Neiwand emphatically denies positive drug test reportNeiwand emphatically denies having being tested positive for taking a banned substance. On his returns from America recently it was reported that Neiwand was enraged to hear of a newspaper article stating that he expected to test positive to a banned stimulant while in New Zealand recently. Neiwand stated that he was tested in New Zealand and had declared to officials he was taking a flu medication at the time to relieve symptoms of a viral infection. Neither the ACF or Gary have received any report from the drugs in sport agency about a positive test.Death of Portugal Rider from heart attackPortuguese cyclist Manuel Abreu, from Team Maia, died today, in the middle of a training ride, victim of a heart attack. The cyclist had begun his usual training route by secondary roads in the company of other cyclists, when he fell from the bike after three kilometers. Transported to the hospital de Guimaraens, where he was DOA. Abreu was one of the most known cyclists from Portugal and last year had finished third at the Vuelta Ciclista a Portugal.Death of Franco MealliItalian race organiser Franco Mealli has died aged 72. The victim of a pulmonary embolism, Mealli was the founder/organiser of a number of Italian pro races, notably the Tirreno--Adriatico stage race, but also several one-day events -- the Trofeo Pantalica, the Giro dell'Etna, the Giro di Friulia and the Giro di Lazio. Born in Tuscany, Mealli had a brother, Bruno, who rode in the pro peloton and wore the Giro d'Italia maglia rosa. Franco Mealli was a race director of long experience -- at the age of 10 he organised his first race, for the other children of Malva, his home village near Arezzo.Lance to make a movieFrom the Austin-American Statesman, 21 Feb 1997by Suzanne Halliburton, A-AS staff The heading read "Any day's a good day - Movie in the works, but Armstrong just glad to be here" Austin cyclist Lance Armstrong looked sheepish when asked about plans for a made-for-television movie chronicaling not only his world-class athletic career but his recent battle with advanced testicular cancer. "There are better stories out there than mine," the 25-year-old Armstrong said on Thursday. "People have better things to do than watch a movie about me." Obviously not. Armstrong's agent is talking to producers about a movie. People want to read about him as well. Armstrong's representatives recently hired a Chicago-based author, who also is a testicular cancer survivor, to ghostwrite Armstrong's autobiography. And his newly created Lance Armstrong Foundation will be the beneficiary of the proceeds from the Race for the Roses on March 23. Plans for the 100 mile cycling event and a concert were announced on Thursday. The race is expected to attract more than 2,000 riders and raise more than $100,000 for the foundation which was created in January to help raise awareness of the symptoms and treatment for testicular cancer. The name for the race is based on the stop-and-smell-the-roses philosophy shared by survivors of cancer and other serious diseases. "Lance has told me that if you have cancer, any day is a good day," said race director John Korioth. "No day is a bad one. And if you ever want to take time to smell the roses, now is the time." Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer in October and, following brain surgery he completed 12 weeks of intense chemotherapy in December. His body is clear of the disease, which had spread from his testicles to his abdomen, lungs, and brain before he sought a doctors opinion. He said he will spend the next year regaining hes health before trying to regain the form that made him one of the world's top cyclists. He will be checked by his doctors in Indianapolis, where he had his chemotherapy, every three months. He is checked by a doctor at the Southwest Regional Cancer Center in Austin on a monthly basis. He will not race this spring or in the Tour de France this summer. "My priority now is to just live and to be healthy at the same time," Armstrong said. "Waking up every morining is good enough for me." "There's still a possibility that this could come back and kill me. That's a very scary thing. We are barely out of it. I finished the chemo in December and it's been two months, but they are going to follow me closely fro five years." Armstrong's outward appearance is showing signs of normalcy. His hair, which he lost as a result of the chemo, is growing back, although it's a lighter shade of brown than before. His legs still retain some of the strength he built through the years and thousands of miles of training. He's been able to ride his bike for up to 90 minutes each day. He plans to complete the 100-mile course next month, although he probably will struggle to do so. In years past, he would have ridden 100 miles as part of his daily training regimen. Doctors can't tell Armstrong whether he ever will return to top athletic form because they do not know whether his heart and lungs will suffer permanent damage from the chemotherapy. "I think athletes do pretty well with things like (cancer) because they're so used to competing," Armstrong said. "Then again, no matter who you are, cancer is a tough opponenet." For information on the Race for the Roses, call 800-496-4402 or write to P.O. Box 684947, Austin, TX 78768 There are also 10 and 25 mile courses. The fee is $20-30. International tour of lloret de marLast Stage: 1. Theus (Ned) 55.57 2. Bijnen (Ned) 3. Willems (Bel) Final Overall: 1. Theus 137 points 2. Martin (Fra) 134 3. Dierickxsesns (Bel) 126 4. de Buyst (Bel) 117 5. de Haan (Ned) 117 Vandenbroucke's knee againFrank Vandenbroucke has an imflammation above his left knee-cap. After research in a hospital of Liege/Belgium the decision felt: no racing for at least 8 days. No operation, but at least one week of laser therapy.Lefevere: 'We don't Frank in races before March 15' Amsterdam RAI Dernyrace/GP HoutlandOn May 18 Erik Zabel, Lombardi, Michael Boogerd and Patrick Jonker will start in the race behind derny's.Bjarne Riis is not coming; he will start in a derny-race in his birthplace - Herning/Denmark. |