Latest Cycling News for April 21, 2005Edited by Hedwig Kröner Tour de Georgia stage two wrap and commentsReported by Mark Zalewski and Eddie Monnier
The Austrian Peter Wrolich (Gerolsteiner) was the strongest sprinter and the lucky winner of the second stage of the Tour de Georgia. In the downhill finish in Rome, Georgia, Wrolich caught the right wheel for the last few hundred metres - the one of Lance Armstrong, who was right behind Levi Leipheimer - and managed to outsprint "The Boss", who used a 54 chainring to test his finishing powers, but finally had to give in to the specialists to cross the line in third position behind Saunier’s Manuel Quinziato. South African sprinter Robert Hunter will go into the stage three time trial with the leader’s jersey, with fellow sprinter Wrolich placed second on the General Classification that will very probably get shaken up on Thursday. Pre-race quotes:Andy Rihs (Phonak team owner): "It's very, very, very important for us to have a strong performance here, for two reasons. For the bike market, this is the flagship type of operation you can do to bring a product into the American market. We have a good start with our partner here. What I hear is it is going very well. We're just a little short of supply but we will fix that for next year. And of course, for the hearing aid business. We promote better hearing through this." When asked if he was suprised by the ruling on the Tyler Hamilton situation, the Phonak team owner replied, "Let's say it like this. In my opinion, from a legal viewpoint, say it cannot really give him a two year ban, no ban really, from a legal viewpoint. This test is unfortunately not as it should be done...I know it from this scientific committee. It gives you certain information, but then it’s not possible to go over to the interpretation. I think he has a good chance on the CAS appeal. USADA has only a two-to-one vote and this already says a lot about the case. It's a split opinion....USADA is nothing more than indirectly dependent on WADA, this is not a clear stage of separation of interests." Alessandro Maserati (Team L.P.R.): "The most important objective of the team is a stage win. Yesterday, the finishing circuits were very hard. We worked for our sprinter Danilo Napolitano. Today, we hope it will go better." Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval - Prodir): One of the most active riders on stage one, Marco Pinotti told Cyclingnews, "I decided to show myself a bit. I was in a break for almost 50 km. In the end, I was a bit tired on the final laps. But I was able to stay among the front group, so that's a good sign. Also, [Monday] was still a bit of jet lag, because we only came over on Sunday. Every day passing I think we'll feel better. I hope to do a good time-trial tomorrow." Jeff Corbett, (Health Net directeur sportif): "We'll have a crack in the finish. Ivan [Dominguez] was second here last year. He knows the course and the finish. He's riding good. Obviously, Henderson has some legs, too." Regarding Monday’s unusually slow pace, "Everybody was surprised. You don't see a race go negative like that very often. It happens once in a blue moon. I don't think it will happen again. In fact, I think the riders were bummed about it, too, and don't want to see it happen again. I think we'll see some people on the gas today." Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel): "I thought the American teams were going to be more aggressive in the beginning. I was surprised how nobody was really chasing. I think it will be different now. The stages are prestigious and there aren't many left." "I feel good for the mountains. Lance is riding really, really strong. I hope I'll be there for him in the mountains, keep pushing forward, and get him the win." Christian Van der Velde (CSC): "My personal aspirations are just to get better as the race goes on. I haven't really raced this year. So, I'm pretty fresh as far as that goes. I'm excited to do a stage race here in the United States. I haven't done one since 1999. It's nice to have something suitable for us rather than just US Pro every year." Rene Savary (Phonak’s directeur sportif): "We don't want to control the race all the time,but of course we observe what's going on. If there's a breakaway like yesterday, that might be good for us. Anyway, Robbie is not the man for the final classification. We're looking for a good platform for the time-trial tomorrow." He continued that the team would shift its focus to supporting Floyd Landis. Gord Fraser (Health Net): "I had a really horrible day on the bike yesterday. I'm kind of disappointed I couldn't defend my title in Macon. It's a contrast to how we started last year. But I'm optimistic. I'm feeling a little better, but that doesn't always translate to how I'll feel on the bike. So I'll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully things will work out." Greg Henderson (Health Net): "We'll have a look at the sprint competition. Obviously, I'm just struggling a bit with the distance, having come straight off the track. This is my first road race this season, but as the K's roll on, I sort of deplete faster than everyone else. But I'm sprinting pretty quick at the moment. On first lead out, we had to switch things around because I was sprinting so quick and a couple of the guys are sick. The heat's another thing. I've been training in Colorado where there's snow. And here it's like a million degrees, so we'll see how it goes." Tony Cruz (Discovery Channel): "[Monday] was really boring and then all of sudden it was all out. It was a little weird. Coming into the circuit, we were just doing work to keep Lance at the front. I didn't think we were going to go that fast, but Lance wanted to be right at the front. I think that Phonak will take now control. They have Floyd for the GC." Micah Rice (Jittery Joe's / Kalahari) told Cyclingnews that Christian Foster would not start stage two. He spent the night in the hospital after becoming severly dehydrated during stage one. The young rider "drank only about five bottles, while the others drank about 10." Results,
report & photos Levi Leipheimer Diary
Once we entered the arrival city of Rome, we had four undulating circuits. Discovery kept the pace really fast, which was good for Peter and I because we were already up front. With a kilometre to go I was in the top five when suddenly a rider tried to pass from my side but misjudged the space and crashed! I had to ease off for a second, but then tried to drive the pace up for Peter's finish. Peter delivered!" Click here for the full diary entry. No Mur de Huy test for Thomas DekkerThe younger Dekker at Rabobank, Thomas, had to abandon yesterday’s Flèche Wallonne after a crash on the penultimate climb, where he suffered superficial skin wounds and bruises to his hip and knee. "It was a pity we couldn’t see how Thomas would do on the final climb," said team director Frans Maassen. "I’m not saying that he would have won, but I would have liked to see it. The course wasn’t too long (201 km) and the riding was controlled. But unfortunately, the crash made him miss out on it." Bettini & Sinkewitz recon Liège climbsThe Quick.Steppers Paolo Bettini and his younger leader Patrik Sinkewitz will reconnoitre the course of the next ProTour race, Liège-Bastogne- Liège. On Thurdsay, the whole of the team will train on the new route of the prestigious Belgian classic - to be precise, on the last 100 km of the race. The last three difficult climbs will be taken into consideration, especially the Redoute climb and the penultimate climb, Sart-Tilman-Tilff, before the final ascent in Ans, the Côte de Saint-Nicolas. Fassa line-up for LiègeThe Italian Fassa Bortolo team wil line up the following riders at nest Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Massimo Codol, Dario Frigo, Massimp Giunti, Volodimir Gustov, Kim Kirchen, Vincenzo Nibali, Roberto Petito and Kanstantsin Siutsou. D.S. at the event will be Bruno Cenghialta.
Moriarty to make amendsBy Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent The 48th edition of the Shay Elliott Memorial race rolls out from Bray Town Hall on Sunday, April 24. After 160 kilometres of testing competition in Co. Wicklow, 'The Garden County of Ireland', it will snake its way back to finish on the outskirts of the town at the Southern Cross. Regarded as one of the best one day events in the country, the "Elliott" attracts competition from far and wide and this edition will be no different. Last year's winner of the Murphy & Gunn sponsored one day race, David O'Loughlin is an unfortunate non-starter because of commitments in the Dodge Tour of Georgia in the USA with his team Navigators Insurance. For the last number of years the event had recognition from the Union Cycliste Internationale, but on this occasion the promoting club, Bray Wheelers CC have opted out of that arrangement, because of the increased costs levied on clubs who want their event on the international calendar. Having the event listed as an international fitted in with the aims of Cycling Ireland who listed this development in its manifesto for Irish cycling for the new millennium. Still, this will not detract from the organisers' ambition to stand and deliver the goods. The entry list is impressive with Malcolm Elliott, one of the greats of cycling in England and further afield who is making a welcome return to the event. He is present with his team courtesy of the sponsors, Murphy & Gunn who will be anxious to do the business on the day. Last weekend, Eddie O'Donoghue registered a success for Murphy & Gunn CC when he won the Stamullan Grand Prix, whilst his success last Sunday was sweet, he would literally relish winning the 'Elliott.' The winning trophy has a series of names of the greats of Irish cycling, including Sean Kelly who won it twice. Visiting competitors have not a great track record in the race, but a couple of years ago, Mark Lovatt from England and a regular to the FBD Insurance Ras, broke the deadlock when he triumphed. He is back with a formidable line-up and could be the one to pencil in for a repeat win. Eugene Moriarty from Listowel and representing Cyclways.Com came very close two years ago only to miss out in the final yards. He is little raced this year and when he hit the stage over Easter in the Credit Union Ras Mumhan, he was very much in the shake up before committing a blunder of all blunders when he failed to cover a move with less than six miles to the finish when he was in with a shout of overall victory. He comes to Bray with an ambition to erase both the Easter affair and memories of that slip in Bray two years ago. Racing gets under way at 10.30 with the finish anticipated between 14.30 and 15.00 hours. All facilities will be based in the Presentation College on the Putland Road, Bray. 1,000 km charity bike ride starts SaturdayWhen a mild mannered technician, Todd Norbury, made a bet with a friend in 2004 as part of a weight loss challenge, it soon turned into a fund-raising exercise that raised over $700 for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Australia. This year "Norbs" has set his sights higher and increased his personal challenge, with a solo 1,000 km bike ride from Sydney to Melbourne for the same charity. He has already found support from a range of businesses and people including community radio motoring program Overdrive, car maker Mitsubishi Motors Australia offering a Grandis people mover as a support vehicle for the trip, and support from bicycle shops from Velo Nova in Katoomba to Maroubra Cycles in Sydney, the local Penrith business community, Gatorade Australia and a range of hotels and motels in NSW and Victoria. "I’ve been overwhelmed by the support my ride has been getting," said Norbury, "and the Childrens’ Hospital is a great cause to be helping." Nevertheless, Norbury is still looking for a newer bike than his own to set out on his marathon ride, starting Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 10.00 am from Sydney’s Luna Park, Milsons Point, and aiming to arrive at Melbourne’s Luna Park 15 days later on Saturday, May 7, 2005. While Norbs puts in the hard miles in the saddle, his support team will be seeking donations along the way and he is hoping his sweat and sore backside will inspire people to dig into their pockets to help sick children. The website www.helpnorbshelpthekids.com has details on how to donate via bank account or Paypal. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. You may contact Todd Norbury on 0423-319-911 if you have a bike on offer. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2005) |
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