| |
|
||||
|
Tech Features Road MTB Cyclocross Track News Photos Feedback | |
|||
*Special* News for April 1, 2001Recent results and new features Societe de Tour de France announces extended drug testsBy John Stevenson, technical editor Following Hein Verbruggen's announcement yesterday of a new EPO testing regime, Jean-Marie Leblanc today unveiled radical new measures to clean up the Tour de France. Speaking exclusively to Cyclingnews, Leblanc said "We have long been aware of a deeper problem in cycling, and it's time we took it seriously. After all, these people are heroes to millions, and they continually risk their lives every time the Tour is run." "It's time to stamp out the spectre of drug and alcohol abuse in the Tour press corps." From the 2001 Tour, all accredited Tour journalists will have to pass a wide range of drug controls. Traces of cocaine, amphetamine or other stimulants used by journalists to stay awake during team press briefings will be cause for expulsion, as will 'recreational' substances such as marijuana, a common relaxant. Initial drug controls will be made when the journalists pick up their press passes, and every week thereafter. Journalists will also be breathalysed each race morning, and any who still show the effects of previous night's over-indulgence will be sent back to their hotel rooms to sleep it off. "We want journalists who are sober and sharp, not drunks dribbling out hungover clichés," said Leblanc. "We won't bother testing for steroids and EPO, because you only have to look at this pale, flabby, bunch to see those drugs are not being used," he added. The measure has been welcomed by riders. A representative of a major European team, who asked not to be named, said "Sports journalists have been criticising us for years. Now let's see how they cope for three weeks without their 'little helpers'."
Underground racing in northern winterBy Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent Plans for a new underground road racing arena within a closed mine have been launched today at Morokulien on the Swedish-Norwegian border. One technical problem is to get enough fresh air into the mine, but project manager Nils Pärlemo at Luripomp Engineering Ltd sees the lack of oxygen as an asset. "The circuit is an excellent alternative to high altitude chambers, since the lack of oxygen underground boosts the level of red blood cells", he said. According to plans, races will be held on the circuit next winter with a number of top ranked riders who find this a better alternative than training and racing in the Southern hemisphere in the winter. Protests have already been filed however from the UEV, Union of European Velodromes, who feel that their hegemony in winter racing arrangements are threatened. And also the Cycling Federations of Australia and South Africa are worried. "Indoor road races could be a serious blow to our races if the top stars stay in Europe. Keeping the state of European mining business in mind it's a horrifying perspective", one representative says. But the project also gets some unexpected support from the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation. "With snow in the tunnel we can prolong the spring classics season over the summer and our riders won't have to fool around in the sun in Italy or Spain if we can get along with the skiers", says it's chairman who doesn't fear that the cyclo cross racing will be affected. "No, probably not. Belgians never ride on dry roads anyway", he says. The idea comes from a cross country skiing tunnel at Voukatti in Finland. "We will do the same here and combine it with a 7.3 kilometre road circuit in one of the numerous closed mines that we have in Scandinavia", said project manager Nils Pärlemo at Luripomp Engineering Ltd. "In the MTB race Gruvloppet in Filipstad a part of the race goes underground in a calcium mine and it has been a great success. For us in Scandinavia the road season doesn't start until late April so this will boost the chances for Scandinavian racers internationally. Now they will be able to train and even race in mid winter instead of jogging around in the snow for training", he said. Rider newsUllrich challenges, Pantani branches out By George W Bush, cyclingnews.com correspondent The State of Texas was shocked today when the only German rider to have won the Tour de France (note, it's only once) challenged TWO-time winner of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, to enter this year's Paris-Roubaix on single-speed, fixed gear bikes and with no feed zones. Ullrich was understood to have requested from team director Walter Godefroot that he wanted to "try and soften up the cowboy" prior to this year's major tour. Armstrong is yet to decide on whether to take up this challenge, or watch the race from a beach in Spain. Or turn up with a big film crew from Nike and wish all the entrants fun in the mud. Meanwhile, the lack of race finishes and prize money has meant that Marco Pantani has had to resort to promoting a new hair transplant technology being launched in Italy next month, in time for the Giro d'Italia. Expect to see a "new look" Pantani lining up at this year's Giro. Yeah, yeah! Major Races and Events Results: local racing Recently on Cyclingnews |
|
|
|
Contacts: Editorial
- Advertising
Systems:
|
|||