Giro sensation, Damiano Cunego, to open his 2005 season March 2-6 at the Tour of Murcia Winner of 13 races this season, Cunego will be the main attraction at new team Lampre-Caffita, born of the merger between Saeco and Lampre. The only major one-day classic so far on the books of the 23-year old Italian is the April 20th Flèche Wallonne. Cunego will ride the April 26 - May 1 Tour of Romandy in preparation for the defence of his pink jersey. "I dream of winning the Giro again," he told the French newspaper, adding that he would then go to his first Tour de France "to learn" as he put it. Source : L'Equipe (French)
Ullrich to train in South Africa
Wed Nov 17 13:51:56 2004
Five-time Tour de France runner-up Jan Ullrich begins his campaign to recapture the yellow jersey in South Africa The 30-year old German will begin training in a fortnight with plans to spend Christmas there, according to his personal trainer Rudy Pevenage. "He'll fly in a fortnight and train there with Andreas Klöden, Matthias Kessler and other [T-Mobile] team-mates Danilo Hondo und Jens Heppner," Pevenage told German news agency DPA. Pevenage back in favour Pevenage's conflictual relationship with team boss Walter Godefroot contributed to Ullrich's decision to leave for a one-year sabbatical with Team Coast/Bianchi in 2003. On Wednesday, T-Mobile's website reported that the hatchet has been buried: "We have agreed with Rudy that he can sit in the team car during time trials at races in the build-up to the Tour de France", T-Mobile sporting director Mario Kummer told the site. Pevenage, who is not paid by T-Mobile, will not be allowed in the team car during other stages on the Tour. T-Mobile added that Ullrich had begun his 2005 training near his home in Scherzingen, Switzerland. After South Africa, the Rostock native is scheduled to then train in Mallorca and Tuscany. Source : EuroSport (Multilingual)
David Millar is going back to school
Wed Nov 17 09:02:48 2004
Disgraced Scottish 2003 World Cycling Time Trial champion to study communications. The drug-disgraced 2003 world time-trial champion is leaving his Biarritz, France apartment for Manchester, England, where the 27-year-old will reportedly study communications. Millar was stripped of his 2003 time-trial world title and fired by French formation Cofidis after admitting to EPO use during police interrogation on June 23 and 24 of this year. Apparently seeing the light after his doping admission, Millar came squeaky clean in a summer 2004 interview with British daily The Guardian: "I would like to explain the dangers of drugs to young riders," Millar said. "I want to show how I got around the system and I'm willing to work with the International Cycling Union and the British Cycling Federation. I think it's the one thing I can do." "I am someone who can give reasons why cyclists should not take drugs. If they ask me to help I will always be there for that. Source : EuroSport (Multilingual)
Phonak : Last ditch discussions with UCI
Wed Nov 17 08:35:02 2004
The Swiss Phonak cycle racing team will demand their inclusion in cycling's new ProTour next Monday after an initial rejection by the licensing committee of the sport's ruling body. The UCI commission granted licences to 19 teams in a meeting on Sunday, most of them for four years. But it turned down the application of Phonak whose American rider, Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton, was implicated in a doping case in September. Although UCI gave no reason for its decision, Phonak said it was related to doping. Phonak added in a statement they would put their case to the licensing commission on November 22 and a final decision would be made on December 2. "The reason for the licence not being granted in the first instance is the ongoing clarification relating to the internal medical checks for tightening measures against doping," Switzerland's only cycling team said on Monday. Hamilton was allowed to keep his Athens time trial gold medal after his second, or 'B', sample proved "non-conclusive" because of failed procedures. His 'A' sample had shown traces of blood doping. He still faces possible sanctions from the UCI after he was told he gave a positive test during September's Tour of Spain. Another Phonak rider, Santiago Perez, was told last month he had given an irregular blood test result which suggested he had undergone a transfusion. Both men deny blood doping. Phonak said their non-participation in the ProTour would threaten the team's existence. "Participation in the most important races has to be guaranteed and is the principal sponsor's condition for providing funding," the team statement said. The ProTour is due to start in January 2005 with 30 races through the year, among them the three major tours of France, Spain and Italy. However the three tours have cast doubt over their inclusion. (But it was not just Hamilton who doped. Camenzind actually admitted it and Perez has adopted the same stance as Hamilton - ie. questioning the validity of the testing process - and just to set the record straight, the UCI cannot sanction a rider as stated above. Sanctioning riders is the perogative of the rider's National UCI Affiliate - SixDay Editor) Source : EuroSport (Multilingual)
Italian Viner bikes to be available again in U.S.A.
Wed Nov 17 07:15:03 2004
ASM Enterprises will import a full line the Italian road, cross and mountain bikes. The Italian Viner SpA bicycles are once again being distributed in the United States, this time by ASM Enterprises/VinerBikes USA in Pittsburgh. Niall McAra, a partner in a scaffolding company and a former high-end road rep, runs ASM Enterprises. ASM Enterprises is importing a full line the Italian road, cross and mountain bikes. McAra said bike kits --including components from Campagnolo, Shimano, FSA and other companies--are in the works. All but two models are available in custom frames."From a dealer's standpoint, Viner will get plenty of exposure," McAra said. "We will be advertising in Pro Cycling, VeloNews Buyers Guide, and we're working on bike tests/reviews in several magazines. Our new web site will be up next month with a dealer listing page." VinerBikes USA will not sell through mail order catalogs, McAra said. For more information visit Viner's Italian site or the USA site McAra can be reached at n_mcara@hotmail.com and (724) 935-3182. Source : Bicycle Retailer
Happy Birthday - Men
Wed Nov 17 02:06:36 2004
Harald Maier (1960) Austria. 5th 1985 World Championship Road Race Alfonso Gutierrez (1961) Spain. Points Jersey 1987 Vuelta a Espana. Source : Six Day staff
Men Only
Wed Nov 17 01:55:07 2004
Here's France's rouleur Bruno Thiboult (Source : Six Day staff; Photo Courtesy : Cyclisme féminin (French))
Ladies Only
Wed Nov 17 01:35:07 2004
Here's the website of America's Dede Barry And here she is at the the 2004 Ronde van Vlaanderen :(Source : Six Day staff)
Happy Birthday - Women
Wed Nov 17 01:25:10 2004
Valeria Pintos (1979) Argentina - 25 today 205th UCI Ranking Source : Six Day staff
Today's Menu
Wed Nov 17 00:29:33 2004
Wednesday, November 17, 2004 Main Events:
MEN:
Stage Races : None
Single Day races :None
Six Day and Other Track Races : None
WOMEN :
Stage Races : None
Single Day races :None
Source : UCI
UCI Calendars: Road Track UCI Home Page (Multilingual)