First Edition Cycling News for March 13, 2004Edited by Chris Henry Menchov wins for Spain
"My first thoughts go to the victims of the attacks [in Madrid]," Denis Menchov (Illes Balears-Banesto) said after his stage 6 victory in Paris-Nice, offering his victory to the victims of the railway bombings in the Spanish capital Thursday. "I live in Spain and I was very touched, like all Spaniards, by what happened. Our team worked hard to win today. It wasn't easy but I felt very strong." Menchov outsprinted three breakaway companions- Samuel Sanchez, Floyd Landis, and Dave Bruylandts- to win the animated stage which crossed three Cat. 1 climbs and finished in Gap. Menchov went on the attack after his teammate Aitor Osa was reeled in after more than 100km in the lead with Frenchman Nicolas Portal. After a failed first attempt, Menchov went clear again, this time to join Landis, Sanchez and Bruylandts, who broke clear on the final climb. "On the last climb I have to put in a big effort to come back because I don't like that kind of nervous climb," Menchov explained. "There were a lot of accelerations in the finale, but I kept calm and saved myself for the sprint." Bruylandts closeDave Bruylandts (Chocolade Jacques) tried to take his other three breakaway companions by surprise when he attacked with over 500m to go to the finish. It didn't succeed, as Menchov took his wheel and passed him for the stage win. "I wanted to take advantage of a hesitation, but they just came back," Bruylandts told Belgian TV1. "I had myself set on a stage, because after the first day the standings were a mess for us. I thought 'I must do something' but the last few days did not suit me with the wind. Today's stage was perfect, with that climb. I gambled and lost. "Tomorrow I'll take it easy and the day after I'll try again. Two years ago Frigo rode past me in that stage but that won't happen now." Rebellin tryingDavide Rebellin lost a few more valuable seconds to Paris-Nice leader Jörg Jaksche Friday, victim of Jaksche's anticipation of the crucial bonus sprints. Nonetheless, the Gerolsteiner leader isn't giving up just yet. Rebellin remains in second place overall, but now finds himself 14 seconds behind Jaksche with just two stages remaining. "The two final climbs were tough," Rebellin commented after the stage. "It was hard for me to do anything. Vandenbroucke was the one who made the selection at the end. I was able to follow but Jaksche was also very strong. I'm still hoping to win a stage or do something to in the general classification." Attrition at Paris-NiceBaden Cooke opted not to start Friday's sixth stage of Paris-Nice, along with five others. The wintry conditions and difficult racing have begun to take their toll, and other non-starters Friday included former winner Dario Frigo, Chris Peers, Grischa Niermann, Marcus Ljungqvist, and Stéphane Goubert, who was injured in a crash Thursday but escaped without any fractures. Santiago Botero failed to finish the stage Friday, along with Volodymir Gustov, Jean-Patrick Nazon and Frédéric Bessy. Cyclingnews Paris-Nice coverageStage 6 - Full
results & report Note: We will be providing live coverage of each stage, beginning at approximately 15:00 CET/9:00 EDT/6:00 PST/01:00 AEST Jeanson explainsCanadian cyclist Geneviève Jeanson (RONA) has made an effort to clear up 'some confusion' surrounding her decision to take out a racing license in the United States. Jeanson has found herself at the center of a flap with the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) ever since she was prevented from competing at the World Championships in Hamilton due to an elevated hematocrit level. Subsequent urine and blood tests proved negative for doping and after her hematocrit dropped below the accepted threshold her license was reinstated by the UCI. Jeanson was also named in an an investigation of a Québec doctor who admitted to illegally prescribing EPO, although he later retracted his statement that she had been one of the recipients. Jeanson's application for a racing license in Québec was not granted by the Fédération Québécoise des Sports Cyclistes (FQSC) following a board decision made on February 5, and Jeanson withdrew the application on the 19th, subsequently seeking a racing license from USA Cycling. "It wasn't until February 6 that I received a letter stating that the medical information I had promised had not been received," Jeanson said in a written statement. "I immediately called the person who had my records and repeated my request." The FQSC still decided against issuing a license and cited only an incomplete file as the reason for this decision. Regardless, the change to an American license will not affect Jeanson's position in the eyes of the national federation. "In terms of cycling regulations, Geneviève Jeanson was in full compliance, but it's the CCA's practice to let the provinces issue licenses to their members," said Pierre Hutsebault, executive director of the Canadian Cycling Association. The fact that Jeanson has been issued a license in the USA will not preclude her from racing with the Canadian national team in the world championships of Olympics. Shimano Racing Team heads to USAJapan's top trade team, the Division III Shimano Racing Team, has confirmed registration for the upcoming Pomona Valley Stage Race and Redlands Classic Stage Race in the United States. "The Shimano Racing Team has great international experience but competes mostly in Asian events so we are very happy to be visiting the United States this year to race," said team manager Akira Bando. "Our riders are very excited to compete with the great North American riders and teams and of course we are also happy to visit our colleagues in the wonderful weather of Southern California." Heading the team will be 2003 Tour of China of China winner Yoshiyuki Abe, who also rode for Japan in the 2000 Olympic Games. He will be joined by 2003 Tour of Malaysia winner and Giro d'Italia finisher Hidenori Nodera as well as Shiniri Suzuki, the top-ranked rider in Japan. Team roster for US Events: Yoshiyuki Abe UCI Doping newsThe UCI has announced that the following riders having been sanctioned for doping offenses: Peter Schockaert: sanctioned by the Royale Ligue Vélocipédique Belge, disqualification from Paris-Roubaix Espoirs (June 1, 2003), suspension of 24 months from February 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005 and a fine of 750 Swiss francs David Perez Iniguez: sanctioned by the Federación Española de Ciclismo and fined 3,000 Swiss francs Charles Ira Fabian: sanctioned by the Antigua/Barbuda Amateur Cycling Association, disqualification from the 2003 Pan American Games, and suspension of 3 months from September 1, 2003 to November 30, 2003 Stefan Collins: sanctioned by the British Cycling Federation, disqualification from the 2003 UCI Track Masters World Championships, suspension of 6 months from November 20, 2003 to May 19, 2004 UCI, WADA meetKaren Parr, manager responsible for the harmonisation and standardisation of anti-doping testing for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), will visit UCI president Hein Verbruggen in Aigle, Switzerland on March 16. Parr will also meet the managers of the Health and Anti-doping Departments at the UCI, Dr. Mario Zorzoli and Christian Varin. This visit is part of the regular exchanges between the UCI and the WADA. Christian Varin, manager of the UCI anti-doping department, will take part in WADA's Anti-doping Symposium, which will bring together representatives of various international sports federations on March 17-18. Discussions will focus on the Anti-doping Code and international standards, as well as the implementation of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) and the athlete location program. Irish domestic scene on a rollBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent Three weeks into the domestic cycling scene and unattached rider Colm Bracken, formerly of the Usher Road Club, is making everybody sit up and take note. Even without the backing of a club, Colm is quiet capable of chalking up success. Last weekend he had back to back wins in the Batterstown Grand Prix and the Bohermeen event. The previous weekend in Navan his brother Sean put the successful train in action, winning the Cycleways GP. It would foolhardy to gloss over this brotherly winning pattern as the season gathers momentum. More than likely, Colm will go in the Newbridge Credit Union race on Sunday, which starts from the Milltown Road area shortly after mid-day. After missing out last season because of insurance problems, the Bill Hyland Memorial goes ahead on Sunday from Ard na Gaoithe on the Cashel Road, Clonmel at mid-day. With Ritchie Cahill and Timmy Barry showing good early season form, either one is expected to challenge. Previous News Next News(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2004) |
|
January 2009 |
Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini |
