News for September 10, 1997


The real reason for Mario dropping the Vuelta

Last week the Italian newspapers predicted that "it will be a short Vuelta for Mario Chipollini". After the first stage of the Vuelta there was a private jet waiting to bring Mario over to Italy on the Saturday night.

Puzzled!?

Reason: Mario was jury-member in the Miss Italy-contest; a big TV event in Italy. Most newspapers already predicted that he wouldn't go back to Spain on Sunday.

Injury indeed.

Transfers and Contract News

Lars Michaelsen has signed a contract with TVM for another two years. Last Saturday he won the first stage in the Vuelta. Earlier in the year he won the first stage in the Tour of Burgos.

Wetteren, Belgium, Professionals

 1. Heireweggh (Bel) 170 km in 3.59.00
 2. Petersen (Den) 		  0.31
 3. Spaenhoven (Bel)
 4. Andy Desmet (Bel)
 5. De Wilde (Bel),

17. Cornelisse (Ned) 		  1.58

Dutch Cycling Coach surprised about Leontien Van Moorsel

I reported yesterday that Leontien Van Moorsel was upset with the KNWU over their apparent neglect of her concerning World Championship selection.

In response, coach Piet Hoekstra said: "We had an agreement with Van Moorsel that she would contact me when she feels ready for the World Championships. I'm glad to hear that Van Moorsel - with her experience - as declared herself avaiable for our team." Today, Tuesday, there is a meeting between Van Moorsel and Hoekstra.

Ullrich's yellow jersey to museum

Jan Ullrich has given his yellow jersey to the history museum in Bonn. There is a sports collection housed at the museum. Items include the shoes of Fritz Walter, team leader of the 1954 World Champion, and the World Champion jersey of amateur Rudi Altig. Ullrich brings his jersey to Bonn on Thursday.

Trophee d'Or Feminin

Stage 2, Avord-Avord, September 5

 1. Jeannie Longo (Fra, Ebly) 102.3km in 2.47.41
 2. R. Polikeviciute ((Lit, Ebly) s.t.
 3. Loewenguth (Fra) +2.19
 4. Muller (Ger) +2.32
 5. Arhanb (Fra) +2.32

Overall after Stage 2

 1. Rasa Polikeviciute (Lit, Ebly) 5.19.40
 2. Longo +7 secs
 3. Lecourtois (Fra) +2.39
 4. Hohlfeld (Ger) s.t.
 5. Salvetat (Fra) s.t.

Final overall

 1. Jeannie Longo (Fra) Ebly	     7.58.01
 2. Van de Vijver (Neth) 		3.26
 3. R. Polikeviciute (Lit) Ebly 	3.35
 4. Y. Polikeviciute (Lit) 		3.38
 5. Hohlfeld (Ger) 			3.53
 6. Salvetat (Fra)  			4.10
 7. Lecourtois (Fra) 			4.35
 8. Loewenguth (Fra) 			7.43
 9. Muller (Ger) 			9.01
10. Arhab (Fra) 		       10.53

Rasa Polikeviciute's twin sister Yolanta Polikeviciute won the third stage on September 6, 76.3km between Preveranges--Saint-Amand-Montrond. The fourth and final stage the same day, a 22 km time trial between Dun-sur-Auron and Saint-Amand-Montrond was won decisively by Jeannie Longo to take the final overall classification.

Belgian rider will recover

The condition of 26 year old Andy Missotten has stabilised. His father, ex-BWB coach Freddy Missotten spoke to Radio 2 Vlaams-Brabant on Monday. Andy Missotten had a heart attack while riding in the GP Jef Scherens at Leuven on Sunday. While the heart problem is worrying, the heart specialist has said he will be okay.

Dutch selection for MTB World Championships

The Dutch team for the MTB Worlds at Chateau-d'Oex in Switzerland (September 11-21) are:

Cross country:

Men: Bart Brentjens, Richard Groenendaal, Marcel Gerritsen, Bas van Dooren, Marcel Antz, Jan Weevers, Erwin Nijboer.

Women: Elsbeth Vink, Corine Dorland, Reza Ravenstijn, Loes van Wersch, Daphny van den Brand.

Downhill:

Men: Bas de Bever, Wilfred van den Haterd, Rick Takkenkamp, Gerwin Peters, Michel Kruiper.

EDS Track Cup Preview

YEAR-LONG TEAM BATTLE CONCLUDES IN T-TOWN AT EDS TRACK CUP FINALS After six months of competition across the country, the team title and bragging rights as the best track trade team in the nation will come down to three days of competition at the nation’s premier track cycling venue.

The Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, Pa., will host the $19,000 final round of the EDS Track Cup ‘97, Sept. 11-13. Highlighting the competition will be the conclusion of the duel between Cox Atlanta Velo and Team EDS, who have battled for six rounds to decide the team title. Heading to T-town, Cox Atlanta Velo leads by a mere 11 points. At the final round of the EDS Track Cup, first place in each event is worth 24 points, double the normal amount, meaning the overall title is completely up in the air.

In Trexlertown, Cox Atlanta Velo will field its full squad, led by two riders who competed at the UCI World Track Championships last month in Australia -- double national champion Nicole Reinhart from nearby Macungie, Pa., and Tommy Mulkey of Griffin, Ga. Reinhart is the top-ranked female sprinter in the EDS Track Cup standings. Cox Atlanta Velo also boasts three of the top four riders in the men’s endurance rankings -- Brian Whitcomb, Sharpsburg, Ga.; Ben Sharp, Indianapolis, Ind., and Mulkey.

Team EDS will counter with its star-studded lineup, led by Olympic silver medalist Marty Nothstein, the hometown hero from Trexlertown. After a disappointing world championships, Nothstein will be out to help his team take the overall title. In addition to his Olympic medal, Nothstein owns seven world championship medals (three gold) and 11 national titles. He will be joined by three-time Olympian Rebecca Twigg, Colorado Springs, Colo. Twigg, a six-time world champion in the women’s individual pursuit, just completed an unlikely triple crown. She has won the individual pursuit at the senior nationals, master nationals and collegiate nationals, the first rider to do so. Team EDS will also be relying on Trey Gannon, Plano, Texas, the overall EDS Track Cup leader in the men’s sprint events, and Jen Evans, Austin, Texas, the overall leader in women’s endurance events.

Other top riders expected to compete include:

-- Tanya Dubnicoff of Canada, the 1993 world women’s sprint champion, who won that event at the UCI Track World Cup in Adelaide, Australia in August.

-- U.S. World Championship team members Marcelo Arrue, Alburtis, Pa., and Sky Christopherson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

-- Janie Quigley, Wilmington, Del., seven-time worlds medalist and 11-time national champion.

-- Both leaders in the Morning Call Lehigh Valley Velodrome Rider of the Year standings, two-time British Olympian Shaun Wallace and Becky Quinn, Quakertown, Pa.

Riders will compete in the same 12 events contested at the Olympic Games and World Championships over three days at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. Sessions begin at 11 a.m and 7 p.m. each day.

GP Feminin du Canada Results Sept 4-8

Prologue: 3K

 1. Giana Roberge (Saeco-Timex)
 2. Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn)
 3. Sue Palmer (Saturn)
 4. Dede Demet (Saturn)
 5. Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex)

Stage one: 100k (3 person break, followed by 4, followed by field)

 1. Wenzel
 2. Demet
 3. Gerrassimova (Russian National)
 4. Ivana Llanka (Slovakian National)
 5. Roberge

Stage two: 91k (4 mile hill top finish)

 1. Polkanova (Russian National)
 2. Bubnakova (Russian National)
 3. Gerrassimova
 4. Sue Palmer (Saturn)

Stage three: 88k (windy, rolling, with lots of attacks, field came in strung out
after last kilometer fliers)

 1. Bliss-Livingston
 2. Wenzel
 3. Demet

At this point going into the final 9k tt and 40 criterium, Gerrassimova
is leading by about 30 seconds over Dede Demet and about 36 seconds over
Kendra Wenzel. 

Stage Four:  9k TT 

 1. Dede Demet (Saturn)
 2. Giana Roberge (Saeco-Timex)
 3. Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn)

Dede takes the leader's jersey after the tt, Valentina Gerassimova
(Russian National)  falls to second, Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex) stays
in third.

Stage Five: 40k four corner crit on wet streets. Field sprint.

 1. Karen Bliss Livingston
 2. Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex)
 3. Lenka Ilavska (Slovakian National)

Final GC after 5 stages:

 1. Dede Demet (Saturn)
 2. Valentina Gerassimova (Russian National) 
 3. Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex) 
 4. Lenka Ilavska (Slovakian National)
 5. Giana Roberge (Saeco-Timex)
 6. Valentina Polkhanova (Russian National)
 7. Sue Palmer (Saturn)
 8. Leigh Hobson (Ontario)
 9. Svetlana Boubnenkova (Russian National)
10. Elisabeth Tadich (Australian National)