News for January 28, 2000

Superleague grand plan

The new Council of professional cycling (CPC) will come into play today after a UCI meeting at Sint Michielsgestel, the Netherlands. The town is due to host the World Cyclocross Championships this coming weekend.

The identities of the members of this Council will be revealed at the meeting, however there are already several names strongly rumoured to be on the list. Spanish Tour great, Miguel Indurain will be one, in addition to Italian Felice Gimondi and German Olaf Ludwig, who is the current vice-president of the German Federation. The president of the UCI, Hein Verbruggen, will also be the first president of this Council.

The CPC will include twelve members with voting rights, as well as an executive director, without voting rights. The sporting cyclists, groups and organizers will be represented each by two members and the UCI, via its management committee, will designate the six other members.

The presence of Frenchman Jean-Marie Leblanc, director of the Tour de France, Spaniard Manolo Saiz, sporting director of the ONCE team, and Italian Francesco Moser, is assured as they are the respective presidents of the organizations (AIOCC), sporting groups (AIGCP) and riders (CPA). Carmine Castellano, director of Giro d'Italia, should also appear on the Council along with Swiss Claude Jacquat, who was responsible for the technical commission of the UCI.

The CPC will supersede the current Elite road commission and will have widened capacities, with greater powers extended to the technical and administrative organization, the regulation, the arbitration of conflicts and the development of the calendar.

The CPC has been approved by many. However, the French Federation regretted that the federations are not represented as such within the CPC, and that the members of the new council, in particular the representatives of the riders, are not elected.

Casero: big aims for the year

Now is the season to be hopeful, before the actual racing starts in earnest, and Festina's captain, Angel Casero is not afraid. "I want to be in the top drawer in the Tour and the Vuelta," he told Spanish press at his home in Valencia. He is currently recovering from an Achilles tendon operation, for an injury that forced him out of the 1999 Vuelta. He has not trained so far this season that will start in Spain soon with the Tour of Mallorca.

"This will not influence my plans in anyway and even may help me to peak at the right time," he said. He is happy with his new role at Festina: "Festina wants to return to be the best team of the world after what happened. This year they trusted me and I hope to fulfill the objectives that we have made for ourselves: Tour and the Vuelta, although I do not rule out the World Championships and the Olympic Games in Sydney," he said.

The dual national champion said that his exit from Vitalicio was not traumatic "We must look to our future in cycling and, simultaneously, form a strong team with expectations. Festina is a very great team and that is good for me," he declared.

For their part, Vitalicio have gained much from Casero - a good number of stage wins, two national championships, and a podium place in the World's, although Giacomo Landi was still a little unhappy to see him go: "The friendship is still there despite our loss, and hopefully Vitalicio will continue for another few years more," he said.

Blijlevens wants Cipollini's crown

Polti's new sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens has a few small self-imposed challenges this year: to win Milan San Remo, and to take Cipollini's spot as the number one sprinter in the world. His other role, according to team manager Gianluigi Stanga, is to take some of the pressure off Tour leaders, Gotti and Virenque, and World Cup captain Celestino. And he wants to have a "happy life" at peace with the world. Small goals indeed from the 28-year old Dutch speedster.

He is now living in Bergamo with his girlfriend Fraske and is obviously not about to desert the team. "In Italy the cycling is better organized. There is everything you need to make the trade of a professional," he said.

Blijlevens has had a good career to date, picking up 14 victories in 1999, and over seventy in his six year stint as a pro. He is getting closer to Cipollini: "I am always improving and I believe that I can fight on equal terms with the Lion King. The years pass by for him as well. Last year was his year though, when he won 4 stages in the Giro and 4 stages in the Tour. I believe that in the absence of Fagnini and his train will penalizing him, while I will be able to count on Martinello. Yes, the Giro will be a great challenge. But before then, there is the objective of San Remo."

Rebellin supports health message

David Rebellin (Liquigas-Pata) yesterday announced his support for the Italian CONI anti-drug campaign "I do not risk my health," which has also got the thumbs up from the UCI. "The past year has been full of uncertainties, but now we must accept the evidence and fight EPO [taking within the peloton]. Cycling needs to be clear. And more than just having these controls," said Rebellin.

Sven on the road?

Rabobank's manager Jaan Raas and the Belgian national coach, Eric de Vlaeminck both would like to see cyclo cross star Sven Nijs on the road more often. The 23 year old Belgian cyclo cross ace is currently ranked in the mid 500's with 54 points, but has concentrated on the cyclo cross so far in his career.

"I'm not much older than 23 years and I don't feel any pressure to go on the road, but of course races like the Tour of Flanders and especially Paris-Roubaix might suit me. But I still like cyclo cross very much and I am not yet willing to sacrifice my winter season," he said to AFP.

Last road season, Sven had his best result in the Cat 2.2 Delta Profronde where he came in fifth. In the tours of Germany and Sweden he was 35th and 11th, respectively and 18th in the Tour de l'Oise.

MTB'er goes to the road

Sweden's number one female MTB rider, Annica Jonsson has signed for the road squad Team Mälardalen which so far has concentrated on men's road racing. She will ride the Sea Otter Classic in California, and the first five races and the final event in the MTB World Cup, in addition to some major Swedish road races like the international Tjejtrampet and the Swedish Championships. Her main goal is the Olympic MTB race in Sydney.

"We had Swedish road champion Henrik Sparr starting for fun in the MTB Championships where he came second last year, and it is quite possible that we will try to recruit some more MTB riders to our squad," said team manager Patrick Serra.