. Katie Blincoe (Redline) 3. Donna Sisson
(Blackmarket Scouby Snax)

Masters 35+: 1. Tim Rutledge (Redline) 2. Robert Meigham (Steelman/Fox) 3.
David Hull (Old Town Cycles) 4. Ted Mittelstaedt (Pazzo Velo/Saturn) 5.
Glen Bunselmyer (Control Tech)

Matt White Interview

KT: Matt White joins us on "Grandstand" this morning. Matt good morning.

MW: Morning Karen.

KT: Well, it's a nice Xmas present for you and Peter Rogers!

MW: It certainly was Karen. It was getting a bit hectic there and looking a bit grim for our contracts after Saturn had pulled out, but yes, it's great news for Christmas and the New Year and my morale.

KT: Well, just re-cap for our listeners on Grandstand the background to the Saturn deal and just what exactly happened with the fall through of that deal.

MW: The original proposal was for five riders to be included into the American-based Saturn team, with staff and mechanics and stuff like that from the AIS. That proposal was rejected and then they came to a compromise where they were going to put me and Peter Rogers in, and the Sports Commission was going to pay our salaries. We were going to be slotted into the team so we could work around and keep our work load good for the Commonwealth Games and for the Olympics in 2000. That was all agreed on verbally and everything like that, then Saturn pulled out last Friday, a fortnight ago, out of the blue.

KT: So how did the Italian sign up come about?

MW: The new national coach, Shayne Bannan - he's had a lot of connections in Italy, he himself raced there as a professional in that area in Tuscany - after we found out that we had no where else to go. It looked like we'd have to go back to the amateurs. Shane made a few phone calls and as it turned out me and Peter had some good UCI points that we can offer the team, and they were interested. So yeah, it's been a lucky break for us!

KT: A lucky break. Do you know much about the team that you are signing up with?

MW: Yes, we raced them a lot this year in the professional races and I'll probably be doing 70 per cent of my racing in Italy which is very good because at the moment Italian cycling is really growing and getting so strong. The other 15-20 % (sic) of racing we'll be doing right through Europe. But, we've got the flexibility there with Shayne organising the contract and our team knows that our big goal for 1998 will be the Commonwealth Games.

KT: And Matt, how is your Italian?

MW: Not very good. Not bad at ordering pizza but that's about where it ends, Karen. So, I'm going to have to do a crash course in Italian over the next 6 weeks. Going into an Italian team where there's only two or three foreigners, all my staff won't be able to speak English, so I'm definitely going to have to make a big effort.

KT: Well, it seems to be the thing that you have to do especially well in the sport of cycling, which is so huge in Europe. Neil Stephens, who is based in Spain and fluent not only in Spanish but quite adept in a few other languages. Henk Vogels is getting better at French. It's just a thing that you seem to have to do.

MW: Yes. Definitely. I've been in an out of Germany for the last three years and I can get by in German but didn't want to make the effort to learn a language until I was really going to be based there. Now I've got the opportunity, with Peter, to go and base ourselves in Italy, so I'm really going to to make a big effort. You've sort of got to become a European - you'll never forget where you came from, you're always an Australian - but you've got to fit into their culture, and fit into their society, and a big part of that is to learn the language.

KT: Is it a shame, in a way, that road cycling just isn't a bigger sport in Australia?

MW: It is for us Australians. But it is a European sport and it's never, ever going to get to the prestige levels that it is in Europe. So, we're foreigners, doing a foreign sport. But cycling's profile has got a lot bigger with races like the Bank Classic and the Sun Tour have raised the profile of the sport in our country but it's never going to be the same. It's just like it's bred into their culture in Europe.

KT: I'm speaking to former AIS cyclist, Matt White. He and Peter Rogers have signed up with an Italian professional team for next year. Matt give us a taste for how big cycling is in Europe. This year we saw five Australians taking part in the Tour de France; looking at that vision of that race it was quite remarkable to see the multitudes of spectators lining the street. Just how big is it?

MW: Well, cycling in Europe is the second most popular sport, behind soccer, and if you go to any of the big soccer games they pull in 100,000 people a game. In France, and in Italy - me and Peter could be riding in the Tour of Italy, depending on our form, the team will be doing it - the country stops still. It's like Melbourne Cup day, in Australia at 3 o'clock on Melbourne Cup day the country stops still. Well, in Fance in July the country stops still for five or six hours while the Tour de France is on, and everyone goes into their cafes and little pubs to watch the Tour. Or, if they've got a chance to go locally and see a stage finish, or along the route, they'll go and have a look. So, it's like the Melbourne Cup day for Australia - but it's for 21 days!

KT: We have quite a few Australians riding professionally in Europe now, don't we?

MW: This is the most we have ever had in Europe at the moment. As well as the 5 guys who rode the Tour de France, there are now me and Peter based in Italy, Jay Sweet and Marcel Gono also basing themselves in France, So that's nine Australian professionals. That's great

[Bill notes: this is well under the actual number. See the news for December 26 to clarify the matter. Don't forget Scotty Sunderland also]

KT: How are the Australians regarded overseas by the international competitors?

MW: A few years ago, we've always had our freaks, and guys like Phil Anderson, who are just super-talents and have done it all off their own bat. Guys like Neil Stephens, who is still around but, now with the guys like Neil and Henk and Robbie and Stewie - those sort of guys being there, not just one off, but being there week in and week out has raised the profile and we're not a novelty anymore. Not just the one off guy who is an exceptional talent, we're now seen as a cycling nation. Sure, we're never going to be the same as France, Spain or Italy - those sort of countries - but we've got ten professionals now and that is a lot in a small cycling community.

KT: Well, Matt you've got the personality to raise the profile!

MW: I'd love to educate the Australian publich - cycling is a great sport. People follow it like we follow our football teams. Like the people where I'll be living in the Tuscany region, they'll be following our team. We are the new signings in the team. Everyone really gets behind us. It's great. With your training, you get so much respect, even out on the roads when you're training in Europe. People don't see us as a pain to get off the road. They really respect us, and show us a lot of appreciation. Its really good.

KT: Spending as long as you will overseas in 1998, do you get much of a chance to follow sport back in Australia? You mentioned football - do you still have a favourite football team?

MW: Yes, definitely. I've always followed the Cronulla Sharks wherever I go. I try to keep up with world sports. We're lucky to hav CNN and they do have little sections about Australian sport. Also, friends and family send clippings and stuff like that. I was following the Sharks progress this year and I was pretty disappointed when I heard they were beaten by Brisbane in the final. We do catch up with a lot of Australians travelling in Europe, and its good to talk to people and other Australian sportsmen and hear a familiar voice, it's something we've got in common.

KT: Obviously, you have had a good Xmas at home - when do you and Peter have to head over to Europe?

MW: We're not quite sure. We'll find out in the next week, but the team is going to be really flexible in our program. At the moment, it's a really bad European winter so it's no good us going to Italy now when it's 5 degrees Celsius and snowing when we can be soaking up the sun in Australia and doing some long kilometres. The plan for us, at the moment, is for me to stay here, between Sydney and Canberra, then I'll go down for the Tour of Tasmania, at the end of January, after Australia Day (January 26) and ride the six day tour down there. That'll be my first hit out for the season. Then I'll probably head off sometime in February, that's probably the most likely time, and we'll be there until September and the Commonwealth Games.

KT: Great news. Matt White, thanks for joining us today on Grandstand.

MW: Okay, that you Karen.

KT: Former AIS rider Matt White. He and Peter Rogers signing up professionally for an Italian team for next year.

Other Australians in Europe

David Ashmore (10-02-71) VC De Lievespurters-Zomergem (Bel)
Christian Back UWTC De Volharding (Ned)
Marcel Bengston (1962) Regulators (USA)
Baden Burke (28-12-71) WSV De Peddelaars (Ned)
Timothy Christopher (1975) Pédale Nantaise (Fra) and Casini (Ita)
Joshua Collingwood (1977) VC Saint Quentin (Fra) and Casini (Ita)
Baden Cooke (12-10-78) Casini (Ita)
Michael Duim (09-10-75) Josan Cycling Team (Bel)
Scott Farley UWTC De Volharding (Ned)
Marcel Gono (24-05-76) Casini (Ita)
Matthew Hayman (20-04-78) Rabobank (Ned)
Alan Iacuone (22-10-73) Porcelanatto (Spa)
Brett Jenkins UWTC De Volharding (Ned)
Dean Jones (31-10-72) WC 't Luchtschip-Piels (Ned)
Wayne Kestle Casini (Ita)
Luke Kuss (01-04-78) Casini (Ita)
Tim Lyons (30-05-74) Casini (Ita)
Jono McCormack Casini (Ita)
Bradley McGee (24-02-76) Casini (Ita)
Scott McGrath UWTC De Volharding (Ned)
Matthew Meaney (24-07-78) Casini (Ita)
Graham Plowright LWV Swift-Casba (Ned)
Luke Roberts (25-01-77) Casini (Ita)
Dean Rogers (13-06-76) Casini (Ita)
Duncan Smith Casini (Ita)
Matt Sparnon Casini (Ita)
Corey Sweet (25-11-76) Casini (Ita) brother of Jay
Russell Tucker Regulators (USA)
David Walton UWTC De Volharding (Ned)
Matt Wilson (28-10-76) Casini (Ita)

As you can see some where concentrate in an Italian and a Dutch team. The Italian Casini team was even completely Australian because the team manager was also an Australian; Shayne Bannan. In fact, it is the Australian U-23 team.

Victorian Track Carnival plans to rival the Tasmanian Series

Traditionally, it is the big track meets between Xmas and the New Year in the north of Tasmania that attracts the interest among Australian and New Zealand would-be's. The Tassie Carnivals from Burnie and culminating in the meeting at the Launceston Silver Dome attracts big money, and the top riders like Stephen Pate.

Shepparton Cycling Club has tried to bring the many country club carnivals in Victoria together for what they are calling "The Victorian Country Cycling Carnival Circuit (VCCCC)". This circuit has attracted record entries this year after only four years of operation. The VCCCC is now a competitive alternative to the big Tassie carnivals.

Local Shepparton Times reporter, Keith Esson, who files more paragraphs on cycling than any other hard-copy journalist in Australia, wrote recently, that "District cycling officials are overwhelmed at the response for this year's VCCCC events which culminate at Shepparton on New Year's Day after starting at Echuca on Boxing Day. Shepparton, Echuca and Bendigo have received record entries as have clubs at Horsham, Ararat and Ballarat."

Ian Maher told me that many riders will no longer go to Tasmania for a number of reasons. First, it is costly to go over to Tasmania. The costs of travelling the Victorian circuit are very low by comparison. Second, there is a perception that the carnivals in Tasmania are set up for the "stars" and the middle-markers are often unable to be competitive in the handicapping system. It is much harder for a average rider to figure in the money.

Ian said that for this year there was more than $40000 in prize money on offer across the 6 track carnivals in the series and the Mooroopna roller championships which will be a highlight at the Mooroopna New Year's Eve mardi gras.

He acknowledges that the carnivals do not have the best track riders: "We do not have Stephen Pate or riders like Ric McCaig but we have attracted a large entry from among the best riders from South Australia, NSW and Queensland,"

Local Shepparton Times reporter, Keith Esson reports that the secretary of the nearby Echuca-Moama club, Ern Smith reflects the enthusiasm of Maher. He reports Smith as saying: "We're delighted with the number and quality of entries and this looks like being the best carnival we have ever staged at our Moama Velodrome. It's going to be a tight schedule but we look like running at least 60 events on the day, about 10 more than last year. We have more than 90 entries for the wheelrace which will be raced in six heats, making places in the final even harder to come by. Last year we had four heats with the first four going through (to the final) but this year only the top three in each heat will progress, putting even more pressure on riders."

The first carnival at Moama saw Junior World Champion, Brett Lancaster in action in the George Hussey Memorial Wheelrace last Friday. This was the first of the VCCCC series and saw big crowds come out to support the carnival. 18-year old Lancaster has been working with Charlie Walsh in Adelaide with the Australian Institute of Sport Track Squad. At present they are doing 1000 road kms per week as a base building program.

Lancaster said he was short of track speed leading up to the event due to the month long Adelaide stint.

Local Shepparton Times reporter, Keith Esson quotes Lancaster: "I still haven't got any track speed because of the intensive road program I have been doing in Adelaide. Hopefully this will come during the week and it will all come together at Shepp on New Year's Day."

The outdoor Moama velodrome is a 285 metre lap and has banks over 20 degrees. It is a tight, short-straight track. Ian Maher said the main event was the 7 lap $3250 Hussey Wheelrace and it was ridden in very windy conditions. Lancaster rode the 2 kms in 2:13.45 which improved on his heat time by 8.36 seconds.

In the final heat the long handicapped riders James Fitzgerald (off 170), Ben Jackson (off 205) and Luke French (off 185) took the fastest qualifying time out of 6 heats (2:16.85).

The scratch duo was Lancaster and Jeff Hopkins. Hopkins won the 1000 metre TT at the Junior Worlds in South Africa in 1997. Closest to them were two riders at 20 metres, four at 70 metres and another rider on 75.