News for January 27, 2003

Edited by Chris Henry

Pantani case heard at CAS; Decision expected soon

By Tim Maloney / European Editor

Saturday morning in Lausanne, the CAS (International Sport Arbitration court) reviewed the appeal by the UCI regarding the Italian Cycling Federation's CAF (Commissione d'Appello Federale) absolution of Marco Pantani from any sanctions for an empty insulin syringe found in his hotel room during the 2001 Giro d'Italia. Although Pantani could have been slapped with an 8 month suspension, CAF found that both he and Stefano Zanini weren't guilty of any offense.

However, the UCI is contesting this matter, as they don't recognize the CAF's jurisdiction in this case. UCI counsel Phillipe Verbiest argued in the all-day session that Pantani should be suspended for 8 months, beginning July 13th. However, there's a catch... since the UCI doesn't recognize a suspension for the winter months of November, December and January, Pantani's actual chronological suspension would span 11 calendar months and thus end on May 17th, well after the start of the Giro d'Italia on May 10th in Lecce.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport's Pier Bergonzi, Marco Pantani's attorney Avv. Roberto Manzo was confident that the tribunal will rule in Pantani's favour and his season can go ahead. "The CAS panel will deliver their decision in the next days... Well, I have an idea as to how this will come out, but for superstitious reasons, I don't want to say," exclaimed Manzo. Since Zanini's CAF decision was upheld by the CAS, Pantani and his crew are hoping that the way is clear for him to resume his career.

Another scenario for the 33 year old climber is that CAS could reduce his suspension to the UCI minimum of 6 months or they could simply agree with the UCI. Meanwhile, Pantani's new team Mercatone Uno-Scanavino registration is going forward with the UCI and he is training in the Canary Islands, still waiting for that green-light call on his mobile phone from his manager Manuella Ronchi to definitively hit the comeback trail.

Lance's Super Sunday

Sunday's ABC-TV Super Bowl pre-game show featured a segment with seven top athletes from the world of sports on "what it takes to be great". Lance Armstrong was interviewed along with other sports greats Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Marion Jones, and Michael Jordan. Some interesting answers came from the only athlete among the group to survive cancer.

On whether "a champion is made or born", Armstrong replied that "(a champion) is both made and born. You can't be a champion if you're not born with some sort of gift." When asked about what one had to sacrifice to become a champion, Armstrong answered " if they're young, time away from their friends or school. When they get older, they give up time away from their family."

Regarding destiny, Armstrong responded, "we all have a destiny and you get there one way or another." On whether he would rather be remembered for another hundred years or live ten years longer, Armstrong answered with a wry smile that "I wouldn't care that much about being remember another hundred years, but I would a lot about living another ten. That's easy." Armstrong taped the segment before departing for the USPS Training Camp in central California. Look for a report and more pictures from the upcoming USPS Training Camp Media Day on Cyclingnews.

Fever keeps Museeuw from 'cross

Without question the star attraction at Sunday's 46th annual cyclo-cross event in Lanarvily, France was to be Quick-Step's Johan Museeuw. The classics rider of his generation was to make a rare return to cyclo-cross as part of his winter training, but the Lion of Flanders called in a last-minute cancellation due to a high fever.

Nonetheless, organiser Jean Le Hir had plenty of pro's on hand, including French national champion Dominique Arnould, and FDJeux.com's David Derepas and Jimmy Casper, among others. The event was won by John Gadret, ahead of Cyrille Bonnand and Arnould.

Source: Velomania

Zabel's new focus

Team Telekom's Erik Zabel, accustomed to working hard year-round on the road and on the six-day track circuit, is narrowing his focus for 2003. The German will aim to maintain his number one position in the UCI rankings, as well as aim for his fifth victory in Milan-San Remo.

With the addition of a number of top riders to Telekom, including Mario Aerts and Daniele Nardello, Zabel hopes to lessen the responsibility of the team's number one favourite. Compatriot Steffen Wesemann will also shoulder responsibility in the classics, hoping to build on his second place at last year's Paris-Roubaix. This year Erik has already cut back his time on duty in the winter, opting out of many of the six day events which typically kept him rolling when the road season ended, hoping a reduced workload will keep him competitive for two to three years to come.

Source: Radsport-news

Rebellin wants Liège

Italian Davide Rebellin sees one objective above all others for the upcoming season: Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Having already achieved a third place in 2000 and second in 2001, Rebellin is anxious to stand on the podium's highest step in 2003. "The outcome of the race will determine our participation in the Giro," Rebellin told Datasport, "even if the team heads to the Tour in the interests of the sponsors."

Rebellin will once again face tough challenges from the specialists of the spring classics, including two-time winner Paolo Bettini of Quick-Step, and possibly Lance Armstrong, who because of the race's shift one week later on the calendar, is likely to participate.

Teams for Ruta del Sol

Spaniard Manuel "Tricky" Beltran will lead Team Coast, one of sixteen participating teams, in the 49th edition of the Vuelta Ciclista a Andalucia (Ruta del Sol), which runs from February 16-20. This year's race begins in Cordoba and wraps up in Benalmadena. Coast, which joins the UCI's "Top Club" this year, assuring entry into the three grand tours and the World Cup events, will also send sprinter Sven Teutenberg and Niki Abersold.

The following teams will line up for the 2003 event:

Ag2R-Prévoyance
Alessio
iBanesto.com
Team Coast
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Gerolsteiner
Kelme-Costa Blanca
Labarca2-Café Baqué
Milaneza-MSS
ONCE-Eroski
Paternina-Costa Almeria
Phonak
Quick-Step-Davitamon
Rabobank
Relax-Fuenlabrada
Team Telekom

Source: Todociclismo

2003 Maxxis Factory Team

After celebrating a successful 2002 season, the Maxxis Factory Team is kicking off 2003 with the excitement of adding cross-country rider Kashi Leuchs to the lineup. The team welcomes back its three riders from last season, as well as a new mechanic, Chris "Monkey" Vasquez, formerly of Global Racing and a long-time mechanic for Missy Giove.

Maxxis Factory Team for 2003:

Colin Bailey
April Lawyer
Kashi Leuchs
John Kirkcaldie

Terry Cycling Team 2003

Terry Precision Cycling has announced its continued sponsorship of the Terry Cycling Team 2003. The Terry Team had a successful 2002 season racing in National Racing Calendar (NRC) events, the Montreal World Cup, and the U.S. Nationals.

The roster for 2003 includes three riders: Laura Schmidt, Chloe Black, and Rosie Garlapow.

The team will kickoff the season at the Pomona Valley stage race in Los Angelos, CA in March. The team is based in New York, near the Terry headquarters in Rochester.

Support is provided by the following sponsors: Bikeworld.com, Woman Tours, TeamEstrogen.com, M & T Bank, Nixon Peabody LLP, Webmountainbike.com, Ortlieb, Manzella Productions, Prana, Turtlefur, Smartwool, Teton Toppers, Simon Sports, Coyote Vision, Overland Equipment, Resource Revival, Wylder, Isis, Paceline Products, Sporthill, Wild Roses, Merrell, Velocity USA, Life is Good, League of American Cyclists, Sock Guy, Michelin, Craft, Giro, Cliff, Cane Creek and Planet Bike.

Hillenbrand Racing returns

Female cross-country rider Kelli Emmett, professional for 3 years, has joined forces with Hillenbrand Racing for 2003. Mike Hillenbrand, a cycling enthusiast in Tucson, Arizona, has supported a grass roots mountain bike team since 1997. Along with Broadway Bicycles of Tucson, Hillenbrand Racing has produced numerous state championships. In 2001, Hillenbrand extended his focus to assist Todd Wells in the NORBA series.

For 2003, Hillenbrand Racing returns to the national race scene with rider Kelli Emmett, Team Manager Jerry Hutchinson, and Team Mechanic Chris Kroto.

Marcia Eicher retires

After nine seasons of competition, Swiss rider Marcia Eicher-Vouets will retire. Eicher-Vouets won several races in her career, with her biggest victory coming in 1998 with the overall victory of the Grazia-Tour (CZE). She represented Switzerland five times in the world championships and claimed six medals at the Swiss national championships. Before beginning her professional cycling career, Eicher studied architecture. Now at the age of 33 she has decided to return to her previous profession.

Dutch cycling returns to New Zealand

Dutch cycling team BRC Kennemerland are the first big name confirmed starters in New Zealand's Trust House Cycle Classic. The BRC Keennemerland team, led by Arjan de Hoer, will arrive on February 3rd. The tour starts on February 5 and ends on Sunday, February 9 with the Petone Circuit.

The remainder of team for the Trust House Cycle Classic includes Hugo Keeyman, a criterium specialists, top road rider Ivor Koopmans, Co Maas and Chris Boerson.

Wes Luczak passes away

The Victorian country track cycling championships were tinged with sadness this year. Popular commissaire Wes Luczak, scheduled to officiate at Shepparton, died of a possible heart attack at his Bayswater home last Friday. Luczak, 55, rode as a professional with the Coburg club before becoming a CycleSport Victoria official.

CycleSport Victoria executive officer Ian Maher, who returned to Shepparton to fill the void left by Luczak's illness, led a silent tribute by riders, officials and spectators during Sunday's championship program.

Source: Shepparton News

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