News for December 3, 2002

Edited by Chris Henry

Vervecken on the market

First title sponsor SpaarSelect announced its withdrawal from the team, now it appears Belgian cyclo-cross rider Erwin Vervecken may not re-sign with the team. SpaarSelect team manager Sisterman has promised that his team will continue through 2004, despite the loss of SpaarSelect, although at this point only Bart Wellens has signed a contract until that point. Vervecken's expected contract signing was postponed once again Monday. "Now they say managing director Sistermans is ill, but this was the eighth or ninth appointment," said Vervecken. "They didn't even made a new appointment. I was already looking around for another team, and I'll keep looking."

Blijlevens to Bankgiroloterij

Dutch sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens has secured a contract for 2003, signing a one year deal with Bankgiroloterij. Riding for Domo-Farm Frites, Blijlevens had a lackluster season in 2002, hampered by illness and injuries. In fact, the former Tour de France stage winner has not claimed a victory since 2000. Blijlevens had a contract offer from Marlux for next year, but ultimately decided to join Bankgiroloterij and team manager Arend Scheppink.

Miho Oki signs with Farm Frites-Hartol

Japanese champion Miho Oki, 28, has signed a contract with Team Farm Frites-Hartol for 2003. National champion in 2001 and 2002, Oki rode this year with French team C.A. Mantes-la-Ville 78, winning the Trophée des Grimpeurs in May.

27 Spanish riders without contracts

Despite the creation of a seventh professional team in Spain, Labarca-2 Baqué, the list of Spanish riders without a contract for 2003 is long. In total, 27 Spaniards are searching for teams for the next season.

Riders on Spanish teams:

Santi Blanco, José Maria Jimenez, David Navas, Pipe Gómez, Leandro Navarrete, Gustavo Otero, José Angel Vidal, Igor Flores, César Solaun, Jorge Capitán, Pablo Fernández, César Garcia Calvo, Iván Herrero, David Vázquez, Sergio Villamil

Riders on foreign teams:

Gaizka Lejarreta, Francisco Cerezo, Marcelino García, Curro Garcia, Daniel Clavero, Pablo Soler, Domingo Segado, Jon Agirrebeitia, Antonio Martin, Daniel Sanz, David Sojo, Miguel Soro

Source: todociclismo.com

2003 NORBA venues finalized

USA Cycling and GaleForce Sports Marketing have finalized the dates and venues for the 2003 Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series. Established venues in Vermont, West Virginia, and California will anchor the series, while Durango Mountain Resort will host the series finals. A new venue, Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho, will host the fourth stop.

The series dates and venues are as follows:

NCS 1: May 15-18 - Snow Summit Resort, Big Bear Lake, California
NCS 2: June 12-15 - Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Snowshoe, West Virginia
NCS 3: June 19-22 - Mount Snow Resort, Mount Snow, Vermont
NCS 4: July 24-27 - Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint, Idaho.
NCS 5: August 14-17 - Durango Mountain Resort, Durango, Colorado

Boogerd best in the Netherlands

Michael Boogerd was named 2002 rider of the year in the Netherlands. He was selected by ex-pros of the Club 48, readers of the cycling magazine Wieler Revue, and members of the cycling-union VVBW. This is the third year Boogerd has won the title, having been selected in 1998 and 1999. Rabobank teammate Erik Dekker claimed the honors in 2000 and 2001.

From the women's peloton, Suzanne de Goede was named rider of the year, ahead of Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel and Mirjam Melchers.

Bart Brentjens is the mountain biker/cyclo-cross rider of the year, and the best esport is Bobbie Traksel.

Lapierre Sydney Cup on Wheels & Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards

Cycling Australia today announced the finalists in the 2002 BMC Software Cyclist of the Year Awards and invited sports fans to join the celebration, meet their heroes and enjoy some of the world's best cycling action.

The awards will be presented during the Lapierre Sydney Cup on Wheels where a host of Commonwealth Games and World Championship stars will do battle on the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney this Saturday, December 7th. An action packed program of racing and entertainment will kick off from 6:00pm and wrap up with a live band and a party atmosphere in the middle of the Olympic Velodrome. The top stars of Australian cycling will be in the running for the Sir Hubert Opperman Trophy.

Tickets are available from NSW Cycling on Tel: (02) 9738 5850. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults $20, Concession $10, Family (5) $50. Reservations for corporate tables and infield dining should be directed to Cycling Australia on (02) 9644 3002.

The finalists for the BMC Software 2002 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards are as follows:

Women's Road Cyclist of the Year

Sara Carrigan, Rochelle Gilmore, Margaret Hemsley, Anna Millward, Alison Wright

Men's Road Cyclist of the Year

Baden Cooke, Cadel Evans, Bradley McGee, Robbie McEwen, Stuart O'Grady

Women's Track Cyclist of the Year

Katherine Bates, Rochelle Gilmore, Rosealee Hubbard, Anna Meares, Kerrie Meares

Men's Track Cyclist of the Year

Jobie Dajka, Sean Eadie, Brad McGee, Luke Roberts, Teams Pursuit (members of the World's and Commonwealth Games pursuit teams)

Women's Mountainbike Cyclist of the Year

Mary Grigson, Katrina Miller, Tai Lee Muxlow

Men's Mountainbike Cyclist of the Year

Chris Kovarik, John Waddell, Sid Taberlay

Cyclingnews is also pleased to note that European Editor Tim Maloney's story from Stage 16 of the 2002 Giro d'Italia, "Evans takes over the Maglia Rosa," is among the finalists for Best Print Story in the Media Awards.

Swiss cyclists of the year

The Swiss cycling federation has announced its cyclists of the year, after voting within the federation and a ceremony last weekend in Lausanne to honor the winners. Phonak's Alexandre Moos was the clear winner in the men's category, while Nicole Brändli (Acca Due O) took top honors for the women. Atypical categories such as cycle ball and artistic cycling evidently merit considerable mention in Switzerland, evidenced by second place cycle ballers Paul Looser and Peter Jiricek, and Erich Malik's fifth place in the men's voting.

Women:

1. Nicole Brändli (road)
2. Karin Thürig (road)
3. Tatjana Schocher (BMX)
4. Barbara Blatter (MTB)
5. Karin Moor (Trials)

Men:

1. Alexandre Moos (road)
2. Paul Looser/Peter Jiricek (cycle ball)
3. Rubens Bertogliati, Lugano (road)
4. Thomas Frischknecht (MTB)
5. Erich Malik, Mumpf (artistic cycling)

Lehigh Valley Velodrome seeks interns

The Lehigh Valley Velodrome is looking for ambitious, hard-working interns to help in the areas of marketing and media for the summer of 2003. Those interested in applying should contact Jacob Burns, Marketing Director for the Velodrome.

Jacob Burns, Marketing Director Lehigh Valley Velodrome 217 Main Street Emmaus, PA 18049 610.967.8543 www.lvvelo.org

(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2002)