News for February 10, 2001Recent results and new features 27th Volta ao AlgarveThe first Portuguese test of the season is the Volta ao Algarve, held earlier this year from February 11-15. It is the 27th running of the race, that will see the likes of ONCE, U.S. Postal, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Rabobank, Mapei and iBanesto.com competing with the best Portuguese teams. Although the race will not feature last year's winner, Alex Zülle (Coast), second placed José Azevedo will be aiming to win in his new ONCE colours. 1999 winner, Melchor Mauri (Maia-Milaneza-MSS) and Cândido Barbosa (Ibanesto.com) who was second in 1999 are also strong candidates. Rabobank are on a roll after Mathew Hayman's overall and Michael Boogerd's stage win in the Mallorca Challenge, and will be keen to continue their good form. Euskaltel-Euskadi have the services of Aitor Silloniz again, who has recovered from recent physical problems, while Iñigo Chaurreau, Ikor Flores, and Iban Mayo will be key members of the team.
Verbruggen optimistic for the futureUCI president Hein Verbruggen has given a positive assessment of the future of cycling with the commencement of the 2001 season in Europe. In his view, there is more "serenity" in the peloton, particularly in France where he hopes that there will be no more talk of "cycling at two or three speeds". He also commented that cycling in France has become an "ideal scapegoat - they can shoot at us with anything, we are always the target. The ice skating federation recently raised the hematocrit ceiling to 54 - did you read that anywhere in the French press? If the UCI had increased the ceiling in cycling from 50 to 51, it would have been a massacre." The UCI has been criticised for its tardiness in the anti-doping fight, although it has led the way in sports for several years. Judge Daniel Delegove made the point in the Festina trial last year that it was "scandalous" that the UCI and FFC had moved so slowly. Verbruggen argues that the UCI is dependent "entirely on science" for detection of doping substances, and this is in turn dependent on research funding money and the willingness of sports governing bodies to accept the findings of scientific research. However, Verbruggen is still confident that before April 1, there will be a useful and valid test for EPO detection in cycling. Given that "we always have the same number of teams and more and more races" there appears to be no danger that sponsors are leaving the sport. "Mountain biking is progressing well and track has been marvellously turned around...In passing, I do not agree at all with those who say that the calendar is too full," he added. Verbruggen said that according to their research, the amateurs remain strongly supportive of cycling, and this would be hard to disagree with. However, at the very top there are still problems because "with the current mentality, it is enough for a sponsor to stop if one so much as speaks of doping."
Nestlé to sponsor TourSwiss food giant Nestlé will become one of the four top sponsors of the Tour de France, next to Champion, Fiat and Crédit Lyonnais, according to a joint statement issued by Nestlé and the Sociètè du Tour de France. The brand that will be promoted during the race is 'Aquarel de Nestlé' mineral water, which the company wants to market more heavily. Nestlé replaces Coca-Cola, who will move down to a lower level of sponsorship until 2009. Nestlé's $US 4.2 million contract is for the next three years. The nature of the partnership will be revealed at a press conference in late March, but the association and branding will start right away. It is the first time since 1992 that a major sponsor has joined the "top club" and will serve to reduce fears that companies are pulling out due to the ongoing doping climate. Aquarel spokesman Hubert Genieys said that "The Tour de France must become a leader in the fight against the doping plague."
Kelme accepts Heras transferThe Kelme team has accepted the transfer of Roberto Heras to US Postal, after the UCI assured them that 140 million pesetas ($US 800,000) had been lodged as a deposit. However, they want interest for the late payment, "Otherwise we will go to court to ask that they pay 250 million," said team spokesman Joan Mas. Kelme's director said that UCI intervention had been important in the resolution of this dispute, whereby Kelme claimed Heras as their own until Postal paid up in full.
Dominguez wants to move onAttracted by a hefty six-figure sum and the prospect of team leadership, Spaniard Juan Carlos Dominguez made the move to Linda McCartney last year. Unfortunately, the contract 'failed to bear fruit' and he was one of many left without a team when it imploded two weeks ago. Since then, he signed a one year contract with iBanesto.com, which offers him real money albeit at a lower rate. He aims to have a good season and significantly increase his worth for next year. "This is a more serious team; the other was not a team," he said. Dominguez will race in the Vuelta a Andalucia (Ruta del Sol) from
February 18-22, but he hopes to reach good form by the Vuelta a Murcia
next month. Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo, Criterium International,
Vuelta a Pais Vasco, Biziklete Vasca, Vuelta Asturias and the Giro d'Italia
are on his program, which looks packed for the first half of the season.
31 year old Belgian, Heidi van de Vijver intends to keep on racing,
despite rumours that she might retire at the end of last season. Van
de Vijver will be the top woman in the Vlaanderen-T-Interim team. "I
decided to stop after I thought the Belgian Wielerbond had offered me
a job as women's coach. But the promise was not kept after the Games
and I had to confront a black hole," said van de Vijver.
"I am not yet clear as to when I will stop. Indeed, the motivation
is bigger than ever. I have to be grateful to my team," she added.
The president of the Russian Cycling Federation (FCSR) Alexander Gusjatnikov,
has denied reports that he wants a Russian division I team in the peloton
next season. Gusjatnikov told Russian newspaper, Sport Express that
"in the near future, creation of this group in Russia is impossible
for several reasons. We realize that the named riders (Konyshev, Tonkov
and Ivanov) will hardly want to join a Russian team. Konyshev already
raced for Roslotto and the probability of his comeback is very small.
Tonkov is not at the age to risk anything. Ivanov - who is a rider of
the younger generation - is a possibility for a Russian team. But also
there is no question of it being in the near future."
20 year old Belgian U23 Cyclocross World Champion, Sven Vanthourenhout,
will join the Domo-Farm Frites team after signing a contract until the
end of 2003. He will follow his friend and former World Champion Mario
de Clercq in the team, who signed late last year. Vanthourenhout's decision
comes as no great surprise, as the team expressed interest in him last
season, before he won the World's.
However, his contract will only begin on December 1, 2001. In the coming
months, he will continue to race for the Mez team.
"It's nice to be able
to poo again"
After two operations in the last week, Czech triathlete and Olympic
bronze medallist Jan Rehula is looking forward to returning to competition
later this season. Rehula crashed on Saturday when his seat post failed.
He sustained serious injuries and lost almost two litres of blood before
being found in Sydney's Kuring-gai National Park early Saturday morning.
After a second operation to repair the extensive damage to his nether
regions, Rehula told Cyclingnews he was recovering rapidly. He is able
to eat solid food again, as the other end of his digestive tract is
now working properly. "It's nice to be able to poo again."
Rehula has been reading Lance Armstrong's book while in hospital for
inspiration, and says it's "a bit of an eye-opener" to read what Armstrong
went through.
A few people have emailed us asking us to get to the bottom of this
story and find out what sort of seat post Rehula was using. Rehula said
it was a run-of-the-mill aluminum post, but what actually failed was
the bolt holding the saddle rails on to the post. He suggests that this
bolt is a component we should all inspect regularly and it should be
a good quality bolt. This is no place for arsing about with exotic lightweight
materials - a failure here is a real bummer, as Rehula can attest.
The focus of this US Elite amateur team is to support an entire team
of 30 Pro 1/2 to Cat 4 racers. Last year, Chris Fisher helped the team
to win 11 of 13 races in the Colorado Series, including the State Criterium
Championship.
Fisher has signed with Saturn now, but Randy Whicker and Andy Clark
are returning to the Rio Grande-Monsoon Pro 1/2 squad. Randy won the
USCF State Road Championship, while Andy came 2nd behind Mike Ley at
the ACA Road Championship. New to the team is Jacob Rosenbarger, a standout
at Univest last year.
Team Roster
Manager/Director: Matthew Smith Pro 1/2 Randy Whicker (State Road Champion) Category 3 Matthew Smith Category 4 Brian Kopp Women Kirsten Fisher Sponsors The Rio Grande Restaurants Equipment Cannondale Bicycles |