News for November 28, 2002Edited by Jeff Jones Giro d'Italia 2003 presentationThe presentation of the full route of the 86th Giro d'Italia will take place this Saturday, November 30, in the Milan Auditorium. The race will start on May 10 in Lecce and finish in Milan on June 1. Cyclingnews will be at the presentation to report on all the details. 2003 Amstel to finish on CaubergThe organisers of the Amstel Gold Race have decided to move the "Cauberg finish" of the race to 2003, rather than 2004. The contract was signed today by Leo van Vliet with the City of Valkenburg for the next five years. Next year's Amstel Gold Race will start in Maastricht on April 20, during Easter. The Cauberg finish will make it the only World Cup classic next season to end on a climb. USOC confirms Moninger positiveThe United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has announced it received notification from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) 30 days ago that sufficient evidence of doping exists to proceed further in the case of Scott Moninger of Boulder, Colorado (full story). Moninger tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone at the Saturn Classic on August 10, 2002. The 36 year old, who faces a sanction of between six months and two years, is currently disputing the positive test result. Cofidis 2003The Cofidis team will consist of 29 riders in 2003, split between its road (25 riders) and track (4 riders) squads. The team is largely unchanged from 2002, with the only new additions being Frédéric Bessy (Credit Agricole) and neo-pro's Hayden Roulston and Arnaud Coyot. The team's track squad has been downsized to include just Mikäel Bourgain, Arnaud Duble, Laurent Gane, and Arnaud Tournant. Team rosterRoad Daniel Atienza Track Mikäel Bourgain Neuville goes amateur tooJérôme Neuville, who partnered Franck Perque to win the World Madison Championships this year, will join his partner in the amateur ranks next season after not having his contract renewed by Cofidis. 27 year old Neuville turned pro in 1999, and in 2003 he will ride in the French Elite 2 division in the AVC Aix-en-Provence club. Courtesy of João Cravo New sponsor for Cipollini's teamThe team that will be built around World Champion Mario Cipollini next year is starting to take shape, with the announcement of several major sponsors recently. The team will be based on the Acqua e Sapone squad and managed by Vincenzo Santoni. After footwear design company Elitron signed on last week, the team has announced the addition of Gi.Vi. Plast, a modestly sized company that makes heels and soles for shoes. Clearly a perfect match! The head of the company, Giorgio Silenzi, said that "Cycling is my passion. This project was born almost out of a joke. It's true that cycling represents the perfect promotional vehicle: we will use the team of Mario Cipollini to promote out business brand. Quick Step-Davitamon to begin in Saint-RaphaëlThe new division I team Quick Step-Davitamon will have its first pre-season training camp in Saint Raphaël (Valescure) starting this Friday, November 29 to Friday December 6. During the camp, the specific training and racing programs for 2003 will be defined for each rider. Relax-Fuenlabrada plan for new seasonThe 2003 season is already gaining under way, as teams start their preparation for another long, hard season. While some teams are still scheduling their first training camps, others have already planned their first races. This is true in the case of Relax-Fuenlabrada, whose team manager José Maria Pérez announced the names of the riders that will head to Malaysia on January 23 in order to train and compete from January 31-February 9 in the Tour de Langkawi (2.2). Seven riders will take part in the race: David Fernández, Oscar Laguna, José Manuel Vasquez, Nácor Burgos, Germán Nieto, José Manuel Maestre and new recruit Josep Jufré. The rest of the squad will remain in Spain under the supervision of the assistant team manager Maximino Pérez. Besides training, the riders will compete in the Challenge de Mallorca. Courtesy of João Cravo Cappelle extends with MarluxBelgian rider Andy Cappelle, who won two races this year, has extended his contract with the Marlux team for another year. Max Nielsen to Glud & MarstrandFormer Danish U23 champion Max Nielsen has signed a contract with Glud & Marstrand Horsens. The 25 year old rider is coming from Hammel CK. Weisshaupt to CCC-PolsatGerman cyclist Marc Weisshaupt has signed a one year contract with Polish Division II team CCC-Polsat. Weisshaupt, who has been a professional since 1996, rode for Flanders-Prefetex in 2000/2001, but did not race much in 2002 after being sick for most of the season. In the middle of the year he joined Polish Division III team Ambra, which subsequently collapsed, leaving him without a team. Marlux offers Blijlevens a contractDutch sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens has an offer from the Belgian Marlux team, which is approaching its full complement of riders. The 30 year old who rode for Domo-Farm Frites this year has not won a race since 2000, and has suffered a number of injury and illness problems over the last couple of years. De Vos woesDutch cyclo-crosser Wim de Vos is in doubt for the upcoming races in Knokke and Gieten this weekend. De Vos is still suffering from back pain after his fall in the Superprestige race in Gavere. His problems aren't limited to injury, as he found out yesterday that he would not be given a new contract by Spaar Select for the 2003/2004 cyclo-cross season. "For me it was not a surprise that my contract was not lengthened," said De Vos to ANP. "With regard to my results I have not really done anything notable. I have ridden my balls off for the team for the last three years, but the boss doesn't see that unfortunately. I'll look for another team, because I certainly want to race another season." On the other hand, Spaar Select announced that it will continue to sponsor the team for another two years, but will keep largely a Belgian focus. Erwin Vervecken and Peter Van Santvliet are likely to receive new offers, while Bart Wellens already has a contract for 2003/2004. McEwen to race in SurfersTour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen will be the hot favourite in a strong field in the inaugural South East Queensland International Criterium at Surfers Paradise on Sunday, December 8, 2002. The fourth ranked rider in the world will lead the charge around the tight, technical circuit which encompasses Cavill, Elkorn and Orchid Avenues then finishing along The Esplanade. "I'm really looking forward to this event, I've been back in hard training now for three weeks and it will be good to have a hit out especially on my home turf," said McEwen. Other stars scheduled to line up include sprinter and SunTour winner Baden Cooke, his FDJeux.com teammate Bradley McGee, Matt White (US Postal), Nick Gates (Lotto Domo), and Henk Vogels (Navigators). The event is part of a two day sporting extravaganza on the Gold Coast organised by United Sports Marketing, which also runs the Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival. The program includes a group ride on Saturday, December 7, from South Bank to Surfers Paradise led by Marcel Wüst, followed by breakfast at selected Cafes in Surfers Paradise. Sunday's program starts from 9am with a Corporate Pro Am, B grade race, Freixenet Wine Waiters Challenge, then the big one at 12 o'clock. Aitken to ride in TasmaniaBy Rod Morris Current Olympic Games Madison Champion Brett Aitken is the latest big name signing for next month's Telstra Country Wide Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals Series. Aitken, who won the Madison title at the Sydney 2000 Olympics with fellow Australian Scott McGrory, is also a former World Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Goodwill Games medallist and one of the best all-round cyclists Australia has produced. Sports Carnivals Association of Tasmania cycling coordinator Graeme Hodskiss said yesterday that Aitken would help lift the profile of the Carnivals even further. "Aitken is no stranger to the Tasmanian Carnivals, but did not compete last year," Hodskiss said. "Aitken is a genuine all-rounder who can mix it with the best on track or road." Aitken, who has also won 17 Australian senior championships on track or road, was in Tasmania earlier this year when he won two stages of the Tour of Tasmania. Aitken has established a solid record at the Tasmanian Carnivals, having previously won the "Grand Slam" of all four major wheelraces. He has also scored eight other podium placings. 2002-03 Telstra Country Wide Carnival Series dates December 26 - Latrobe Carnival, 10 a.m. start More information: SCAT website - www.tascarnivals.com Renewed backing for DPC First Legal teamBy Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com Officially renamed DPC First Legal, the Garda Cycling Club will be launching their new colours on the second of December at the Westmanstown Golf Club. The team will be backed in 2003 by First Legal, Maximuscle and Motorway. Four officers were elected at their recent AGM, with Karl Gallagher (Chairman), Paul Moran (Secretary), John Caulfield (PRO) and Jim Cassidy (Treasurer) filling the available positions.
(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2002) |
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