Another view of the Tour de France JuryYou will recall I mentioned that a Dutch TV journalist had indicated that it is not surprising that the Jury would disqualify the two riders after the Stage 19 fiasco because they would find it hard walking a straight line at night themselves ... with obvious implications.Well to set the record, at least partially straight, a nice email from someone who knows says: "I have known Martin Bruin (Big blond Dutch Commissaire on TdF) for the past 10 years and I have never seen him even take a glass of wine with a meal. Being TT does not make you a good Commissaire but Martin is one of the best I have worked with". A good angle I think. Criterium - Langelinjelopet - Copenhagen - 29/7The race was on a small (1800 m) circuit (40 laps), with two turning points, among the participants were Riis, Sorensen, Skibby, Pantani, Hamburger, Meinert, Holm, Bo Larsen and also the best Danish track and MTB riders.1. Rolf Sorensen Rabobank 1.16.28 2. Henrik Djernis American Eagle 0.04 3. Bo Hamburger TVM 0.04 4. Brian Holm Telekom 0.20 5. Morten Sonne Acceptcard(amateur) 0.20 6. Marco Pantani Mercatone Uno 0.20 7. Marc S. Jakobsen ABC (amateur) 0.20 8. Ronny Lerche ABC (amateur) 0.52 9. Tayeb Braikia ABC/Gittermann 0.52 10. Lars Michaelsen TVM 0.52Thanks to Henrik Falk Stiphout, NL, Profronde1. Dekker (Gemert) 100 km in 2.17.12 2. Ullrich (Ger) 3. Van de Meulenhof (Helmond) 4. Van de Akker (Veldhoven) 0.08 5. Blijlevens (Heerlen) 6. Lombardi (Ita) 7. Boogerd (Den Haag) 8. Teys (Bel) 9. De Jongh (Groot Schermer) 10. Hopman (Hoogerheide) Aalst Criterium, Belgium1 Frank Vandenbroucke 2 Johan Museeuw 3 Tony Bracke 4 Peter Farazijn 5 Peter Verbeken 6 Jean-Pierre Heynderickx 0.25 10 Jo Planckaert US National Cycling ChampionshipsFor Immediate Release, July 29, 1997Contact: Frank Stanley, USCF Communications Manager, (719) 578-4581 ALTOONA, Pa. -- In differing fashions, Louisa Jenkins (Shaklee) and Paul Martin (Go-Mart) won the road race titles Tuesday at the Fresca National Cycling Championships. Jenkins, of Boulder, Colo., edged Mari Holden (EDS National Team), Colorado Springs, Colo., in the final 200 meters of the 50-mile women’s race, while Martin, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, won in break-away fashion, finishing one minute, 38 seconds ahead of his nearest pursuer in the 100-mile men’s race. "I’m in complete disbelief," said Jenkins, who crashed on the very same course during the 1992 Olympic Trails and who also led the 1996 National Championship road race before crashing twice in the final two laps. Jenkins hung with Holden -- who was clearly the strongest rider in the race -- throughout the final two laps after the pair left the field behind on the 0.75-mile climb up Juniata Gap Road which gained over 1,200 feet. While Holden made several attempts to leave her competitor behind, Jenkins stayed right on her wheel and then won the sprint. By finishing 19th overall, Sara Willhoit (PowerBar), Colorado Springs, Colo., won the first under-23 women’s road race national championship. Martin powered away from his break-away partner, Olin Bakke (L.A. Wings), Sierra Madre, Calif., with 15 miles remaining in the men’s race. The pair had escaped from a 15-rider pack eight miles before on the descent from the Juniata Gap Road climb. On the next-to-last, Martin simply left Bakke behind on the second climb, on Pennsylvania Highway 36. "I’m a big guy (6-foot-4)," Martin said. "That hill was perfect for me." Martin’s lead grew to almost two minutes as he won solo. His new teammate, John Lieswyn, Asheville, N.C., was second. Bakke finished eighth. Martin, 24, now has his eyes on a professional career. Last year’s amateur champion, Chris Wherry, now rides for the Saturn Cycling Team. Steve Cate (Canadian River Racing Club), 21, Norman, Okla., won an abbreviated men’s under-23 race. The group of riders which included the remaining under-23 riders was so far behind the race leaders that the officials decided to pull them off the course with a lap remaining. Cate won the sprint over Josh Smith (Brielle Cyclery-Jeep Eagle), Pittsburgh, Pa. The Fresca National Cycling Championships conclude Wednesday, July 30, with the 25km individual time trial. Holden and Steve Hegg (Saturn), Dana Point, Calif., will both be looking to do something no American cyclist has ever done -- win three straight national titles in the event.
FRESCA NATIONAL CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, July 29, Altoona, Pa. Women, 50 miles 1. LOUISA JENKINS (SHAKLEE), Boulder, Colo., 2 hrs, 22 mins, 0 secs; 2. Mari Holden (EDS National Team), Colorado Springs, Colo., @:04; 3. Dede Demet (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., @:35; 4. Carolyn Donnelly (Potomac Racing Club), Albuquerque, N.M., @1:00; 5. Karen Bliss-Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., @1:01; 6. Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex), McKenzie Bridge, Ore., @1:14; 7. Joyce Zentara (Merlin-Smartfuel), Rutland, Vt., @2:43; 8. Ward Griffiths (QualMed-Saturn), Seattle, Wash., @4:25; 9. Julie Young (Saturn), Auburn, Calif., @4:26; 10. Kathleen Gleason (Fuji Racing Team), Chapel Hill, N.C., s.t. Under-23 1. SARA WILLHOIT (POWERBAR), Colorado Springs, Colo., 2 hrs, 27 mins, 3 secs; 2. Katherine Francis (Century Road Club), Rochester, N.Y., @:41; 3. Kori Kelly (Squadra Corsa), Fargo, N.D., s.t. Men, 100 miles 1. PAUL MARTIN (GO-MART), Broadview Heights, Ohio, 4 hrs, 12 mins, 15 secs; 2. John Lieswyn (Go-Mart), Asheville, N.C., @1:38; 3. Curt Davis (Kissena), Branford, Conn, s.t.; 4. Patrick Heaney (Kiwi), San Jose, Calif., @1:39; 5. John Hunt (Golden State Racing), San Anselmo, Calif., s.t.; 6. Michael Carter (OilMe-Klein), Denver, Colo., s.t.; 7. Sean Bragstad (Golden State Racing), Boulder, Colo., @2:25; 8. Olin Bakke (L.A. Wings), Sierra Madre, Calif., @2:44; 9. Antonio Cruz (Sierra Speed Gel), Sparks, Nev., @6:29; 10. Mason Rickard (One+), Denver, Colo., @7:18. Under-23, 92 miles 1. STEVEN CATE (Canadian River Racing), Norman, Okla., 3 hrs, 56 mins, 23 secs; 2. Josh Smith (Brielle-Jeep Eagle), Pittsburgh, Pa., @:01; 3. Sean Nealy (Kissena), Boston, Mass., s.t.; 4. Robert Dapice (Merlin), Concord, Mass., s.t.; 5. David Clinger (Nutra Fig), Woodland Hills, Calif., s.t. |