First Edition Cycling News for November 5, 2005Edited by Jeff Jones Basso holidays with pink memories
Ivan Basso (CSC) is taking a well earned rest at the end of his best ever season, going on holidays with his family from November 5 in the Dolomiti Stars area. Basso will stay a few kilometres away from Zoldo Alto, the place where he put on his first maglia rosa as leader of the Giro d'Italia. Next year, the Giro will not be on his program, as he is going to concentrate on winning the Tour de France. But Dolomiti Stars will form part of the 2006 Giro, and is expected to be one of the most decisive stages. The full route of the Giro will be announced on November 12 in Milan. German doping expert defends HondoWerner Franke, a German doping expert who will help defend Danilo Hondo in his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport later this month, says that his client is innocent. "Nothing fits together in Hondo's case. I find that an injustice is being done to this young man." Hondo was given a two year suspension (one year of that on probation) after being found to have used Carphedon during the Tour of Murcia last March. "Carphedon is an extremely strong stimulant," said Franke. "Hondo cannot have taken it the night before the positive tests, that would have been counterproductive. If he had taken it before the stage, it would have given a much stronger result in the test. The amount that was found is laughably small. Besides, he knew that he would be tested." Franke also found it difficult to believe that Hondo would have been able to obtain Carphedon. "You can only get this medication through certain channels in Russia or China, where it is used by the military and the space flight programs. You simply can't buy it commercially." Werner concluded that the positive doping test resulted from a "contaminated water bottle." Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home finalises rosterThe Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Wine Men's Cycling Team has finalised its roster for 2006 with the addition of 25 year-old Kyle Wamsley, who finished third at the USPRO & USCF Criterium Championships and won the 2005 Tour of Somerville. A native of Pennsylvania, Wamsley made his debut on the U.S. pro racing circuit in 2005 with Team Snow Valley. "Kyle is a very consistent rider," said director sportif Frank McCormack. "His ability to 'read the race' will ensure that Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Wine colours are represented in breakaways and his finishing speed will be a great asset to help the team continue its winning ways." Led by captain Mark McCormack, the core of the Colavita Olive Oil/Sutter Home Wine squad will be returning for 2006, including Sebastian Alexandre, Gustavo Artacho, Davide Frattini, Todd Herriott, Jonathan Page, Tyler Wren and Ian Ayers. New signings include Viktor Rapinski, Zak Grabowski, Billy Skinner, and Gabriel Brizuela. The team's main sponsors remain Colavita Olive Oil and Sutter Home Wine. On the equipment side, the team will use Felt Bicycles, Shimano components, shoes, pedals and wheels, Maxxis Tires, Giordana, Rudy Project, Velo Enterprises, Full Speed Ahead (FSA), Pedro's, Amino Vital, The Olive Garden Restaurants, and Lavazza, along with media partner, Cooking Light. Larsson to Francaise des JeuxSwedish rider Gustav Erik Larsson will ride for Francaise des Jeux next season, becoming the second Swedish rider in the squad alongside Thomas Lövkvist. Larsson rode for Fassa Bortolo this year, but that team has now folded. The 25 year-old finished fourth in the world time trial championships in Verona in 2004, his best performance to date. Bauer, Harnett inducted into Canada's sports hall of fameCanadian cyclists Steve Bauer and Curt Harnett were inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in Toronto last Wednesday. Bauer and Harnett were inducted along with other Canadian sports heroes, including speed skater Catriona Le May Doan and hockey's Team Canada 1972. "We are thrilled that some of our most successful - and most recognizable - Canadian cyclists have been honoured in this way," said Canadian Cycling Association COO Steve Lacelle. "It proves that Canadian cycling produces champions who capture the public's attention and affection." Bauer won a silver medal in the road race at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics; shortly thereafter he turned professional and finished third at the world championships. He went on to a successful professional career which included a stage win and a fourth-place finish at the Tour de France in 1988; in the 1990 Tour he wore the leader's yellow jersey for nine days. Harnett is the only Canadian to have won three Olympic medals in cycling, a feat he accomplished as a four-time Olympic team member: silver in 1984, bronze in 1992 and bronze in 1996. His world record for the 200-metre time trial of 9.865 seconds, set at the 1995 world championships in Bogota, Colombia, remains unbeaten. Bauer and Harnett join two other cyclists as Hall of Fame members: William (Torchy) Peden was inducted in 1955, and Jocelyn Lovell earned the honour in 1985. NORBA 2006 announcedThe 2006 U.S. NORBA National Mountain-Bike Series schedule has been announced. Starting later in the calendar year than the '05 season (in May instead of March), the calendar features a streamlined six races (vs. eight last year) and hits new venues in Los Angeles and North Carolina. The 2006 U.S. National Championships will be held in July in Mammoth Lakes, California; a schedule that brings the U.S. in line with the rest of the World's national championship calendar. The opening round of the series is at Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, Ca, between May 5-7. Less than 50 km east of Los Angeles, the season opener marks the return of the national mountain bike series to the state of California after the traditional stop in Big Bear Lake was cancelled in 2004. After a month long break the series resumes with two consecutive weekends on the east coast. Sugar Mountain Resort in Banner Elk, N.C. hosts its first-ever national series event June 10-11 and is followed by a return to a familiar site as Mount Snow Resort in West Dover, Vt. hosts round three June 17-18. The series then returns to Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah for round four July 8-9 before taking another brief hiatus. For the second consecutive year, the series then heads to Brian Head Resort in southern Utah for round five August 4-6 before heading to Snowmass Resort in Aspen, Co. for the series finale on August 12-13. Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for a full analysis of the 2006 NORBA schedule. 2006 National Mountain Bike Series NMBS # 1 - May 5-7: Los Angeles, CA A Day in Yellow with Dave ZabriskieTickets are still available for the fundraising bike ride, "A Day in Yellow with Dave Zabriskie", which will be run on November 19 in Victoria, B.C., Canada. A total 30 riders will join Zabriskie on a brisk, scenic 50 km ride on Vancouver Island. As part of the event, Zabriskie will present to a child with cancer, a cheque for $1,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society. The child will also ride in the support vehicle and follow the ride on November 19. 12 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock (www.copsforcancer.com) members will provide security and support in "A Day in Yellow", leading the pack along the route. The Tour de Rock is a 1000 km journey across Vancouver Island, raising over $1 million a year for cancer research on Vancouver Island. "This is a great opportunity for the cycling community to make a difference for children who are battling cancer," said Calvin Straathof, president of the promoting body Giga-Bike. "To have Dave present a child with a cheque towards Cancer Research and have that child follow Dave in a support vehicle, attend dinner and view a movie is simply phenomenal. This speaks volumes of Dave's character and his support towards our organization and community. I encourage more to help in the industry. Cyclists can make a difference." After the ride, there will be a dinner held by Team Giga-Bike with Dave Zabriskie as guest of honour. Following the meal, the documentary "Overcoming", which follows Team CSC's 2004 race season, will be screened. Tickets are almost sold out for this event with only two tickets available at a cost of $250. In addition, 10 special "Yellow Jersey Sponsor" spots are available by bidding online at www.teamgigabike.com. This allows you to bid on donated gear from professional cyclists. The money raised from the auction will go to Team Giga-Bike's Youth Development Fund. Roland Green, Geoff Kabush, Gina Grain, Alison Sydor, Melanie McQuaid, Erinne Willock and Tony Zarsadias have all donated autographed jerseys to the auction.
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