Latest Cycling News for August 3, 2005Edited by Jeff Jones The Legend of Lance: an Armstrong retrospective
He's gone but not forgotten. After winning an unprecedented seventh straight Tour de France title, Lance Armstrong can lay claim to the title of greatest Tour de France rider in the history of cycling. It's a title not likely to be challenged for many years, and Cyclingnews' European Editor, Tim Maloney, takes a look at what makes Armstrong great. The fourth oldest Tour de France winner at 33 years and 10 months, Armstrong said in his final Tour de France press conference, 'It's nice to finish your career on a high note. As a sportsman, I wanted to go out on top. I have absolutely no regrets. I've had an unbelievable career. I've been blessed to ride 14 years as a professional...I've been blessed with financial rewards that I never thought would be possible. There's no reason to continue. I don't need more. It's time for a new face...(I have) no regrets." Armstrong was born September 18, 1971 in Plano, Texas. As a youngster, he won the Iron Kids Triathlon at 13 and became a professional triathlete at only 16 years old. In 1988, Armstrong qualified to train with the US Olympic developmental team in Colorado Springs, Colorado and represented the USA at the Junior World Championships in Moscow in 1989. In 1990, he finished 11th in the World Championships in Japan. In 1991 Armstrong was the US National Amateur Champion on the Subaru-Montgomery team, winning the Settimana Bergamasca race in Italy for the US National team. and he remained an amateur competitor during the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona. Click here for the full story. Beltran OK for VueltaDiscovery Channel's Manuel Beltran will be able to ride the Vuelta a España, despite being involved in a crash with a motorcyclist last Sunday. Team manager Johan Bruyneel commented on thepaceline.com, "Triki is OK, just some scratches and bruises - nothing major. He'll be OK for the upcoming Vuelta España." The Spanish national tour will be held between August 27 and September 18. Beltran finished sixth in it in 2003.
La Grande Route de France Feminine cancelledBy Anthony Tan
A proposed nine-day women's stage race that was to follow the La Grande Boucle Féminine, or women's Tour de France, has been cancelled, confirmed race organiser Hervé Gérardin.
La Grande Route de France Feminine was to be run by Routes et Cycles, who put on the Trophée des Grimpeurs and a few other women's races, and was scheduled from August 6-14 this year. However, on sport.fr, Gérardin cited "the insufficiency of financial partnerships necessary to realise the required budget, the lack of cooperation from certain cities and local councils, and the Racing Club Olympique de Toulouse taking Routes et Cycles to court" (over a previous disagreement) were contributing factors that forced him to cancel the event. No future dates have been discussed. Rhodes and Yaxley out of intensive careAustralian cyclists Alexis Rhodes (20) and Louise Yaxley (23) have been moved out of intensive care and into a ward with their teammates at the University Clinic in Jena, Germany. The pair, along with three teammates, were injured when a teenaged female driver lost control of her vehicle, crossed to the other side of the road and ploughed into the six member Australian women's team on July 18th. 29 year-old Amy Gillett was killed instantly. A public memorial service for her will be held this Friday, August 5 at 11.00am at the Adelaide Superdrome. Australian Institute of Sport Director, Professor Peter Fricker, says it will be some weeks before Rhodes and Yaxley are flown home to Australia. "Both are in reasonably good spirits and their parents are still with them in Germany," said Prof. Fricker. "There is still a lot of work to go through in terms of their rehabilitation but so far so good." Rhodes injuries include seven broken bones in her back and chest trauma. Yaxley sustained a puncture wound to her abdomen, chest trauma, a dislocated elbow and severe abrasions to her arms and legs. She has twice undergone surgery including skin grafts to her arms. Doctors are pleased with the progress of both girls who have begun rehabilitation therapy. Meanwhile Kate Nichols is adjusting to life at home in Sydney after arriving back last Sunday night. She is continuing with counseling and with rehabilitation and physiotherapy treatment for her injured right hand and has resumed her university studies. Sydney's Katie Brown and Queenslander Lorian Graham are expected home within the week. Acting on a request from the cyclists, the details of their arrival will not be made public, as they want to be able to focus their energies on recovery. Klostergaard stagiaire with CSC22 year-old Danish rider Kasper Klostergaard of Glud & Marstrand Horsens will join Team CSC as a stagiaire from September 1. His first race will be the Tour de l'Avenir. "We are always looking for new talents and Kasper has also been recommended by other riders," said the team's sports director Kim Andersen. "Now he will get a chance to show us what he's made of and also learn more about professional cycling at a high level." Lampre-Caffita ready for Volta a PortugalGilberto Simoni will captain the Lampre-Caffita team in the upcoming Volta a Portugal, which will run between August 5-15. "I think that with Simoni almost recovered from the bronchitis that hampered him during the recent Brixia Tour, we can do great things, along with Szmyd, Marzano and Glomser," said team director Maurizio Piovani. Lampre's new stagiaire Francesco Gavazzi will also ride in the race. "For him, the Volta a Portugal will be a useful test to launch into the world of the professionals and the major races," added Piovani. The full team: Francesco Gavazzi, Gerrit Glomser, Juan Fuentes Angulo, Oleksandr Kvachuk, Andreas Matzbacher, Gilberto Simoni, Sylvester Szmyd. Directeurs sportifs: Maurizio Piovani, Bruno Vicino The stages Stage 1 - Friday, August 5: Oeiras - Lisboa, 162,7 km Fassa Bortolo for Lazio and CamaioreThe Fassa Bortolo team has announced its lineups for the upcoming Italian races: G.P. Di Camaiore (August 4): Lorenzo Bernucci, Mauro Facci, Massimo Giunti, Volodimir Gustov, Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Sacchi, Matteo Tosatto. Directeur Sportif: Mario Chiesa. Giro Del Lazio (August 6): Lorenzo Bernucci, Fabian Cancellara, Mauro Facci, Massimo Giunti, Volodimir Gustov, Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Sacchi, Matteo Tosatto. Directeur Sportif: Mario Chiesa.
Tokyo Joe's on the upThe US-based Tokyo Joe's Cycling team has been flying its colours high this season. With nine wins so far in the pro/1/2 and 35+ masters categories, the team is on its way to one of its best seasons. The elite team consists of John Cimbura, Kevin Nicol (captain), Todd Gold, Tim Elebaut, Mike Phillips, Dejan Smaic, Jeff Smith and Rick Schuette. Team sponsors are Tokyo Joe's healthy Japanese food, AST sports science, DTC Meridian and Bikesource. Competition in USCF and ACA events has seen Tokyo Joe riders take wins in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska this season. Team website: www.teamtokyojoes.com/index.htm.
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