Latest News for March 4, 2003

Edited by Jeff Jones

Armstrong debuts on Wednesday in Murcia

Lance Armstrong will start in his first race of the season tomorrow in the 23rd Vuelta a Murcia, which runs from March 5-9. The five stage race contains two mountain top finishes and an individual time trial, and will be the first competition test for Armstrong on the road to his fifth Tour de France. Following Murcia, his program will include Setmana Catalana, Circuit de la Sarthe, Flèche Wallonne, Amstel Gold, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Vuelta a Asturias (perhaps) and the Dauphiné Liberé.

Last year, the race was won by his teammate Victor Hugo Peña, who will also be part of the US Postal/Berry Floor team taking part this year. Other team members include Roberto Heras and José Luis Rubiera, who will no doubt be part of the Tour team this year.

The Tour of Murcia contains four Category 1 climbs in its five stages, including mountain top finishes in Stage 2 and Stage 4, as well as a final 12.9 km time trial.

Seventeen teams will compete: iBanesto.com, ONCE-Eroski, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Relax-Fuenlabrada, Kelme-Costa Blanca, Paternina-Costa de Almeria, Labarca 2-Café Baqué, Sidermec, US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor, Rabobank, Team Telekom, Lampre, Vlaanderen-T Interim, Alessio, Gerolsteiner, Phonak Hearing Systems and Team Coast.

The stages

Stage 1 - March 5: Murcia - Ceuti, 162.1 km
Stage 2 - March 6: Alguazas - Alto Cresta del Gallo, 153.6 km
Stage 3 - March 7: Caravaca - Caravaca, 160.8 km
Stage 4 - March 8: Cartagena - Alto de La Santa, 167.0 km
Stage 5 - March 9: Murcia - Murcia, 12.9 km TT

Holm gets ready for Telekom job

Former Telekom rider and roommate of Bjarne Riis, Brian Holm re-enters the cycling world this Wednesday. The 39 year old Dane will start his new job as sports director for Team Telekom at the Vuelta a Murcia.

According to an interview with Holm in Danish newspaper BT on Sunday, the Telekom riders can expect a sports director who will do things his own way. Brian Holm said that the only job description he got from Telekom's Belgian boss Walter Godefroot was 'Be yourself'.

Holm characterises the Telekom Team as "not the best, but the best organized". He added that Bjarne Riis and Alex Pedersen both called him to give advice when it was announced that Holm was to replace Rudy Pevenage, who has followed Jan Ullrich to Team Coast.

"Alex mainly talked about tactics while Bjarne focused on the importance of looking after the riders. I got loads of good advice but how much I will take with me is limited. I have to do things on my own," Holm said.

Courtesy of Ole Ryborg

Moreau and Hincapie out of Paris-Nice

O'Grady, Hinault on the mend, Coyot not doing well

Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) will not take part in Paris-Nice, which starts this Sunday, March 9. Moreau is still suffering from fatigue after contracting a virus following Etoile de Bessèges.

Team director Roger Legeay told L'Equipe that "Following his blood tests last week, we decided that Christophe was not in good enough condition for this big a race. As a result, he'll start the Grand Prix de Lillers on March 9th, then do the GP Erik Breukink in the Netherlands. But there's no need to worry; his objectives are farther away."

Australian champion Stuart O'Grady is reportedly well on the way to recovery after his crash in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday. "He has to undergo x-rays in Toulouse, but he can move his thumb normally. I think everything will be back in order and he is expected at the start for Paris-Nice," said Legeay.

His Credit Agricole teammate Sébastien Hinault didn't break anything, but has major coccyx pain.

George Hincapie (US Postal/Berry Floor) had six stitches in his chin after the crash in Het Volk, and has changed his classics program as a result. "It's not because of (the crash), rather more because he's a bit behind compared to previous years," said his team director Johan Bruyneel. "At the Volta a Algarve he had sinus troubles, and since then has been very tired."

Hincapie is starting in Murcia tomorrow, will train at home in Spain, then look towards Milan-San Remo.

Finally, Arnaud Coyot was one of six Cofidis riders to hit the deck in KBK. "Young Arnaud Coyot, who lost consciousness after a crash in K-B-K, woke up (Monday) morning without being able to move his shoulder. We'll have to wait and see," said Cofidis team director Alain Bondue.

Of the other Cofidis riders, Peter Farazijn injured his hand, Chris Peers broke two ribs but should be back in action quickly.

Mancebo and Lastras in training crash

Francesco Mancebo and Pablo Lastras (iBanesto.com) were both injured in a crash last Tuesday, while they were training near Huelva. An car spun out of control and hit Mancebo, who suffered two fractured ribs as well as serious cuts to his wrist and knee. Lastras was able to avoid the collision, but still fell and was glad that there weren't many other cars on the road.

"Fortunately the injuries weren't serious and I have been able to train on the rollers these last few days. Perhaps this Wednesday or later in the week I can ride on the road again," said Mancebo to AS.

iBanesto team doctor Jesús Hoyos said that the accident would not affect Mancebo's planned season debut in the Criterium International on March 29.

Detilloux also...

Christophe Detilloux (Lotto-Domo) was also injured in Spain last weekend as a result of a training crash with a car. His bike was completely destroyed and he ended up with abrasions all over his body. "It could have been much worse," said team director Hendrik Redant according to VRT teletekst. "Because the driver of the car had consciously carried out the manoeuvre."

De Vlaeminck wants a brawl, but Lefevere satisfied

The question of whether the Quick Step-Davitamon team was simply too strong to make for an interesting race in Het Volk has been hotly debated in the Belgian press this week. Finishing with four riders in the top five was reminiscent of the Mapei team of old, which was also directed by cobbled classics maestro Patrick Lefevere.

One of Belgium's greatest ever one day riders, four times Paris-Roubaix winner Roger de Vlaeminck, told Het Nieuwsblad on Tuesday that he wants "a brawl" to come from having all the top names in one team. He complained of seeing only "one colour" on his TV and knew that with half an hour to go, Museeuw would win the race, although he hoped someone like Vandenbroucke would do it.

"It doesn't interest me any more," said De Vlaeminck on having overwhelmingly strong teams. "They have been doing it for years. In place of going against each other, they ride in the service of each other. Teamwork, it's called. Allez, you can still say that it was a beautiful finale? I'll tell you one thing: I cannot see it any more. Give me Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Different riders, not the big names. But I didn't know who would win 60 kilometres from the finish."

Could the Lefevere train be derailed if Tom Boonen and Frank Vandenbroucke started to get itchy feet? "I cannot say, but I hope that a to-do would come of it. As quickly as possible. Then the races would be interesting again."

The lack of resistance from the other teams was worse however, according to De Vlaeminck. "Probably this is what made me so bitter," he said. "I really found it pitiful how weak the others were on the day. Not just Lotto-Domo, all of them. How did that happen? Yes, tell me how, because I don't know."

A somewhat more relaxed Patrick Lefevere responded that "Of course Roger De Vlaeminck doesn't find anything in it. I expected nothing different from him. But in his time he rode for the same team as Francesco Moser. From the reactions of the public, we are sure that people like dominant sportsmen."

"It was a fantastic affair for us. What it was for the others, is not my business. We have won the first round in a boxing match, nothing more. If we can slam them again, then we'll do it immediately."

Lefevere believes that "Team spirit is the basis for everything. I chose aggressive characters who are prepared to break free of the web...guys who will go into the fire for each other. Michele Bartoli also has full-on aggressiveness, but he can not work with the team. That we saw with Mapei."

As for having super strong teams, Lefevere says that it doesn't detract from the popularity of the sport. "Modern cycling isn't any different than modern football," he said. "With Real Madrid and Manchester United, the top players are also there with each other. You can say that the competition is weakened because you have all the same footballers, but the public reacts differently. With Armstrong in your team, you can allow yourself to go for an absolute top man, but I also note that Heras rides in the same team. And Ullrich wanted to, if you can believe the media."

The question as to whether Boonen and Vandenbroucke will get their chances with Bettini and Museeuw there was also answered by Lefevere. "That's not a problem. How many times will those four men be selected in the coming months? In the Ronde van Vlaanderen, yes, but soon one will go to Tirreno, the others to Paris-Nice. I don't know yet if all four will take part in Milan-San Remo. In Paris-Roubaix, Bettini won't ride, in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, maybe not Museeuw, just as in the Amstel. In the Tour, Museeuw and Vandenbroucke certainly won't ride. Maybe the Tour de France is also a bit early for Tom Boonen. Ach, they'll get enough chances."

Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen

Previously known as the Guldensporentweedaagse, the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen takes place over three stages between Friday, March 7 and Sunday, March 9. Beginning with a 7.6 km prologue time trial in Bellegem, the riders have to tackle a 182 km stage from Handzame to Koksijde and back on Saturday, with the 188 km Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen (held around Ichtegem, Roselare and Ieper) finishing the race on Sunday. The stages are generally flat, although the last stage can be challenging.

Erik Dekker won't be on the start line to defend his title from last year, but that might open the way for some of the younger riders on the team, such as Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne winner Roy Sentjens, to shine. Most of the big names will probably miss this race in favour of Paris-Nice, which starts on Sunday.

The stages

Prologue - March 7: Bellegem ITT, 7.6 km
Stage 1 - March 8: Handzame - Koksijde - Handzame, 182.4 km
Stage 2 - March 9: Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen, 188 km

Teams for Memorial Samyn

The following teams will take part in the Memorial Samyn, formerly known as the GP Fina-Fayt le Franc, on Wednesday March 5: Team fakta, Cofidis, Lotto-Domo, Flanders-iteamNova, CSC, Rabobank, La Boulangère, BankGiroloterij, Vlaanderen, Oktos-St Quentin, Landbouwkrediet, Navigators, Marlux, De Nardi-Colapck, Index, CCC-polsat, Palmans-Collstrop, AXA, Van Hemert Groep, ComNet-Senges, Index and Lamonta.

Courtesy of Daniel Schamps

Dylan Casey Day: 29th Annual Cat's Hill Criterium

The Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club has announced a special day in recognition of former US Postal rider Dylan Casey. "Dylan Casey Day" will take place at the 29th Annual Cat's Hill Criterium on May 10, 2003 in Los Gatos, California. He will receive The Mayoral Commendation Award from the Town of Los Gatos, presented by Mayor Sandy Decker. The Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club and the Town of Los Gatos will recognize and honour Dylan for his cycling career.

The Cat's Hill Criterium sparked Dylan's interest in cycling in 1983, when as a kid, the sights and sounds of the race mesmerized him. He saw the Coors Light and Motorola teams flash by and thought, 'Wow, cool job!'

Dylan vowed he would return to win the race someday and in 1996, he did just that. He has indeed lived and loved his 'cool job' as a professional cyclist. The ceremony at Cat's Hill will bring his career full circle back to Los Gatos.

Dylan Casey retired as a pro after four years with the US Postal Service team. He had a long career in both road and track, holding a National Championship in each discipline. He has twice won the US Time Trial Championship, and was on the USA team in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He placed first in Individual Pursuit (Track) at the 1999 Pan American Games, where he established an individual PanAm record.

The Cat's Hill Criterium is a member of the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series, and has been run since 1974. More than 400 amateur and professional riders are expected to compete on the one-mile road course that starts at the corner of Tait and Nicholson Avenues in Los Gatos. The route is a clockwise loop that includes a steep 23% climb and six 90 degree turns. Race lengths range from 3 to 35 laps, depending on age and ability. The Pro/1/2/Espoir race will consist of 35 laps up Cat's Hill.

Racing starts at 10:00 am with the Cat 5 Senior Men's race. Dylan Casey will be presented with the Mayoral Commendation and other honours at 4:10 pm, immediately before the Pro/1/2/Espoirs race. The ceremony will be at the Start/Finish line on Tait and Nicholson Avenue in Los Gatos.

Final Hamilton World's meeting tonight

The final of four meetings held by the Organising Committee for the Hamilton 2003 World Cycling Championships will be held tonight (Tuesday, March 4) between 7:00-9:00 pm in the Council Chambers of Hamilton City Hall. In addition to the organisers and representatives from the City of Hamilton, former professional cyclist Steve Bauer will attend the meeting.

The meeting will also be broadcast live on Cable 14, Hamilton's Community Access, Local Events and Information Channel.

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