News for July 31, 1997

Rolf's Diary Update

La Châtre 10 July

5th stage TdF 263km

This incredible pig Vasseur, he had all the luck. He won the stage because Cipollini wanted to prevent Zabel from getting the stage victory. At the beginning I too was with a group, and almost all the teams were represented except for Mapei, otherwise who knows? But all in all I degested this long stage well. A few riders are becoming a little tired and then I'll catch fire.

Marennes

6th stage TdF 220km

Finally I had a good feeling in my legs. I went away with Abdujaparov for 30km, but 12km before the finish we were reeled in. There was just a little head wind. But because of my break I missed all the crashes that happened in the field. And the sprint today!! Zabel was disqualified, he head-butted the opponent to his side, Steels thrown out of the race, he threw his water bottle at Moncassin, and Abdu was caught doping after the 2nd stage and also had to go home!

Bordeaux 12 July

7th stage TdF 200km

The team GAN made me crazy today. For the whole day they rode after three runaways, who were unimportant for the GC. Of course, one of these three was from my team, Marco Saligari. They rode down the escapees 15km before the finish, and then our Jann Kirsipu got second in the sprint. Finally a little money came into our cash register.

Pau 13 July

8th stage TdF 173km

That was a fast stage, ca. 48km/h average. The legs are good, but I still haven't won anything. And now come the giant cols, where it'll be really hard for me. Although, I've never survived the first week of the Tour so well, also moralewise. Last year at this time I was hanging from a rope! I still believe in myself somewhat in this Tour, I only have to wait for a middle difficulty stage. And by the way, the stage I won [St. Gervais, 1992 in a sprint against Roche and Delgado] was the longest and also with a climb at the end!

Loudenvielle 14 July

9th stage TdF 195km

This bloody Tour! The whole day totally blocked, on the descents in the fog risking my life, the whole day my legs ached, and a hell of a lot of sweat! And at the finish totally blown and with 27 minutes in arrears. Afterwards still one and a half hours by car to the hotel. If one would do all this to a dog, the animal protection society would step in, but we're only bike racers. This is guarenteed my last Tour. To get to Paris I'll have to ride in the advertising caravan! Luckily, tomorrow is only a short stage, 252km with 6 passes. What really annoys me is that I could pack it in and go home.

translated by David Wear

Zabel wins in Graz

German Erik Zabel won today the Criterium de Graz, contested at this Austrian location. Zabel did the 70 laps of less than 1000 meters with a total of 72 points, ahead of the 28 points achieved by Italian Andrea Tafi (Mapei), who finished second.

US National Time Trial Championships

For Immediate Release, July 30, 1997
Contact: Frank Stanley, USCF Communications Manager, (719) 578-4581

ALTOONA, Pa. -- A pair of first-time champions were crowned today as Elizabeth Emery (Klein) and Jonathan Vaughters (Comptel-Colorado Cyclist) each won jerseys as the Fresca National Cycling Championships concluded.

Vaughters, of Englewood, Colo., smoked the 25km course in 31 minutes, 11 seconds, to edge Norm Alvis (Saturn), Colorado Springs, Colo., in the senior men’s event.

"I had to go flat out," Vaughters said. "I didn’t have any indication of how fast I was going."

Since Vaughters did not compete in the event at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, he was not ‘seeded’ among the top contenders.

Emery, of New York, N.Y., covered the course in 34 minutes, 56 seconds, besting Dede Demet (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., by 23 seconds.

"My plan for the whole year was to do this, so it worked," Emery said.

Emery’s first title came in part due to her main skill.

"I have one speed that I can go forever and ever," she said.

Rebecca Twigg (Team EDS), Colorado Springs, Colo., a three-time national champion in the event was third while two-time defending champion Mari Holden (EDS National Team), Colorado Springs, Colo., was fourth.

"I didn’t feel good from the start," Holden said. "I could tell on the first climb, when I could see Rebecca and everybody else, that I wasn’t doing well."

Holden had made a major effort yesterday, finishing second in the road race after leading for much of the race.

Also at stake Wednesday were the first under-23 titles for men and women. Brent Aucutt (UC Nantes), Clovis, N.M., won the under-23 men’s title in a time of 31 minutes, 55 seconds, which placed him third among all men. Sara Willhoit (PowerBar), Colorado Springs, Colo., won her second under-23 women’s title in two days, winning the individual time trial in 37 minutes, 54 seconds, which placed 10th overall among the female competitors.

FRESCA NATIONAL CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, July 30, Altoona, Pa., 25km

Men

1. JONATHAN VAUGHTERS (COMPTEL-COLORADO CYCLIST), Englewood, Colo., 31 mins,
11 secs; 2. Norm Alvis (Saturn), Colorado Springs, Colo., 31 mins, 18 secs;
3. Brent Aucutt (UC Nantes), Clovis, N.M., 31 mins, 55 secs; 4. Colby Pearce
(Shaklee), Boulder, Colo., 32 mins, 9 secs; 5. Frank McCormack (Saturn),
Leicester, Mass., 32 mins, 10 secs; 6. Dylan Casey (Plymouth-Ellsworth), Palo
Alto, Calif., 32 mins, 10 secs; 7. Mariano Friedick (Saturn), Brentwood,
Calif., 32 mins, 12 secs; 8. Kent Bostick (Shaklee), Corrales, N.M., 32 mins,
20 secs; 9. Mike McCarthy (Saturn), New York, N.Y., 32 mins, 27 secs; 10.
Jame Carney (Shaklee), Durango, Colo., 32 mins, 36 secs.

Under-23 Men

1. BRENT AUCUTT (UC NANTES), Clovis, N.M., 31 mins, 55 secs; 2. Mariano
Friedick (Saturn), Brentwood, Calif., 32 mins, 12 secs; 3. Thomas Davis
(Brielle-Jeep Eagle), Chula Vista, Calif., 32 mins, 54 secs; 4. Sean Nealy
(Kissena), Boston, Mass., 33 mins, 24 secs; 5. Matt DeCanio (GS Mengoni),
Rapidan, Va., 33 mins, 33 secs.

Women

1. ELIZABETH EMERY (KLEIN), New York, N.Y., 34 mins, 56 secs; 2. Dede Demet
(Saturn), Boulder, Colo., 35 mins, 19 secs; 3. Rebecca Twigg (Team EDS),
Colorado Springs, Colo., 35 mins, 36 secs; 4. Mari Holden (EDS National
Team), Colorado Springs, Colo., 35 mins, 55 secs; 5. Giana Roberge
(Saeco-Timex), Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 36 mins, 33 secs; 6. Julie Hudetz
(Saturn), Boulder, Colo., 36 mins, 39 secs; 7. Maureen Kaila-Vergara
(Shaklee), Soquel, Calif., 36 mins, 50 secs; 8. Wendy DeHart (Boston Bicycle
Club), Thompson, Conn., 37 mins, 15 secs; 9. Mary Georgetti (unattached),
Mystic, Conn., 37 mins, 35 secs; 10. Sara Willhoit (PowerBar), Colorado
Springs, Colo., 37 mins, 54 secs.

Under-23 Women

1. SARA WILLHOIT (POWERBAR), Colorado Springs, Colo., 37 mins, 54 secs; 2.
Cori Book (Freewheel Racing), Cambridge, Minn., 38 mins, 16 secs; 3.
Katherine Francis (Century Road Club), Rochester, N.Y., 40 mins, 1 sec; 4.
Erin Anderson (Team Roadmaster), Davenport, Iowa, 42 mins, 40 secs.

Lotto News from Belgium

Lotto has signed Ludo Dierckxsens from Tonisteiner-Saxon to their team for 1998. Dierckxsens, who only turned professional when he was 28, has won several semi-classics this season, and it is the first time he will ride for a 'big' team.

Another newcomer will be neo-prof Jean-Denis Vandenbroucke (son of Jean-Luc). The following riders will remain with the team : Tchmill, Madouas, Van Hyfte, Farazijn, Planckaert, Peers, Feys, Verbrugghe, De Wolf, De Waele, Eeckhoudt, Detilloux and Ludwig Willems.

Lotto is also interested in signing Aerts & Verheyen (both Vlaanderen-2002) for 1998.

Several riders are leaving the team. Adboujaparov (fired for drugs), Marc Wauters (who has signed with Rabobank), Demarbaix and Fleisher (both will need to look for another team) and Benoit Salmon (who has received an offer from Casino for 1.000.000 French Francs). Mercatone Uno is interested in Teterioek.

The team should be 20 riders strong in 1998 and plan to also include the Vuelta Espana in their schedule.

When analyzing the Tour de France 1997 for the Lotto team, a spokesman from Lotto, had also dropped the names of Johan Bruyneel and Axel Merckx as possible gains for 1998. There was also a rumour about a possible merger with the Belgian part of Mapei but that was not confirmed. The (Flemish speaking) press has (for a while already) been asking serious questions about the position of Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke. However, with a French speaking Minister of Finances (who controls Lotto, the national Lottery) in position, it is said Vandenbroucke can do no wrong.

News for July 31, 1997

Rolf's Diary Update

More Post Tour Criteriums

Zabel wins in Graz

US National Time Trial Championships

Lotto News from Belgium