News for December 26, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Cyclingnews Reader Poll results: best MTB'ers, bikes and products

Today's installment of the Cyclingnews Reader Poll includes the results for the best Male and Female Mountain Bikers, the Best Team Bike and Best New Product of 2002. Who and what did you vote for, and how many others thought the same way? There's only one way to find out!

Zabel will lead Telekom in 2003

The very experienced and well respected Erik Zabel says he will be Telekom's team captain in 2003. In an interview with "Die Welt", Zabel said that "despite my previous 10 years with Telekom I have not yet had an experience like this. So I must refocus myself. It is thought that I should be a kind of team captain. In the races I will have the task of being one of the team leaders in the peloton. I won't always be in the action myself, but rather help others into good positions."

Zabel won 22 races this year, and was the top German cyclist in terms of victories. He also finished the season ranked number 1 on the UCI rankings, and is still very much a formidable force in sprinting.

Telekom will have a substantially different make up in 2003, with Santiago Botero, Paolo Savoldelli, Cadel Evans, Mario Aerts and Daniele Nardello some of the new recruits. The lack of Jan Ullrich hurt them in 2002, but the team has had a chance to regroup and now looks to be very strong.

Zabel commented on the Ullrich situation, saying that "Firstly, I regret his team change. I like riding with Jan very much. We have always respected each other. Jan has now decided he needs a change. This decision is to be respected.

Aitor González visits sick children

Vuelta winner Aitor González spent some time on Christmas Eve visiting the Hospital Infantil de La Fe de Valencia, in order to distribute presents to sick children. The visit turned out to be harder than expected for 'Santa' González, who was moved to tears.

"I thought it would be a fun trip," said Aitor to AS. "But it turned out to be harder than climbing the Angliru...I intended it to be a special day for the children, but little by little I became very sad. I did not want to cry in front of them, but there was a moment when I could not hold back any more. The visit was very moving inside."

Division I spot likely for Palmans-Collstrop

Belgian squad Palmans-Collstrop will probably make it into the first division, once the remaining six places are decided by the UCI on January 10. Palmans-Collstrop was one of 10 candidate teams that were vying for a spot in the top division after the UCI announced the first 24 squads last Sunday. But on December 24, Palmans team manager Hilaire Van der Schueren heard directly from the UCI that his team was almost certain to make the cut, providing that it increased the amount of the bank guarantee that has to be submitted to the UCI each year.

"In the first division we can be sure of our place in World Cup races, which we are interested in," said Van der Schueren to Belgian teletekst. If Palmans-Collstrop does make Division I, it will be the third Belgian team there after Lotto-Domo and Quickstep-Davitamon.

Relax not interested in Division I

Relax Fuenlabrada will remain in Division II next season, despite being offered a spot in the top division by the UCI a few weeks ago. The Spanish team said thanks but no thanks, as it couldn't afford the extra costs associated with being in Division I. Also, it would not greatly enhance their sporting program.

Source: Globeros.com

Pantani to base himself in Spain

Marco Pantani will begin the 2003 season in Spain, moving there in January from his current home in Greece, where he has been living for over a month. In his Christmas message posted on his website, the Pirate said that he had found the "correct stimuli and a little bit of peace" in Greece, where he has been training every day on the bike.

Pantani said to his fans that he hopes "2003 will be the year that crowns all of the sacrifices that you have made and that your tenacity and trust that you have shown me through everything is rewarded. I still have desires on the bike, and I still believe I have something to say."

As to his team next year, it's likely that Pantani's Mercatone Uno squad will continue with him in it, albeit in Division II.

66th Großen Weihnachtspreis

The 66th edition of the German Christmas track meeting, Großen Weihnachtspreis, will be held in Dortmund's Westfalenhalle on December 26, starting at 4pm. The meet will feature a number of top track and road riders, who will be pitted against each other in the Omnium der Asse (Omnium of the Aces), the highlight of the evening. A German team, including Erik Zabel, Rolf Aldag, Jens Lehmann, Gerd Dörich and Jan van Eijden, will face off against an International team, with Silvio Martinello, Jimmi Madsen, Franco Marvulli, Craig Maclean and Robert Slippens. There will also me a Stayers race with Carsten Podlesch, Andreas Beikirch, Andreas Kappes, Stefan Klare and Peter Jörg.

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