News for January 1, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Happy new year! 2003 is here

With the ongoing fervor of 2002 recaps, and the 2003 season almost upon us, all of us at Cyclingnews would like to wish our readers a happy and healthy new year.

Ferretti wants more from Fassa Bortolo

His team may have topped the UCI rankings for 2002, but Fassa Bortolo manager Giancarlo Ferretti wants much more. The team managed 39 victories throughout the season, but in the bigger picture Ferretti feels the Fassa Bortolo boys should have done more.

"This (UCI) ranking doesn't really reflect the true performance of my riders this year," Ferretti commented in La Dernière Heure. "What I regret most of all is the lack of results at the Giro and the Tour de France. We were left on the sidelines in the two biggest tours of the year, and I can't accept that."

Ivan Basso rode consistently in the Tour de France to claim the white jersey, but with no victories in 2002, the rider did not realize his true potential in Ferretti's eyes. Furthermore, with the ability to win the Giro, Francesco Casagrande did the team no favors by causing the crash of Freddy Gonzalez which led to Casagrande's disqualification.

The team's brightest star was classics specialist Michele Bartoli, who in fine style won two World Cup classics, Amstel Gold Race and the Giro di Lombardia. Sidelined mid-season by a crash in the opening week of the Giro, Bartoli bounced back and returned to winning form in the late summer and fall. "Without his injuries at the beginning of the Giro, Michele would certainly have brought other big results," affirmed Ferretti.

Although lingering contract disputes hang over Fassa Bortolo's signing of Vuelta champion Aitor Gonzalez, Ferretti can perhaps look forward to an even more successful 2003.

fakta adds Rheis, Pata Chips

Team fakta has signed its 17th rider, Danish Michael Rheis, with a one year contract. Rheis, 23, joins the team following two seasons with the Swiss Phonak formation. Prior to that he was a member of the Danish national U23 team. Rheis brings a personal sponsor to the team, which facilitated the negotiations with fakta.

For 2003, potato chips manufacturer Pata Chips, the former Liquigas team co-sponsor, will strengthen the team’s Italian sponsoring profile. One may expect a greater fakta presence in the Italian races in the coming season. Pata is also targeting the Scandinavian market and finds Team fakta's all Scandinavian roster (nine Danes, two Norwegians and three Swedes) a good way to increase visibility. The brand is already second on the Swedish potato chips market.

Chouffe out of Oktos

Despite assurances of a continued contract with St. Quentin-Oktos, Alexandre Chouffe has suddenly found himself without a team for 2003. After further review by the French Professional Cycling League, a number of team contracts were found to be irregular or out of compliance. Among them, Chouffe's contract for 2003, which reportedly contained a number of unacceptable conditions imposed by the rider. Unable to reach a revised agreement with the team, Chouffe has himself ended his relationship with St. Quentin-Oktos, and now faces the challenge of finding new employment with the 2003 season just around the corner.

Source: velomania.net

Cyclo-cross Trofee round five

The fifth round of the cyclo-cross Gazet van Antwerpen Trofee series takes place on new year's day in Baal, Belgium, hometown of Sven Nys. With the home course advantage and two victories already in Essen and Lonehout, series leader Nys will once again be the man to beat.

The start list for the event is as follows:

Elite:

Belgium A: Mario De Clercq, Bart Wellens, Erwin Vervecken, Tom Vannoppen, Peter Van Santvliet, Ben Berden, Sven Vanthourenhout, Arne Daelmans, Davy Commeyne, Wim Jacobs, Kevin Pauwels, Chris Wouters, Sven Nys

Belgium B: Tim Van Nuffel, Geert Vandaele, Patrick Schurmans, Eddy Van Bouwel, David Laenen, Jan Van Doninck, Nico Henderickx, Bart Aernouts, Sten Raeymackers, Geert Wellens, Tim Pauwels, Tom De Kort, Tom Pynaert, Kevin Bossaerts

Netherlands: Richard Groenendaal, Gerben de Knegt, Wim de Vos, Maarten Nijland, Camiel van den Bergh

Czech Republic: Petr Dlask, Jiri Pospisil, Vaclav Jezek, Radomir Simunek

Slovakia: Robert Glajza, Vaclav Metlicka, Pavel Medved, Marian Hecl

England: Roger Hammond, Martin Eadon, Jim Bryan, Shaun Snodden, Steven Roach

USA: Jonathan Page

Series standings (Elite with contract) after four rounds:

1. Sven Nys 128 points
2. Bart Wellens 123
3. Mario De Clercq 110
4. Peter Van Santvliet 109
5. Erwin Vervecken 97
6. Richard Groenendaal 94
7. Gerben de Knegt 90
8. Tom Vannoppen 75
9. Arne Daelmans 63
10. Sven Vanthourenhout 47

Previous winners in Baal:

2002 Mario De Clercq
2001 Sven Nys
2000 Sven Nys

Fior di Frutta/Wheelworks 2003

Under the 2002 title sponsorship of Wheelworks/Cannondale, the newly dubbed team Fior di Frutta/Wheelworks spent much of the season as the top ranked amateur team in the US National Racing Calendar (NRC) points classification. Although they finished 2002 as number two in the rankings, the team is proud of their year and excited to enter 2003 with a new title sponsor and many new riders.

The new primary title sponsor is Fior di Frutta, an Italian company that makes organic jams, whose Connecticut-based US distributor of the products has been involved with cycling for many years. The secondary title sponsor is Wheelworks, a top bicycle retailer with stores in the Boston area, and the team is privileged to have their support for the sixth straight year.

The 2003 season sees the return of team veterans Don Mills, Curt Davis, and Chris Peck, along with an inspired group of new riders.  Todd Herriott from NYC is one of the nation’s top amateurs who won the 2002 Univest Grand Prix in Pennsylvania against a top international field. Josh Anthony, a former junior national cyclo-cross champion, and top cyclo-crosser Johannes Huseby will bring their talents to road events. Oliver Stiler Cote and Josh Gewirtz, will join the team as first year senior riders. Oliver was the 2nd place overall finisher at the 2002 Tour L’Abitibi.

Fior di Frutta/Wheelworks is pleased to have the support of the following sponsors: Cannondale (CAAD7 frames and clothing), Clif Bar (nutritional products), Spinergy (wheels), Time (forks, shoes, pedals), Cinelli (bars, stems), Vetta (cycling computers), Selle Italia (saddles), Michelin (tires), Pedros (bike care products), Polar Pals (fleece clothing), Dr. Dan O’Neill.

2003 team roster:

Curt Davis, Don Mills, Johannes Huseby, Josh Anthony, Josh Gewirtz, Oliver Stiler Cote, Todd Herriott, Chris Peck (rider/manager)

Zabel's other jersey collection

In addition to the numerous jerseys he has earned throughout his career, including green Tour de France jerseys from his six consecutive points titles, Telekom's Erik Zabel has a greater passion for collecting than one might expect. Evidently Zabel is quite the collector of jerseys and bikes from cycling's various world champions. He may have missed out on his own rainbow jersey in Zolder, but his collection of others' jerseys continues to grow. The latest addition? One of 2002 cyclo-cross world champion Mario De Clercq's world's jerseys, as well as the Belgian champion's bike, procured for an undisclosed sum.

Source: velo101.com

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