News for April 6, 2001

Tour de France: 10 steps against doping

The Sociètè du Tour de France has announced its measures to combat doping in this year's Tour. At a press conference in Paris this morning, Patrice Clerc (President of the Amaury Sport Organisation) and Jean-Marie Leblanc (Director of the SDTF) outlined 10 measures as follows:

1. The Tour code of ethics, which affirms the Tour de France sporting spirit, values and the obligation for transparency in the competition, and the principles involved in combating doping.

2. A written agreement between each team's directeur sportif and doctor to respect the Tour's code of ethics and rules, and to neither administer or prescribe any substance subject to restriction without the prior written consent of the UCI medical experts.

3. The support of the cyclists, whereby each one recognise that he has read the Tour code of ethics and rules, and promises to respect the principles and the modalities

4. Two to three medical experts commissioned by the UCI within the framework of the anti-doping measures in use on the Tour.

5. The third phase of the longitudinal medical check up, including verification of blood tests by the delegation of UCI medical experts, which will determine whether a rider will be allowed to race in the Tour.

6. Daily anti-doping check ups on 10 cyclists, including the winner of the stage and the top three riders on GC. The tests will include the EPO urine test, and blood tests.

7. The setting up of an organisation to ensure these daily check ups, the sending of samples to recommended laboratories with fast results expected, and the covering of all costs involved.

8. A research partnership, which is a 3 year programme in collaboration with several CNRS laboratories, under the direction of Prof. Roland Jouvent. Four areas will be researched: Individual and social vulnerability in doping; Addictive effects of intense physical activity; Medical complications linked to doping; Physiopathology of high level sport

9. An education session, to inform all cyclists taking part in the Tour of the risks of doping. This will be held a few days before the start of the race, and will be conducted by a biologist, a sports doctor and the Tour organisers

10. A prevention campaign, aimed at all young cyclists. This will be within the framework of the partnership with the FFC and the Training Centres co-financed by the Tour de France, and will include commercials to be shown on France Télévision

Van Petegem drops from favourites

1999 RVV winner, Peter Van Petegem is no longer a favourite for this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen. He abandoned the Driedaagse van de Panne on Wednesday and went straight to his doctor. He will decide on Saturday about whether he will start on Sunday.

Van Petegem has been suffering from a cold since last Wednesday, and had hoped by not riding the GP E3-Harelbeke he would recover. "When I saw the rain this morning, I thought about abandoning," he said yesterday. "But I started, now I think it was better not to start."

He was dropped from the peloton stopped on the Rodeberg. There, his mother was beside the road with her car. Van Petegem went on: "It's a pity, but what do I have to do? Tears? But that didn't change anything. Maybe I didn't have to start in the Brabantse Pijl and the Driedaagse, but I didn't want to be without competition for 10 days. Maybe it's better for your recuparation, but you lose your condition. So that isn't a real option."

"Even if I do start in the RVV, I don't have a chance to win. We will see within 2 weeks. Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Peter van Petegem: you never know..."

Fall in the Driedaagse

Within the first 4 kilometres of stage 2 of the Driedaagse van de Panne, a group of riders fell. Christian Wegmann (Saeco), Frederic Gabriel (Bonjour) and Regis Lhuillier (La Francaise des Jeux) were the most seriously injured riders. Lhuillier has a broken rib and was taken to hospital in Zottegem.

Blijlevens with 'flu

One Lotto rider who wasn't amongst the spoils in the Driedaagse de Panne was Jeroen Blijlevens, who couldn't start because of stomach-flu. "I didn't come back from the States very fresh," he said. "I had some problems with jet lag. And on the second day of the Critérium International I had diarrhoea."

"As for the rest I'm in good shape. I will take some rest now which is for the best, the doctor said. Next week in Gent Wevelgem I will be there."

Saeco for Flanders: Pieri at his best

Team Saeco Macchine per Caffe' will start the Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday with the intention of holding onto its number one teams ranking in the UCI World Cup. Dario Pieri (2nd last year) will lead the Saeco team on Sunday, as he is one of their best pavé riders.

"I'm in good form," he said. "My retirement from the Driedaagse van de Panne race was just a case of bad luck and won't affect my build up to the big race on Sunday. I'm ready...I can't wait to ride it again. The memories of last year have haunted me for 12 months."

Directeur sportif Antonio Salutini has also selected Mario Cipollini for the race, meaning that SuperMario will be back in Belgium for the first time for several years. The Tour of Flanders will also see Mirko Celestino in action, who is aiming to do well in the World Cup classification this year. However the Ligurian rider won't be riding just to collect a few points:

"The Tour of Flanders is one the races I like the most," he said. "I've only ridden it once and I was left fascinated by it. "The rest of the Saeco team for the race will include Biagio Conte who is in good form, Fabio Sacchi (sixth last year), Mario Scirea, German Joerg Ludewig and Lithuanian Marius Sabaliauskas. Sacchi finished sixth last year and should recover from the injury he suffered during the first stage of De Panne.

Hunter and Spruch out for April

Lampre's Robert Hunter and Zbigniew Spruch will not start in any of the April World Cup races. Spruch has still some problems because of his heavy fall in Tirreno-Adriatico. Lampre hope he will be back for the Grote Scheldeprijs on April 25. His replacement this Sunday will be Mariano Piccoli.

Hunter fell last weekend in the Criterium International, but they didn't find that he had broken his rib before Tuesday, after stage 1 of the Driedaagse van De Panne. He needs at least 10 days rest now. Last year, he rode an excellent RVV. His replacement is Jan Svorada.

Lampre-Daikin's RVV team is: Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel), Marco Serpellini (Ita), Maximilian Sciandri (GBr), Mariano Piccoli (Ita), Johan Verstrepen (Bel), Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat), Jan Svorada (Cze), and Rubens Bertogliati (Swi).

Vandenbroucke probable for Pais Vasco

Frank Vandenbroucke will most likely return to competition next Monday in the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco. According to the Lampre-Team, his condition is OK and he will start two weeks earlier than expected.

Luik-Bastenaken-Luik/Liege Bastogne Liege

The parcours of the 87th edition of LBL was announced on Wednesday. The race totals 258 kilometres, with 10 climbs (25 kilometres of climbing). After many years, the Côte de la Vecquée is again on the parcours, situated at 206.3 kilometers (before La Redoute). These climbs, together with the Sprimont, Sart-Tilman and Saint-Nicolas, are expected to split the race up. All 22 Division I teams are down to start, along with 3 Belgian Division 2 teams: Collstrop-Palmans, Ville de Charleroi and Landbouwkrediet-Colnago.

Most LBL victories

5: Eddy Merckx (Bel) in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975
4: Moreno Argentin (Ita) in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1991
3: Leon Houa (Bel) in 1892, 1893 and 1894; Alfons Schepers (Bel) in 1929, 1931 and 1935; Fred De Bruyne (Bel) in 1956, 1958 and 1959

Waalse Pijl/Fleche Wallone

The 65th edition of the Waalse Pijl/Fleche Wallone (April 18) is 198 km long, with the most difficult parts in Namen and Liege. The finish line is, as is traditional, on top of the Muur de Huy, which the riders have to do three times. A new climb has been introduced into the race: the Moha in Wanze. This comes after 64 km and is the first of the 10 climbs.

21 Division 1 teams start (Crédit Agricole is missing), along with four Belgian Division 2 teams: Collstrop-Palmans, Vlaanderen T-Interim, Ville de Charleroi and Landbouwkrediet-Colnago.

Most WP/FV victories

3: Marcel Kint (Bel) in 1943, 1944 and 1945; Eddy Merckx (Bel) in 1967, 1970 and 1972; Moreno Argentin (Ita) in 1990, 1991 and 1994
2: Stan Ockers (Bel) in 1953 and 1955; Andre Dierickx (Bel) in 1973 and 1975; Claude Criquielion (Bel) in 1985 and 1989; Ferdi Kubler (Swi) in 1951 and 1952; Bernard Hinault (Fra) in 1979 and 1983; Laurent Jalabert (Fra) in 1995 and 1997

Caneva candidate for 2004 World's

As reported recently, the Italian town of Caneva has added its name to the list of World Championship candidates for 2004. With a population of just 6500, Caneva joins Cuneo, Imola and Verona among the Italian localities vying for the hosting rights.

"We are determining if our bid satisfies the UCI guidlines", said Gianni Biz, general manager of the Gruppo sportivo Caneva. "As president of the Tricolore society since June 2000, I chose the route for the U23 Italian championships, won by Nicola Gavazzi. 'La Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia' is our first sponsor."

Mapei-Quick Step for Route Adélie

Tomorrow's Route Adélie in France is a 1.3 category race, and is followed by the GP Rennes on Sunday. Mapei-Quick Step has sent a young team for both races: Davide Bramati, Fabian Cancellara, Bernhard Eisel, Graziano Gasparre, Filippo Pozzatto, Eddy Ratti, Michael Rogers and Charly Wegelius.