First Edition Cycling News for December 31, 2005

Edited by Hedwig Kröner

Beloki wants come-back at highest level

Joseba Beloki (Liberty) at the 2005 Giro d'Italia in stage 13 to Ortisei, when he quit the race
Photo ©: Sirotti

Liberty Seguros rider Joseba Beloki used to be a major threat to Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France a few years ago, but ever since the Spanish climber broke his bones on the sticky tarmac of the Col de la Rochette in 2003, he has never been able to fulfil all the promises of his talent again. This year, he made his comeback at the French Grand Tour, and could barely live up to his most modest ambitions: finishing it. Speaking to Spanish Marca, Beloki has now revealed that he did hope to be at the top of his form once again this summer.

"I have to be back up front," Beloki said. "I want to try to be at the best possible level; it's a personal challenge." The Spaniard is still an important part of the Liberty Seguros team, as director Manolo Saiz made him share a room with Kazakh champion Alexandre Vinokourov at the team's training camp in Cantabria recently, which could indicate that he would be likely to be integrated in the 2006 Tour de France roster. "Of course Vinokourov will be our leader at the Tour [assuming that Roberto Heras will receive a suspension - ed.]. If my level next year is the same as it was in the first half of 2005, I'll have to keep my hopes down, but if I'm on the same level as I was in the Vuelta, I can set myself some goals," commented Beloki, whose confidence has been boosted since September.

"I've come a long way from not being able to finish a race in 2004, barely doing so in the first part of 2005 and feeling well again in the Vuelta," the 32 year-old explained. "The turning point was the Tour; to finish in Paris under great pain. The problem is that I still haven't achieved any results, so it's clear that I have to get a whole lot better to be once again who I was before."

That is exactly Beloki's goal, and although it is still far away, his dreams may become reality one day. "I always dream about the same thing: to see myself up front at the Tour again," he admitted. "I don't dream about the podium, because it's very difficult and only very few people stand a chance to get there, but just being up front would be an enormous satisfaction. I would also like to win a stage, but that is also very hard - which is why I would be satisfied with just being consistent again."

Beloki will start into the 2006 season with the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, and he's not thinking about hanging up the bike just yet. "I plan beyond 2006 because after such a bad time, I feel rejuvenated, I really like riding my bike again," the Spaniard said. "I do think about 2007, but only if I do well - just to finish races doesn't fit with my character, I need other motivation that than that."

Cyclo-crossers lick their wounds

As European cyclo-crossers were granted a one day-long break since six continuous days of racing, some of them were taking the time to heal their wounds from recent accidents on December 30. Bart Wellens, who crashed at the Superprestige round six in Diegem on December 24, is still suffering from a sore back, which even prevents him from training properly. The Fidea rider had to go to hospital three times these last few days for further treatments. Nevertheless, he hopes to be at a race at the eighth World Cup race in Belgian Hooglede-Gits today, as well as at the next round of the GVA Trofee in Baal on Sunday, January 1, 2006.

Bad luck also for Jonathan Page: Racing strongly in Middelkerke on December 29, the American rider achieved a great third placing with a rusty piece of metal in the sole of his shoe, which caused a wound in his foot. As the pain worsened in the evening, Page had to go to hospital in Oudenaarde where he was treated, but he will not be able to prove his good form in the next few days as he is reported as not being able to even stand on his foot.

Meanwhile, Sven Nys' knee does not impede him anymore. "That crash in Loenhout didn't have any consequences," said the 'cannibal', as some call him now. "On Friday I have one day's rest but there's not a lot of time to recover. I'm expected in Hooglede in the evening already."

Kroon: Problems at Rabobank caused the change

By Jesper Johannesen, feltet.dk

Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) took the Mountains jersey after stage 6 of the 2005 Tour
Photo ©: Sirotti

Barely had the former Rabobank rider Karsten Kroon finished his contract with Dutch team, he started to look forward to a new era with Danish team CSC. Kroon explained the change with the wish for more responsibility, as he wanted to be able to go for victories for himself in future, which he wasn't allowed to do in the Spring classics at Rabobank. Furthermore, Kroon wasn't satisfied with the team's tactics, and his role as domestique.

"I've been riding at Rabobank for the last nine years, which in fact is my whole career", he explained to Feltet.dk. "I had some problems at Rabobank this season, and the main reason was that the team had many strong and good riders like Michael Boogerd, Erik Dekker and Oscar Freire, and they weren't always better than me, but I had to ride for them anyway. That was the reason for me to decide to change teams. I spoke to my manager about it, and we discussed the interesting alternatives, and naturally Team CSC was on top of my list. I contacted Bjarne Riis, and we reached an agreement, with which I'm very pleased. The team has a unique team spirit and is highly respected in the peloton, so for me it was clearly my preferred choice," Kroon added with a big smile on his face.

At the Danish team, the Dutchman is expecting to be able to battle for the victories in some of the big classics. "My aim is definitely the classics, where I'll be focusing on Ronde van Vlaanderen, Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Furthermore, I'll most likely ride the Vuelta and maybe the Tour," said Kroon, whose contract with CSC will last until December 31, 2007.

While Kroon knows that winning a classic isn't easy, he sees his chances considerably improved at Team CSC. "I reckon that Team CSC ride the Classics in a very optimistic way, not just focusing everything on one rider," he explained. "They'll let the other riders get the chance, if they have the better legs. Put in another way, if they have good enough legs to win the race, they'll be allowed to ride their own chances, something I wasn't allowed to do at Rabobank. If I was in a break away, for instance, and might have the opportunity to win the race, I was told over the radio to stop riding, as we were supposed to support another rider," a clearly frustrated Kroon continued, hesitating for a moment.

"I think it's really bad! When you're a professional rider, this is also the way to earn to your living. When people say that what you did was great, and it really wasn't what you had wanted to do, it really hurts. So naturally I wasn't happy", the Dutchman added, nevertheless insisting that Rabobank was a still great team. "Rabobank is a good team, they're really well organized and pay well," he said to avoid any misunderstandings. "There are no problems at the team. The problems I faced were only during the past year, where I felt that I was able to be with the best for the first time in my career, which wasn't the case previously. That's why it wasn't a problem for me to ride for the other riders then. I really worked hard to get this level. I don't know exactly why I've become so strong, but I'm just very happy about it!"

Haynes to Jartazi 7-mobile

British rider Hamish Haynes has signed for Belgian continental team Jartazi 7-mobile. Being one of the most successful continental teams in Europe, the move represents a new challenge for Haynes and a step up in the level of competition.

Haynes signed his contract just before travelling to Manchester to visit friends and family. He will return to Belgium in January to train with his new teammates, which include Van Der Slagmolen, Abakoumov and Francesco Planckaert, latest in the cycling dynasty and a regular feature in the popular Belgian reality TV show, "The Planckaerts".

During the last five seasons spent racing in Belgium, Haynes has won 26 races, achieving a major breakthrough in 2005 with Team Cyclingnews.com-Fondriest by winning the Grote 1 mei Prijs-Hoboken, the Puivelde GP and the GP Melle in July. Haynes' season will begin with the G.P d'Ouverture La Marseillaise, Etoile de Besseges and Haut Var in Southern France. Then it’s back to Belgium for Het Volk and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Other highlights throughout the season include the Three Days of West Flanders, the Tour of Belgium and Paris-Brussels.

The team's manager Jef Braeckevelt is an influential figure in Belgian professional racing. Having previously directed with Lotto and Chocolade Jacques, his status has secured the team starting slots in many prestigious events especially in France, Holland and Belgium.

"Wired to Win" in IMAX theatres

Française des Jeux riders Baden Cooke and Jimmy Casper are the main protagonists of "Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France," an IMAX film currently playing at the Museum of Science's Mugar Omni Theater in Boston. The 45-minute film, produced by Partners HealthCare, was shot during the 2003 Tour de France and focuses on the interaction of the human brain with the body in extremely strenuous circumstances.

"Wired" analyses how the human body adapts to high-stakes physical endeavour and gives a perfect view from inside the three-week race, which saw Casper calling it quits after a mass crash and Cooke finally taking the green jersey on the Champs Elysées.

For a full listing of venues throughout the United States, go to www.wiredtowinthemovie.com/.

Mercy Cycling Team for 2006

American Mercy Cycling Elite Amateur racing Team is preparing for another season. With a 2005 Criterium national championship, individual pursuit national championship, several state championships, and multiple regional wins, the team directed by Hector A. Mendoza has a lot of momentum moving forward into the 2006 season. With the recent loss of Brad Huff to team TIAA-CREF, Mercy has helped to catapult another racer into the pro rankings.

This year’s roster being similar to last, the Mercy Cycling Team expects much success for the 2006 season. The Men’s Elite Team includes Steven Cate (2000 Elite Road Champion), Mat Stephens (2004 Madison Champion), Brian Dziewa, Doug Greek, Mat Ankney, Chad Cagle, Alex Welch, (U23 National Program rider) and Stefan Rothe.

The Women’s Regional Elite Team is composed of Stacy Bertsch, Melissa Cox, Mindi Martin, Pam Hinton and Suzanne Aguero, while Jared Gilker, Noah Singer, Jacob Irwin, Jason Macomb, Zach Martin, Leo Frayre, Ryan Fiddler, Blake McMahon, Curt Kippenberger and Ryan Hendrich are included in the squad's Men’s Development Team.

For more information, please visit www.mercycycling.com.

Cyclingnews reader awards 2005

Today we announce the best male road racer and best female road racer, and in both categories the winners were clear.

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