First Edition Cycling News for May 13, 2005

Edited by Jeff Jones & Hedwig Kröner

Ullrich surprise guest at GP Schwarzwald

Jan Ullrich has engaged last-minute for the GP Schwarzwald on June 4, which is perhaps the hardest German one-day race. The event located in the South-Eastern Black Forset region of Ullrich's homeland is a perfect preparation for the Tour de Suisse and the Kaiser's greatest goal, the Tour de France, after competing at the Volta a Catalunya from May 16-22.

"It's my ambition on a sports level to challenge the strongest rider in the world, the dominator Lance Armstrong," Ullrich told German tabloid Sportbild on Wednesday. "That's why I'm extra motivated this year. It's my last chance of beating him!" Ullrich is convinced he can do it, too. "I saw that in 2003, I was so close! If I wouldn't believe in my chances of winning, I wouldn't get on the saddle every day. I don't torture myself for a second placing..."

Wittig funeral postponed

Matt Wittig
Photo ©: wicycling.org

The funeral arrangements for US cyclist Matt Wittig, who was reported as dying on May 8 after suffering severe brain damage as a result of a freak accident in a race, have been postponed for a few days as he is still clinging to a semblance of life. Although he was pronounced brain dead, he did react to pain after doctors tested him yesterday, and that means it could be another four days before he loses the battle completely. Definite plans for the service will be made after that.

Wittig's family and friends have asked that donations be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation in lieu of flowers. Also, those who attend the service from the cycling community are asked to please wear a cycling jersey, although normal wear on the bottom is fine.

Mazzoleni back at Catalunya

Lampre-Caffita's Eddy Mazzoleni will start his racing season at the Volta a Catalunya on May 16. "Finally I've gotten over my tendonitis problems of the knee," Mazzoleni explained. "Now I am looking at recovering lost time off the bike, I get back into racing now and then further down the line I will be looking at peaking my form for the Tour de France. I am really happy that my problems seem to be over, it's great to be back at the races! I see my team mates at the Giro and I feel bad that I can't be with them in the race."

Lampre's general manager Giuseppe Saronni has selected the following riders for the 85th edition of the ProTour stage race from May 16-22: Daniele Bennati, GianLuca Bortolami, Salvatore Commesso, Juan Fuentes Angullo, David Loosli, Eddy Mazzoleni, Marco Marzano and Alessandro Spezialetti.

Buitenpoort-Flexpoint to l'Aude

The Buitenpoort-Flexpoint team has named its line up to contest the women's Tour de l'Aude, a 2.1 ranked event that runs from May 13-22. The team has its two main hitters, Mirjam Melchers-van Poppel and Susanne Ljungskog, on board, along with Lada Kozlikova, Amber Neben, Sandra Rombouts, and Linda Melanie Serup. Jean-Paul van Poppel and Klas Johansson will serve as team directors.

Skil-Moser and Moser-AH-Trentino for Olympia's Tour

The Skil-Moser Pro Cycling Team will be competing in the Olympia's Tour, Holland, May 14-22, with the following riders: Jehudi Schoonacker, Wouter Mol, Frank Kwanten, Roel de Vries and sprinter Dariusz Rudnicki, who is aiming at stage wins. Moser-AH-Trentino, the Skil development team, will also be competing in the Olympia's Tour lining up Huub Duyn, Mikel Paas, Floris Goesinnen, Frank Wierstra, Jeroen Kregel, Maciek Bodnar, Bas Waayer and Wim Botman.

CPA News

The Association of Professional Cyclists (CPA) has announced that the list of UCI ProTeam riders appointed by the teams to attend the CPA meetings was almost complete. 16 trade teams already communicated the names of the riders chosen with this intention. Amongst them are Paolo Bettini, Tom Boonen, Peter Van Petegem, Jens Voigt, Joseba Beloki, Pablo Lastras, Alessandro Petacchi, Danilo Di Luca, Erik Dekker and Lance Armstrong. The delegates of the UCI ProTour Teams will meet again on May 24 in Lissone, during the second rest day of the Giro d'Italia.

Meanwhile, the CPA is not happy with the awarded prize money at the Giro, as previously reported. In response to organiser RCS director Angelo Zomegnan's letter, in which the he confirmed the impossibility of respecting the scale of prize money as foreseen by the regulation for the 2005 edition, CPA president Francesco Moser reiterated the real disagreement of the CPA with the decision. "The riders are not responsible for the errors of strategy relating to marketing and the sale of the TV rights made by RCS and do not have to support the economic consequences of such an affair," Moser said.

At least with the Vuelta a España, an agreement has been found as to the prize money awarded in the 2005 edition, the first of the new ProTour calendar. The CPA, represented by Secretary General Daniel Malbranque and President of the Spanish riders Association José Rodríguez, and Unipublic Executive Director Victor Cordero, recently met in Madrid and furthermore the Vuelta prize money until 2008.

Return of Kenneally in Dungarvan?

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent

Former cyclists have a distinct habit of going that little further when it comes to organising a bike race. Take for instance, Justin Coonan in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. He is organising the Kelly Pharmacy Grand Prix on Sunday. As a bike rider, Justin would have reason to remember the trials and tribulations of racing and of course the suffering when the going gets tough and the tough get going!

"You could not put on any old bike race this weekend with the FBD Insurance Ras only days away. Along with Ger Wyley my co-organiser, we have a nice little circuit [notice the word ‘little'] which will test the aspirants to their level of fitness," Coonan said. When the riders will make three ascents of Colgans Climb, they'll be well aware that this is a serious test for any bike rider!

"Yes! There is a drop into the Nire Valley which is a haven for the walking fraternity and then it is on to the picturesque village of Millstreet and then they'll have another two laps of the course with the start and finish at Ballymacmague Crossroads, where the road bifurcates to Cappoquinn and Clonmel. Also at the location is a memorial to Master McGrath, the greyhound which triumphed in the Waterloo Cup for coursing which is distinct from racing on a track. He won the Cup in 1868 1869 and 1871.

"Our sponsor, Joe Kelly was a participant in the "Millennium Ras" which had a joint sponsorship of the National Dairy Council and FBD. He has a love of the sport and basically sees the opportunity of putting something back and of course he hopes to get some mileage as regards PR," said Coonan.

The defending champion is Denis Lynch who was triumphant in the colours of VC la Pomme. He is back in Ireland after a couple of years in France where it was anticipated that he would further his career in the bike game.

Events in Munster have had great support this year and it should be no different this Sunday. Sharing the limelight also Sunday with the Kelly Pharmacy event is the Noel Hammond Memorial in Ballyboughal, Co. Dublin. They have a series of races on the programme where it is anticipated they will have a good turnout. The event is organised by Dundrum Shopping Centre/Orwell Wheelers CC.

Last Sunday, the Dan Morrissey/Carrick Wheelers Road Club outfit were crying wolf because they had so many of their numbers away on various duties. In the end they cried all the way to the Bank or the local Credit Union with their winnings!

Martin O'Loughlin and his cohorts from the club simply showed why they are so disciplined when it comes to tactics. O'Loughlin won the Tommy Sheehan and to rub salt into the wound! They had four in the top six. This Sunday they'll be back to full strength plus which should make it interesting. There is talk that Brian Kenneally will make his seasonal debut. He has been training, specifically for the ‘Ras,' so obviously he'll want to have a go.

The Co. Waterford race will have Kilrush as its base where things get under way at on Sunday, May 15 at 12 o'clock.

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