5th Journalist World Championships - CM

Veronello, Italy, August 29, 2004

2002 Results Results Past Winners

Under 50's: The Italian job

Andrea Agostini
Photo ©: Roberto Ronchi

Fassa Bortolo's press officer Andrea Agostini has added a second U50 World Journalists' Championships to his palmares, winning a four man sprint after a fast, but tactical 69 km race. As the defending champion, Agostini was closely watched by all his rivals, but he was able to respond to every attack and make quite a few of his own, eventually relying on his formidable sprint to lead out with 300m to go and cross the line with several lengths to spare on fellow Italian Valerio Riparbelli (Il Tirreno) and Jeff Jones (Cyclingnews.com). Frenchman David Malle (Pigiste) was also in the break and finished fourth.

How it unfolded

There were 48 starters in the Under 50 category, most of them from the host country Italy but there were small contingents from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Australia and Slovenia. Most of the foreigners and a fair chunk of the Italians had been entertained until 1:00am the night before at Verona's historic amphitheatre, where they witnessed an excellent performance of Rigoletto. It made for a late night, but the cultural experience was well worth it.

The circuit was located about 30 km from Verona at Veronello, near Lake Garda. Some of the categories in the World Time Trial Championships will be raced over this circuit. Measuring 9.8 km and classed as "flat" by Italian standards, the Belgians and Dutch were in for a surprise as a series of climbs in the first 3 km made for a more selective race than might have been expected.

The sign-on
Photo ©: CN

After observing a minute's silence for the Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni who was killed in Iraq, the Under 50's got under way for their seven laps. The Italians were clearly motivated and many were clad in matching azzurro jerseys despite their different press affiliations - a formidable sight indeed. A breakaway of three escaped at the top of the climb on the first lap, containing eventual second place getter Valerio Riparbelli (Il Tirreno), but despite riding out to a 25 second lead over the peloton, Agostini was having none of it and almost singlehandedly chased down the break on the climbs at the start of lap 2, with a very strung out peloton in tow.

Last year's third place getter, Belgian Rik Lintermans (Cyclosprint), was very active in the early stages as well, but Agostini had marked him as a danger man and reacted every time the Belgian made a move. On the third lap, a series of attacks on the climbs succeeded in establishing a breakaway off the front of the peloton, containing Agostini, Lintermans, David Malle (Pigiste), Mark Koghee (Noordhollands Dagblad), Bart de Schampeleire (Wieler Revue), Robert Kuehnen (Tour), Jeff Jones (Cyclingnews.com), among others, with Gerard Cromwell (Ireland) bridging up later on.

The speed lifted markedly on the third lap and the strung out peloton was just 10 seconds behind the break at the start/finish line at the end of the lap. But the climbs at the start of lap 4 signaled a new round of attacks, and mid-way through the lap (35 km) a smaller selection had been made with just six riders: Agostini, Malle, De Schampeleire, Kuehnen and Jones, with Riparbelli managing to bridge up from the peloton.

The cooperation amongst the breakaways wasn't good, but it was enough to distance the peloton by 25 seconds at the end of lap 4 (39 km) with three laps to travel. The break was reduced to four when Agostini attacked mid-way through the fifth lap and was chased down by Jones, Riparbelli and Malle while De Schampeleire and Kuehnen were distanced. The remaining leaders watched each other closely with the two Italians now working more together.

Agostini put in a small attack on the climb at the start of the final lap and was countered by Jones. However, Agostini gave no quarter and was right on the wheel of his Australian rival, leaving the other two to chase back on. Agostini went again on the final part of the climb and Jones countered again - with the same result. A four man sprint was looking to be the likely outcome of the race.

Agostini hadn't shot all of his arrows though. He attacked on the descent with around 3 km to go as Riparbelli allowed the gap to open. Again Jones went after him, pursued by Riparbelli and Malle. It came back together with 2 km to go and Jones put in a strong counter, but naturally found Agostini on his wheel. Not wanting to tow the Italian to the finish, he eased up and allowed the other two to catch on. Then it was Riparbelli's turn to go with 1 km left: Agostini was immediately onto him and then took over the lead, preparing to lead out the sprint from the front. He jumped with 300m to go and no-one had an answer; he won easily and proved that he was the strongest rider in the race. A fast finishing Riparbelli caught Jones on the line for second, while Frederick Malle finished fourth.

Over 50's: Dutch courage

The Over 50 podium:
Photo ©: Roberto Ronchi

Dutch riders occupied the first and third positions on the podium in the Over 50's championships, which was run over four laps of the Veronello circuit. The winner in a nine man sprint was free lance journalist Peter de Groot, who beat the ever consistent Eugenio Capodacqua (La Repubblica) with Bennie Ceulen (Dagblad de Limburger/Limburgs Dagblad) finishing third. Nino Villa (Sabato Sera) was fourth and one of the organisers of the World's, Roberto Ronchi (Motosprint), was fifth.

The race was run in conjunction with the ex-professionals and women's categories, and in fact it was the Italian legend Francesco Moser who crossed the line first to win the ex-pro class. The women's race, which has doubled in size to two competitors since last year, saw Italian Samantha Profumo (La Valsesia) finish together with Moser to beat Slovenia's Lucia Bosnik (Poslovni Devnik Finance) by 1'20

Women's winner Samantha Profumo (La Valsesia)
Photo ©: Roberto Ronchi

The prize giving ceremony was worth noting as well. Besides trophies, flowers, books, and digital cameras for the place getters, every starter received a "lucky door prize", ranging from a simple t-shirt to a large hunk of parmigiano cheese, valued at €150 by the locals. All in all, the weekend was superbly organised by the AIJC and Mondiali Ciclismo spa/Lauta communication, which bodes well for the upcoming real World Championships in Verona this October.

Photography

Images by Roberto Ronchi

Andrea Agostini wins the U50 men's race by a clear margin over Valerio Riparbelli (L) and Jeff Jones (C)
Women's winner Samantha Profumo (La Valsesia) arrives together with Francesco Moser, winner of the ex-pro category
The women's podium: Lucia Bosnik (Poslovni Devnik Finance, 2nd) and Samantha Profumo (1st)
The Over 50 podium: Eugenio Capodacqua (La Rebublica, 2nd), Peter de Groot (freelance, 1st) and Bennie Ceulen (Limburgs Dagblad, 3rd)
The winners of all four categories on the podium: Francesco Moser (ex-pro's), Peter de Groot (Over 50), Samantha Profumo (Women) and Andrea Agsotini (Under 50)

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

After the series of climbs in the first 3 km there was this to look forward to
Coming up to the roundabout at Cavaion, approximately halfway around the course
No entry? Not if you're a journo!
This section at 2 km to go had just had a new layer of asphalt, which was sticky in the warm sun
The Tower Hotel in Bussolengo was the perfect place for most of the foreign riders to stay for the weekend of the championships. It was also very hard to miss.
Some of the other parts of my bike leave a bit to be desired, but not the Lightweight wheels, which are very nice to ride on
Andrea Agostini (L) and Francesco Moser (2nd R) chat before departure from the hotel
The Journo World's were organised in part by Mondiali Ciclismo, which is responsible for the real World Championships in Verona in October
All aboard the bus even though it was only 10 km out to the parcours
We're in vine country: A lot of good Italian wine is grown in this area
Bella Italia!
There's no chance of getting lost
More vine country
No, not a doping razzia... The Italian police did a great job in controlling the race and ensuring safety on the fully closed course
The sign-on was perhaps not the fastest in history, but everyone got their numbers in time
There was a strong police presence at the post-race buffet, with two plain clothes detectives (R) keeping a close eye on the pasta salad
The president of the AIJC Jean-Yves Donor (L) is presented with a trophy
Francesco Moser won the ex-professionals category
Francesco Moser gets a nice prize and some flowers
Women's champion Samantha Profumo (La Valsesia) is presented with her trophy, as second place getter Lucia Bosnik (Poslovni Devnik Finance) Looks on
The women's podium had to be augmented, as there were only two place getters
Over 50 champion Peter de Groot accepts his trophy and rainbow jersey
The Over 50 podium: Eugenio Capodacqua (La Rebublica, 2nd), Peter de Groot (freelance, 1st) and Bennie Ceulen (Limburgs Dagblad, 3rd)
The Under 50 podium: Valerio Riparbelli (Il Tirreno, 2nd), Andrea Agostini (Fassa Bortolo PR, 1st) and Jeff Jones (Cyclingnews.com, 3rd)
The Under 50 place getters try not to drop everything on the podium
The post-race party gets into full swing. Note the plain clothes detectives are still hovering around...
The prize-laden (mostly) Dutch table. Over 50 winner Peter de Groot (L) doesn't look particulary enthused by the enormous lump of cheese in front of him

Results

Under 50 - 67.9 km, 7 laps
 
1 Andrea Agostini (Ita) Ufficio Stampa Fassa Bortolo  1.39.05 (41.116 km/h)
2 Valerio Riparbelli (Ita) Il Tirreno
3 Jeff Jones (Aus) Cyclingnews.com
4 David Malle (Fra) Pigiste
5 Bart De Schampheleir (Bel) Wieler Revue                1.20
6 Robert Kuehnen (Ger) Tour
7 Frederik Backelandt (Bel) Cyclo Sprint                 1.36
8 Mark Koghee (Ned) Noordhollands Dagblad
9 Rik Lintermans (Bel) Cyclo Sprint                      2.06
10 Claudio Ghisalberti (Ita) La Gazzetta dello Sport
11 Gerard Cromwell (Irl) Irish Daily Star
12 Frederick Iehl (Fra) Le Cycle Magazine
13 Rinaldo Bernardi (Ita) Il Giorno
14 Frederick Dohen (Fra) La Depeche Meusienne
15 Philippe Aquillon (Fra) Autoplus
16 Markus Jauslin (Swi) Bartler Zeitung
17 Carlo Lisciotto (Ita) The smart fitness magazine
18 Maurizio Marogna (Ita) L'Altro Giornale
19 Adrianus Kuil (Ned) Freelance
20 Giovanni Fantozzi (Ita) Il Resto del Carlino
21 Luca Vitale (Ita) Il Sole 24 Ore
22 Ivano Santachiara (Ita) La Gazzetta di Reggio
23 Giuseppe Costantini (Ita) Cicloturismo
24 Primoz Kalisnik (Slo) Polet Magazine
25 Stane Petavs (Slo) Press Finance
26 Franco Pavan (Ita) Il Gazzettino
27 Claudio Di Benedetto (Ita) Mediaset
28 Filippo Vendemmiati (Ita) Rai
29 Andrea Prandi (Ita) La7
30 Pietro Luca Paolazzi (Ita) Il Sole 24 Ore
31 Andreas Schiwy (Ger) Bike magazine
32 Giorgio Del Fabbro (Ita) Il Friuli
33 Karel Beckmans (Ned) Noordhollands Dagblad
34 Giovanni Bruno (Ita) Sky TV
35 Alberto Alvoni (Ita) Il resto del Carlino
36 Giampaolo Balestrini (Ita) Ansa
37 Gianluca Donato (Ita) Sky TV
38 Giovanni Faccenda (Ita) La Nazione
39 Alessandro Zamboni (Ita) Telenuovo
40 Davide Petrizzelli (Ita) Luna Nuova
41 Giampaolo Grossi (Ita) La Gazzetta di Mantova  
 
Starters: 48
Classified: 41
 
Over 50 - 38.8 km, 4 laps
 
1 Peter De Groot (Ned) Freelance                      1.01.05 (38.111 km/h)
2 Eugenio Capodacqua (Ita) La Repubblica
3 Bennie Ceulen (Ned) Limburg Dagblad DDL
4 Nino Villa (Ita) Sabato Sera
5 Roberto Ronchi (Ita) Motosprint
6 Fabrizio Frigieri (Ita) L'Incontro
7 Sergio Robutti (Ita) La Valsesia
8 Giuliano Dolfini (Ita) La Stampa
9 Roberto Rossin (Ita) Il Gazzettino
10 Franco Sitton (Ita) Rai                               1.27
11 Enos Rizzotti (Ita) Telenuovo
12 Fabrizio Rappini (Ita) Il Corriere di Ravenna
13 Claudio Pasqualin (Ita) Sky TV
14 Flaviano Busato (Ita) Il Giornale di Vicenza
15 Alberto Paoli (Ita) La Gazzetta dello Sport
16 Walter Rottiers (Bel) Cycling Press
17 Lino Rubini (Ita) Il Gazzettino
18 Ruggero Quadrelli (Ita) Corriere dello Sport
19 Walter Guagneli (Ita) L'Unità 
 
Starters: 19
Classified: 19
 
Women - 38.8 km, 4 laps
 
1 Samantha Profumo (Ita) La Valsesia                  59.45 (38.96 km/h)
2 Lucia Bosnik (Slo) Poslovni Devnik Finance           1.20

Starters: 2
Classified: 2

Consultants (ex-pros) - 38.8 km, 4 laps
 
1 Francesco Moser (Ita)                               59.45 (38.96 km/h)

Past winners

Under 50

2003 Andrea Agostini (Ita) La Voce di Romagna 

Under 45

2002 Menno Grootjans (Ned) Fiets
2001 Harry Ruiterkamp (Ned) Infostrada
2000 Franck Chopin (Fra) La Bretagne Cycliste

Over 50

2003 Michel Queruel (Fra) L'Usine Nouvelle 

Over 45

2002 Rik Lintermans (Bel)
2001 Eugenio Capodacqua (Ita)
2000 Eugenio Capodacqua (Ita)

Women

2003 Aurélie Crouvisier (Fra) Audiovisuel