First Edition Cycling News for August 6, 2005
Edited by Jeff Jones, Hedwig Kröner, and Shane Stokes
Fignon rings alarm bells
"There's a time to say how things truly are. I don't care how I come
across in saying them, but enough excuses have been made." The man to
speak up is Laurent Fignon, organiser of Paris-Corrèze
and two-time Tour de France winner, and he's fed up with looking for excuses
on why French riders cannot measure up to their international rivals any
more. The state of French cycling is an almost national debate in France,
as the nation is desperate for some victories on home soil, especially
at the Tour de France.
"The sports directors don't do a good job any more," he was quoted in
today's L'Equipe as saying. "They lack competence and don't have
any authority over their riders. The non-results of French teams are not
only the consequences of doping," he continued, alluding to the wide-spread
theory that French cycling is less competitive because it is supposedly
'cleaner'.
"You have to stop talking about the two speeds of cycling. There will
always be guys who cheat. In France, there are valuable riders, but there
are not exploited like they should be. We might not have great champions,
but we do have riders who can do a top ten placing at the Tour." By that,
Fignon probably did not only refer to Christophe Moreau, who seemed to
be the only one up to the challenge this summer.
But the man with the round-shaped John Lennon glasses, who used to be
called the 'professor' in the 80s peloton, doesn't blame the team management
only. "The riders have the wrong concept of their job. They have to learn
to train 7-8 hours a day, and learn how to win even less important races
in order to reproduce the same performance on a higher level."
On the long run, Fignon is scared that this situation will have an even
bigger impact on French cycling than disappointed spectators. "The level
of international cycling is increasing, whereas ours is getting lower
and lower. The gap between our cycling and the other's will continue to
grow. If this trend continues, there won't be French teams on the Tour
de France any more. That's mind-blowing for one of the founding countries
of the sport. In France, we have great team sponsors, but we'll end up
disappointing them and losing them eventually."
Moreno aims for presidency role
Up against Pat McQuaid and Seri Darshan Singh Gill in the UCI election
this September, Spaniard Gregorio Moreno has said that he is hopeful of
taking over as president when Hein Verbruggen stands down from the position.
In a lengthy interview with the Meta 2Mil publication, Moreno admitted
that McQuaid was currently the favourite to succeed the Dutchman, but
said that he also can count upon some strong support.
"Within European cycling there are many people who have shown open preference
for my candidacy," he stated. "We will work hard over the next few weeks
to get the support of the 42 countries that have to vote.
"I have the support of a very significant part of those in professional
cycling. I can also state that all the organizers are on my side, beginning
with those from the three Grand Tours and also those from the other races.
I have the support of the teams that are not part of the UCI Pro Tour
and also a significant part of those that do belong to this group", he
declared.
Moreno, director of the Vuelta a Burgos and president of the Associación
Española de Organizadores de Carreras (Spanish Association of Race Organisers)
declined to comment on the allegations
made by former UCI member Sylvia Schenk that Hein Verbruggen has provided
improper support for the candidacy of his preferred successor, McQuaid.
"What I must do is to present my candidacy to the voters and who they
represent. After that, I will accept whatever result they decide," he
said
Eneco Tour: Petacchi abandons
Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
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Alessandro Petacchi had to abandon the Eneco Tour of Benelux on today's
second stage,
the pain of his fractured little finger causing him too much of a discomfort.
"The pain and my physical weakness resulting from the fracture were just
too much," he said. "When I got out of the saddle I forced more on one
side of the body, which resulting in an imbalance on the back. I'm also
feeling weak because of the antibiotics I'm taking to prevent inflammation.
"I need to recover fully at home, and in a couple of days I'll see my
orthopedist. I want to try and return to racing at the Lombardian Triptych
[Tre Valli Varesine, Coppa Agostoni, Coppa Bernocchi] from August 16-18,
but I really want to see how it goes first, without putting too much pressure
on myself time-wise."
Hulsmans breaks rib
Quick.Step's Kevin Hulsmans was taken to hospital in Hasselt, Belgium,
today after crashing on his left side in the second
stage of the Eneco Tour of Benelux. The rider suffered one broken
rib and will not be able to take the start tomorrow.
Di Luca out for more points
Danilo Di Luca
Photo ©: Sirotti
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ProTour points leader Danilo Di Luca is positive about the one of the
next ProTour races, the Clasica San Sebastian. "My ambition is increasing
as my condition is improving," he said. "I wanted to go to San Sebastian
in peak form, and I'm doing pretty good in reaching that goal. I like
that race and I'm going to throw myself into it! The presence of Garzelli,
Pellizotti and Noè make me even more confident." Di Luca will certainly
aim to score more points to consolidate his lead in the UCI classification.
Before that, the Liquigas-Bianchi rider will prepare at the Due Giorni
Marchigiana in Italy (August 9-10). Lining up at this event are: Danilo
Di Luca (August 9 only), Luciano Pagliarini (August 10 only), Dario Andriotto,
Capecchi (stagiaire), Di Lorenzo (stagiaire), Oscar Mason, Vladimir Miholjevic,
Andrea Noè and Charles Wegelius.
The Liquigas team then heads off to Spain for the ProTour race, where
Di Luca will count on the support of the following of his teammates: Patrick
Calcagni, Kjell Carlström, Stefano Garzelli, Vladimir Miholjevic, Andrea
Noè, Franco Pellizotti and Charles Wegelius.
Quick.Step to Tour de l'Ain
The Quick.Step-Innergetic Team will compete in the upcoming Tour de
l'Ain in France (August 7-10) with the following riders: José Antonio
Garrido, Juan Miguel Mercado, Josè Antonio Pecharroman, Wouter Weylandt,
Cristian Moreni and Kevin Neyrinck.
Liberty and Saunier for Spanish races
Liberty Seguros-Würth has announced its team roster for the next Spanish
races. At the Vuelta a Burgos (August 7-11), the squad directed by Manolo
Saiz will be represented by: Dariusz Baranowski, Giampaolo Caruso, David
Etxebarria, Jesus Hernández, Dani Navarro, Javier R. Abeja, Jose Antonio
Redondo and Michele Scarponi.
As for the Clasica San Sebastian (August 13), Dariusz Baranowski, Giampaolo
Caruso, Allan Davis, David Etxebarria, Dani Navarro, Javier R. Abeja,
Jose Antonio Redondo and Michele Scarponi will be the team's line-up.
Koldo Gil, who was initially planned to compete at the Clásica de San
Sebastian, had to be replaced with Dani Navarro as he still has not recovered
from his knee tendonitis.
Another Spanish team, Saunier Duval-Prodir, has also revealed its respective
line-up. At the Vuelta a Burgos, the Yellow team will be composed of:
Angel Casero, Iñigo Cuesta, David De la Fuente, Juan Carlos Dominguez,
Angel Gomez, Joaquin Rodriguez, Ruben Lobato and Constantino Zaballa.
At the Clasica de San Sebastian, Saunier will line up the following
riders: Joaquin Rodriguez, Leonardo Piepoli, Constantino Zaballa, Ruben
Lobato, Juan Manuel Garate, David De la Fuente, Francisco Ventoso, Manuele
Mori and Chris Horner.
Engoulvent to CA
Jimmy Engoulvent has signed a two year deal with Crédit Agricole, joining
Anthony Charteau et Christophe Edaleine in a move from Cofidis to the
rival French team.
Cross Country Fireworks and a Marathon Showdown
By Steve Medcroft
The NORBA National Series moves to Brian Head Resort in Utah this weekend.
Although Brian Head has hosted 12-hour endurance races and downhills before,
this will the first stop for the NORBA series in Utah’s scenic canyon
lands.
With only three races remaining in the cross country series, the men’s
title is still up for grabs between Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary
Fisher) and Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis). The lead has changed hands twice
during the season with Kabush holding the most points heading into the
weekend. JHK says he would love to unseat the defending series champion
and this may be the race for it to happen; Brian Head sits at 9,600 feet,
a similar elevation to JHK’s Colorado home.
But after a win in Aspen, Kabush
said he’s finding great form at altitude too; fitness he hopes to
hold through these final three NORBA’s and take into the Livigno, Italy
World Championships at the end of the month (also at altitude). And let’s
not count out the fact that riders like Adam Craig (Giant) and Todd Wells
(GT Hyundai) would love to stand on top of a NORBA podium this year. It
should be an aggressive race.
In the women’s cross country, Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) will be
trying for her fifth NORBA cross country win of the season. If she pulls
it off, she all but control the series, which as defending series champion
she says cares a great deal. "I think winning the NORBA series is a great
accomplishment for any racer. It truly shows who’s been the best, most
consistent rider all season long."
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