Latest Cycling News for April 20, 2005Edited by Jeff Jones Tour de Georgia stage 1 wrap and commentsReported by Mark Zalewski and Eddie Monnier
The first stage of the Dodge Tour de Georgia finished in a bunch sprint in Macon, after a long breakaway by TIAA-CREF's Dan Bowman was swallowed up in the final 40 km and all the late attacks were nullified by the sprinters' teams. The stage was won by Phonak's Robert Hunter, who outsprinted Ben Brooks (Jelly Belly) and Michele Maccanti (LPR). The race continues today with a 197.5 km stage between Fayetteville and Rome. Post-race comments
René Savary (Phonak director) "The fantastic work of the whole team has paid off once again. Because it wasn't easy to keep track of what was happening in the final phase of the stage, peppered with many changes of direction and three additional rounds and short climbs." "The Tour of Georgia is no piece of cake. We will naturally try to defend Robbie's leader's jersey, but not at all costs."
Scott Sunderland (CSC director) "The team did a good job today. This first stage was a nice run in for the boys, the average speed was actually quite low. It was a hot day and I'm happy to see that the guys seem to have recovered well from the jet-lag. On the final laps they were able to test their legs a bit. The first time over the climb Lars Bak went, the second time we had Michael Blaudzun in an break, the third time Andy Schleck attacked with Danny Pate (Jelly Belly). "Unfortunately for Andy, there was a misunderstanding about the distance to the finish. I knew we had three laps to go after crossing the finish line the first time, but then the radio tour from the chief commissaires' car said "two kilometres to go" (instead of five); so I passed that information to Andy. It's better to be safe than sorry - so Andy got ready for the sprint. By the time the correction came through it was too late. Bummer. The peloton then came together and sprinted for the victory. All in all it was a fine day racing. We're looking forward to the next stages."
Mark McCormack (Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home, 119th at 7'38) "It was slow then fast, and then faster...We were probably going about 20 km/h at times. With one solo rider off the front, everyone was pretty relaxed. And then when [Fanelli and Pinotti] went, Todd Herriott and Davide Frattini (both Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home), two Health Net and two Phonak riders went to the front and did a fantastic chase. At that point, we were thinking we could help JJ [Haedo, their team sprinter[. He's been riding so well. Actually, we've all been riding well. "For some reason, the train derailed. Unfortunately, we weren't able to capitalize on the hard work that those six guys were doing on the front. Obviously, we're all a little disappointed because this is one of the stages we thought suited us well. We rode well as a group, came to the front entering the [final] circuit, but now that work seems wasteful. It's a bonding experience, and we'll all grow from it....We've had a tough day. We'll have another crack tomorrow." When asked whether or not they had any GC aspirations McCormack said, "Knowing the difficulty of Brasstown Bald and looking at the international caliber of the roster here, to be in the Top-10 with one our riders would be stretch. We've come here with the intent of winning one of the sprint style stages." Pre-race comments
Floyd Landis (Phonak)
"I feel good, so we'll have to see if I can be the leader (laughing)." When asked is he had ridden Brasstown Bald, he responded, "I've heard stories. I'll think we'll be going slow enough to see it."
Andrea Tafi (Saunier Duval - Prodir) When asked his goal for the race, Tafi said, "I want to win one stage to finish my career."
Caesar Grajales (Navigators) "I had some problems getting a European visa, so I've been without any races since Malaysia, since Tour de Langkawi. This will be only my second race with the team. I don't know if I'm in good shape or not, but I've trained very hard." When asked if his goal was to repeat his win on Brasstown Bald, he replied, "Yeah, that's what I want to try. But last year I knew I was riding well because of Redlands and because I did some NORBA races also, But now, I don't know. I would like to do the same, or something better on GC, but I'm not sure."
Trent Lowe (Jittery Joe's / Kalahari) "Basically, I need to rest, do as little as possible until the mountains. The guys are aware of that, and maybe of my bit of inexperience, and so they'll try to keep me out of trouble. And then see what we have. I've just come off Sea Otter, so we're going to be a little bit tired coming into it, we've already done a lot of racing this year. We'll give it a crack come the time-trial, that's when the race really kicks off for the GC guys." This is the biggest UCI race he's ever done, but Lowe was not nervous: "I really enjoy it. The nerves will probably come later in the week, when it matters more for us, when it's my time to have a crack at doing things." Asked if he had previewed the Brasstown Bald climb, he replied, "Yeah, we had our team camp about six weeks ago and trained up Brasstown and it was snowing at the time, so we've seen it in pretty awful conditions. I think it'll be a bit nicer, hopefully anyway."
Chris Wherry (Health Net presented by Maxxis) "We've got three of the fastest guys here. This is my chance to pay the guys back for the work they've done for me. I've got to be realistic about my chances on a climb like Brasstown Bald against Lance, Levi, Floyd, Azevedo....On my very best day, sure maybe. But I'm a little tired." Tour de Georgia Stage 1Full results,
report & photos Liggett impressedCyclingnews' Mark Zalewski spoke to one of the world's most popular cycling commentators, Phil Liggett, before the start of stage 1 of the Tour de Georgia to ask his opinions of the race and Lance Armstrong's impending retirement. CN: What are your thoughts on the Tour de Georgia? Phil Liggett: I'm always impressed with the organization of any of the races in the States. But this is taking the old organization from the old Tour DuPont, which was a tremendous success and is sadly missed, and this has without a doubt replaced it. This is a fantastic event - the organization is superb, the police control has no rivals anywhere in the world and the riders have responded. I was surprised to see five Pro Tour teams here, but as far as I am concerned, the Pro Tour is virtually nonexistent right now and I can see why they would want to race here. CN: What does it say to have four Pro Tour teams led by Americans? Phil Liggett: It's a sign of the times you know. America has got some good bike riders. I think the general [audience] is going to miss Lance Armstrong because he was an icon they could attach to the particular sport, and they might step away from the sport for a while. But there are plenty of guys to hang on in there. They realize the sport is bigger than Lance, so it will continue. CN: How much do you think American cycling will be hurt by not having Lance racing? Phil Liggett: Even in the days of the Tour DuPont, when there was no Lance Armstrong, they got as many people to come out and watch every day. So there will always be encouragement on the ground for racing.
An interview with Greg HendersonKiwi flyerA kiwi is actually a flightless bird, but that doesn't stop Greg Henderson, Health Net's New Zealand track specialist, from giving it his best shot. After winning the scratch race title at the Track World Championships in 2004, he was a close runner up in the event in 2005. He's now into his road programme and performing well at the Tour de Georgia. Cyclingnews' Les Clarke caught up with Henderson just before the start in Augusta to see how all was for this flying kiwi. We started off by asking what was on Henderson's plate in terms of racing, for 2005.
First race back for me is the Tour de Georgia, and I'll be racing the rest of the US calendar right through till San Fran in September. Henderson was crowned World Champion in the scratch race in 2004, and went to Los Angeles last month a marked man. He took good form into the event, but came up a little short, taking a silver medal. When asked what he was hoping to get out of the World Championships after winning the scratch title in '04, he replied: "I would have loved to repeat my scratch race title, but you really can't complain with second. I was very happy with my form at the Worlds this year and I felt I was competitive in every event I entered." But when asked whether he was actually disappointed with the result, Henderson had a mixed response: "I cant say I'm disappointed. I did get a medal and was fourth in the Teams Pursuit. I was a little brassed off with the way the points race ended for me [he took sixth place] but it just makes you hungry for next time." Click here for the full interview Van de Walle outJurgen Van de Walle will miss La Flèche Wallonne today. The Landbouwkrediet-Colnago rider broke his wrist recently, and although he has a special cast for it, he can't race for two weeks. Also, Glenn D'Hollander will not start, and is due to come back to competition on May 15. Serup in the FlècheDanish rider Linda Serup is looking forward to today's Flèche Wallonne, where she will be riding for her Buitenpoort-Flexpoint team. In her diary at www.feltet.dk/lindaserup, Serup described her last few days' preparation. "This weekend we had two hard races on the program," she wrote. "Saturday we did Gelderland, which is a Dutch top competition. I think it will be the longest race of this season with 140 km, because the UCI limit for women races is 130. We had a good race, and we had in the final breakaway Tanja Hennes and Mirjam Melchers, in the sprint De Goede showed her great strength once again and Tanja came second. "On Sunday we had a race of only 90 km, but already from the start the pace was very fast. We tried to break the bunch a million times but because of the high speed that didn't happen. Instead we came to the finish with almost 100 girls, and so many women for the sprint can be a little bit crazy, and I just wanted to pass the line and not crash.. he he." Serup said La Flèche Wallonne is "a race I have heard a lot about. Especially the wall in the end makes me a little nervous. I have never seen it, but the stories are enough for me to believe :-)" Boonen to ride in DiksmuideRonde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) has been confirmed as a starter for the 1st Natour Broker Criterium in Diksmuide, Belgium on July 26. Boonen is the biggest name to be signed so far, with others including Gent-Wevelgem winner Nico Mattan (Davitamon-Lotto) and local Diksmuide resident Peter Farazijn (Cofidis). More information: www.criteriumdiksmuide.be New president at Cycling NSWBradley McGee's manager Kerry Ruffels has been elected the president of Cycling NSW for a two year term at Cycling NSW's Annual General Meeting on Tuesday night. Mr Ruffels has a long association with cycling and sport in NSW, having previously worked for the Australian Olympic Committee leading into the Sydney Olympic Games. One of Mr Ruffels first duties as president was to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer to Cycling NSW. Kevin Young was appointed to a three year term. Mr Ruffels said that one of the more immediate challenges faced by Cycling NSW is to lift the profile of cycling within NSW and Australia. A priority will be to secure sponsors and venues that will provide the NSW public the opportunity of seeing more of the state's star cyclists, such as Olympians Brad McGee, Graeme Brown, Stephen Wooldridge and Katherine Bates competing in events in Sydney and in other regional centres across NSW. Previous News Next News (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2005) |
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