More honors for Botero and Colombian cyclists

This weekend in Medellin, Colombia, the country's best professional riders were honored with a lavish ceremony at the Martín Cochise Rodríguez Velodrome. In addition to Santi Botero, also honored were Javier "el ñato" Suarez, Mario "Papaya" Vanegas, Efrain Dominguez, Mario Escobar Goez and Martin Emilio "Cochise" Rodriguez. During the ceremony Botero pledged money toward work on the Velodrome roof. (Team Telekom)

New sponsor announced for Acqua e Sapone

Acqua e Sapone team manager Vincenzo Santoni announced on Saturday that Elitron has joined as a sponsor for the team. Elitron produces CAD-CAM cutting applications for use in manufacturing footwear and leather products.

Elitron representative Giuseppe  Gallucci stated, "First of all, we are pleased to be associated with this great team. There are similarities between us - we have also grown quickly, and have shown a clear vocation for leadership, wishing to reach heights in the world. Then after the most recent success of the diamond Cipollini, the team has no need for further recommendations - Cipollini is a charismatic champion and a true team worker. Besides, we wish to set an example for other industries in this region, who should always be on the front line of activities likes this. We are hoping for a year of great successes for Vincenzo Santoni and his athletes." (Cyclingteam.net)

Charly Gaul museum in Germany

A new cycling museum opened last Saturday in the German city of Kaiserslautern dedicated to Luxembourg cycling legend Charly Gaul. The museum was the idea of local cycling fan and architect Jochen Faulhaber.

Gaul won the Tour de France in 1958 after being runner up in 1955 and 1956 and is remembered as one of the greatest climbers in cycling. Aged now 70 and in delicate health, Gaul attended the opening of the new museum. (Thanks to Mick)

Major Taylor - the "Worcester Whirlwind"

Press Release: Major Taylor school study guides released
WORCESTER, Mass. -- Curriculum kits for lessons about trailblazing black athlete Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, 1899 world cycling champion, are available free to schoolteachers and youth group leaders through a collaboration of the Major Taylor Association, the Educational Association of Worcester and the Institute for International Sport.

Virginia Walsh, Grade 3 teacher at West Tatnuck Elementary School in Worcester, wrote the teachers' guide for a weeklong Major Taylor unit for children in Grades 3 and 4, based on a successful character-education and community-service project that she led in her school in February 2002. The unit includes five take-home worksheets that provide information about "the Worcester Whirlwind," as Major Taylor was known, and related exercises and activities employing language, math and other skills. The 13-page packet also includes a reading and discussion exercise for older students, focusing on the Jim Crow racial prejudices that marked Major Taylor's athletic career, how the champion reacted to the closed doors and open hostility he faced on and off the bike, and how his experiences might guide athletes and others today.

The materials are designed to be used during Black History Month (February) or National Sportsmanship Day (first Tuesday in March) in conjunction with an optional readathon to benefit the Major Taylor Association's fund raising for a planned statue of Major Taylor at the Worcester Public Library.

The curriculum kits, which include a Major Taylor poster and a resource list for further reading, are available free from the Educational Association of Worcester. Beginning in December, educators and youth group leaders anywhere may download the materials free from http://worcester.massteacher.org.

Major Taylor information also will be available via the web site of National Sportsmanship Day, an annual program of the Institute for International Sport. Visit www.internationalsport.com/nsd/nsd.cfm  and click on "Contact Information" to receive the 2003 National Sportsmanship Day packet.

"Major Taylor's life is a powerful story that really grips kids, opens their eyes to a significant period in history, and teaches valuable lessons about character," Ms. Walsh said. "It's not just about sports." She added that the Major Taylor unit fits the curriculum frameworks of the Massachusetts Department of Education and is approved for districtwide use by the administration of the Worcester Public Schools. Last winter, the readathon in her school raised $500 for the Major Taylor statue, which will be Worcester's first monument to an African-American.

The Educational Association of Worcester is pleased to offer teachers a supplement to textbook materials, especially one that combines a compelling subject with a community project, said Janet Dufault, president of the teachers' union.

The Major Taylor unit falls in line with the goals of National Sportsmanship Day, which seeks to heighten awareness of ethics and fair play in athletics and society, said Ruth Wilson, director of the program.

"Part of the mission of the Major Taylor Association is to teach young people about this forgotten hero, and we're thrilled that professional educators in Worcester, where Taylor lived most of his life, have taken the initiative to bring his legacy to the next generation," said Lynne Tolman, a board member of the Major Taylor Association.

"Major Taylor broke through 'the color line' half a century before Jackie Robinson played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and we can learn a lot by looking at the forces in society and the personal qualities that played into that," Ms. Tolman said. "These curriculum materials provide an excellent introduction for youngsters, teachers, parents and communities."

For a free downloadable copy of the Major Taylor curriculum guide, visit http://worcester.massteacher.org, beginning in December. For a classroom poster of Major Taylor, contact Janet Dufault, EdAssoWorc@aol.com, 508-791-3296, or Lynne Tolman, info@majortaylorassociation.org, 508-831-0301.

For more information about Major Taylor, visit www.majortaylorassociation.org.

05 Orbitel to ride in Spain

Team 05 Orbitel has received invitations to ride in the Clásica de Alcobendas, Vuelta a Asturias, Subida al Alto del Naranco, Vuelta a Castilla y León and Vuelta a La Rioja races this season. The DS of Orbitel says the team may also ride in the Vuelta a Aragon and the Grand Prix Mitsubishi (Portugal). Orbitel is moving from Division 3 to Division 2 this season. (todociclismo)

Transfer Roundup

Belgian Steve de Wolf, formerly of Domo Farm Frites, will join Palmans Collstrop next season. Other additions to that team for next year are Michel Vanhaecke and Fabien De Waele.

Belgian Geert van Bondt has re-signed for CSC for next year. DS Alex Pedersen said, "Van Bondt was sick during spring and it was thus impossible to him to obtain good results. But his comeback in the autumn was impressive. He was very strong and won a stage in the Rheinlandpfalz Rundfahrt. The arrival of Andrea Tafi now gives us a very good team for the traditional races."

ONCE-Eroski has the following riders joining its team for next season:  Koldo Gil (iBanesto.com), Angel Vicioso (Kelme), Allan Davis (Mapei Quick Step Espoirs) and neo pro Alberto Contador.

Time trial specialist Nathan O'Neill (Aus) comes to Saturn from Panaria-Fiordi.

Tomasz Brozyna (Pol) comes to CCC-Polsat from iBanesto. (Thanks to cycling4all and velo club du net for these)

UCI: Milan San Remo and Lombardia must be on tv...

Hein Verbruggen stated in a press conference today that the situation of Italian tv rights that affects the broadcast of the Milan San Remo and Giro di Lombardia must be resolved. He said, "The situation which has existed for two years is not acceptable any more. One needs a guarantee of television. If not, it seems logical to me that the two races will no longer be in the World Cup. The problem is the conflict between the UER and the SPOKE. For two years, we have been victims of this conflict."

RAI holds television rights to these two races, but the rates charged for re-broadcast have been considered out of line to European broadcasters. (Velo club du net)