News for July 1, 2000Scott Sunderland updateIt has been a while since I wrote a few words...actually over a month, time really flies this year. So, here we are, supposedly in European summer, with all the new national champions showing off their country's colours, and we have started the countdown to the Tour de France. The last couple of weeks have been rather quiet for me. Just before my mid-season break I rode a few smaller races in which the team did really well. We won Brussels-Ingooigem, De Panne, De Haan. Now, I am preparing my training camp in the Belgian Ardennes (the parcours of Liege-Bastogne-Liege). I planned on going to Livigno for a couple of weeks training with the Australian under-23 team first, but other engagements demanded that I stay at call here in Belgium. In Belgium, contract negotiations have started early this year because of the arrival of the new DOMO-International team. The atmosphere here is buzzing with transfers, names and figures. It is nice to see I still have kept my value on the market, even though my start of the season suffered from a false note played in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. I am really sorry that crash kept me out of competition for 5 weeks. My ride in Flanders has made sure though that I got in the picture enough to be measured the right weight and size. The flu I picked up afterwards put another line through my race calculations and just as I started to get back into racing condition, our team had no more races planned... Main thing is, I feel good on the bike. Although the weather could be a lot better, it is still nice to cruise around the Flemish countryside in a bit of a holiday mode. As most of my other training partners are off to the Tour, I'll be enjoying training in the company of Peter Van Petegem, Mario De Clercq and Eric De Clercq. My friend Gunter, a local police motorcyclist, will be running red lights with me on the Piaggio during the month of July. I will be doing 75 -100 kilometre rides behind the motorbike to keep the race speed in the legs. Evenings are filled with European Cup soccer. As I am writing this Holland has just missed a penalty shot...unbelievable. Italy goes on to play France in the final. Holland is hurting badly.... in front of a hundred thousand people, I'd be looking for a hole to crawl in too. My first race back is the 11th of July...just in time to make it for the Olympic Selection!? Have a great time following the Tour, we'll have it live on tele every day for the next three weeks!
Post back to cyclingThe revamp of the Farm Frites team continues, with the latest signing of Peter Post to a managerial role. Post, a formidable classics and six-day rider in his day, was the former team leader and manager of Raleigh and Panasonic. He bring that experience to Farm Frites, where he will be the team advisor. Albert van der Vlies said yesterday that "he will play a role in the structure of the team for next season." The idea of asking Post came from Jacques Hanegraaf. There is a big chance that Peter van Petegem will leave Farm Frites, despite the fact that he still has a contract for the next season. "We want clarification from Van Petegem. We think he is gambling on two horses," said Van der Vlies.
Canada in focusJuly is a big month for Canadian cycling. While most other countries have had their national championships, Canada has theirs scheduled for July 5-9 (Track), July 13-16 (Road), and July 21-23 (MTB). Each of these double as the Olympic trials and the pressure is on for team spots. The women's squad will be tough to get into, with the likes of Geneviève Jeanson, Lyne Bessette, Leigh Hobson, Clara Hughes, Anne Samplonius, Annie Gariepy, and Alison Sydor among the favourites for the coveted three positions. In the men, the competition will be for the road race only, as Canada have no starters in the individual time trial. Czezlaw Lukaszewicz, Mat Anand, Dominique Perras, Mike Barry, Gord Fraser, Brian Walton, Eric Wohlberg, Mark Walters and Sylvain Beauchamp are the main contenders for the four spots. Fraser would have to be a given, while Wohlberg and Walton are right up there. In the mountain biking stakes, Canada will host the next round of the World Cup in Mt St Anne this weekend. The competitions will feature Dual and downhill races on Saturday, with the cross country scheduled for Sunday. Alison Sydor and Roland Green are Canada's two big hopes, and they will have the advantage of a home crowd. Sydor has already qualified for the Olympic team, but other Canadians, Chrissy Redden and and Leslie Tomlinson are likely to take the next two spots.
Estonian Olympic team selectedEstonia's highest ranked professionals, Jaan Kirsipuu and Lauri Aus (both Ag2R) were obvious choices for the Estonian men's Olympic team announced today. They will be supported by other "Frenchmen" Janek Tombak (Cofidis), Innar Mändoja (Ag2R) and Elite2 rider Erki Pütsep (EC St-Etienne-Loire). Allan Oras from Italian amateur team Bedogni may join the Sydney squad as reserve. The team is coached by Toomas Kirsipuu, Jaan's older brother. At the end of the 80's, Toomas was riding for Kelme and was amongst the first ex-USSR riders allowed to become a pro. Dual national champion in 2000, Lauri Aus is Estonia's sole competitor in the Olympic time trial. The Estonian team for the road race: Jaan Kirsipuu (b. July 17, 1969) - 24th in Atlanta RR 1996 Reserve: Allan Oras (Dec. 20., 1975) - First Olympics Thanks to Janno Toots for the information |