Second Edition Cycling News, Tuesday, April 20, 2010

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Date published:

April 20, 2010, 13:00

• Fly V Australia moves into NRC teams lead

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 05:52

  By:

  Cycling News

  Other standings largely unchanged after Sunny King Criterium

  Fly V Australia claimed the teams standing lead in USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar after finishing first and third at the weekend’s Sunny King Criterium. With former track rider Ben Kersten winning and team-mate Alessandro Bazzana placing third, the Australian Continental team secured enough points to add the teams’ lead to the individual lead of rider Ben Day.

  Nicky Wangsgard (Roosters p/b Edge Composite) won the professional women's race in a three-rider break, but the result had little impact on the overall standings. Germany's Ina-Yoko Teutenberg continues to lead the women’s standings while her HTC-Columbia sits atop the women’s team standings.

  Men's Individual Standings

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team
  1	Ben Day (Fly V Australia)	298	pts
  2	Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)	185
  3	Will Routley (Jelly Belly P/B Kenda)	162
  4	Keil Reijnen (Jelly Belly P/B Kenda)	136
  5	Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)	131
  6	Carter Jones (Jelly Belly P/B Kenda)	130
  7	Rory Sutherland (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	109
  8	Alejandro Borrajo (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)	98
  9	Hilton Clarke (Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling)	93
  10	Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia)	80
  11	Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia)	80
  12	Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)	77
  13	Karl Menzies (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	70
  14	Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling)	66
  15	Paul Mach (Bissell Pro Cycling)	55
  16	Anibal Borrajo (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)	50
  17	Jacob Keough (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	50
  18	Pat Mccarty (Yahoo! Cycling Team)	47
  19	Max Jenkins (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	41
  20	Alessandro Bazzana (Fly V Australia)	40
  21	Cesar Grajales (Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling)	37
  22	Tyler Wren (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)	37
  23	Chad Burdzilauskas (Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Geargrinder)	36
  24	Ken Hanson (Team Type 1)	36
  25	Andrew Pinfold, (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	35
  26	Bradley White (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	32
  27	Justin Williams (Trek Livestrong U23)	32
  28	Jeremiah Wiscovitch, (Williams Cycling P/B Sc Velo)	28
  29	Frank Travieso (Champion Porsche P/B Herbalife)	24
  30	Taylor Shelden (Holowesko Partners U23)	22
  31	Charles Dionne, (Fly V Australia)	20
  32	Ty Magner (Locos Grill & Pub)	20
  33	Francois Parisien, (Team Spidertech)	19
  34	Will Hoffarth (Team Mountain Khakis F/B Jittery Joe)	16
  35	Alex Howes (Holowesko Partners U23)	16
  36	James Williamson (Two Wheeler/Specialized)	16
  37	Raymond Kreder (Holowesko Partners U23)	15
  38	Neil Shirley, (Kelly Benefits Strategies)	15
  39	Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia)	15
  40	Julian Kyer (Trek-Livestrong)	14
  41	Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms)	13
  42	Eric Marcotte (Team Pista Palace)	12
  43	Jesse Moore (California Giant Berry Farms)	12
  44	Ben King (Trek-Livestrong)	11
  45	Patrick Bevin (Team Rubicon-Orbea)	10
  46	Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefits Strategies)	10
  47	Jai Crawford (Fly V Australia)	10
  48	Jason Donald (Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling)	10
  49	William Dugan (Team Type 1)	10
  50	Davide Frattini, (Team Type 1)	10
  51	Michael Friedman (Jelly Belly P/B Kenda)	10
  52	Tim Henry (Team Type 1 Development)	10
  53	Bruno Langlois (Team Spidertech)	10
  54	Lachlan Morton (Holowesko Partners U23)	10
  55	Andres Pereyra (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)	10
  56	Soren Peterson (Hagens Berman Cycling)	10
  57	Jacob Rathe (Jelly Belly P/B Kenda)	10
  58	Tim Roe (Trek-Livestrong)	10
  59	Scott Stewart (Team Type 1)	10
  60	Paul Che (Team Pista Palace)	9
  61	Alder Martz (Team Globalbike)	9
  62	Rich Harper (Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Geargrinder)	8
  63	Mike Tettleton (Bike Religion)	8
  64	Chris Demarchi (Amgen-Ubs Elite Masters)	7
  65	Issac Howe (Team Mountain Khakis F/B Jittery Joe)	6
  66	Cody Stevenson (Adageo Energy Pro Cycling)	6
  67	Schmidt Alexy (Team Type 1)	5
  68	Eric Barlevav (Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis)	5
  69	Thomas Brown (Team Mountain Khakis F/B Jittery Joe)	5
  70	Sebastian Flaskamp (Droessiger)	5
  71	Sergio Hernandez (Now -Ms Society)	5

  Women's Individual Standings

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team
  1	Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Htc Columbia)	304	pts
  2	Amber Neben (Dare To Be- Bmw -Bianchi)	175
  3	Katherine Carroll (Peanut Butter & Co.Twe)	165
  4	Evelyn Stevens (Htc Columbia)	155
  5	Alex Rhodes (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	132
  6	Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co.Twe)	119
  7	Robin Farina (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	98
  8	Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	98
  9	Nichole Wangsgard (Roosters P/B Edge Comp)	90
  10	Meredith Miller (Tibco/To The Top)	77
  11	Brooke Miller (Tibco/To The Top)	72
  12	Carmen Small (Colavita/Baci)	70
  13	Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Colavita/Baci)	62
  14	Joelle Numainville (Webcor Builders)	50
  15	Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco/To The Top)	48
  16	Carla Swart (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	48
  17	Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders)	47
  18	Rebecca Much (Tibco/To The Top)	41
  19	Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1)	40
  20	Samantha Schneider (Tibco/To The Top)	36
  21	Erica Allar (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	28
  22	Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom)	24
  23	Amanda Miller (Tibco/To The Top)	22
  24	Jacqueline Kurth (Team Kenda)	20
  25	Kim Anderson (Htc Columbia)	19
  26	Kristen Lasasso (Tibco/To The Top)	16
  27	Kori Seehafer (Team Type 1)	16
  28	Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders)	15
  29	Denise Ramsden (Specialized D4W /Bicycle)	14
  30	Andrea Graus (Webcor Builders)	13
  31	Angela Mcclure (Roosters P/B Edge Comp)	12
  32	Chole Forsman (Specialized D4W /Bicycle)	11
  33	Kelly Benjamin (Colavita/Baci)	10
  34	Cara Bussell (Trisports Cycling/Eclips)	10
  35	Ruth Clemence (Specialized D4W /Bicycle)	10
  36	Olivia Dillon (Peanut Butter & Co.Twe)	10
  37	Emila Fahlin (Htc Columbia)	10
  38	Veronique Labonte (Team Nanoblur-Gears)	10
  39	Heather Logan-Spreng (Colavita/Baci)	10
  40	Melanie Meyers (Specialized D4W /Bicycle)	10
  41	Courtney O'donnell (Herbalife-Lagrange)	10
  42	Alice Pennington (Veloforma)	10
  43	Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co.Twe)	10
  44	Kristen Sanders (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	10
  45	Teri Sheasby (Veloforma)	10
  46	Christina Smith (Veloforma)	10
  47	Alison Starnes (Tibco/To The Top)	10
  48	Testroete Alison (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	10
  49	Nicol Vincent Jordan (Performance Bicycle Ra)	10
  50	Carrie Cash Wottten (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)	9
  51	Anna Young (Mvp Health Care Cycling)	8
  52	Amity Elliot (Team Kenda)	7
  53	Kate Veronneau (Mellow Mushroom)	6
  54	Kirsten Davis (Performance Bicycle Ra)	5
  55	Cheryl Fuller Muller (Pedal Right Cycling Tea)	5
  56	Shontell Gauthier (Colavita/Baci)	5
  57	Dana Martin (Performance Bicycle Ra)	5

  Men's Team Standings

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team
  1	Fly V Australia	518	pts
  2	Jelly Belly P/B Kenda	448
  3	Bissell Pro Cycling	383
  4	Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita	326
  5	Unitedhealthcare P/B Maxxis	305
  6	Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling	140
  7	Team Type 1	71
  8	Holowesko Partners U23	63
  9	Yahoo! Cycling Team	47
  10	Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Geargrinder	44
  11	Trek-Livestrong	35
  12	Trek Livestrong U23	32
  13	Team Spidertech	29
  14	Williams Cycling P/B Sc Velo	28
  15	Team Mountain Khakis F/B Jittery Joes	27
  16	California Giant Berry Farms	25
  17	Kelly Benefits Strategies	25
  18	Champion Porsche P/B Herbalife	24
  19	Team Pista Palace	21
  20	Locos Grill & Pub	20
  21	Two Wheeler/Specialized	16
  22	Hagens Berman Cycling	10
  23	Team Rubicon-Orbea	10
  24	Team Type 1 Development	10
  25	Team Globalbike	9
  26	Bike Religion	8
  27	Amgen-Ubs Elite Masters	7
  28	Adageo Energy Pro Cycling	6
  29	Droessiger	5
  30	Now -Ms Society	5

  Women's Team Standings

  #	Rider Name (Country) Team
  1	HTC Columbia	488	pts
  2	Team Vera Bradley Foundation	404
  3	Peanut Butter & Co.Twenty 12	304
  4	Tibco/To The Top Pro Cycling	274
  5	Dare To Be- BMW -Bianchi	175
  6	Colavita/Baci Pro Cycling	164
  7	Webcor Builders	125
  8	Roosters P/B Edge Composite Wheels	102
  9	Team Type 1	56
  10	Specialized D4W /Bicycle Haus	45
  11	Mellow Mushroom	30
  12	Veloforma	30
  13	Team Kenda	27
  14	Performance Bicycle Racing	20
  15	Herbalife-Lagrange	10
  16	Team Nanoblur-Gears	10
  17	Trisports Cycling/Eclipse Racing	10
  18	Mvp Health Care Cycling	8
  19	Pedal Right Cycling Team	5

   

• Teams anticipating challenging Fléche Wallonne

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 06:58

  By:

  Cycling News

  Course changes to make a difference

  Sports directors from ProTour squads HTC-Columbia and Quick Step are anticipating a very different La Fléche Wallonne than previous years when the race is contested tomorrow. Changes to the race route, in particular to the final section of the race, should change the way it’s decided, according to HTC-Columbia's Valerio Piva.

  "It's going to be very different because the second-last ascent of the Mur De Huy climb is much closer to the finish than in previous years," said Piva. "That means breakaways will have a much better chance of getting away on the second time up the Mur de Huy climb and staying away.

  “We won't have 50 riders at the foot of the climb for the third and final ascent like we've seen in other years,” he added. “For HTC-Columbia's riders, that's good because they'll be trying to get in a long-distance attack."

  Former race winner Rik Verbrugghe, the sport director at Quick Step, will complete reconnaissance of the route with his riders today. Quick Step has announced Dries Devenyns will feature in its roster for the race after he recovered quickly from a fall at the Amstel Gold Race.

  “We decided to do this recon since the race route has been changed as of this year,” he said. “We’ll perform a round of the final circuit with the climb on the wall of Huy. It will be a good opportunity for the riders to familiarise themselves with the route and get a handle on this legendary climb.”

  Francesco Reda will be the only rider missing from Quick Step’s reconnaissance run today. Reda will still be en route to the team’s hotel after being delayed by the volcanic eruption which has thrown flights throughout Europe into disarray.

• Dutch athletes involved in HumanPlasma doping scandal

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 08:23

  By:

  Cycling News

  Cyclists play a role in scandal, NADA head says

  At least three Dutch athletes are involved in the HumanPlasma doping case, according to Dutch media. The Austrian National Anti-Doping Agency announced yesterday that it was investigating some 30 athletes for doping violations in connection with blood-doping.

  Herman Ram, of the Dutch National Anti-Doping Agency, confirmed to the Dutch site ad.nl that at least three former Dutch athletes are involved in the case. While he did not release names or which sport they belong to, he did say that “cyclists play an important role in the dossier.”

  Former Rabobank riders Michael Boogerd, Thomas Dekker and Michael Rasmussen have all been previously questioned in the case. Ram said that disciplinary procedures would follow the investigation.

  HumanPlasma was involved in blood transfusions for athletes between 2003 to 2006. Stefan Matschiner, the former manager of former Gerolsteiner rider Bernhard Kohl is alleged to be a central figure in the investigation. Kohl admitted to his role in the scandal after he tested positive for CERA in the 2008 Tour de France.

• Katusha add Rund um den Finanzplatz to schedule

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 09:42

  By:

  Susan Westemeyer

  German May Day race to feature top stars, four ProTour teams

  Four ProTour teams will be at the start of Rund um den Finanzplatz on May 1 in Frankfurt, Germany. This week, Katusha was confirmed as the latest squad to be added to the start list of the race formerly known as Rund um den Henninger Turm.

  Katusha, like the other ProTour teams, will bring a strong squad to the German race, with Kim Kirchen, Serguei Ivanov, Robbie McEwen and Filippo Pozzato all expected to start.

  The other three ProTour teams are Milram, HTC-Columbia and Rabobank. Milram will present not only defending champion Fabian Wegmann, but also Linus Gerdemann. Top sprinter Andre Greipel will lead HTC-Columbia, and the US-team will also feature local rider Tony Martin.

  Eight Professional Continental teams will also ride: Vorarlberg-Corratec, Landbouwkrediet, Topsport-Vlaanderen, Colnago CSF Inox, Skil-Shimano, Vacansoleil, CCC Polsat Polkowice, and Saur-Sojasun. The field will be completed by German Continental teams LKT Team Brandenburg, Seven Stones, Team Heizomat, Team Kuota Indeland, Team NetApp and Team Nutrixxion Sparkasse.

  Race organiser Bernd Moos-Achenbach was extremely satisfied with the squads that will line up for his race next week. "We have top riders from top teams at the start - they'll guarantee the fans a great race."

  Last year's edition of the race - then called Eschborn-Frankfurt - was won by Fabian Wegmann (Milram) in a two-man sprint with Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank).

• Van den Broeck confident ahead of Flèche and Liège

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 10:03

  By:

  Richard Tyler

  Omega Pharma-Lotto rider to study Tour de France rivals on Wednesday

  Belgium's Jurgen Van den Broeck is confident Omega Pharma-Lotto can add to its successful start to the Ardennes Classics at both Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège this week. On Sunday at Amstel Gold, Van den Broeck worked at service of teammate and race-winner Philippe Gilbert.

  27-year-old Van den Broeck indicated to Sporza that he feels he will be in an even stronger position than that which saw him ride to 20th position at Amstel - a marked improvement on his previous participations at the race. Gilbert's contention that Flèche Wallone may not suit him an indication perhaps that his compatriot will be given the opportunity to lead on Wednesday.

  "I hope I'll be there in the final of La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and hopefully our team can win one of those races," Van den Broeck told Sporza. "I feel good. The courses of those races suit me better than Amstel."

  Van den Broeck is using the Ardennes Classics as part of a steady build-up to what will be his first Tour de France as captain of the Omega Pharma-Lotto squad. Although still two months away from the Tour, Flèche Wallonne will give him a chance to assess the condition and study the racing style of the men he hopes to challenge come July.

  "I am better than the same period last year and I'm definitely on track for the Tour," he said. This week, I will have to see how strong [Alberto] Contador and [Alejandro] Valverde are. In this field, the Muur de Huy will say a lot."

• Valverde arrives in Belgium

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 10:08

  By:

  Susan Westemeyer

  Spaniard and two teammates drive up from Spain

  Alejandro Valverde of Caisse d'Epargne is the latest rider to arrive in Liege after a long road trip from Spain to Belgium. Unable to catch a flight because the volcano eruption-closed airports across northern Europe, the Spaniard missed Sunday's Amstel Gold Race but set off northwards in his own car.

  “I trained well in the morning and after dinner I went to pick up my teammate Luis Leon Sanchez, who lives in Mula, to undertake the long journey,” Valverde wrote on his website. “In Barcelona we stopped to pick up another colleague of ours, Luis Pasamontes, who was there from Madrid.”

  The three took turns driving through the night, arriving in Liege Monday morning at seven. They breakfasted and then “went to bed to get some sleep.”

  "It was hard on the road, but there was no other remedy, so it was the best option. By Wednesday we will be well recovered to participate in the Flèche Wallonne and then Sunday in the Liege-Bastogne-Liège.”

  Most riders have now arrived in Belgium for the Ardennes Classics. However other riders are still struggling to get home from the Presidential Tour of Turkey. 

  Valverde is still awaiting the verdict of the Court for Arbitration for Sport after an appeal from the UCI regarding his alleged involvement in Operacion Puerto. However on Tuesday race organisers ASO said they would respect the drawn out legal process and allow Valverde to ride Flèche Wallonne and Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liège.”

• Gerdemann to lead Milram at Giro

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 10:11

  By:

  Cycling News

  German team looks to surprise in Italian race

  Milram has confirmed that Linus Gerdemann will lead the team at the Giro d'Italia next month. The German ProTour team announced its line-up for the race at a press conference in Munich, Germany, on Tuesday.

  Gerdemann, 27, is looking forward to his debut in the Italian race. “I’m very much looking forward to it. The Giro is a race with the highest priority for me. I always like to ride in Italian races and feel very comfortable there,” he said.

  Things have not gone smoothly this season for the German, who is still recovering from bronchitis. “Since Milan-San Remo I have had health problems and had to take an unplanned race break. So at this point it is hard to say what goals might be realistic, since it it’s not possible to predict my form for the start of the Giro.”

  “The Giro d'Italia has always been and still is one of our major season highlights,” said team manager Gerry van Gerwen. “Our goal is to surprise at the race and to help shape the Giro. We are to be reckoned with.”

  The Milram line-up will also feature sprinter Robert Förster, who has won three stages at the Giro, Luke Roberts, who won a stage at the Vuelta a Murcia, and Austrian climber Thomas Rohregger.

  Milram for the Giro d'Italia:

  Markus Fothen, Robert Förster, Linus Gerdemann, Dominik Roels, Luke Roberts, Thomas Rohregger, Matthias Ruß, Paul Voß, and Fabian Wegmann

  Gerdemann to skip Flèche, back for Liège

  Although Linus Gerdemann will lead Milram at the Giro, he will miss Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday due to a lingering bout of bronchitis picked up at the Tour of the Basque Country. However, the German is expected to return to competition at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.

  In Gerdemann's absence, Fabian Wegmann will head to Flèche as the team's sole captain. Last year, Wegmann was the best placed Milram rider at the mid-week Classic, finishing in 18th position. Artur Gajek has been drafted in to replace Gerdemann in the team's roster for Wednesday's race.

  Wegmann and Gajek will be joined at Flèche Wallonne by Johannes Fröhlinger, Christian Knees, Dominik Nerz, Dominik Roels, Paul Voß and Peter Wrolich.

   

• Basso still looking for first stage victory of his comeback

  

  Article published:

  April 20, 2010, 13:02

  By:

  Stephen Farrand

  Italian rides Trentino to prepare for the Giro d'Italia

  Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo) has opted to ride the Giro del Trentino stage race in Italy rather than the Ardennes Classics as he works on his form for the Giro d'Italia and chases his first stage win since returning from his doping ban.

  Basso snatched overall classification at last year's Giro del Trentino from Janez Brajkovic but as Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport cruelly reminded him, he has not raised his arms to celebrate a stage victory for 1,424 days, since he won the stage to Aprica at the 2006 Giro d'Italia, before he was fully implicated in Operacion Puerto.

  The 32-year-old Italian has gone close several times since returning from a ban in late 2008 and was fifth in last year's Giro d'Italia and fourth in the Vuelta a Espana. However he wants to do better and insisted that this year he would not be satisfied with just a podium place in either the Giro or the Tour de France.

  "If in 2010 I only repeated the results of 2009, it would be a huge failure," Basso told Gazzetta dello Sport at the official presentation of the Giro del Trentino.

  "I know that in the past I was sometimes too generous. That's why I've tried to change my mental approach. I'm going to be more cynical and not hold back now. I've got to finish off better and I know it more than anyone."

  "Of course I can't forget the type of rider I am. To win a stage I've got to drop everybody, I need mountain finishes and there aren’t many of them in races. I went close several times in 2009 but now I'm ready to finally do it. My season is divided into two key parts, the Giro and the Tour and so I hope people will only judge how I've done at the end of 90 minutes, after the Tour de France."

  Altitude training on Tenerife

  Basso has only raced for 11 days so far in 2010. His last race was the Vuelta a Catalunya at the end of March. Since then he has spent two weeks at altitude on the slopes of the Pico del Teide volcano on the island of Tenerife with Liquigas-Doimo teammates Roman Kreuziger, Vincenzo Nibali and Franco Pellizotti. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the riders clocked up 28,000 metres or 350km of climbing.

  After the four-day Giro del Trentino, Basso will also ride next week's Tour de Romandie in Switzerland, giving him a total of 21 days of racing before the Giro.

  "I decided to ride Romandie after listening to my body. I felt the need to test myself in an extra time trial before the Giro but I'm happy how I feel. I'm already at 69kg, while last year I struggled to get under 70kg," Basso said.

  "I don't think my form is as good as it was last year. But that's good because my form faded during the Giro. I just hope to be with the best riders on the climbs here. And I want to do better in the time trial. It shouldn't be difficult, I was terrible (19th, 50 seconds behind Kloden)."

  At the Giro del Trentino and the Giro d'Italia, Basso will share team leadership with Pellizotti and then Liquigas-Doimo will have Basso, Pellizotti, Nibali and Kreuziger in the team for the Tour de France. Last year the four stage race leaders often stepped on each others toes but Basso insists that team leadership will not be a problem this year, making a football analogy.

  "It wont be the last time I get asked about it (team leadership) But I'd like to ask a question: Can a team like Liquigas have just one leader for the Giro? Liquigas is like (soccer teams) Inter and Barcelona and they don't have just one leader."