Latest Edition Cycling News for October 19, 2005Edited by Hedwig Kröner & Les Clarke Time to do something else
Former MTB world champion Roland Green has decided to retire at the age of 31. Green, who won his world titles in 2001 and 2002 believes he's lost the desire to give it 100 per cent, saying, "after world's I just wasn't feeling right. You have to give it 100 per cent when you're racing, and I wasn't - so I decided I shouldn't be doing it anymore." Cyclingnews' Les Clarke found out why this was the case. The Canadian rider had come back from a six-month drugs suspension retroactively imposed in March 2005 and was racing with the Kona team, where he was enjoying himself, "I was happy to ride with Kona. It was where I started racing pro - they're Canadian, and they have a different attitude to racing - I had lots of fun. It was also cool to race with some teammates I hadn't raced with in a while." Green said the team was very understanding of his decision and respected the fact that "an athlete's wishes come first". Green's late-season results were beginning to reflect the fact he was enjoying his racing again. "It was starting to come together near the end of the season - at the NORBA final I felt like I could win it, but I missed a couple of feeds and had some cramping problems. Then I thought I could have a good world's, but after double flatting it didn't quite work out." It was after this world's race, however, that Green decided his time as a pro was finished. "So many things weren't clicking, and now there are other things I want to do," he said Simoni also courted by Saunier DuvalOne day after Belgian Professional Continental team Unibet.com - successor to MrBookmaker.com - has announced that it has made a contract offer to Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffita) in a bid to run for the last slot in the 2006 ProTour, news from Italy is that 'Gibo' Simoni has now a multitude of offers to choose from, including one of Spanish team Saunier Duval. "We really hope he will opt for our proposition," said Saunier Duval team manager Mauro Gianetti. "With Gilberto, our team would certainly make a big leap in terms of quality. The team is growing, we have finished this season in seventh position in the ProTour classification and Gilberto's arrival would also be an important recognition of our work." Saunier Duval, who have already signed Giro d'Italia stage winner Koldo Gil (Liberty Seguros) and Luciano Pagliarini (Liquigas), are sure that they will find a spot for a rider like Simoni next season. "As for the racing programme, no problem: if 'Gibo' accepts, we will sit down and work it out together," Gianetti added. Vacancies on the team were created by the departure of a handful of riders, including Juan Manuel Garate, Constantino Zaballa and Chris Horner. Line-ups for Japan Cup
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita) wants to finish his season in style at the Japan Cup, starting Sunday, October 23, and try to go for victory again. Last year, the young Italian was beaten by another youngster, Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick.Step) in a two-men sprint, and Cunego hopes to make up for it this time around. "The Japan Cup is a hard race tailored for Damiano's capabilities," said Lampre-Caffita directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli. "He will try and finish the season with a beautiful victory." Along with Cunego, Lampre-Caffita is sending Alessandro Ballan, Marco Marzano, Morris Possoni and Patxi Vila to faraway Japan. Another European aspirant for victory at the UCI-rated 1.1 event is Francisco 'Paco' Mancebo (Illes Balears), although the Spaniard also admits that after a very long season in which he placed fourth at two Grand Tours (Tour de France and Vuelta a España), he will also use his stay to experience the different culture and do some shopping... "The effort will be minimal as there is only one day of competition," Mancebo said. "And we will have the opportunity to see a country with a completely different culture. That's why I volunteered for this race. I'm not interested in electronic equipment because I already have everything I need, but I might buy something unfamiliar if it comes up," he added. Mancebo will be joined by Joan Horrach, Mikel Pradera, Pablo Lastras and 'Chente' García. Saunier Duval will also participate in the Japan Cup with Ángel Gómez Marchante, Rubén Lobato and Arkaitz Durán. Rasmussen stays with RabobankDutch team Rabobank has announced that Tour de France King of the mountains Michael Rasmussen has agreed to stay with the squad for three more years. Rasmussen was Rabobank's most successful rider in 2005, almost making the Tour de France podium but for a disastrous time trial on the penultimate day. By that time, however, the polka-dot jersey was securely on his back. Bianchi helps HouseBy Rod Morris
Recycling.co.uk/Litespeed rider Kristian House has had his bike stolen, hindering preparations for this Saturday's Melbourne to Warrnambool cycling classic. House, fresh from riding in last week's Herald Sun Tour, had his $4000 Litespeed racing bike stolen from the secured area at Melbourne's Mercure Hotel following the Lygon St criterium that concluded the one-week stage race. Major sponsor of the Melbourne to Warrnambool race, Bianchi Bicycles came to the aid of House, with the Australian distributor, BikeSportz Imports, glad to help by donating a Bianchi bicycle to the Englishman. Company director David Cramer presented House with his new rig in Melbourne ahead of the race, saying that "As the major sponsor of the race, we wouldn't like to see one of the leading riders miss out because of the callous actions of another individual," The thief was captured on security camera, but at this stage police have been unable to clearly identify him. "He (the thief) was dressed like a bike rider - complete with riding shoes - and he went straight to my bike, so he knew what he was looking for," House said. The frame was blue and black with yellow decals, including House's individual name. "The bike also had some fairly unique SRM cranks which were were worn in some places, so I would recognise them if I saw them again, although I'm tipping the bike has either been stripped down for spare parts or had a complete makeover by now," he said. House is now ready to start in this year's edition of the Melbourne to Warrnambool, which is the oldest continuous bike race in Australia - the second oldest in the world - and at 299 kilometres, is considered the longest distanced one-day cycling race in the world. "I've heard a lot about the Melbourne to Warrnambool but have never had the chance to race in it, so for that alone I am looking forward to this weekend," House said. Casero denies retirement plansContrary to previous reports, Ángel Luis Casero (Comunidad Valenciana) will not retire from professional cycling after this season, but continue to race in 2006 as well. The Spaniard assured that he did not think of hanging up the bike at all. "I was travelling, came back this morning and they told me this information came from the team," a surprised Casero told Spanish Marca. "But I never said anything." The 33 year-old affirmed that he was looking forward to the next season. "I still want to win one more race or one more stage. I'm not finished, but what happens is that after winning the Vuelta a España [in 2001 - ed.], expectations are very high so everything you do after that has no value." Dutch team looking for Australian riderA Dutch Elite cycling team is looking for a talented 19 or 20 year-old male cyclist to ride their Under 23 and Elite programs in 2006. The Under 23 program includes the Classics which are part of the Dutch Under 23 series, while the Elite program offers the opportunity to ride in Classics ranked up to a 1.2 on the UCI calendar throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as stage races, lucrative Dutch criteriums and Belgian circuit races (kermesse). The selected cyclist will receive free accommodation for the 2006 season (from March until October), as well as a racing kit. All race entry fees and travel costs will also be covered. In the last three years, seven Australian riders were part of the team. Interested cyclists should send a letter of interest and a copy of their racing results to the team's manager at rvdvlies@planet.nl Track season underway at Burnaby velodromeOn Saturday, November 12, some of the top cyclists from BC, Alberta and the Western United States will begin three days of track racing in Burnaby at Western Canada's only indoor velodrome. The competition will give local riders and National team members a chance to test their skills as they begin their preparation for the 2005-2006 World Cup season and the March 2006 Commonwealth Games. Among the races featured are: Mass start and sprint events All racing takes place at the Burnaby Velodrome, a 200-metre wooden track, located inside the Harry Jerome Sports Centre near SFU, starting at 9.00 am each day. For more information, please visit www.burnabyvelodrome.ca. Registration is available at www.karelo.com Benefit for injured racerGuy's Bicycles Racing and Cadence Performance Cycling Center will be hosting a benefit and Silent Auction to benefit recently paralyzed rider, Sarah Scott. The event will be held on Saturday, November 5 at the Manayunk Brewing Company in Philadelphia, PA. Sarah was left paralyzed from a crash at the Tour de Toona in July. This event will help defray medical and equipment costs. Many great items have been donated for the silent auction including cycling products and services, professional sports tickets and more. Information can be found at www.sarah-scott.com. If you would like to donate items please contact Rich Cordero at rico@voicenet.com or Bob Piacine at robert.piacine@verizon.net
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