First Edition Cycling News for July 9, 2004

Edited by Jeff Jones

No Olympics for Armstrong

Lance Armstrong has chosen not to ride the Athens Olympics in order to spend more time with his kids. The Texan, who rode in the maillot jaune during stage 5 of the Tour for the first time this year, said after the stage that he would decline the Olympic spot.

"I've thought a lot about this and the answer is, I shouldn't even say 'probably not,' I should say 'no'," Armstrong was quoted by the Associated Press. "It's really hard to do, and so I want to go home. I've done the Olympics many times, and if I don't have 100 percent motivation for something that's an important event, a very important event, then I don't want to take somebody else's spot."

Armstrong's spots will likely be taken by either Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank), who placed in the top five in the HC ranked Vuelta a Pais Vasco (see criteria below), Fred Rodriguez (Acqua e Sapone), or Floyd Landis (US Postal-Berry Floor), all of whom meet the discretionary criteria.

USAC not told

Armstrong's non-participation has yet to be confirmed with the USA cycling federation, which issued the following statement today:

"USA Cycling has not received an official notification from Armstrong and won't take any action to replace him if and until he officially resigns his position on the Olympic Team.

"This comes as a surprise to USA Cycling and there is disappointment as Lance is one of those rare athletes who has the chance to win an Olympic medal every time he lines up for a race," said Gerard Bisceglia, USA Cycling chief executive officer. "However, if that is Lance's final decision, we fully respect and support him and appreciate the fact that he gave us plenty of notice to consider the best possible athlete to take his place on the Olympic Team.

"If Lance decides to not compete in Athens, we will certainly miss him but we are very fortunate that we have great depth of American talent as is witnessed by looking at the overall standings in the Tour de France right now. I trust and believe we will still have one of the strongest men's road teams in Athens."

USAC's Director of Communications, Andy Lee, told Cyclingnews that, "USA Cycling has until July 21 to confirm a replacement for Lance. The procedure to fill the spot will be a discretionary nomination by the coaches."

Discretionary selection procedure (from USA Cycling's website):

(c) Discretionary selection criteria (in order of priority): The National Coaching Staff based on Medal Capability, USA Cycling Principles of Discretion and a history of strong teamwork may nominate up to four (4) athletes to the Olympic Team. The priority in nominating additional riders will be based on:

(i) International Individual Time Trial results with specific emphasis on performance in time trial stages of UCI Grand Tours, 2.HC, and 2.1 races.

(ii) History of strong teamwork

(iii) History of top performance at the international level

For the record, the automatic selection procedures are as follows:

(i) The first place (1st place) finisher of the elite MEN’S Olympic Cycling Trials road race event.

(ii) Any athlete placing in the top three (3) at the 2003 World Road Cycling Championships, Hamilton CAN, October 8 – 12, 2003, provided that athlete continues to demonstrate the ability to perform at a similar level based on performances in international competition during the 2004 calendar year.

(iii) Any U.S. athlete finishing in the top-five (5) in the final general classification in a UCI Grand Tour between July 1, 2003 and July 5, 2004. If more than one athlete meets this criterion, the athlete with the highest placing will be nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest placing, and so on. If two athletes share the same placing, the athlete with the highest ranking on the UCI men’s road list as of July 5, 2004 will be nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest ranking and so on. Any athlete qualifying in 2003 must demonstrate the ability to continue to perform at a similar level based on performances in international competitions in the 2004 calendar year.

(iv) Any U.S. athlete finishing in the top-five (5) in the final general classification in a UCI World Cup, 1.HC or 2.HC event in 2004 by July 5. If more than one athlete meets this criterion, the athlete with the highest placing will be nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest placing, and so on. If two athletes share the same placing, the athlete with the highest ranking on the UCI men's road list as of July 6, 2004 will be nominated first, followed by the athlete with the next highest ranking and so on.

(v) The top-ranked U.S. eligible athlete in the UCI Road World Cup rankings on July 5, 2004 not otherwise qualified above and provided he is ranked in the top 25.

(vi) The top-ranked U.S. eligible athlete in the UCI Road Rankings on July 5, 2004 not otherwise qualified above and provided if he is ranked in the top 50.

Why the Chicken crossed the road

By Anthony Tan

Chicken cookin' at the 2003 Vuelta
Photo ©: Unipublic

Clearly one of Rabobank's biggest future talents for the Grand Tours, 30 year-old Dane Michael "Chicken" Rasmussen is currently lying just one minute and 42 seconds behind new race leader Lance Armstrong on the eve of the fifth stage of the 91st Tour de France in 33rd place, and so far has managed to stay clear of trouble before he comes into his own in the high mountains yet to come.

Switching paths from the dirt to the road three years ago, Chicken's 'crossing' has proved both a safe and lucrative one. Not only that, but the 1999 world mountain bike champion's rise to the top echelon of road cycling has been startlingly swift.

Asked what has driven this success, particularly in 2003, Rasmussen puts it down to a combination of things: "Basically, every time I went to a race last year, it was my second time at that race, and that actually helps a lot in that you've ridden the same roads before," he said in an interview with Cyclingnews a few days before the Tour's official kick-off in Liège.

"Also, Rabobank gave me the opportunity to be the team captain in Setmana Catalana, Pays Basque and at also the Vuelta. Of course, it added more pressure on me to perform, but at the same time, it gave me more confidence, and I think that's what it came down to."

The past 18 months has seen Rasmussen well inside the top 10 at the Vuelta a España and two hors categorie tours, as well as winning the mountains classification prizes at the Dauphiné Libéré and Volta a Catalunya. And in that time, he won two mountain stages with great panache, his daring reminiscent of the glory days of a certain Italian by the name of Claudio Chiappucci.

So did he believe a good ride at the 2004 Tour de France was possible after his performance at the Vuelta?

"Yeah, I certainly believed it is possible that I can do something similar in the Tour," he said. "My goal, however, is to win at stage - that has a higher priority than GC - but we're going to look at the standings at the bottom of the Pyrénées because so many things can happen in those first 12 days... "

True, but Rabobank are expecting a lot from this lithe, lanky Dane.

About his rapid rise to the top of the pecking order (sorry, bad joke), Rasmussen says the situation of co-leadership with American Levi Leipheimer suits him just fine, easing the pressure on both should one fail to perform: "I think it's a win-win situation," acknowledges Rasmussen.

"We have two different riding styles; Levi is very calculating with his riding and he's very consistent - he's a diesel. I'm probably more explosive and I'll win and lose my time in a different way than he does. But I'm not going to lose time on purpose", he cackles... "I'm sure that won't be necessary!"

Look out for the full interview with Michael Rasmussen tomorrow on Cyclingnews.

Leblanc phases himself out

Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc will begin to step down from the highest step of the Tour ladder next year, part of a planned transition of power to Christian Prudhomme. Leblanc has fixed 2007 as his retirement date, however Prudhomme will begin to take over the reins in 2005.

"Next year I won't be in the lead director's car, and Christian will give the start of each stage," Leblanc commented in l'Equipe. "I'll be in a different car, moving throughout the race. We'll do the same in 2006. It was always planned that Christian wold take his time to settle in at the head of the Tour, and that I'd be there to help him."

ASO wants answers on investigations

Following reports in French newspaper Le Monde, and continued confusion surrounding the subject in general, Tour de France organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) have once more set forth in an attempt to clarify just who does and does not figure as part of a police or judicial investigation. Sparked by the placement of Cofidis' David Millar under investigation just prior to the Tour start in Belgium, ASO decided that no rider under investigation would be permitted to start this year's race.

A number of investigations are ongoing in Italy, and Saeco's Danilo Di Luca found himself among the list of those unwelcome at the Tour, along with several other riders already suspended by their teams. Other names, however, have prompted further questions. Previous involvement in investigations brought up names like Zanini, Peron, Padrnos, and Hvastija, all of whom started this year's Tour.

Team CSC was quick to defend its rider Peron, who had been named in the Sanremo blitz of the 2001 Giro d'Italia but has since been cleared. The Tour organisers are looking for similar assurances from team directors and judicial sources in France and abroad, nervous that doubt hangs over the participation of several riders in the midst of this year's Tour.

Peron's case was closed in December 2003 and filed in March of this year, with no further need for questioning, something the team confirmed with the San Remo prosecutor's office.

"For us this case was closed when Andrea Peron gave us his explanation two years ago," team owner Bjarne Riis explained. "We have full confidence in Andrea and that is why he is still a part of Team CSC and that is why he [started] the Tour de France..."

Le Monde raised a flag about the participation of Zanini, Padrnos, Casagranda, and Hvastija, yet ASO has been unable to confirm the newspaper's allegations that these riders remain under investigation.

"We've hit a simple problem: something was written in a newspaper, but we have not been able to confirm it with the authorities," ASO president Patrice Clerc told l'Equipe. "We're still trying to contact the judges in Italy, but while we wait for these results I've asked [Tour director] Jean-Marie Leblanc to once again contact the team directors of those concerned. Right now I don't see what more we can do."

Calzati flies the flag

Sylvain Calzati made a valiant effort to show the colours of his RAGT Semences-MG Rover team in the finale of stage 4, breaking clear alone in the closing kilometres before being joined by several riders in a last ditch effort to foil the sprinters. The move didn't work, but Calzati didn't really expect it to. Most important at this point, he said, is to show that the team exists and is fighting for its own place in this year's Tour de France. With a good impression from the first week of the Tour, 23 year old Calzati is ready for more.

"The Tour is fabulous," he said simply. "It's the kind of experience that helps you affirm yourself and progress quickly. After the first crazy days, I think things will settle down a bit now, which makes me believe that more chances lie ahead.

"I wasn't expecting to do so well at the start," he added. "I did well in Belgium where the races are always rather special. Close contact riding where you have to know how to use your elbows... That was my first good souvenir of the Tour."

Calzati, who showed good early season form at the Etoile de Bessèges with Oktos-Saint Quentin, before making a mid-spring jump to RAGT, already expects more of himself. For him, the Tour is the best way to improve, and his opportunity to ride the Grande Boucle has raised the bar.

"Until now, I used to assess my performance on my level of fitness on the Etoile de Bessèges," Calzati explained. "I think I've now moved up a peg or two. This is my first year pro. Let’s wait until year two to determine what’s at stake. Above all else, I'd like to finish the Tour and draw attention to my team in the hope of being protected in week-long stage races such as Paris-Nice or the Dauphiné."

Seigneur out with stomach problems

French TT champion Eddy Seigneur (RAGT-Semences) had to call it a day after the team time trial, as he was dropped by his team and finished outside the time limit - the only rider to do so (dropped riders got their own time in the TTT). The reason, according to his team, was stomach problems.

"I'm sad for Eddy who is out this evening with stomach trouble," said team director Jean-Luc Jonrond. "I'd really counted on his getting better. Unfortunately the whole team had to get up at half past seven for a surprise blood test. That didn't do Eddy much good, who put on a brave face after the thoroughly miserable night he'd just been through. We have to look on the bright side now. We're chuffed with the performances of Gilles Bouvard and Sylvain Calzati who did really well in Belgium."

Cyclingnews TdF Fantasy prize list confirmed - 33 chances to win!

The prize list has been finalised for Cyclingnews' Tour de France Fantasy Game, and we are pleased to announce that this year's Grand prize will include a 10 day trip with Bikestyle Tours to any of the 2005 Grand Tours as well as a GIANT TCR Advanced frameset and Speedplay Tyler Hamilton Signature Zero pedals. In all, there are 33 opportunities to win prizes this year! The prize list is as follows:

Grand prize: Giant TCR Advanced frame, Bikestyle grand tour 10 day Grand Tour Trip, Speedplay Tyler Hamilton Signature Zero pedals

2nd prize: Bontrager Race XXX carbon wheels

3rd prize: CycleOps trainer & Speedplay CSC Zero pedals

4th prize: Bontrager Race X lite wheels

5th to 7th place prizes: Zero Gravity brakes

8th -12th place prizes: Salsa shorts

Daily prize: 21 pairs of Rudy Project Tour de France edition sunglasses.

There is no disadvantage in entering a new team now that the Tour is under way. You have as much chance as any other team manager of winning the Giant TCR Advanced frameset in T-Mobile colours. For more info go to: http://fantasy.cyclingnews.com/game/rules.htm#joining.

If you have finished building your team/s but not entered them in the competition yet, time is running out. You must register your team for the competition by 09:59 French time (GMT+2) July 9th. To play all you need to do is pick a team of 15 riders to race and select 9 riders each day during the tour. You can join up until stage 6 begins. It's a great way to follow the Tour.

To register your teams for the Tour go to http://fantasy.cyclingnews.com.

Good luck!

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