First Edition Cycling News for October 22, 2005

Edited by Hedwig Kröner and Jeff Jones

Schleck extends while Gerdemann transfer causes upset

Schleck finished Best Young rider at the 2005 Tour Med
Photo ©: Mark P. Hazelton

Luxembourg champion Fränk Schleck has extended his contract with Team CSC for another three years. The 25 year-old talent will therefore continue to develop his capabilities with the Danish squad until 2008 at least, while another young prodigy, 23 year-old German Linus Gerdemann, has decided to leave Bjarne Riis and continue with T-Mobile instead.

"Fränk has grown tremendously while he has been with us and we are happy to be able to extend our deal with him," said team manager Riis about Schleck, who finished the 2005 season with podium spots in Züri Metzgete, Giro dell'Emilia and Giro di Lombardia. "He is one of the big profiles of the future and as it's turned out that he fits perfectly on our team. We have never doubted his potential and the results he's brought home this year only go to show that he has class." the Luxembourger finished the 2005 season in 13th place in the ProTour 2005 world rankings, as he also secured himself top-10 spots in Paris-Nice, Tour de Suisse, Tour de Méditerranéen and Etoile de Bessèges.

"I'm extremely happy that we're extending our contract," Schleck commented his decision. "Bjarne was the one who initially gave me the opportunity to become a pro, and I have a lot to thank him for. I have continued to develop while being on the team, and I know I can go even further. I'm really happy to find myself here at Team CSC, where I'm also 100 percent comfortable with my team mates."

Linus Gerdemann after winning stage 7 of the 2005 Tour de Suisse
Photo ©: Sirotti

Meanwhile, following the announcement by T-Mobile that the German outfit had managed to sign CSC rider Linus Gerdemann, Bjarne Riis has also commented on the departure of the 23 year-old. Gerdemann did have a contract for next year with CSC, but Riis chose to release him and terminate the relationship one year early, because the German had agreed to join T-Mobile as of 2007.

The Danish team manager called the transfer "not correct and not serious". He allowed it because he "didn't want to cause a big fuss," Riis told German news agency dpa. Christian Frommert, T-Mobiles Director of Communications, said that the transfer was "absolutely clean" and denied that "we're buying up everything we can."

Gerdemann opened negotiations with T-Mobile manager Olaf Ludwig in August. He also received an offer from Riis, who said, "Linus wanted a lot more. I didn't want to offer it to him, because he hadn't shown enough yet for that. It's not a healthy development." So Gerdemann accepted the T-Mobile offer to sign for them as of the 2007 season.

"Naturally, Gerdemann should have fulfilled his contract for the coming year with me," said Riis. "But I'm not going to work with a rider and invest a lot of time and effort so that he can transfer to a rival team...Linus went for the money. I'm not angry at him about it - it's his right. But T-Mobile should have spoken to me first." Frommert responded, "We did nothing wrong. We had only an oral agreement with Linus for 2007 and not a written contract."

Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer

14 Belgian pro riders without contract

As the transfer season continues, coming to a close in a few weeks' time, 14 Belgian professional cyclists are still without a contract for next season. Although this number is relatively low compared to the same time in 2004, when more than 30 riders didn't know if they were going to continue racing, the vacant slots, especially in Belgian teams, are also scarce.

Quick.Step-Innergetic has one free spot on its roster, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago wants to sign three more riders and Unibet.com (former MrBookmaker.com) still has five vacancies. According to Het Nieuwsblad, The following pros are still looking for a team in 2006: Arne Daelmans (Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Thierry De Groote (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Kristof Trouvé, Francesco Planckaert and Wesley Van Speybroeck (MrBookmaker-SportsTech), Kevin Ista, Guillaume Lernould and Xavier Hérinne (RAGT-Sémences), Kevin Van Der Slagmolen (Bodysol-Win for Life-Jong Vlaanderen), Igor Abakoumov and Michael Blanchy (Jartazi-Revor), Andy De Smet, Jehudi Schoonacker and Christophe Stevens (Team Skil-Moser).

The composition of Belgian Professional teams is currently the following:

Quick.Step-Innergetic

Staying: Bettini (Ita), Boonen (Bel), Bramati (Ita), Cretskens (Bel), De Weert (Bel), Engels (Ned), Garrido (Spa), Hulsmans (Bel), Knaven (Ned), Nuyens (Bel), Pozzato (Ita), Rosseler (Bel), Tankink (Ned), Trenti (USA), Weylandt (Bel).

Newcomers: Baguet (Bel, Davitamon-Lotto), Chicchi (Ita, Fassa Bortolo), De Jongh (Ned, Rabobank), Rujano (Ven, Selle Italia), Santaromita (Ita, Velo Club Mendrisio), Scarselli (Ita, Selle Italia), Schwab (Swi, Saeco-Romer's),Garate (Spa, Saunier Duval), Tosatto (Ita, Fassa Bortolo), Van de Walle (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Van Impe (Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Vasseur (Cofidis), Verheyen (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Viganò (Ita), Wielinga (Ned, Rabobank).

Leaving: Christensen (Den, Barloworld), De Fauw (Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Mercado (Spa, Agritubel), Moreni (Ita, Cofidis), Paolini (Ita, Liquigas-Bianchi), Pecharroman (Spa, Comunidad Valenciana), Rogers (Aus, T-Mobile), Sinkewitz (Ger, T-Mobile), Van Goolen (Bel, Discovery Channel), Verbrugghe (Bel, Cofidis), Zanini (Ita, Liquigas-Bianchi).

Davitamon-Lotto

Staying: Aerts (Bel), Ardila (Col), Brandt (Bel), De Vocht (Bel), Dockx (Bel), Evans (Aus), Gates (Aus), Kuyckx (Bel), Leukemans (Bel), Mattan (Bel), McEwen (Aus), Rodriguez (USA), Roesems (Bel), Steegmans (Bel), Steels (Bel), Van Bon (Ned), Van Hecke (Bel), Vanhuffel (Bel), Van Petegem (Bel), Vansevenant (Bel), Vansummeren (Bel), Vogels (Aus).

Newcomers: Ingels (Bel, neo-pro), Kaisen (Bel, RAGT-Sémences), Mertens (Bel, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Horner (USA, Saunier Duval), Sanderson (Aus, neo-pro)

Leaving: Amorison (Bel, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Baguet (Bel, Quick Step-Innergetic), Merckx (Bel, Phonak), Moerenhout (Ned, Phonak), Vierhouten (Ned, ?)

Directeur sportif Marc Sergeant said that McEwen will be the team's top sprinter again in 2006, with Van Petegem, Van Bon and Mattan being the squad's leading all-rounders, and Ardila and Van Huffel for the mountains. "I'm counting an the further development of guys like Steegmans, Vansummeren, Van Hecke and Mertens," Sergeant said, while regretting the departure of Baguet and Merckx. "But as a whole our team isn't weaker than last year. There's also the signing of Horner, who's eager for results and very experienced."

Unibet.com (ex-MrBookmaker.com)

Staying: Boucher (Fra), Bouquet (Fra), Castresana (Spa), Coenen (Bel), Gabriel (Fra), Gardeyn (Bel), Hunt (GBr), Omloop (Bel), Pronk (Ned), Thijs (Bel), Traksel (Ned), Van De Wouwer (Bel), Van Dijk (Ned, but suspended for a year), Vandenbroucke (Bel)

Newcomers: Dominguez (Spa, Saunier Duval), Cooke (Aus, Française des Jeux), Ljungblad (Swe, Amore è Vita), Ten Dam (Ned, Shimano-Memory Corp), Wilson (Aus, Française des Jeux), Zanotti (Ita, Liquigas-Bianchi)

Leaving: Commeyne (Bel, Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop), Day (Aus, ?), Laidoun (Fra, ?), Paumier (Fra, ?), Planckaert (Bel, ?), Renders (Bel, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Roodhooft (Bel, Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop), Trouvé (Bel, ?), Vannoppen (Bel, Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop), Wuyts (Bel, Palmans-Sapim-Collstrop)

Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim

Staying: Barbé (Bel), Belaey (Bel), Caethoven (Bel), De Schrooder (Bel), Eeckhout( Bel), Ghyllebert (Bel), Gilmore (Bel), Hovelynck (Bel), Huysmans (Bel), Keisse (Bel), Lisabeth (Bel), Stubbe (Bel), Van Der Linden (Bel), Van Mechelen (Bel), Veuchelen (Bel), Wijnants (Bel), Willems (Bel)

Newcomers: De Fauw (Bel, Quick Step-Innergetic), D'Hollander (Bel, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Pauwels (Bel, neo-pro), Jens Renders (Bel, MrBookmaker-SportsTech), Van Heule (Bel, neo-pro), Verbist (Bel, neo-pro)

Leaving: Daelmans (Bel, ?), Kleynen (Bel, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), Mertens (Bel, Davitamon-Lotto), Peeters (Bel, retired), Van Impe (Bel, Quick Step-Innergetic), Van Speybroeck (Bel, ?)

Landbouwkrediet- Colnago

Staying: Capelle (Bel, depending on ongoing doping case), Criquielion (Bel), De Waele (Bel), Habeaux (Bel), Sven Renders (Bel), Sijmens (Bel), Simon (Bel), Van Loocke (Bel), Vanlandschoot (Bel), Verstrepen (Bel)

Newcomers: Amorison (Bel, Davitamon-Lotto), Cappelle (Bel, suspension ended), Kleynen (Bel, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Lebeau (Bel, neo-pro)

Leaving: Bracke (Bel, ?), Cummings (GBr, ?), De Groote (Bel, ?), D'Hollander (Bel, Chocolade Jacques-T-Interim), Dierckxsens (Bel, retired), Lagutin (UZB, Navigators), Monfort (Bel, Cofidis), Van de Walle (Bel, Quick Step-Innergetic), Verheyen (Bel, Quick Step-Innergetic)

Reinerink extends

32 year-old Dutch rider Rik Reinerink has extended his contract with his current team for an extra year, meaning that he will ride in Skil-Shimano colours in 2006. Reinerink suffered a gallbladder injury in the first half of this season, but came back to finish 3rd in the Tour de Rijke-Beneden Maas, 8th in the GP Stad Zottegem/Dr Tistaertprijs, 5th in the Delta Ronde van Midden Zeeland, 10th in the Nationale Sluitingsprijs-Putte-Kappelle, 8th and 9th in stages of the International Hessen-Rundfarht, and victory in the kermis in Vichte, Belgium.

Bäckstedt optimistic about Derny paced record

Big Magnus Backstedt
Photo ©: Nick Rosenthal

Next week, 30 year-old Liquigas-Bianchi rider Magnus Bäckstedt will try to beat the Derny Paced Hour Record currently held by Dutch Matthé Pronk: 66.114 km. The attempt will take place on the Welsh track of the Newport Velodrome on Saturday, October 29.

"I'm in peak form," the 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner said. "Derny paced training is going well - at an average of two hours per day - and by now I'm in perfect harmony with the pacer [the Derny pilot - ed.], Brit Paul Spender. Managing energies throughout 60 minutes and psychological endurance will be decisive: the support of the public could be a determining factor."

From a technical point of view, Bäckstedt is concentrating on acquiring the ideal pacing rhythm suited to his characteristics as a rider. "I think that recordman Pronk had a cadence of 140 rpm, while I can manage to hold 135 for half an hour. I have to count on power rather than agility." The Swede therefore could use a front chainring of between 58 and 60 and a 13 rear sprocket.

After the record attempt, Bäckstedt could take part in one or two Six Day races, but "definitely before Christmas, and on a long track suiting my characteristics." As for Ondrej Sosenka's hour record, the Swede didn't rule out a challenge. "I like the idea but it will depend on the result in Newport," he concluded. Sosenka wants to try and break the 50 kilometre-mark in 2007, to top his own record of 49.7 km established in July.

Meanwhile, Magnus Bäckstedt is also involved in supporting a fundraiser for a 250 m cycle track in the heart of Bournemouth, UK. The local cycling community is aiming to raise £25,000 as a contribution the project, and Bäckstedt has donated a signed jersey to be auctioned on eBay.

For further information, please go to www.wintoncyclingcentre.org.uk/

UCI cycling races on WCSN

The UCI has announced the conclusion of a three-year agreement with American TV channel World Championship Sports Network (WCSN). The deal includes the broadcasting of UCI events "on demand" and "pay per view" on American cable networks as well as on the Internet.

WCSN will show exclusive coverage on American territory, both live and recorded, of the UCI Road, Track, Mountain Bike & Trials, Cyclo-cross, BMX and Indoor Cycling World Championships and World Cups. In addition, WCSN will show the races on its website, also live, for users on American territory.

WCSN is the main American channel showing coverage of international sporting events, by obtaining exclusive partnerships with international sports federations like FIS (skiing), IAAF (athletics) and FIG (gymnastics).

Bailey eyes up Beijing on her bike

Paralympic swimming ace Sarah Bailey from Great Britain will announce her retirement from international swimming to concentrate on cycling instead. The 27-year-old four-times Paralympic swimmer made the switch to the bike after winning five golds, two silvers and a bronze at the Open European Cycling Championships in Holland in August. Also plagued by chronic ear infections, she has now decided to concentrate on her newfound sport.

"Cycling kind of crept up on me and it's only since coming home from the Europeans and having allowed the results to sink in that I realised I was being presented with an incredible opportunity most people only ever dream about," she said. "The career I have had in swimming has been incredible. But with cycling I get to move out of my comfort zone, into the unknown and try to achieve similar success in a new sport. It's something I always considered doing, but never thought I would get the chance. Now that I have been given the opportunity I think I would be a fool to turn it down."

Bailey now aims to compete as a cyclist at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. She is not the first Paralympic swimmer to make the transition to cycling ­ Ian Sharpe won eight medals from four Paralympic Games in the pool, before competing in the visually-impaired tandem cycling events with sighted partner Paul Hunter in Athens. The pair won a brace of bronze medals.

A Day in Yellow with Zabriskie

Team Giga-Bike has announced a "Day in Yellow with Dave Zabriskie" to take place on Saturday, November 19, 2005. During the annual Team Giga-Bike fundraising ride in Victoria, B.C., thirty cyclists will have the opportunity to join the Team CSC rider while supporting the local Vancouver Island Junior/Espoir development team.

The fastest Tour de France stage winner in history will also attend the team dinner after the ride, where Team Giga-Bike will unveil its new sponsors and team for the 2006 season, as well as the screening of the documentary "Overcoming", showing Team CSC's 2004 race season.

Tickets for this limited event cost $250, and ten special spots are available by bidding online to be an official Team Giga-Bike Yellow Jersey Sponsor. Moreover, a Pro jersey Fundraising Auction is posted on www.teamgigabike.com, allowing to bid on donated merchandise from professional cyclists. The money raised from the auction will go to Team Giga-Bike's Youth Development Fund. World MTB Champion Roland Green, Xterra World Champion Melanie McQuaid, Erinne Willock and Tony Zarsadias have all donated autographed jerseys to the auction, and more pro jerseys will be posted throughout the month leading up to the event.

"I'm a proud supporter and believer in Team Giga-Bike's youth development program," said Erinne Willock of Webcor Builders, who finished 2005 as Best Young Rider in the U.S. Women's Prestige Cycling Series. "I started the same way here in Victoria, B.C. as a junior cyclist at age 14 under the coaching of Team Giga-Bike's Head Coach Steve Lund. Having support and development early has been the secret to my own success as a professional cyclist today."

Please refer to the above mentioned website for more information.

First run in 1887...

Considering a hill climb to be a cycle race - which it is - then the Catford Cycling Club's Hill Climb in Kent, UK, is one of the oldest races in the world. It was first held in 1887 when it was won on Westerham Hill by S.F. Edge of the Anerley B.C. riding a 'safety' cycle. The 7th rider R.L. Philpot of the Brixton B.C. rode an old ordinary ('penny farthing').

This year's event will be held on October 23 at York's Hill, Nr. Sevenoaks. 2004 winner Rob English (21st Airports CT) will start off last in a field of 73 riders, facing face fierce competition from current national hill climb champion Jonathan Dayus (Arctic Shorter Rochford RT) and four times champion Jim Henderson (Southport CC).

Cumberland University seeking riders

Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee has hired Tim Hall as their cycling coach for the upcoming 2005/2006 season. Hall takes over the position left vacant by first year coach Levi Olsen. The cycling program at Cumberland begins its second year in existence and competes in the Southeast Collegiate Cycling Conference (SECCC). In their first year Cumberland won the men's A and women's A road division conference championship, and capped off the season with Stephanie Hannos-Ossenbrink winning the NCCA Division II Women's Omnium National Championship.

Currently the program is seeking to grow and looking to add riders to its roster for the upcoming 2006 spring road season and 2006 fall mountain bike season. Cumberland is one of just a few universities offering scholarship opportunities for racers wanting to earn an education while racing their bicycles.

Cumberland university is located just 30 miles east of Nashville, Tennessee. Interested riders should visit www.cumberland.edu to learn more about the program, and send their inquiries to Tim Hall at thall@cumberland.edu.

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