Calender after Tour de France Criteriums in the Netherlands28 July - Boxmeer 1996 1. Bart Voskamp (TVM) 2. Danny Nelissen (Rabo) 3. Erik Zabel (Telekom) 29 July - Stipthout 1996 1. Michael Boogerd (Rabo) 2. Jeroen Blijlevens (TVM) 3. Eddy Bouwmans (Foreldorado) 30 July - Chaam (Omnium) 1996 1. Jeroen Blijlevens (TVM) 2. Michael Boogerd (Rabo) 3. Servais Kanven (TVM) 31 July - Wateringen 1996 1. Michael Boogerd (Rabo) 2. Maarten den Bakker (TVM) 3. Christian Henn (Telelkom 01 August - Heerlen 1996 1. Jeroen Blijlevens (TVM) 2. John Talen (Foreldorado) 3. Max van Heeswijk (Motorola) 02 August - Pijnacker 1996 1. Jelle Nijdam (TVM) 2. Giovanni Lombardi (Polti) 3. Jan Ullrich (Telekom) 04 August - Draai van de Kaai (Roosendaal) 1996 1. Jeroen Blijlevens (TVM) 2. Danny Nelissen (Rabo) 3. Abraham Olano (Mapei) 05 August - Surhuisterveen 1996 1. Bart Voskamp (TVM) 2. Gerrit de Vries (Polti) 3. Bart Brentjens (American Eagle) 06 August - Steenwijk 1996 1. Gerrit de Vries (Polti) 2. Godert de Leeuw (Foreldorado) 3. Bart Voskamp (TVM) 06 August - Maastricht 1996 1. Danny Nelissen (Rabo) 2. Patrick Jonker (ONCE) 3. Raymond Meijs (Foreldorado) 07 August - Oostvoorne 1996 1. Maarten den Bakker (TVM) 2. John Talen (foreldorado) 3. Michael Boogerd (Rabo) 08 August - Mijl van Mares (Maarheeze) 1996 1. Michael Boogerd (Rabo) 2. Jan Ullrich (Telekom) 3. John van den Akker (Foreldorado) 12 August - Gouden Pijl (Emmen) 1996 1. Wiebren Veenstra (Forel) 2. Jeroen Blijlevens (TVM) 3. Jan Ullrich (Telekom) 22 August - 15e Profronde van Almelo 1996 1. Erik Dekker (Rabo) 2. Lucien de Louw (Foreldorado) 3. Niels van der Steen (TVM) EPO Test Foibles"The EPO-test that has been introduced into cycling this year isn't foolproof", argues Guido Costongs, a Dutch Clinical Chemist. Costongs tested more than 300 persons (including several cyclists) in the Maasland-hospital in Sittard, the Netherlands.Every individual has his/her own hematocriet-level. 'That can be higher or lower than the 50 per cent limit. I'm sure that it was wrong to give all that riders a start-penalty in the last few months. In our test we had riders with a natural level of 0.56 without using EPO or other stuff. Others had a natural level of 0.41 and they could use EPO without any problem.' Guido Costongs has an idea for a ideal test-method: 'Randomly test all riders with a UCI-license in November or December. Then you can find the individual hematocriet-level. Make a rule that during the season it's allowed to have a level plus or minus 12% of their individual level. Test every rider at least 4 times during the season. Not with a 1.7 millilitre blood test, but with a 5 millilitre test. With that blood you can detect 55 extra parameters. That should be good for the health of the riders.' Costongs knows it's possible to 'help' your level by drinking a litre of water before the blood test. Then the hematrocriet-level can go down by more than 10 percent. 'I suggest to control the y o u n g red corpuscles because you can't manipulate the percentage between young and old blood corpuscles. We can give the results of this test within two hours.' Guido Costongs hopes that the UCI will introduce his method next year. In the Klimkoers Sweikhuizen on June 25 all riders can do the test for free. 'I offer all riders in the Tour de France to come over three times during this event and take the test. This project is costing 150,000 guilders; but two companies have given a guarantee for this money. I only need each rider 3 times for only 2 minutes'. Theo de Rooy, team leader of Rabodank, is glad with the proposal of Costongs: 'Each proposal for better controls is welcome. The present blood controls was a good idea too. I don't know whether the test is possible in the next Tour de France; but maybe we can use the method of Costongs in the future.' Australian Women's World Track SquadSouth Australian Junior under 19 women riders rode a series of trials last Wednesday in front of Coaches Gary Sutton, Alex Fulcher and Ian McKenzie to determine which rider would miss out on a berth in the squad to go to South Africa. Apparently they all performed so well that a decision was impossible to make so they decided to take them all. South Australians are Alayna Burns, Rosalee Hubbard, Rachel Linke and Joanne Robinson.The make up of the team is: Sprinters/TT - Rosale Hubbard (National Champ), Katie Parker Endurance - Rachel Linke (Junior World Champ), Alayna Burns and Joanne Robinson. Joanne and Alayna will also line up for the scratch race. |