Latest Cycling News for September 16, 2004

Edited by Jeff Jones and Hedwig Kröner

Valverde faces tough challenge

In today's 12th stage of the Vuelta a España, Alejandro Valverde (Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme) will likely face his toughest challenge yet in the three week race. Currently lying in second on GC, just 9 seconds behind Floyd Landis, Valverde was injured in a crash during stage 11 and his recovery powers will be tested to the maximum today.

The 12th stage between Almería and Observatorio Meteorológico de Calar Alto is only 145 km, but it contains three difficult climbs. The first is the Cat. 1 Alto de Velefrique (km 56), which averages 7.5% for 13 km. That will be followed by the Cat. 1 Alto de Calar Alto (km 88), which averages 5.7% for 17.7 km. The riders then tackle the Alto de Calar Alto from a different side, climbing for 21 km at an average of 6.4% to the finish of the stage.

Cyclingnews correspondent Martin Hardie reported from the start this morning that it is likely that Liberty Seguros will try to make things hard on the first climb, which has some sections of 11%.

Two Dekkers to the World's

By Hedwig Kröner in Pirmasens

At the start of the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt yesterday, Cyclingnews caught up with Erik Dekker (Rabobank), who changed his racing schedule after crashing at the GP Jef Scherens last week. Joking around with his teammates, the Dutch rider was in a good mood. We asked if he was going to the World's in October, he replied, "If I get selected, yes! But I probably will."

The Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt thus served as training, he said, and to heal his remaining wound from the crash. "I hurt my hand ten days ago so I'm just looking forward to see how it goes. It's my first race after the crash; I've been training for a week." He then declared the younger Thomas Dekker to be his little brother - which of course he isn't - and made space for him to move to the mike .

The second Dekker at Rabobank has had a very promising season, leading the Tour de l'Avenir for three days. We asked him what had happened. "I crashed at the third stage, I was wearing the jersey," said Thomas. "One guy in front of me went down..." Bad luck for the 20 year old, whose participation at the Olympics also didn't turn out as he had wanted. "It was a nice experience, but my time trial wasn't very good. I just didn't feel strong that day, I don't know why." Dekker finished 21st, 3.06 behind Gold medallist Tyler Hamilton.

Dekker the younger made up for it by winning the GP Eddy Merckx in late August with Koen de Kort. Now the ambitious rider says, "My next aim is to win the time trial at the World's in Verona." Asked where all that pressure came from, he smiled. "There is some pressure on me, but that's OK."

Belgians go for young team

Belgian national selector José De Cauwer has named his 12 elite male riders for the World's in Verona on October 3. As usual, the squad is a mixture of youth and experience, with an emphasis on the former. In form riders Tom Boonen and Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) and Marc Wauters (Rabobank) will probably be given a bit of responsibility, as it is uncertain whether Peter Van Petegem will be fully fit, or even if he will ride at all. Serge Baguet (Lotto-Domo) and Geert Verheyen (Chocolade Jacques) have both had good showings recently, and should be able to play roles.

Marc Wauters and Bert Roesems will ride the time trial, although Roesems is not scheduled to do the road race.

Team roster

Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) RR
Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step-Davitamon) RR
Jurgen Van Goolen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) RR
Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) RR
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) RR
Serge Baguet (Lotto-Domo) RR
Maxime Monfort (Landbouwkrediet) RR
Nico Sijmens (Landbouwkrediet) RR
Johan Van Summeren (Bodysol-Brustor) RR
Wim Van Huffel (Vlaanderen-T-Interim) RR
Marc Wauters (Rabobank) TT + RR
Geert Verheyen (Chocolade Jacques) RR
Bert Roesems (Bodysol-Brustor) TT only

Australian men's team for Verona

The Australian selectors have named their 12 riders for the men's road race and time trial at the World Championships in Verona. On paper the team is a strong one, with Michael Rogers and Cadel Evans down for the time trial and road race, and in-form all-rounder Stuart O'Grady as the likely captain for the road race. Rogers is the reigning World TT Champion, and the varied course in Bardolino should suit his abilities. Olympic team pursuit gold medalist Brad McGee will also ride the time trial, but not the road race.

The remainder of the squad looks to be strong enough to give the leaders the necessary support. The experience of Scott Sunderland combined with three Matts (Hayman, White and Wilson) and Luke Roberts (also an Olympic TP gold medalist) will be important on the tough Verona course. Allan Davis, who has been sprinting well of late, his brother Scott, Paul Crake and Simon Gerrans will round out the squad. David McPartland and Ben Day have been named as reserves.

Team roster

Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon) TT + RR
Cadel Evans (T-Mobile) TT + RR
Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) RR
Scott Sunderland (Alessio-Bianchi) RR
Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros) RR
Scott Davis (Panaria) RR
Matt Wilson (FDJeux.com) RR
Matt Hayman (Rabobank) RR
Matt White (Cofidis) RR
Paul Crake (Corratec) RR
Simon Gerrans (Ag2r stagiaire) RR
Luke Roberts (Comnet-Senges) RR
Bradley McGee (FDjeux.com) TT only

Reserves

David McPartland RR Ben Day (MrBookmaker.com) TT + RR

Rebellin OK for Argentina

Italian Davide Rebellin has been given the green light to race for Argentina at the World Championships in two and a half weeks. The Argentinean Minister of Sport, Claudio Moresi, has given Rebellin permission in writing, and the UCI has also given the OK. Rebellin chose for Argentina because he has been overlooked for the Italian team several times in the past, despite being one of the top one day riders in the world.

Ivanov hurt by car

Sergei Ivanov (T-Mobile) has been hurt in a car accident while out training on his bike in Belgium. The car rammed him at a roundabout in Kortenaken, close to his home town of Bekkevoort. The injuries on his left arm and right foot are not severe, but the Russian pro is not sure of being able to compete in two one-day races in Italy as planned.

Cenghialta to Fassa Bortolo

The Team Manager of Alessio Bianchi, Bruno Cenghialta, will be one of Fassa Bortolo's sports directors in 2005. According to a Fassa Bortolo statement, Cenghialta signed his new contract today.

Pollack robbed of four bikes

Thieves broke into Gerolsteiner's Olaf Pollack's house in Kokkwitz, Germany on Tuesday night. They stole nearly €50,000 worth of goods, including four bikes. "They obviously zeroed in on the bikes and materials. They ignored everything else," said Pollack to DPA.

It is highly unlikely that the thieves will be able to sell their stolen goods. The four stolen Wilier bikes all have Pollack's name on them. The time trial bikes, from FES and Walser, are custom made for Pollack. "Nobody else will be comfortable on them, or even have any success with them," said Pollack, who is hopeful of getting his material back.

But not only the expensive racing bikes disappeared: The thieves also took his wife Yvonne's bike. "I can't imagine what they wanted with that. But it's probably the only one they'll be able to get rid of easily."

Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer

Team TIAA-CREF closes with Univest GP

Team TIAA-CREF will race its final road event of the season this coming weekend at the Univest Grand Prix, the top North American amateur race held in Souderton, Pennsylvania, USA. By taking top U23 honours at Redlands, the Tour de Georgia, the Tour of Connecticut, and the Cascade Classic, and helping Ian MacGregor win the U23 National Road Race Championships, TIAA-CREF has demonstrated that it is the top developmental cycling program in the USA.

The TIAA-CREF squad for Univest includes two riders completing a full season and finding good form as of late - Nathan Mitchell and Sheldon Deeny; two riders making late-season comebacks from serious injuries - Craig Lewis and Zak Grabowski; and two top prospects - Stefano Barberi and Brad Armstrong.

Salt Lake City to host two Cat. 2 'cross races

The Utah Cup of Cross, scheduled for October 16-17, will host two back to back category 2 UCI cyclo-cross races at This is the Place Heritage Park. Last year's single event at the Soldier Hollow venue, the same used for cross-country skiing at the 2002 Olympic games, was very popular. This year, event organizers, Dirk Cowley and Marek Shon, wanted to " take the event to the next level."

The venues for this year's race will take place in the foothills of the rugged Wasatch mountain range. "They may look scenic from afar but when you get on the bike, you will find two of the toughest courses in this year's cross calendar," said Cowley. Course designer "Dr. Cross" has promised two distinct races that "no one will ever forget."

It's expected that an international field will take part in the two races, competing for a total of $8,000 in cash and prizes.

For more information: www.sportsbaseonline.com

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