News for October 13, 1997

Cyclecross, October 11, 1997

Harderwijk (Netherlands)

 1. Adri van der Poel (Ned) Rabobank
 2. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 	0.10
 3. Bart Brentjens (Ned) 		0.15

Women

 1. Haverdings (Zuidlaren/Ned)

Geraardsbergen (Belgium)

 1. Mario De Clerq    	     1.02.29
 2. E. Vervecken          	0.07
 3. S. Nijs                     0.10
 4. B. Wellens                  0.25
 5. P. Van Santvliet            1.06
 6. M. Janssens                 1.27

(46 riders)

Australian News

Defending champion Nick Gates proved today his tendon problems could be over with a strong performance in the final big race before the 16th Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic gets underway in Sydney next Saturday.

Gates had a hit-out during a 186 km race from Hornsby to Swansea on the New South Wales central coast, showing the achilles tendon injury that crippled his overseas racing program could be a thing of the past. He has been receiving treatment while training and riding in Australia in an attempt to overcome the persistent problem and be in top form for the classic.

Gates and his Australian Institute of Sport team-mate Matt White broke clear of the bunch mid-race to hold a good lead before eventually being pulled back by the main bunch. As the duo were caught, Australian Dean Jones started his own attack that turned out to be the winning move of the race.

Meanwhile, classic organiser Phill Bates said Australian road cycling had hit back this week following the Australian Sports Commission decision to downgrade the national road program in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Bates said this had been demonstrated by Henk Vogels' third place in Paris-Tours, Michael Rogers' second in the world junior road time trial, a second by world duathlon champion Jonathan Hall in the world time trial championship and Elizabeth Tadich's silver medal in the women's world road championship. The ASC said the road program had been downgraded because there was little chance of the sport winning medals at the Sydney Olympics. "It is obvious that the Australian Sports Commission has forgotten that the last gold medal won by cycling, in Barcelona, was won on the road," Mr Bates said.

Medellin Six Day Race

Urs Freuler has had to stop due to heart problems. At the time of his withdrawal he - with team mate Velasques of Colombia - second at one lap to the leaders: Juan and Gabriel Curuchet (Argentinia)

During the third night the race was neutralized for two hours because there was no light in the hall.

Night 4 Results 

500 metres:

 1. Juan Curuchet (ARG) - Gabriel Curuchet (ARG)
 2. Silvio Martinello (ITA) - Marco Villa (ITA)
 3. Andrea Collinelli y Giovani Lombardi
           -
American Elimination for Points:

 1. Silvio Martinello (ITA) - Marco Villa (ITA)
 2. Juan Llaneras (ESP) - Miguel Alzamora (ESP)
 3. Giovanny López (COL) -  John García (COL)

Current General Standings:

 1. Juan Curuchet (ARG) - Gabriel Curuchet (ARG) 	131 points
 2. Juan Llaneras (ESP) - Miguel Alzamora (ESP) 	105 
 3. Silvio Martinello (ITA) - Marco Villa (ITA) 	160  	   (- 1 lap)