News for July 29

Top 30 cyclists of all time (after WWII that is)

Standings Jan 1996.

Source of all calculations is a certain Bernard Callens who lives in Blankenberge (Belgium) and is the editor of a yearly publication which calculates all cycling events, taking into account the value of different professional (read elite)-races (from classics to worldchampionships) after WWII.

No surprises to this list. But for most non Europeans probably a lot of old unknown champions.

Also a means to reflect upon all those who think the current riders have the most beautiful and all time greatest victories. Again it shows that the TDF is not the only race to look upon. Allthough the top 5 were winners of this great event. But Nr 6,7,8 and 9 were mostly classic riders.

Those with * were (still) active in the 80's and 90's.

Bernard Callens is at: Stationstraat 9 8370 Blankenberge Tel+Fax: 050/42.43.05

 1) Eddy Merckx		 1374922
 2) Fausto Coppi	  811467
 3) Bernard Hinault	  789379*
 4) Jacques Ancquetil	  615906
 5) Felice Gimondi	  596525
 6) Rik Vanlooy		  531472
 7) Sean Kelly		  529994*
 8) Roger De Vlaeminck	  523324*
 9) Francesco Moser	  522225*
10) Louison Bobet	  510788
11)Joop Zoetemelk	  494164*
12) Raymond Poulidor	  442443
13) Gino Bartali          431768
14) Miguel Indurain	  427070*
15) Fiorenzo Magni	  407233
16) Ferdi Kubler	  373324
17) Freddy Maertens	  354653*
18) Giusseppe Saronni	  350721*
19) Rik Van Steenbergen   339363
20) Greg LeMond	          333270*
21) Herman Vanspringel    330396
22) Laurent Fignon	  329355*
23) Charly Gaul		  319039
24) Jan Raas		  316654*
25) Jan Janssen		  308906
26) Walter Godefroot	  296796
27) Claudio Chiappucci	  288986*
28) Lucien Van Impe	  281303*
29) Brik Schotte	  277662
30) Stan Ockers		  277351

Criterium, Peer, Belgium, July 24, 78 km:

 1. Bruyneel     2.01.00
 2. Peeters       + 0.03
 3. Vanderaerden  + 0.11
 4. Renders
 5. Wauters
 6. De Bie        + 0.40
 7. Corvers
 8. Rivera
 9. Lenaers
10. Aerts (all Belgium)

Wateringen/the Netherlands, Profronde, July 25:

 1. Boogerd 100 km in 2.18.09
 2. Den Bakker  0.10
 3. Henn (Dui)
 4. Van de Wolf  0.25
 5. De Jong
 6. Den Braber
 7. Brasi (Ita)
 8. Talen 
 9. Capiot (Bel)
10. Luppes

Bazel (Bel), Profkoers, July 25

 1. Verdonck (Bel) 147 km in 3.23.00
 2. Moreels (Bel) 		0.15
 3. Gilmore (GBr) 
 4. Heynderickx (Bel)
 5. Van Lommel (Bel) 		0.20

Australia Olympic ``superbikes'' to be sold worldwide

Keen cyclists worldwide will soon be able to ride Olympic-grade equipment made by the developers of the Australian cycling team's state-of-the-art track bicycle, an Australian university said on Wednesday. The woven carbon fibre-based bike was expected to be available in road, track and mountain-bike versions in Australia and overseas, Melbourne's RMIT University said in a statement.

RMIT and the Australia Institute of Sport, the original developers of the ``Olympic Superbike'', and Nezkot Pty Ltd formed a joint venture, called Bike Technologies, to manufacture and market the bikes for a wider market from September.

RMIT said the Superbike was expected to attract sales of A$45 million (US$35 million) a year by the year 2000. Australia's track cycling team took 30 of the bikes, which weigh about 5.5 kg (12 lb) each, for use in the 1996 Olympic games currently underway in Atlanta.

The bikes would be priced between A$2,500 and A$3,000 each at peak production levels, RMIT spokesman Adam Kilgour said. They would be the first Australian-made bikes since the last local bicycle maker went out of business in 1982, RMIT said.

When asked if there was any chance of foreign teams beating Australian riders on the Australian bike in future competitions, Kilgour replied: ``The developers are already working on the new-improved version to avoid that.''

(A$1 = US$0.79)

Second Dave Rayner Fund Ride

Most bikies in the UK will be aware through Cycling Weekly that the second running of the Dave Rayner Fund Ride has been announced for September 8. I can warmly recommend this day out to cycling visitors to the UK. Last year 300 of us took part in brilliant sunny weather on a hilly but not daunting course through the spectacular countryside of the Yorkshire Dales. It would be a miracle of coincidence if the weather were as good this year, but that shouldn't deter entrants. Rides of 30 miles and 57 miles have been arranged, both starting in Skipton, West Yorkshire, and finishing a few miles down the road in Gargrave, where there is a memorial to Dave Rayner.

The entry fee of 5 per rider and any additional money donated goes towards a fund to help selected young UK riders make their way into continental European racing.

Details are available from organiser Sid Barras on (44) (0)1535 654227, or send a stamped addressed envelope to him at Whitley Hill Farm, Whitley Head, Steeton, Keighley, West Yorks, BD20 6QS, UK.

See you there!