French sprint great Morelon becomes Italian sprint coach

By Tim Maloney, European Editor

Starting in mid-January, all-time track sprint great Daniel Morelon will become the Italian men's sprint coach. "My contact is not finalised yet, but it's just a metter of time," explained Morelon, who will be part of the new cycling structure in Italy managed by ex-rider Silvio Martinello. 65 year-old Morelon will join with his former colleague Gérard Quintyn, who together brought the French men's sprinters to be the best in the world.

Morelon is a three time Olympic sprint champion (1968-72-76) with eight World Championships, who is looking forward to the challenge of revitalising the Italian men's sprint program. After being replaced after the 2005 World Track Championships by Florian Rousseau as French men's sprint coach, Morelon said, "I would be out at the track working with the riders rather than being in an office."

Morelon and Quintyn will have a major challenge ahead of them, as the only Italian men's sprinter is the aging Roberto Chiappa, but Morelon realizes the road ahead will be difficult. "I'll be working on the training structure, and a veldrome project. We'll be working with young riders and looking forward, but for the Beijing Olympics, it might be too soon, but we'll be trying to find that diamond in the rough."