First Edition Cycling News, Tuesday, February 14, 2012

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Date published:

February 14, 04:00

• Omega Pharma-Quick Step: Chavanel for Oman, Martin for Algarve

  

  Article published:

  February 13, 14:37

  By:

  Cycling News

  Belgian team wants more victories in Middle East and Portugal

  Omega Pharma-Quick Step has announced its line-ups for the next stage races, the Tour of Oman (starting Tuesday, February 14) and the Volta ao Algarve (starting Wednesday, February 15). The Belgian team has just finished the Tour of Qatar, where Tom Boonen won the general classification as well as two stages, and is now targeting the Tour of Oman with a slightly different line-up due to the hillier terrain.

  "After our lucky spell in Qatar we're going to try to do well in Oman, too," said Sports Director Wilfried Peeters, who announced that top lead-out man Gert Steegmans would now be supported by Boonen for the sprints.

  "For the finishes adapted to sprinters, we're going to call on Steegmans. Gert was a fundamental pillar for Boonen's victory in Qatar; now it will be his turn to try and win a stage.

  "For the general classification we can count on Sylvain Chavanel, who was already a major player in Argentina and on Peter Velits, although he hasn't raced as much as Sylvain. After the success in Qatar it would be exceptional to grab at least one stage success in nearby Oman," Peeters said.

  The team will also be at the start line of the 38th edition of the Volta ao Algarve, where Tony Martin will try to defend his 2011 title.

  "The Algarve will be Tony Martin's first stage race in 2012," said Sports Director Rik Van Slycke. "It will be important to understand to which point Tony is ready for the next races. The race features an uphill finish, but this shouldn't make a difference for the men who are jostling for the general classification. A 25,8 km time trial on the last day on a flat circuit will favour a time trial man with Martin's skills.

  The German will be joined by a versatile team including his fellow countryman Gerald Ciolek. "On the team we can also count on the young Kwiatkowski and on Ciolek, who is pedalling well and who still has some more room to grow. The team is motivated and ready to take to battle on the road," Van Slycke continued.

  The full line-up for the Tour of Oman: Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel, Bert Grabsch, Frantisek Rabon, Gert Steegmans, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Stijn Vandenbergh and Peter Velits.

  Volta ao Algarve: Gerald Ciolek, Dries Devenyns, Michal Kwiatkowski, Nikolas Maes, Tony Martin, Niki Terpstra, Matteo Trentin and Martin Velits
   

• German federation bars Ullrich from cyclo-sportives

  

  Article published:

  February 13, 15:58

  By:

  Susan Westemeyer

  Banned rider may not start in any BDR-authorized race

  Jan Ullrich will not be allowed to ride in any cyclo-sportive race sanctioned by the German cycling federation, the Bund Deutsche Radfahrer announced on Monday. Ullrich was last week given a two-year ban for doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

  The question had arisen as to whether the ban would include the cyclo-sportive races, with his advisor Falk Nier saying that it was up to the discretion of race organisers. Ullrich's newest sponsor, the manufacturer of Alpecin shampoo (“Doping for the hair”), sponsors a “Cycling Day” in August in Bielefeld, Germany, and Ullrich was expected to ride.

  Nier said that his appearance would “not be the function of a cyclist, but that of an ambassador for amateur cycling. He doesn't have to be included in the results. So I really can't imagine that Jan will not be at the start in Bielefeld.”

  The BDR has ruled against him, however, saying the ban extends to such races. Under its rules, a suspension applies to all races, including cyclo-sportives, covered by the BDR.

  BDR vice-president Udo Sprenger said, “That means that Ullrich is not allowed to start in any German cyclo-sportive, which is authorized by the Bund DR.”

  Nier told Cyclingnews he had no comment, saying only, "Of course, the BDR antidoping rules are known."

  BDR president Rudolf Scharping used the BDR's announcement to voice his criticism of Ullrich's statement after the CAS decision. “It is too bad, that he now also only admits what everyone knew anyway and doesn't accept the full responsibility for what he did.”

• Radioshack-Nissan announces Oman and Algarve line-ups

  

  Article published:

  February 13, 19:13

  By:

  Cycling News

  American team sends Andy Schleck to Oman, Klöden to Portugal

  Johan Bruyneel's Radioshack-Nissan-Trek squad will divide its forces on two continents this week. In the Middle East, for the upcoming Tour of Oman, Andy Schleck will begin his 2012 racing calendar and join some of his teammates that already took part in the Tour of Qatar. Andreas Klöden, on the other hand, will test his climbing and time trial form at the Volta ao Algarve.

  The Tour of Oman, taking place from February 14-19, will also feature Fabian Cancellara, already present in Qatar. Coming out of the European winter, Schleck will be able to test his fitness on Saturday's stage including an uphill finish on Green Mountain. The full Oman line-up for Radioshack-Nissan is: Fabian Cancellara, Jakob Fuglsang, Tony Gallopin, Yaroslav Popovych, Joost Posthuma, Grégory Rast, Andy Schleck and Robert Wagner.

  The Tour of Algarve, starting one day later, will have the following riders line up: Jan Bakelants, Matthew Busche, Laurent Didier, Ben Hermans, Ben King, Andreas Klöden, Tiago Machado and Jesse Sergent. Sunday's time trial from Lagoa to Portimão will serve to assess the whole team's state of form.

• Tiernan-Locke's signature already in demand

  

  Article published:

  February 13, 21:00

  By:

  Daniel Benson

  Smith takes call from rival manager after Tour Méditerranéen win

  Within hours of wrapping up a stellar win at the Tour Méditerranéen, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s (Endura Racing) team boss, Brian Smith, had a rival team manager on the phone enquiring about the possibility of signing his rider.

  Tiernan-Locke had just put in the ride of his life to drop the peloton on the final climb of the race and secure the overall. Having won the opening in a similar attacking display, Smith admitted that keeping Tiernan-Locke may be a problem in the future. The rider’s contract expires at the end of this season.

  “I’ve already had a call seeing if he’s available for this year and that’s from one of the best teams in the world,” Smith told Cyclingnews.

  “To let him go would be difficult, but I would never stand in the way of an opportunity for a rider.”

  “I have to talk to the sponsor because you’ve got to remember he’s capable of winning the Tour of Britain and that’s huge for a sponsor like Endura. These are our goals. I’m all for riders getting the best out of themselves, but there are a lot of things to talk about with contracts. I would love to keep him, but I think he’ll go to a WorldTour team in 2013.”
  
  Tiernan-Locke was signed from Rapha at the end of last season but his performances in the Med caught most by surprise. A strong showing in last year’s Tour of Britain where he claimed a top five position and the mountains jersey illustrated his potential, but he has flourished within his short time under Smith’s tutelage.

  “It was a surprise for some but not to me or the rest of the boys in the team. Last year I was doing the commentary for a lot of the Premiere Calendar events, and I could see then he would attack on climbs and ride people off his wheel. He’d get away and just not know what to do but nobody could live with him at a British level.”

  “All we’ve done at Endura is focus his training a bit more and teach him race craft.”

  On the final climb, Tiernan-Locke combined craft with good old fashioned brawn as he distanced Daniel Narvarro (Saxo Bank) and Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) on the Col de Garde. It was a dramatic turn around of events for the Endura team who had made their European debut at this race three years ago, and in Smith’s words, ‘taken a kicking'.”

  “This was the day, from three or four weeks ago, that we decided to focus on. That’s what the boys did and off he went.”

  “John has a gift and all we’ve done at Endura is show the world what gift he’s got. He showed it last year at the Tour of Britain and he could have won that race. He’s the real deal when it comes to two of the biggest races I used to look at, Fleche and Liege. I think he’s capable of winning either of them. He’s explosive, in the Gilbert mould and those are the races he could target in the next few years.”

• Pegasus Racing investigated by Australian Taxation Office

  

  Article published:

  February 13, 21:59

  By:

  Jane Aubrey

  Virgin Australia confirms that a financial settlement has been reached

  Cyclingnews has learned that Pegasus Racing, which in 2011 operated in the form of UCI Continental team V Australia, is the focus of an investigation by the Australian Taxation Office following (ATO) numerous complaints by former riders.

  Under Australian law, employers must contribute an additional nine per cent of an employee's wages into a compliant superannuation fund. Failure to do so results in the superannuation guarantee charge which is composed of the amount of the unpaid super contribution plus an administrative penalty and some interest. Payments then go back to the employees. At the beginning of this financial year (July 1, 2011), significant penalties were introduced by the Australian Federal Government making company directors, which in the case of Pegasus Racing is Chris White, personally liable for their company's failure to pay employee superannuation.

  The ATO does not comment on individual's tax affairs.

  Cyclingnews contacted White and he said that news of the ATO investigation was "completely untrue" adding he "did not wish to continue the conversation" before hanging up.

  Meantime, former sponsor Virgin Australia confirmed to Cyclingnews late last week that a financial settlement between the airline and White had been reached following negotiations which lasted several months.

  "Negotiations have concluded, and contents of the contract and agreement remain confidential," a spokeswoman for Virgin Australia informed Cyclingnews.

  Pegasus Racing's contract with V Australia was renewed in May 2011 year but in September the airline informed White that financial sponsorship would not continue for 2012 with payment for the final two quarters of the year were withheld. Cyclingnews reported on December 22 that the team had ridden its final race.

  Several riders on the Pegasus roster for the 2011 season, who wish to remain anonymous, have informed Cyclingnews that they are still owed wages and other entitlements. The vast majority of riders and staff took significant pay cuts for the last season, up to half of what they had earned in previous years.

  The 2011 season was a frustrating one for the riders of V Australia with a very lean race calendar, especially in the United States. The number of total race days for Pegasus Racing had gone from 232 in 2009, 234 in 2010 to 145 in 2011. Others have informed Cyclingnews that there were multiple occasions where they were forced to race on training bikes and wheels, and also pay for their own flights and race entry fees. The V Australia team budget for the 2011 season was believed to be in the vicinity of $1.3million.

  White intended to apply for a Continental Licence for the 2012 season and an application was lodged under BPM Pro Cycling but unable to secure financial backing missed the December 10 deadline with Cycling Australia.
  
   

  Tags:

  legal case

  sponsorship

• Exergy Tour returns elite women's cycling to Idaho

  

  Article published:

  February 14, 00:22

  By:

  Cycling News

  Inaugural five-day stage race kicks off this May

  Top-level women's racing returns to Idaho with the announcement that the The Exergy Tour international ladies pro cycling event will take place from May 24-28, 2012. The race will be one of the last to provide international ranking points crucial to qualifying for the London Olympic Games. It is sanctioned by USA Cycling and is the only ladies race in North America in 2012 with a 2.1 ranking by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

  Medalist Sports will oversee the competition and technical production of the Exergy Tour, as well as the development of the local organizing committees in each start and finish venue. Medalist also is the event management arm for the Amgen Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

  While the exact state routes are yet to be decided, the five-day stage race will start and finish in Boise. Day two will take place in and around Nampa. From there, teams will race through the high desert of Kuna, then on to the alpine stage of Crouch/Garden Valley and Idaho City, and back to Boise on the final day. Because the host cities are all within an hour's drive of each other, the course enables volunteers and spectators to easily travel to each leg of the race throughout the Memorial Day long weekend.

  Official race announcements including the Exergy Tour's list of 10-15 participating teams, charitable partner, prize money and individual stage details will be released over the next four to six weeks.

  "The Exergy Tour will showcase the power and excitement of women's professional cycling and its growing global influence, while engaging our communities in teaching young girls the benefits gained through individual and team sports," said James Carkulis, CEO of Exergy Development Group.

  "Our vision with the Exergy Tour is to communicate this global message and work with organizations who also are dedicated to advancing the self-confidence, self-esteem and overall well-being of girls and women through physical activity."

  Idaho formerly hosted the Women's Challenge from the 1984 before the event dissolved in 2003. The event was the source of the richest prize purse in women's cycling - $125,000.

  "I'm thrilled to see such a world-class cycling competition emerge in our community," said Boise Mayor David Bieter. "Boise has long been a training ground for many local Olympians, and it's wonderful to see it become a major hub for premier athletic events. The Exergy Tour will shine the spotlight of international cycling on our city as it attracts some of the best athletes in the world to compete prior to the 2012 Olympics. I encourage all Boise residents to come out and see what promises to be an exciting and inspirational event."
   

• UnitedHealthcare ready for 2012 European debut in Algarve

  

  Article published:

  February 14, 02:19

  By:

  Cycling News

  Deignan, Sutherland to lead team

  It's testament to just how far UnitedHealthcare have come in the last few years when the team can boast not one or two, but a handful of former WorldTour riders on the team roster for the upcoming Volta ao Algarve, the European season opener for the American squad.

  Irishman Philip Deignan will make his debut with the team along with Jeff Louder, Marc de Maar, Kai Reus and Jason McCartney. All five of the riders are former top tier professionals, making the UnitedHealthcare squad among the favourites to make an impression in Algarve.

  Rory Sutherland will also be starting his season in Portugal, marking his sixth year with the Mike Tamayo-managed squad.

  Tamayo said the team was really looking forward to kicking off their European season in Portugal after a successful Tour de San Luis.

  "We experienced some good success in Argentina last month at the Tour de San Luis, and as always, we're looking to build on that. It's still early in the season - but we're excited about being here for the Volta and will be looking to make an impact."

  The five-stage 2012 Volta ao Algarve begins Wednesday, February 15.

  UnitedHealthcare roster for the 2012 Volta ao Algarve:

  Philip Deignan (Irl), Marc de Maar (AMo), Chris Jones (USA), Jeff Louder (USA), Jason McCartney (USA), Kai Reus (Ned), Rory Sutherland (Aus), Brad White (USA)
   

• New role for Wurf at Champion System

  

  Article published:

  February 14, 03:34

  By:

  Jane Aubrey

  Late call-up to ProConti outfit should lead to individual resurgence

  When Liquigas-Cannondale announced their 2012 roster of 29 riders in late November, the exclusion of Cameron Wurf was met with some beffudlement, least of which for the Australian domestique.

  "I had always been planning on staying with Liquigas and following my broken rib there was a breakdown in communication between by agent and the team, which basically resulted in some confusion," Wurf told Cyclingnews. "The position which I thought was going to be there wasn't."

  It was a nightmare end to a largely forgettable season with his ambitions to ride in a second grand tour were shattered on two separate occasions - a stomach virus returned at the Critérium du Dauphiné, after it was initially contracted at the Tour of California which ruled Wurf out of the Tour de France and then a slow-to-heal fractured rib then put an end to any thought of racing the Vuelta a Espana.

  Fast forward to mid-January and it was finally confirmed that Wurf would be joining good friend and fellow-Tasmanian Will Clarke at UCI ProConti outfit, Champion System and he was rushed to Hainan for the team's inaugural training camp.

  "I didn't start looking for a team until very late in the piece, just in the hope that it would work out with Liquigas," Wurf explained. "I guess I was a little bit nervous."

  In fact Champion System, through general manager Ed Beamon via Genesys Wealth Advisers team director Andrew Christie-Johnson, was the only team that the 28-year-old former Olympic rower contacted.

  "It's really exciting," said Wurf of the move to cycling's first Asian-based ProConti squad. "Joining Champion System is something I'm very motivated about.

  "When I'm home in Tasmania in the off-season I always enjoy coaching and being a part of some mentoring programs, particularly in rowing and more recently with cycling with kids. In signing with Champion System I have a goal of trying to help some of the Asian riders develop, although I know I'm not highly skilled in the cycling area, hopefully some of my other skills on a sporting front can hopefully be of some assistance to the team and I can be a part of the growth of a pretty exciting project."

  Time for a slight change in the game

  Beamon is hopeful that Wurf will be a key player when it comes to the fledgling team's general classification capability and in turn be a vehicle to showcase his individual talents in the shorter stages races and hillier one day races, with grand tour invites unlikely.

  "It's a really different year looking ahead for me, because I'll be expected to be more of a team leader as opposed to being the dish pig that I've been for the past couple of years," Wurf said.

  With Wurf feeling that his time trialling ability has become "stagnated" in recent seasons following his win at the 2007 Oceania Championships, 2012 got off to reasonable start with a competitive result (6th in the hottest field ever assembled) at the Australian Road Nationals time trial at Learmonth. Wurf had opted out of the road race a two days prior on the basis that he had only been training for a few weeks.

  "I thought I'd just save my energy for the time trial," Wurf recalled to Cyclingnews. "As it turned out, I felt a hell of a lot better after the time trial so I wish I'd done the road race, if nothing else for a bit of blow out. That's alright, I'll learn. I definitely won't be missing out on it again next year."

  Wurf's first race for Champion System will be the 10-stage Tour of Taiwan in mid-March going straight to Europe for the VDK-Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde with perhaps some smaller stage races on the agenda in northern France and Belgium, and then all things going well for the team, the Amgen Tour of California.

  Wurf's start in the Tour of Turkey, where he finished 5th on general classification in 2011, is still a matter of debate as he explained despite it being a highlight of last season.

  "Ed [Beamon] was at sixes and sevens about it because I went good there but then struggled at California – it's a fair bit of travel and then time zone changes... We'll just have to weigh it all up and it will depend a lot on invitations," he explained.

  Despite the change in teams, some things won't change for Wurf, like his Italian base at the Australian European Training Centre in Varese, and his regular training partner Ivan Basso with the pair planning to work together in their race preparation.

  "At the moment I'll be a bit of a leader in this team but I'm under no illusions - there's a lot of great riders in the peloton," Wurf said. "My goal was always just to work for the big captains and aim to become a more important worker for them. Certainly at the moment my [long-term] goals don't go much further than being a top domestique."

   

  Tags:

  domestique