Second Edition News for May 16, 2002

Edited by Jeff Jones

Controversy over Nigerian Visa applications

By Shane Stokes, irishcycling.com

The Nigerian football team may be in final preparations for their friendly match against the Irish national side on Thursday, but another squad from the same country look set to be prevented from competing on Irish soil due to the actions of the Department of Justice. FBD Milk Rás race director Dermot Dignam today spoke of his "great frustration and anger" at the treatment of the Lagos team by the government department, who he says have gone out of their way to frustrate efforts to secure the essential visas before the race start on Sunday.

The drama first began when the Department of Justice refused the initial visa applications on the grounds that they felt the team's documentation were forgeries. Dignam sought to assuage concerns that the squad were not bone fide competitors by receiving verification from other sources, through direct contact with the Lagos State Sports Council, Lagos State Government, and the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, who he contacted via the UCI itself.

However, despite receiving the necessary documentation which proves the authenticity of the team, Dignam has received no response to this communication with the Department of Justice. Phone calls and fax communications have gone unanswered, and a clearly frustrated Dignam is now wondering if the government officials concerned ever intended granting visas to African competitors in the first place.

Dignam today contacted the secretary of the Lagos team, Babatunde Cole, in order to apologise for the ongoing situation. An excerpt from that letter appears below:

"I...write to express my deep disappointment, embarrassment and annoyance at the state of affairs that has arisen and at the manner in which you have been treated by the Irish authorities" Dignam wrote in the letter. "I am sure that all fair-minded Irish people who are interested in fair play and sporting friendship between nations will share with me in extending my apologies to you, your team and the Nigerian people".

"When you first contacted me in March inquiring about the possibility of obtaining an invitation to participate in the FBD Milk Rás, Ireland's top international cycling event, I did not foresee any difficulty with your team procuring visas to visit our country. You were willing to pay your own way. Indeed, you had the financial backing of the Nigerian government and, when requested, you immediately paid a large deposit towards accommodation. I also believed that the Irish authorities were committed to promoting sport, international relations and overcoming negative race relations and prejudices and that they would see your participation in this great national event as one way to achieve those aims. I was sadly mistaken."

The growing evidence that the Department never intended permitting the team to compete is further compounded by a later statement in the letter, where Dignam described an exchange between officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cycling Ireland.

Dignam wrote: "Unbeknownst to me at that time (of application) my federation had already been told by an official of the Irish authorities not to invite, under any circumstances, a team from any African country except South Africa."

This follows recent criticism of the Irish government by human rights groups for their treatment of those applying for refugee status; on the evidence of the above exchange, it seems that there may now exist a policy to prevent visits from African countries whenever possible.

While there is still time for the team to granted visas and thus make the race start on Sunday, Dignam has informed the Lagos secretary that this is unlikely to happen.

"In light of the earlier stricture from the authorities and the approach taken by the authorities, I am forced to conclude that you were never going to be given visas and for that I am truly sorry", he stated in the letter. "It is difficult to see what else you could have done to persuade the authorities, who appear to have pre-judged any such applications, that you were coming to participate in this international event. It seems that from Ireland's perspective one of the rings should be left off the Olympic flag."

Dignam concluded the communication by expressing his hope that the team will race on the roads of Ireland in the future. "Unfortunately, that will not happen until attitudes have changed in Ireland" he stated.

When contacted on Wednesday evening, Dignam was still clearly annoyed by the matter. "I am very frustrated and angry that the Department of Justice has led us up the garden path like this", he said. "There is enough work in the final days before hosting a 2.5 race without being treated in this way. It is a sorry stage of affairs that we have been deprived of a team of Nigerian cyclists to take part in this, the 50th edition of the FBD Milk Rás."

"I think it is very unfair, and while I am reluctant to use the term discrimination, I do think that something very strange is going on. We have provided enough evidence to show that the team is legitimate, yet the Department of Justice are still dragging their heels. They didn't respond to the supplementary documentation sent into them and they didn't respond to attempts to contact them this afternoon. There is a small chance that the visas could come through at this stage, and that the team could still take part, but this is increasingly unlikely. I am very annoyed and embarrassed that the team have been treated this way", he concluded.

Top US riders on track for Housatonic

Both the Navigators and Saturn teams will be sending their top riders to this Sunday's Housatonic Valley Classic in Connecticut.

Trent Klasna and the mighty Saturn Cycling Team will return to the race which Klasna won in 2001, the inaugural Housatonic Valley Classic. Klasna went on to win the 2001 National Racing Calendar, a season long competition that determines the best professional cyclist racing in America.

Klasna will be supported by the experienced Eric Wohlberg, third at last year's Housatonic Valley Classic and the reigning Canadian time trial champion, Soren Petersen from Denmark, Ivan Dominguez of Cuba, and Dutch sensation Harm Jansen.

Jansen has had a particularly good year, with top results at most of the Spring races. "I'm really impressed with the promoter," he said. "To get US Postal and the foreign teams is a lot of work. But they're all going to have a hard time beating Saturn, the number one team in America."

US criterium champion Kirk O'Bee will be there for the Navigators, following on from a successful European campaign that saw O'Bee beat the Europeans in their own backyard, winning two prestigious road races in France.

O'Bee believes he can take home the winner's trophy and a share of the $8,000 in cash prizes. "It sounds like a fun race. It's got a lot of support, it's hard and long and well run. The course suits we, it's within my capabilities."

Ed Beamon, General Manager of the Navigators Professional Cycling Team, had this to say about the race, "We're looking forward to the race because it represents a style of racing that we've been doing in Europe. The size, style, spectators and towns.it all looks good. Also it's good preparation and perfect bridge from our European trip to Philly (US Professional Championships). It fits perfectly in calendar. We're also pretty excited as it's our first race back in the US and the team is in good shape."

The Navigators team will include Vassili Davidenko of Russia, Siro Camponogara of Italy, Tom Leaper of Australia, Mark Walters of Canada, and Americans O'Bee and Brian Sheedy.

The Housatonic Valley Classic starts in Danbury, CT on May 19 at 12:15 pm. The race will be televised nationally on the Outdoor Life Network on May 30th at 9:00 PM and will be broadcast live on WLAD Radio (80 AM).

Closure of Frisco Superdrome may hurt American athletes

The decision to end funding of the Frisco Superdrome by the City of Frisco and Collin County Community College District could impact many elite American and North Texas cyclists, according to Ryan Crissey, Texas State Track Cycling Champion and President of the Frisco Cycling Club.

"It's sad that the Superdrome was named the Best Velodrome in North America when it opened just four years ago," Crissey said. However, he is confident that funds to support the Superdrome can be secured from corporate and private sponsors. "I believe that private funding will allow the track to be repaired and reopened, hopefully this summer," he said. "At this moment the Frisco Cycling Club is in discussions with potential corporate sponsors who are very interested in keeping the Superdrome alive."

The Superdrome is one of only twenty velodromes in the United States.

Mr. Crissey believes that if the Superdrome is permanently closed it could have a devastating affect on American bicycle racing. "Many world-class racers come to Frisco each year to prepare for national and international competition," he said. "Ironically, Marty Nothstein, an Olympic Gold Medallist and three-time World Track Cycling Champion, was supposed to be here this week for his Spring Training Camp and to compete in the American Velodrome Challenge."

Superdrome management closed the track and cancelled the American Velodrome Challenge (AVC) on May 10. The AVC, which is a World Cup Qualifying event, attracts racers from across the United States and will now be held in Houston May 17 and 18.

Susie Tignor, a nine-time Masters World Track Champion, moved to Dallas from Redwood City, California in April specifically to train at the Superdrome. Her goal is to set two new world records later this year at the 2002 UCI World Masters Track Championships in Manchester, England.

"I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me," Tignor said. "The Superdrome is one of the few world-class velodromes in America, and the only 250 meter track I can train on year-round. I gave up my home in California to train in Frisco, and now it's gone."

Mr. Crissey notes that many other elite and professional cyclists are Superdrome alumni, including Christian VandeVelde, a U.S Postal Service teammate of three-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, and Jeff LaBauve, current member of the United States National Team and a World Cup Medallist.

While athletes from across the United States are feeling the shockwave created by the closure of the Superdrome, local track cyclists are now forced to travel to velodromes in Houston or Baton Rouge, Louisiana in order to compete. "If I want to race, I now have to take Friday afternoon off from my job so I can travel to Houston," says Dallas cyclist Brett Wallis. "Unfortunately, many of the North Texas racers don't have that option. Unless the Superdrome is repaired, many local racers will be forced out of track cycling completely."

A large number of local children and new track riders are also affected by the closure. "Frisco Cycling Club was scheduled to host bicycle safety classes for elementary school students," says Mr. Crissey. "We are scrambling to find a new venue for those events."

More than fifty rookie track riders have completed the Track Development Program in the past two months that enables them to ride at the Superdrome. An additional forty people are currently on a waiting list to attend future licensing classes.

For more info, contact:

Ryan Crissey
President Frisco Cycling Club / Team Superdrome
(214) 336-6211
ryan@ryancrissey.com

New board for Cycling Ireland

By Shane Stokes, irishcycling.com

A new-look streamlined board has been ratified at Cycling Ireland's EGM, with P.J Nolan (President), Jack Watson (Secretary), Peter Thornton (Treasurer) and the directors Micheal Concannon, John News and Ciaran McKenna now making up the 6 man collection. The national governing body (formerly titled the Irish Cycling Federation) is aiming for a slimmed-down leadership in order to promote efficiency in developing cycling in the country.

The new memorandum and articles of association were also ratified at the meeting in Athlone, along with the The Irish Sports Council Code of Ethics for Children in Sport, which is intended to protect minors from the kind of abuses suffered by young swimmers in recent years.

In all, the EGM was a busy affair with six of Cycling Ireland's Commissions presenting their strategies to the delegates. These form part of the overall strategy document which CI hope will further the development of cycling (both competitive and leisure) in this country.

The afternoon session saw a workshop being run on the subject of race safety. This area has been of concern in recent years as a high number of claims have led to an increase in insurance premiums and complications in negotiating new contracts for Cycling Ireland. A new safety criteria policy has to be in place for 2003 and to further this drive, a sub committee comprising Liam Walker, Micheal Concannon and Cycling Ireland CEO Eamon Duffy has been established.

"Over the next couple of weeks we will be working closely with our insurers and underwriters and other bodies such as the National Standards Authority of Ireland to produce a safety criteria that will identify and minimise the risk for all in Cycling Ireland," said Duffy.

Cycling Ireland are expected to announce details of a major sponsorship deal in the near future which, Duffy says, will be of invaluable importance in developing the sport in this country.

Friday night track racing on Dunc Gray velodrome

Regular Friday night track racing will commence from this Friday evening, May 17 on the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney's west. The racing is open to all Cycling Australia affiliated riders (male & female) from under 17 year age category through to Masters. Race entry fee is $10.00 and there is a guaranteed minimum of four races. There are three men's and two women's divisions, and both individual and team events will be catered for, with the main focus being on endurance.

Preceding Friday Night Winter Racing will be a development session run by Brad and Lionel Cox [1952 Olympic Gold Medalist] for newcomers and junior riders, U15 year age category and down. This will run from 6.00pm to 7.00pm each Friday night. Lucky door prizes will be drawn at the conclusion of each race meeting.

Interest in Friday Night Track Racing appears extremely high and a good roll up is expected this Friday, particularly in the Women's categories following the success of the Talent Identification project which ran up until the recent National Track Championships.

And the Darwin award of the week goes to...

"Extreme Mountain Biker" Eric Barone, the holder of the downhill speed records of 222 km/h on snow and 130 km/h on the dirt, who came to grief in his latest record attempt. He was planning to break his 130 km/h record on Nicuagua's Cerro Negro Volcano, which is reportedly still active.

He was aiming for 140 km/h on a standard series MTB and 160 km/h on his streamlined snow bike but things didn't go according to plan. As he neared top speed, his bike appeared to hit a rock and somersaulted into the air, taking the hapless Barone with it. Barone survived, but is being kept "under observation" in hospital for the next five days.

The type of hospital was not specified.