More on Zulle's ribs!X-rays revealed here on Tuesday that reigning world time-trial champion Alex Zulle had not suffered broken ribs following his fall in the Criterium du Dauphine. The 29-year-old Zulle, one of the favourites for next month's Tour de France, fell in the final kilometre of the second stage but covered in blood he remounted and finished the stage. Dr Gerard Porte, Zulle's team doctor, said that the Swiss rider had been given the all clear and that despite having severe bruising he would carry on racing in the Dauphine -- he is second overall 10 seconds behind leader Viacheslav Ekimov of Russia.Blood tests for BanestoAt 6:00AM, Eusebio Unzue, technician for Banesto, was awakened in his room by a French commisaire from the UCI and asked him to bring the team down to a hall. A few minutes later, Vicente Belda, director of Kelme, received the same news, as well as the directors for Team Lotto. Starting at 6:45 AM, Unzue started to wake up his riders and sent them in 3 minute intervals to submit to the blood tests. The UCI team was composed of one doctor, two nurses, a commisaire and an assistant responsible for the portable testing machine, which gives the hematocrit readings.Yesterday was the first time that Banesto cyclists submitted to this analysis. "Anyway we submit to this type of analysis every three days", said Unzue. Kelme has already received the visit from the analysts - known as vampires in the peloton- during the Giro. ONCE, the third Spanish team participating at the Dauphine, was the first team checked by the UCI, in March at Paris-Nice. Banesto & ONCE suspected that they were going to be subjected to analysis when Tuesday night, the medical team made the mistake of having dinner at the hotel's restaurant, next to the table of one of the two teams, so their conversations were heard. Olano supports the Blood TestsAbraham Olano, in the final preparation for the Tour, underwent for the first time the official blood analysis to determine if his levels are within normal parameters. While he was waiting for the start of the stage, he commented the following: "The worst part is having to wake up so early, specially taking into account that after that you have to pedal more than 200km. Recuperation and rest are vital, but apart from that it is just one more blood analysis". They are really continually subjected to this type of tests. Amd more this season when the UCI has decided to fight, with whatever tools are available, with all the doping. "Pena & I, who are in the same room, had to go down at 6:55 am. They even tell you at what time they are going to examine you. They do it in groups of three and since Pena's turn was first and we are roomates I came down with him. They don't take more blood than a normal analysis and it doesn't affect the performance during the day. Every two or three days, we get tested ourselves. Can you imagine, if it had a bearing on performance"?The winner at the last Bicicleta Vasca showed that he favored the analysis. "I think that they are good for us. They benefit our health and that it the most important thing. You just do them and that's it. The only inconvenience is waking up early, which could be prevented with some re-organization on the part of the medical team". German ITT Championship, Forst 8 June 19971. Andreas Walzer (Ger) Schauff 50 km in 1.00.49 (49,329 km/h) 2. Ralf Grabsch (Ger) PSV Koln + 0.15 3. Thomas Liese (Ger) elite + 0.20 4. Lutz Lehmann (Ger) elite + 1.03 5. Jan Schaffrath (Ger) elite + 1.33 Ivan Gotti in Numbers28 - Ivan Gotti'S age. The winner of the 80th Giro d'Italia was born on March 28th, 1969. The youngest winner of the Giro was Fausto Coppi in 1940 at 20 years old; the oldest was Fiorenzo Magni in 1955, at 35.2 - The amount of races won by Gotti in his career: the Aprica stage at the Giro '96 and the Cervinia stage, this year. And obviously, we need to add the win in the overall classification at this year's Giro. 173 - Gotti's height in centimeters (5' 8"). The Bergamascan weighs 60 Kg (132 Lbs) and has four percent fat content. His resting pulse is 48, his racing pulse is 175 and his maximum is 190, with a blood pressure of 120/70. 7 - The number of seasons as a professional. Starting in 1991 with Team Gatorade-Chateau d'Ax, and staying during '92 & '93. Then he rode for Polti in 1994. With Emanuele Bombini at Gewiss (1995-'96). And now races with Antonio Salutini's Saeco. 2 - The number of days in the yellow jersey at the 1995 Tour de France. Gotti took the yellow jersey after the fall by then leader, Laurent Jalabert. The Gotti passed the jersey to then teammate, Riis. Parel van de Veluwe Classic for WomenHarderwijk, the Netherlands - June 16 1. Vonckx (Bel) 125 km in 3.13.31 2. Kramp (Klaaswaal) 3. Kroes (Hattem) 4. Borst (Leiderdorp) 5. Leine (Alkmaar) 0.11 Brazilian NewsHere is some Brazilian news kindly sent by Rodrigo Gini Madeira. Thanks.On June 22, in Goiania the third edition of the "Cycling International Meeting" will be raced. It is a criterium at the "Praca Civica" circuit with a bunch of around 90 racers. Foreign cyclists are yet to be confirmed but i will keep you informed. Here are some results of our most important races so far this season:
Petrobras Brasilia Race, April 13, 70 kms:
1. Luciano Pagliarini (BRA, Caloi-Petrobras) 1.43.06 2. Tonny Magalhaes (BRA, Magalhaes) s.t. 3. Marcio May (BRA, Caloi-Petrobras) s.t. 4. Francisco Belo (BRA, Magalhaes) s.t. 7. Ruben Pegorin (ARG, Municipalidad de Mendoza) s.t. 12. Federico Moreira (URU, Club Fenix) DNF. Christophe Oriol (FRA, CC Etupes)
III Volta do Descobrimento (Discovery Tour), April 21, 155 kms:
1. Luis Antonio Machado (POR, Troiamarisco) 3.44.05 2. Daniel Rogelin (BRA, Caloi-Petrobras) s.t. 3. Gabriel Sabbiao (BRA, Jomec-Smelt) s.t. 4. Alessandro Ribeiro (BRA, Arisco) 5. Daniel Soeiro (BRA, Crem) |