News for September 17, 200055th Vuelta a España news
Fight for the podiumThe Vuelta a España has now become a battle for second place after Roberto Heras extended his overall lead in today's penultimate stage. Heras won the mountain test to Alto de Abantos, beating the improving Gilberto Simoni (Lampre) and Roberto Laiseka (Euskaltel) by three seconds. Importantly, Heras put 45 seconds into second placed Angel Casero (Festina) who will now have to fight to maintain his second position overall. Pavel Tonkov still lurks at 1'09 and is a good chance to take the next step on the podium with a 38 kilometre time trial to decide the race. He will in turn be chased by Fassa Bortolo's Raimundas Rumsas and ONCE's Santos Gonzalez and there could be a shuffling of the final standings. Heras' forecast win will be the first Grand Tour in Kelme's 21 year history, and team director Vicente Belda is quite happy at the moment. "He has demonstrated that he is strongest of all of them, and his triumph is deserved. This will be a great victory for him." His team have also overtaken Vitalicio in the team's competition, further underlining their strength. However, Heras was the only stage winner after Fernando Escartin and Oscar Sevilla could not manage it. Casero satisfiedSecond placed Angel Casero was happy to have maintained his position relative to Tonkov and the rest today. He did criticise Kelme a little, but admitted that Heras was "very strong and it was necessary to concede the time to him." He is now at four and a half minutes, and will surely not overtake this in tomorrow's 38 kilometre time trial. However, he said that he would try to "ride a good race against the clock".
Laiseka commentsRoberto Laiseka, of Euskaltel finished third today after trying to repeat his stage 11 win. Despite Heras taking a wrong turn at the finish, he still managed to come back to beat the Euskaltel rider, who in turn praised the likely winner of the Vuelta. "I am very happy for him, for his team and his father. Heras is the worthy winner of the Vuelta. He is a champion of another type and deserves it," said Laiseka. "I was feeling good. I have started from a long way down, and in these stages it is difficult to take time. I knew the climb and I have took advantage of it." Beltran pulls outMapei's Manuel Beltran was forced to retire today, one of two others to pull out of the race. Beltran was lying in 6th overall before the stage, but was experiencing severe stomach problems that put him out of the race.
Armstrong definiteAfter his strong win in the Grand Prix des Nations time trial today, American Lance Armstrong has confirmed that he will be in Sydney for the Olympics. Armstrong beat several Olympic favourites, including Chris Boardman, Christophe Moreau and David Millar putting aside doubts that his injured neck would force him out of the Games. "I'm 100 percent fit in my legs and 90 percent in my neck," said Armstrong after the race. "I wanted to wait until today to see if my neck was OK and if the pain was OK - the answer is yes, I'll definitely go...I don't feel any pain any more when my muscles are warm." Look out, as Armstrong's coming to town. Peter van Petegem has problemsOn Friday, Peter Post (Farm Frites) met with Mapei manager Alvaro Crespi in Milan, and Patrick Lefevere was there as well. The conclusion: If Van Petegem can't make a deal with Farm Frites before September 30, Mapei won't be interested in him, reports De Standaard. Peter thought he could leave for Sydney on Monday without any further problems, but it seems the situation has become worse for him. "We'll see. An annoying situation. I had prefered to only concentrate on my sport at the moment...," he said. Van Petegem will have to decide whether to buy himself out of Farm Frites after he holds a contract with them for 2001. If the UCI recognises that his contract will remain the same for Domo-Farm Frites, then he will have to pay BEF 14 million ($US 350,000) as compensation. "He is the man who has to put money on the table," says Lefevere. "In Milan the conclusion was: Mapei will try to convince Van Petegem he has to make an agreement with Farm Frites. And if he thinks he can leave without paying... Mapei don't want to do business this way." However, Mapei signed Van Petegem without any agreement about a buy out. "That was because of Cees Priem - he brought Van Petegem and Vansevenant to Mapei - but didn't tell Mapei there was still a contract for next year with Farm Frites. That fact was known by Mapei a few days later," added Lefevere. Van Petegem strongly denied this however, "Mapei knew it!" This case has to be resolved soon. Lefevere (who claims he is not involved) has signed Romans Vainsteins, but with the restriction he has to arrange a deal with Vini Caldirola - where he has still a contract - and Van Petegem isn't coming. Otherwise the deal is over. "Before the end of this period of time, Van Petegem has to agree with Farm Frites about his future; Otherwise Mapei won't accept the agreement with Peter any more." MemoryCard is still interested in Van Petegem, but only if there aren't problems with the UCI about his UCI points.
Fernandez annoyedFestina have recently re-signed two of their top GC riders for prolonged contracts: Christophe Moreau for four years and Joseba Beloki for five. The latter's signing was not totally smooth however, after several other teams tried to steal him away despite signing a preliminary contract quite early. Fernandez called into question the ethics of the head hunters, saying that they were "dirty and mean" to try and persuade Beloki to leave. "There are teams that play dirty to raise the market. Professional ethics are being lost. If there is a rider who is finishing their contract at the end of the year, then it is possible to speak to him in March, but not one who has two years left," he said. This was in particular referring to the case of Roberto Heras, whose "buyout clause" by foreign teams is 200 million pesetas ($US 1 million). "We are all getting carried away with the subject of Heras," he added, stating that Beloki's contract does not and did not have this clause. "I want to work to build a Festina team with the capacity to win the Grand Tours. I do not know whether I will obtain a Festina like it was prior to 1998, when it was the best team in the world. In addition, while we have cyclists like Armstrong or Ullrich it is is not going to be easy. But I want to at least start with that potential," he finished.
50th GP IsberguesThe 50th edition of the GP Isbergues (1.2) is the 15th round of the season long Coupe de France, that ends with Paris-Bourges. The 209 kilometre parcours will see the likes of Andrei Tchmil, Christophe Agnolutto, Jean-Cyril Robin, Peter van Petegem, Nico Mattan, Dave Bruylandts and Jens Voigt take the start, all of whom are strong favourites for the event. The race is held on hilly, undulating roads with 16 short, steep climbs en route. The final climb is located 39 kilometres from the finish, Bosse d'Estrée Blanche before the race finishes with several laps around Isbergues. Teams
Ag2r-Prevoyance Scanlon riding wellyoung Irishman, Mark Scanlon is showing good form again as he prepares for his first pro contract after winning stage one of the Tour de Hokkaido from Aibetsu to Shibetsu. The ex-World Junior Champion has just signed for the Linda McCartney team and will make his debut at the end of this month at the Circuit Franco-Belge. However, the team unfortunately lost US rider, Matt De Canio, as he flew home to America because of a family illness. "We are sorry to see him go, as he has been a fantastic asset to the team, a great guy to have around and a good friend to all of us. He will be missed, but his prospects look bright for 2001, and we wish him all the best," said team manager, John Deering. |