News for March 17, 2001Recent results and new features Paris-Nice news
As the race enters its final stages, Mercury's Peter van Petegem is still in white after today's long 240 km fifth stage to Saint-Raphaël. However, with just 11 seconds to ONCE's Jörg Jaksche, victory is anything but assured for the Belgian. In addition to Jaksche, there are 14 other cyclists within a minute of Van Petegem's lead, and in tomorrow's 10 kilometre uphill Col d'Eze time trial, most of them have realistic chances of taking over the lead. The Fassa Bortolo pair of Raimondas Rumsas and Dario Frigo are just 15 and 16 seconds behind Van Petegem, while Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) lurks at 33 seconds along with Laurent Dufaux (Saeco). Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour) and Francisco Mancebo (iBanesto.com) are also handy climbers, and Michele Bartoli at 45 seconds cannot be ruled out. Today's stage belonged to 28 year old Polish champion, Piotr Wadecki, who scored a morale boosting win for Domo-Farm Frites. The Belgian breakaway squad have come under fire in the past few weeks for not living up to their word and winning races left, right and centre. Of course, if Museeuw wins the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, all will be forgiven. Wadecki commented after today's stage that "the last kilometre was really very hard. The headwind was extremely strong and it was necessary to wait for as long as possible for the sprint. It is the most important win of my career, and significant for the team as well, as we have not won any big races since the beginning of the season." Domo-Farm Frites manager Patrick Lefévère said that "Wadecki deserves his victory. It was he who worked most in the break. It is good that the attackers are rewarded."
Peter van Petegem found things a little easier today than on Mt Ventoux, "I have good condition, and a good team around me. But, on the col d'Eze, it will be necessary to just ride. I will see." His team manager, Alain Gallopin, said that "on paper, Van Petegem will be beaten in the Col d'Eze time trial. But a nice surprise is always possible. He is in good form, and should be classified in the top five in Nice." Sean Kelly did it... The comparisons with seven time Paris-Nice winner, Sean Kelly, are plain, although Van Petegem is certainly not yet in Kelly's league. Van Petegem is a sprinter-turned classics rider, but made the change somewhat later in his career than Kelly, who was only 26 when he won his first Paris-Nice. "That year, I had trouble with the climbs, just like him on Ventoux," said Kelly. "In the following years, I had a lot more confidence. In a certain way, he resembles me a little." Kelly's pick for the win is Jaksche.
Bad news for Filippo CasagrandeFilippo Casagrande (Fassa Bortolo), the younger brother of world number one Francesco, fell during the second stage of Tirreno-Adriatico and broke his right collarbone. He also fractured his left elbow, in is in doubt for the Giro d'Italia.
Jaja back by the end of MarchCSC-World Online's star rider, Laurent Jalabert, will be back riding by the end of the month, according to team manager Bjarne Riis. Jalabert fell off a ladder at home at the beginning February, and suffered fractures to three vertebrae. He required 11 days in hospital and has been sorely missed by the CSC team, who were looking for a strong start to the season in order to be selected for the Tour. "The team must do without him to gain one of the four invitations that will be allotted by the Tour directors at the end of April," said Riis to Ritzau newsagency. "He will commence riding at the end of March, but will not take part in any races in spring before the wild cards are handed out." "We know that Laurent Jalabert will take a while to rehabilitate, and we don't want to rush it." Apart from CSC-World Online, there is strong competition for the remaining four Tour de France spots. Lotto-Adecco, Saeco Macchine per Caffe, Mercury-Viatel and Alessio have all been winning the early season races, while Team Coast, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Big Mat and Mercatone Uno are outside chances at the moment. Currently selected teams Team Deutsche Telekom (Germany)
Saeco suspends CommessoThe Saeco Macchine per Caffé team has suspended former Italian champion Salvatore Commesso over a disciplinary issue related to CONI's Anti-Doping Commission. According to a team statement, Commesso "was officially questioned by team management on March 4, where he explained that he had been questioned in Rome a few days earlier. In the light of this the team sent him a registered letter in which it was announced his precautionary suspension from racing until further notice, with a consequent freezing of his wages." "Because of respect for the rider’s privacy, and considering the fact that the events concerning the rider are not in any way related to his activity within the team, we did not make any announcement before today because this may have influenced events and the decisions taken by others. " "An eventual lifting of the suspension will only occur when his position has been completely and definitely understood."
Rory Sutherland joins RabobankCanberra rider Rory Sutherland will officially join the Rabobank U23 squad (which Mathew Hayman rode for for two years prior to turning professional with Rabobank) departing next Thursday March 22, 2001. Rabobank first expressed an interest in Sutherland at the World Championships (Junior) in Plouay, France last year after an aggressive ride by him in the road race and a fourth place in the time trial. Sutherland will be based in Essen in Belgium. Brief Bio Age: 19 yrs 2000 Results 1st, Australian Time Trial Championship Courtesy of Mark Carter World Class Performance Program riders for 2001 Senior men (endurance)
Stephen Cummings Senior women (endurance) Susan Carter Senior MTB XC Philip Dixon Paralympic Robert Allen Track sprint Julie Forrester U23 road placement Jamie Alberts Giri d'Italia presentationsThe UC Vittorio Veneto are the organisers of the other two Giro d'Italia races, the 31st Elite Men's "Baby Giro" on June 13-24, and the 12th Women's Giro (July 2-15). The men's race will be presented on April 26 at 19:30 at the Grand Hotel Fior di Castelfranco in Veneto. The Giro d'Italia Femminile will be presented on May 8 at 11:30 in the Hotel Royal Garden, Milano-Assago. The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) has entrusted both races to UC Vittorio Veneto until 2004.
US Pro Cycling Tour 2001 March 22-25 April 7 June 2 June 3 June 5 June 7 June 10 July 8 August 2** August 27 September 8** September 9** September 16 October 20 October 21 * BMC Software Grand Prix events US Postal Service to sponsor USAC development teamsThe United States Postal Service announced that it will become the sponsor of the USA Cycling National Junior and Espoir Teams today at a press conference during the Redlands Bicycle Classic Race. USA Cycling created the National Espoir team in 1999 to support future champions. The team consists of 19-23 year olds, who race in Europe in international competitions. The USA Cycling Junior National Team will consist of male and female riders aged between 16 and 18. "By being associated with our championship cycling team and one of the world's greatest athletes, Lance Armstrong, the Postal Service brand is recognized around the world," said Senior USPS Sales VP, Gail Sonnenberg. "As the sport of cycling grows in this country, the value of our sponsorship will grow. We hope to see the next Lance Armstrong come through the ranks of the junior teams."
Lehigh Valley Velodrome Women's Health and Fitness WeekendDedicated to the late Nicole Reinhart On Tuesday March 20, the Lehigh Valley Velodrome will announce details of the inaugural Women's Health and Fitness Weekend to benefit women's cancer programs at the Lehigh Valley Hospital's (LVH) John and Dorothy Morgan Cancer Center. The event features two major components, the Commercial Color US Women's Open Professional Cycling Race (June 8) and the Spirit of Women Ride for Cancer (June 9). On hand at the press conference will be Pat McDonough, Director, Lehigh Valley Velodrome; Gregory Harper, M.D., Physician in Chief, LVH Cancer Services and Andrea Geshan, Director, LVH Cancer Support Services. The weekend's festivities will be dedicated to the late Nicole Reinhart, whose parents, Mike and Pam Reinhart, will also be present.
Norm Hoffman killedCalifornian cyclist and Bakersfield College professor, Norm Hoffman (60) was killed on Wednesday, March 14 by a 17 year old motorist on Fairfax Road, Bakersfield. Hoffman was travelling south when he was struck from behind by the car, and died instantly. He leaves a son, Grant, and a daughter, Kirsten behind. Despite being diagnosed seven years ago with primary sclerosing cholangits (PSC), a fatal liver disease, Hoffman still continued to excel in his cycling. Last year he won the 60-64 division of the California/Nevada State Cycling Championships in Lancaster, finishing in the top 10 out of the entire field. He is also a quadruple National 40 km Time Trial Champion, and set three national national and world records. He won the Mr. Kern County Body Building Championships in 1977-1978, was a member of the National Championship Cross Country Team for Oregon State University in 1961, and the NCAA Half-Mile champion in 1963 for Oregon State University. He was a Professor of Health at Bakersfield College for 35 years, an assistant Track Coach for Bakersfield College for 12 years and was elected to Bob Elias Hall of Fame in 1997. Source: Bakersfield Californian FLC Cycling TeamFLC Cycling is a club based competitive race team, and is the current Rocky Mountain Conference Champions, Division II national road champions and Division I mountain bike national runners-up. FLC competes against collegiate powerhouses such as Colorado University and Mesa State College in both road and mountain bike events. The team's aim is to win the Rocky Mountain Conference title once again, and to win Division I national championships in Colorado Springs in May. The squad boasts an A team with 7 professional mountain bikers and numerous semi-pros, while the Men's B team consists of top Expert and Cat. 3 racers. Team roster Head Coach: Arthur Razee Men A Zach Shriver (team captain) Women A Rachel Warren (team captain) Men B Chad Cheeney (team captain) Sponsors GOJUS (www.gojus.com) Recent results and new features on cyclingnews |
