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By Tim Maloney, cyclingnews.com correspondent
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Double World Champion Oscar Freire is know to his friends and teammates as a easy-going, uncomplicated person. "He has these naīve, soft expressions, but when he's on his bike with the finish line in sight, Oscar turns into a wildcat," says Javier Minguez, former DS of Vitalicio Seguros, who gave Freire his first pro contract in 1998.
Freire is sometimes is so easy-going that he seems to space out. His fiancée Laura explained that "the more spaced out Oscar seems, the closer he is to being in a state of grace..."
Take last Saturday, the day before the World's for example. On the way back from a training ride with the Spanish team, Freire and the team were stopped by a red light. He wasn't paying attention because he was fiddling with his front quick release, and with all the traffic between him and the rest of the riders, when Oscar looked up as traffic cleared, the Spanish team had disappeared.
Freire wasn't sure where he was exactly, wasn't sure what the name of his hotel was either and so he rode around the confusing roads of the Lisbon suburbs for an hour or so until he flagged down a taxi, chucked his bike in the trunk and explained more of less where the hotel was to the taxi driver (up on a hill above the autopista). Finally, two hours after his teammates rode off into the sunset, Freire got to his hotel at 5 pm where his bemused teammates were waiting for him.
"He hardly ever talks," said his Spanish and Mapei teammate Triki Beltran, "and when he finally says something, the conversation has already moved on to other things."
But it's not all cerveza and skittles for the 25 year old from Torrelavega, currently ranked 32nd in the World. Freire still has a lot of trouble with his lower back. "Sometimes, he suffers like a dog, just to train," explains Mapei DS Jesus Suarez-Cuevas.
His latest back problems may stem from a micro-muscle tear in his lower back that kept him out of this year's Tour De France and has forced Freire to see over 20 doctors to find the origin of his pain; pain that often keeps him from a normal training regimen and allowed Oscar to race only 32 days this season. He will visit another specialist this winter in California but is hesitant to undergo an operation. Despite the pain, Freire has the soothing balm of another Rainbow jersey and an estimated salary of $US650,000 year, plus the Mapei World's win bonus estimated to be $US150,000.
By year's end, Oscar will move into a new house just outside of Torrelavega with Laura, finally moving out of his parents house and the bedroom he shares with his brother Christian
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After Paolo Bettini was beaten into second place by Oscar Freire in the World Championships road race last Sunday, there was a lot of shaking of heads and muttering in the Italian camp. After Gianni Bugno's back to back World's victories in 1991-1992, Italy has not managed to win gold in the men's road race, finishing on the podium five times. Some countries would accept the fact that there was a better rider on the day and look at improving things for next year. But the Italians may take things further by launching an enquiry into the team tactics used by their own riders that may have cost them the race.
Right after the race, Paolo Bettini complained that he had no leadout men for the final sprint, despite the fact that Italians finished 7th, 11th and 12th in the rush for the line. His teammate Danilo Di Luca said that Bettini's tactics earlier in the race (bridging up to him and Angel Vicioso (Spa)) were poor, while Gilberto Simoni was concerned that he was chased down by an Italian rider (Paolo Lanfranchi) with 5 kilometres to go, denying him a chance of victory.
At the time, it was passed off as a genuine and honest mistake by Lanfranchi, who coincidentally rides on the same trade team as the first and second placed finishers. "Seeing Simoni out front alone and Lanfranchi leading the chasing group is an ugly sight," team manager Franco Ballerini told Bloomberg news afterwards. "It was a tactical error that you don't expect from a rider with Lanfranchi's experience."
Lanfranchi apologised to Simoni at the finish. "I will probably never get a better chance to be world champion," said Simoni.
Mapei boss Giorgio Squinzi offered financial bonuses to win the rainbow jersey, leading to speculation in the Italian press that Lanfranchi was party to this. It's not a new situation at all - last year's Olympics in Sydney saw a finish that will be remembered as Telekom 1-2-3 rather than Germany-Kazakhstan-Germany.
At the finish the odds were in favour of the Italians: 10 of the 44 riders in the lead group were from that country, but only two - Nardello and Rebellin - managed to assist Bettini in the sprint. "With a little bit of collaboration we could have won," Ballerini said.
Bettini did not help his cause when he went with Di Luca earlier in the race, causing Vicioso to stop working in the break and forcing an immediate reaction from the bunch. He also got no assistance from his former Mapei teammate Michele Bartoli, with whom he fell out with after last year's World Championships in Plouay. The situation was similar (Bettini claimed that Bartoli should have been working for him) but Bartoli managed to finish fourth.
Once again, there is no shortage of controversy in the Italian camp, and a spokesman for the Italian Cycling Federation, Augusto Rosati said that "We will hold a meeting within the next two weeks where we will discuss all the performances at the world championships. We may set up an inquiry then."
In today's 88th edition of the Giro del Piemonte, won by Nico Mattan, just 17 riders were officially classified from 180 starters. These 17 had escaped after only 20 kilometres of the 190 km race, building an big lead that reached 17'40 by the kilometre 135. Race director Carmine Castellano ruled that the 86 riders left in the peloton were outside the usual 15 minute time limit, thus the entire peloton was prevented from continuing in the race. With UCI points down to 30th place in a 1.1 race, a few would have missed out on a late season bonus.
Castellano said after the decision that "I pointed out that amongst the peloton there was not really the desire to react to the decisive break, and that it was necessary to open the roads again. A long line of trucks had built up, the Simplon pass was blocked, and safety couldn't be guaranteed because some did not respect stop lights any more."
None of the riders protested the exclusion, and many were probably concerned with the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday.
By Sergey Kurdukov, Russian Eurosport commentator
To Francesco Moser and Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle this moment came when they were over 40. Andrei Tchmil, 38, is still there (he says only until May 2002 but who knows). Eki calls it a day when he is still as strong as always. This news came as a shock to most of his fans who were certain that the double Olympic champion and 11-times Tour finisher was going to ride until, at the very least, the next Olympic road race. But he decided otherwise. Or life itself did?
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After 22 years in the saddle, six of them as professional, Swedish Glenn Magnusson has decided to quit. Glenn started 11 years old in his native Oskarshamn and since then he has done 1700 races and 480,000 kilometres of training and racing.
Glenn Magnusson won the Swedish Championships in 1995 and turned pro the following year for Amore & Vita. "It didn't start too well and I thought that my pro career would end soon. But in the Giro d'Italia everything changed."
Glenn won a stage that year Nafpaktos, Greece and managed to repeat the coup twice the following years. He also won the Giro di Puglia in 1998 and was ninth in the World Championships in San Sebastian in 1997, equalling the best Swedish result by Sven Åke Nilsson in Sallanches in 1980. Inuries and sickness marred the later years of his career in US Postal and Domo-Farm Frites.
Glenn and his wife haven't decided yet if they will stay in Italy or move back to Sweden. "Right now I'm busy planning my future. I can already reveal that there will be a new racing bike on the market next year, Glenn-line, made in Italy. I have always dreamt of producing the optimal racing bike and now I have the chance."
Glenn also thinks that his experiences as a pro cyclist could be of use in management training.
1996
Stage 2, Giro d'Italia
Stage 2, Tour de l'Ain
1997
Stage 5 & overall, Tour de Normandie
Stage 4a, Postgirot Open/Tour of Sweden
1998
Stage 9, Giro d'Italia
Tour de Lac Leman, Schweiz
Stage 2, Niedersachsen Rundfahrt
Stage 3a and 5, Giro d'Abruzzo
Stage 4 & overall, Giro di Puglia
Amateur clubs: Oskarshamns CK, Ålems CK, Täfteå IK, Falköpings CK, Team Hela CK, CK Bure, Skara CK.
Pro teams: Amore & Vita, US Postal Cycling Team, Farm Frites, DOMO-Farm Frites
With thanks to Roberto Vacchi, Swedish Cycling Federation
Kelme-Costa Blanca has renewed the contract of Juan José de los Angeles, a six year pro who has ridden three Tours de France and two Giri d'Italia, but has no starts in the Vuelta Espaņa. De los Angeles, winner of the Gran Premio de Llodio this year, was in danger of losing his position in the shrinking Kelme squad, but he got a reprieve.
"I am happy because this year Festina disappeared and the peloton will be reduced. It is not easy to find a team. I thank Kelme for the confidence they have put in me," said De los Angeles.
Winner of the Giro del Friuli this year, Denis Lunghi, has extended his contract with Colpack-Astro Eurosport for another season, directed by former Polti DS Gianluigi Stanga and Antonio Bevilacqua. Lunghi commented that he had several offers from other teams, but was happy to stay with Colpack where he is familiar with the team.
Colpack will also sign Lithuanian Vladimir Smirnov, who is now riding for CCC-Mat, having turned pro with Palmans in 1999. The team is having negotiations with Italian Leonardo Giordani, U23 World Champion in Verona in 1999.
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Italian U23 World's silver medalist, Giampaolo Caruso, will meet his future ONCE teammates Joseba Beloki, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and manager Manolo Sainz, in the Hotel Tre Laghi this Friday. Caruso recently signed for the Spanish team for one year.
The Judges of the Correctional Court in Tongeren (Belgium) have postponed their verdict in the case of former TVM team director Cees Priem until November 15. During the 1998 edition of the Amstel Gold World Cup race Cees Priem's team car hit Scott Sunderland, who was seriously injured an unable to race for 18 months. The case was taken to the Police Court and the judge ruled that Cees Priem was guilty of involuntary injuring and wounding Sunderland. Priem appealed the decision of the Police judge and now the verdict of the higher Correctional Court has been postponed.
By John Alsedek
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Klasna and Hincapie are just two of the big names making their way to beautiful South Florida for the final event of the 2001 Pro Cycling Tour. Others include Cuban refugee and former Pan-American gold medallist Ivan Dominguez (Saturn), USPRO Road Champion Fred Rodriguez (Domo-Farm Frites), Colombian climber Felix Cardenas, as well as representatives of all the U.S. pro teams and racers from all across the globe. On the women's side of the action, the field will include AutoTrader.com star Tina Mayolo-Pic, 2001 Criterium Nationals bronze medallist Shannon Hutchison (Litespeed/Atlanta Velo), and the Gatorade Women's Cycling Team.
The weekend's action begins on Saturday with the International Cycling Classic in Bayfront Park, a full day of racing that will include over 500 cyclists from 17 Western Hemisphere countries. The day's festivities will conclude with a 'Salute To The Americas' Concert at 8:00 PM EST.
Sunday October 21 is the big event: the Pro Cycling Tour Grand Finale. Formerly known as the Great Coconut Grove Bicycle Race, the Pro Cycling Tour Grand Finale will be held on a 1.5-mile circuit along Miami's celebrated waterfront, running through the cafe-lined streets of Coconut Grove's entertainment district. At the conclusion of the men's and women's events, the 2001 Pro Cycling Tour Champions will receive the final orange hats of series leadership.
The Pro Cycling Tour Grand Finale is being promoted and organized by Velo Racing, Inc. of Miami, Florida. Velo Racing, Inc. is the brainchild of Lee Marks, a well-known area attorney and avid cyclist.
By Tim Maloney, cyclingnews.com correspondent
Robin Morton, Senior Event Director of Threshold Sports LLC recently announced that she is stepping away from her role in America's leading cycling event production firm. "After yet another successful year at TSL, where we launched the SFGP in a joint venture with Tailwind Sports, I've decided to take a break from day to day operations to refocus on other projects," said Morton.
Threshold Sports President and CEO David Chauner said of Morton that "Robin provides outstanding leadership not only for our company but for the sport as well."
For her part, Morton told Cyclingnews that "I look forward to continuing my role with Threshold without the day to day responsibilities and travel demanded by full time employment."
Robin has been active in cycling since the early '80's, when she became the first woman team manager in professional cycling in the MD Mobili - Gianni Motta team in 1984. Robin went on to manage numerous cycling teams such as Pepsi-Fannini, Eurocar-Galli and Poland Springs, before switching to Event management, where she was the '96 Olympics Technical Manager for Cycling as well as running the Core States/First Union races since the early '90's.
"We've seen the sport of pro cycling come a long way in America since '84; then, there were only 2 Professional teams registered in the US and now have Division 1 teams competing in and winning Major Tours and CDM events, as well as a strong contingent of domestically based teams and more UCI events being added to the US calendar every year. I am proud to be a part of that growth," said Morton to Cyclingnews.
Morton will continue to act as technical liaison with the Union Cycliste International and USA Cycling as well as working with cycling teams worldwide to bring the best possible racing talent to compete in Threshold events like the First Union Series and San Francisco Grand Prix, a joint production with Tailwind Sports.
By Gerard Knapp and John Stevenson
Model Year 2002 is another year of consolidation and refinement in mountain bikes, rather than a year of dramatic advance, but there's nevertheless always something new in the fat tyre world. Notable new stuff at Interbike included SRAM's X.0 components; the first '29 inch wheel' bikes from a large manufacturer; Fox suspension forks; and Cannondale's Gemini bike. The strongest trends were the firming up of suspension bike categories and women-specific bike designs
Click here for the full report
British Cycling is in danger of losing the only velodrome left in London, Herne Hill. Demolishing any velodrome is bad enough, but this one is well loved and well used. What can you do to save it?
Martin McCrossan of TrackCycling.co.uk is asking any cyclist who is concerned to email them against the closure of Herne Hill, in an attempt to save the track. They will then take the list "to the highest possible level to save the stadium." The list already contains names like Florian Rousseau, Bryan Steel and Shaun Wallace.
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a Espaņa (GT) - Preview, stage list
May 11-June 2, 2002: Giro
d'Italia (GT) - Preview, stage list, photos
July 6-28, 2002: Tour
de France (GT) - Full preview & official route details
December 8: Superprestige
Rd 5 (Cat. 1) - Erwin Vervecken
November 29-December 4: Six
Days of Noumea (6D) - Sassone/Neuville victorious
November 26-December 1: Six
Days of Zurich (6D) - Day
6 - McGrory/Gilmore/Schnider win
December 1: Melbourne
Cup on Wheels (IM) - Scott Moller, Keirin,
Sprint, Support
races
December 2: Cyclo-cross
World Cup #2 (CDM) - Sven Nijs again
November 24-December 3: Juegos
Deportivos Centroamericanos (JR) - Final results
December 8-9: Frankfurter
Rad-Cross (Cat. 2) - Alex Mudroch, UK
National Trophy Series #4 (Cat. 3) - Roger Hammond, Grote
Prijs Industrie Bosduin - Kalmthout (Cat. 1) - Bart Wellens, Int.
Radquer Obergösgen (Cat. 2) - Björn Rondelez, Trofeo
Mamma e Papa Guerciotti (Cat. 3) - Enrico Franzoi, Premio
Egondo (Cat 3) - David Seco, Irish
cyclo-cross championships - Robin Seymour
Results: local racing
Australia - CycleWest
Promotions Omnium Series #2, Eastern
Suburbs Summer Criterium Series, Carnegie
Caulfield Tuesday criterium, Southern
Cross Junior Track Open & Madison Cup, Manly
Warringah CC, George
Town Track Carnival, Carnegie
Caulfield CC, Randwick
Botany CC, Gold
Coast CATS CC, Caesar's
Illawarra CC, Caesar's
Illawarra (track)
Denmark - Danish
cyclo-cross Post Cup #3
Italy - Gran
Premio Cittā di Bassano
Luxembourg - GP
De Kopstal
New Zealand - Cyco
Criterium series
Spain - Elorrio
cyclo-cross
USA - Georgia
Cross Series Championship, Chimborazo
Grand Prix cyclo-cross, Boulder
Cross Rd 6, New
Mexico State Cyclo-x Champs, Sorrento
Cyclo-x & California State Champ's, Boulder
Cross Rd 5, Verge
New England series, Northampton
CC Cyclo-cross Championships, Chris
Cross International CycloCross
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Tales from the Peloton
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Tales from the Peloton
- Tony Cruz - back to his roots (December 7)
Marco Polo
Diary - Tour du Faso - Part II - Nathan Dahlberg's report (December 3)
Tech
maintenance - Wheels - how to keep them true and tight
Tech letters
- Headsets, Pegoretti, Carbon cage, gloves & tubes (December 10)
Tech news - Navigators
power-tap, Headsets, Carbon cages (December 7)
Tech- Recycling
- How to protect your chainstay for free
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Tool belt; Shimano shoes;
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