News for July 18, 2000

Verbruggen more confident about EPO test

After visiting the Tour de France, UCI president Hein Verbruggen expressed renewed confidence in the EPO urine test developed in the French anti-durg laboratory of Chatenay Malabry. Although the test was not ready in time to be used for the Tour, the parties concerned are still pushing for it to be used in the Sydney Olympic Games, two months hence.

"We are convinced that the three experts appointed by the IOC are on the verge of validating the test developed by the French, so a new anti-EPO method will be used at the Sydney Olympics," said Verbruggen.

Lausberg's last chance

German kilometre time trial hope, Soren Lausberg had high hopes of making the Olympic team this year before an achilles tendon injury forced him to stop for two months. The injury occurred in late March while he was training with the German Track team in Mallorca, and he was thereafter written off as an Olympic prospect. However, his experience and talent in the event is valuable, having placed fourth in Atlanta, and he managed to recommence his training program.

Although previously only the World Championships were on themenu for Lausberg, his Olympic chances were given a last minute boost by the German Federation. It has set a date of July 27 for Lausberg to ride a time of 1.03.5 seconds for the 1,000 metres, their qualifying time for Sydney. He will try the time on the 285 metre track in Frenkfurt/Oder in the late afternoon.

Canadian Olympic road team announced

The seven riders for the Canadian Olympic road squad have been now after Sunday's Tim Hortons National Championships in Peterborough. Canada have a total of three women's and four men's spots available for Sydney although none are eligible for the time trial.

In the women's event, Genevičve Jeanson qualified herself by virtue of finishing 19th in the 119 kilometre road race, won by Vancouver's Sandy Espeseth. Jeanson had met the tough Canadian standard of finishing in the top eight in two World Cup or category one events so far this year, and had to keep an eye on the other eligible riders during the race. She did so, beating Lyne Bessette, Clara Hughes, Anne Samplonius and Annie Gariepy in the uphill sprint. The remaining two went to Clara Hughes and Lyne Bessette, it was announced today.

In the men's event, Mercury's Gord Fraser had already qualified for one of the four positions after being the top ranked Canadian this year. He finished second in the 224 kilometre road race to 36 year old Czezlaw Lukaszewicz, who rode extremely strongly to finish solo ahead of the field. Lukaszewicz, originally Polish, came to Canada in 1989 and rides for the Wüstenrot-ZVVZ squad and now has an automatic qualification for the Olympic team.

The remaining two men's spots went to time trial extraordinaire, Eric Wohlberg and Brian Walton.

Jonathan Hall quits Festina

Australian rider, Jonathan Hall announced earlier this month that he will be leaving the Festina team, where he has ridden for the past two and a half years. Apparently, a disagreement with team manager Juan Fernandez over his latter season program was the main reason, as Hall was not going to be able to ride in Tour de France or the Vuelta a Espaņa. His lack of results so far this year was in question, and Fernandez was firm.

Hall will now re-assess his position while spending the remainder of the season riding for the Spanish elite outfit, Saunier Duval-Mapei.

2000 Collegiate MTB Nationals for Idaho

By John Alsedek, cyclingnews.com correspondent

USA Cycling and the National Collegiate Cycling Association (NCCA) announced Monday that the 2000 Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships will be held on October 14-15 at the Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho. Round and Round Productions, based in Spokane, Wash., will promote the event, while the University of Washington will serve as the host college: "We want to provide a challenging, well-organized event that will give the University of Washington and mountain biking national exposure," said University of Washington rider Brian Carver.

Located only 70 miles from Spokane, Schweitzer Mountain was chosen as the race venue based on location and course quality. "The resort has good courses for the downhill and cross country, and we are currently building a dual slalom course," said Gino Lisiecki, director of operations for Round and Round Productions. The new dual slalom course is scheduled to be completed July 26, 2000. Schweitzer Mountain has previously hosted several American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) races, WIM (Washington, Idaho, Montana) series races and other various NORBA-sanctioned events.

Riders will be able to register online for the race at the University of Washington web site in late August or by linking to Round and Round Production's web page.

Trek-Nike competition - one week to go

Entries are still flooding in for the cyclingnews.com Tour de France compeititon to win a Trek US Postal Service team replica (5200 OCLV Frame, ICON Fork, Rolf Wheels, and Shimano Ultegra groupset). Second prize is a set of Rolf Vector Pro wheels, and third is a set of US Postal Team Clothing (shorts and jersey). All you have to do is answer a few questions and submit the form, and you will be eligible to win one of these prizes. The competition closes after the last stage of the Tour, at midnight Paris time on July 23. The winners will be announced a little over one week later (July 31) subject to confirmation. Entry is free, so why not do it?