After the "rain-race" of yesterday, that I along with many others abandoned, I'm training again with Alex Zülle today. He'll most likely ride a good Vuelta, but I don't know yet whether I'll even be on the start line. I'll have to ride on Sunday to "qualify".
Verbania, 27 August 97
On the first mountain I came to the top with the leaders, which gave me strong morale. Afterwards a pair of us in a break of 40km, and on the final climb I finally had some power. I'm on the way to improvement.
Verbania (Italy), 26 August 97
I was not completely recovered from Sunday. But the heart rate showed that the form should come. The maximum pulse was today at 187 beats and shortly afterwards again 80. That shows that I can also recover quickly - only power is lacking a little.
Biella (Italy), 25 August 97
Now I arrived in Biella with a little less money that I planned (an unplanned radar trap on the freeway), but I'm very motivated for tomorrow. It's not admittedly my kind of race here with a climb each lap, but for training there's nothing better. I'll ride the climbs until it knocks me over, and then next Sunday in Plouay I'd like to have a good result for the first time in quite a while.
Zihlschlacht, 24 August 97
Now I'm very very happy. I finished the Championship of Zürich and for the first 180km I even had good legs. Afterwards I was lacking a bit of power in order to arrive at the finish with the first peleton, but with 52nd place I'm nevertheless happy. I'm clearly coming into good form.
Arona (Italy), 22 August 97
Finally I operated on myself and took the stitches out of my toe. Now I'm whole again. Although I almost sweated blood, what with a pocket knife to this operation was not exactly ideal. I also rode in a race, identical with the entry from yesterday. I'm looking toward the Championship of Zürich on Sunday with mixed emotions. I have some doubts that I can complete the whole 250km, since today I felt like a noodle after 120km.
Arona (Italy), 21 August 07
The first 100km were no problem, I even felt strong. But afterwards I
slid like yesterday into a crisis and abandoned after 130km. But I rode
better than yesterday, now it should keep getting better.
translated by David Wear
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it was unhappy that its Paris drug-testing laboratory had not informed the IOC of the positive tests on the rider who was also caught cheating with drugs during the Tour.
IOC medical officials did not name the rider but said there had been only one doping case during the Tour, the most prestigious race in the sport.
Uzbekistan's Djamolidine Abdoujaparov was expelled from the Tour after he failed a drug test at the end of the second stage.
"We have to put the house in order in this matter," the IOC's medical chief Prince Alexandre de Merode said. "We are going to investigate. Positive tests (in our laboratories) have to be reported to the IOC."
IOC medical officials said the rider had produced positive tests four times before the Tour for the banned substances clenbuterol and bromantan.
The cases were reported to the cycling federations and the French sporting authorities but not to the IOC which should be informed of all positive tests, they said.
Bromantan, a stimulant-cum-masking agent, has a controversial history but it has been on the IOC's banned list of substances since February 1, the officials said.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- USA Cycling announced today that Chris Carmichael has resigned his post as USA Cycling national coaching director to pursue new opportunities in the cycling and fitness field. Sean Petty, current managing director of the United States Professional Racing Organization (USPRO), has been named interim national coaching director.
Carmichael joined USA Cycling in February 1990. He served the organization as national road coach and director of athlete and coaching programs. Carmichael was appointed national coaching director in 1994 and was instrumental in developing a national coaching education program to benefit all levels of the coaching profession. He was a guiding force in the development and support of young cycling stars such as 1993 World Champion Lance Armstrong. USA Cycling achieved its most consistent and greatest success at World Championships, Pan American Games, and non-boycotted Olympics under Carmichael's leadership.
"I am very proud of what USA Cycling has accomplished," said Carmichael. "Serving as a coach and as the national coaching director has been an extremely rewarding experience. I plan to continue serving USA Cycling however possible."
As national coaching director, Carmichael supervised the coaching and support staff of 16 employees, which includes the network of regional coaches around the country. Carmichael was responsible for the development of athletes from the grassroots to the elite level. He created USA Cyclng’s High Performance Plan that outlines programs and pathways for cyclists to follow in order to succeed and achieve their personal goals. Carmichael directed Project '96, USA Cycling's Olympic technology project, and recently directed the selection of USA Cycling's first national mountain bike coach.
"Chris has been a valuable asset to the USA Cycling and Olympic families for a long time," said Lisa Voight, chief executive officer of USA Cycling. "We expect to build on the success Chris has built, and wish him the very best in his new endeavors."
USA Cycling will review and evaluate the responsibilities of the national coaching director, including the preparation for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney. Carmichael will have responsibilities to USA Cycling through October 15, which will include serving as leader of the 1997 World Championship road team in San Sebastian, Spain.