Denis Zanette
1970 - 2003

Photo by Anita van Crey

"Denis was a kind fellow, polite, with unbelievable humility, beyond being a good rider." --Giancarlo Feretti

Zanette family to receive funds from Italian Cycling Federation

The president of the FCI, Giancarlo Ceruti, has announced that the family of Denis Zanette will receive the sum of 50 thousand Euros. The prize was destined for the Italian national Azzuri squad to acknowledge its silver medal in the 2001 Lisbon World Championships (won by Paolo Bettini). "It is not an emotional gesture, only a concrete way to show the commitment  and regard of our group to the fact that tragedy strikes sometimes, and which invites us to be more united and loyal," said Ceruti. (Sports.it)

Fanini of Amore e Vita speaks out

Ivano Fanini, owner of the Amore e Vita team, has harsh words for the cycling community on the news of Denis Zanette's death. To his credit, Fanini has long been known for being quite outspoken on the issue of dopage in cycling, but this editor notes that as yet no forensic examination has been completed in relation to the death of Zanette, thus making Mr. Fanini's remarks premature, if not still well-taken.

"Unfortunately the farce of the anti-drug controls and the relative justifications in the cases of scandals continue also to the cost of the lives of riders." I have said many times that many active riders in these last 15 years risk not living beyond the 50 years because of the poisons that they must use in order to resist the competition."

While Fanini offers his condolences to the Zanette family, he also points the finger at the leaders of cycling. "After this episode which concerns all of us in this sport, the organizers and all the teams, including mine, must examine our consciences and completely change the way cycling is done, otherwise cases as these will be more and more frequent. The behaviors of this entire movement in recent years are slowly destroying cycling. Perhaps it would be better for all of us to stop and reflect and then start again in order to return to the true values that animate this sport ". (Kata Web Sport)

Team Coast looking ahead

Team Coast has qualified as a Division I team for next season, although according to Marca the UCI has placed two conditions on the team: One, that it resolve any payment disputes with former riders, and two, that it undergo an administrative review by the UCI.

Coast Manager Juan Fernandez said that the addition of Rudy Pevenage to the team, who comes along with Ullrich should not be any problem, that it is merely a matter of distributing the race calendar. Fernandez also said that the important thing is that the team will be able to participate in the Tour, which he said has been a "thorn."

A three-year contract with Jan Ullrich is expected to be signed next week. The rumored price tag for Ullrich is seven million Euros, but that reportedly includes the "price" of Pevenage, Ullrich friend Jan Tobias Steinhauser and trainer Peter Becker. (Marca and Contra Reloj)

Dekker and Etxebarria have knee troubles

Erik Dekker and David Etxebarria have both temporarily stopped their training due to knee difficulties. Dekker knocked his knee against a door on New Year's Day and while the pain subsided, it returned during training so he has been stopped by his doctor for a few days. Etxebarria has had tendonitis-type troubles with both his knees and has not yet joined his team at Calpe for training. (Velo 101)

Legeay to remain with Credit Agricole two more years

At the Credit Agricole team presentation, it was announced that manager Roger Legeay will remain with the team until 2005. (Velo Club)

Marlux still hoping for wild cards

Marlux-Nixdorf, which was trying to gain Division I status this season, still plans to compete in many big races and even for wild cards in competitions like the Tour of Flanders. Jef Braeckevelt, team manager said, "We have a budget of only 1.1 million euros, and it is completely logical that richer teams were preferred over us, but one should not forget only on November 1, we did not even have any riders!" (Velo Club)

Cofidis for 2003

Daniel ATIENZA – 28 (Spa)
Frederic BESSY – 31 (Fra) - former Credit Agricole
Mederic CLAIN – 26 (Fra)
Arnaud COYOT – 20 (Fra) - Neo pro
Inigo CUESTA – 33 (Spa)
Peter FARAZIJN - 34 (Bel)
Bingen FERNANDEZ – 30 (Spa)
Tom FLAMMANG – 25 (Lux)
Dmitriy FOFONOV – 26 (Kaz)
Philippe GAUMONT - 30 (Fra)
Robert HAYLES – 30 (Gbr)
Andreï KIVILEV – 29  (Kaz)
Massimiliano LELLI - 35 (Ita)
Angelo LOPEBOSELLI – 25 (Ita)
Nico MATTAN - 31 (Bel)
David MILLAR - 26 (Gbr)
David MONCOUTIE - 27 (Fra)
Chris PEERS – 32 (Bel)
Jo PLANCKAERT – 32 (Bel)
Hayden ROULSTON – 22 (Nze) - Neo pro
Marek RUTKIEWICZ – 21 (Pol)
Robert SASSONE – 24 (Fra)
Janek TOMBAK – 26 (Est)
Guido TRENTIN – 27 (Ita)
Cedric VASSEUR – 32 (Fra) (Velo Club)

Beon appeals sentence

Former pro rider Patrick Beon appealed on Friday his one year jail sentence, rendered in France earlier this week. Beon and several others received jail sentences after a conviction relating to a pots Belge incident in 2000.  (L'Equipe)

Sea Otter Classic may travel up the coast

The San Mateo County Times (California) reports today that the city of Redwood City may contribute funds to the Sea Otter Classic in order to bring the road race into that city. The city's downtown section is undergoing renovations and Gale Force's organizer for Sea Otter, Rick Sutton, grew up in Redwood City. He is hoping to make this plan a reality. The city would need to contribut $25,000 to the race, only pro riders would ride this leg of the three day event that takes place in April. In addition, the Sea Otter Classic would begin one day earlier.

Verge Sport Gets Jittery

Press Release: Cornwall, New York - Renowned custom cycle clothing manufacturer Verge Sport has signed on to be the official apparel sponsor for the Jittery Joe’s Professional Cycling Team. Verge Sport plans to use the Jittery Joe’s squad to increase exposure of Verge’s highly advanced competition clothing.

Combining high quality European craftsmanship - and the most technically advanced features and fabrics ever used for cycling - Verge Sport hopes to showcase the unique benefits that have made Verge custom cyclewear some of the most coveted in American pelotons.

"We are excited about our relationship with Verge clothing. Verge really uses quality fabrics and modern craftsmanship and we know our pros will be comfortable in their cycling clothing all year long.", comments Jittery Joe’s Team Manager, Micah Rice.

From cyclocross racing in a Massachusetts snowstorm to sprinting through a sweltering Atlanta summer criterium, there is specially designed Verge clothing available to give teams like Jittery Joe’s a competitive edge in all conditions. Verge builds their custom team clothing utilizing at least ten different high technology fabrics - each with different properties, each designed to excel in specific racing environments. The clothing Verge makes for Jittery Joe’s will utilize many of these fabrics, and the team will have the significant advantage of being able to choose the apparel that best matches the day’s race conditions.

Jittery Joe’s official team apparel is available for sale online at www.vergesport.com, and Jittery Joe's organic, shade-grown cycling coffee is available at bike shops and outfitters around the country (and online at www.thebeanteam.com) - for those intrepid cyclists who want to get Jittery on their own. Proceeds from the coffee sales go directly toward supporting the racing team’s efforts.

For more information on Verge Sport custom cyclewear, call them toll-free at 800-536-0160, e-mail them at usa@vergesport.com, or go online at www.vergesport.com.

Carmichael Training Systems to work with MultiSports Canada

Press Release: Colorado Springs, Colorado -Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) and MultiSportsCanada, the largest multisport producer in the country, have created a partnership for all MultiSportsCanada events. The partnership will provide MultiSportsCanada-events participants the opportunity to receive expert coaching and at-race clinics through CTS. The announcement of the partnership was made today by CTS CEO Jeff Webster.

CTS will become the official Coaches of all MultiSportsCanada events, which include Calgary’s Elbow Valley Half Ironman and the Vancouver Triathlon, among others. As part of the agreement, CTS will provide distance-specific coaching packages for MultiSportsCanada races as well as provide prize incentives for all entrants; to include 6-month expert level coaching package, CTS triathlon suits, apparel and training videos. CTS will also provide triathlon clinics at a number of MultiSportsCanada events.

“Being Canadian, and from Western Canada, I have watched MultiSportsCanada grow to become the best in producing triathlons throughout the country,” stated CTS Multisport Head Coach Lance Watson. “Joining with them can only help insure the proper growth of our sport.”

“Trying to put on premier events is our goal at MultiSportsCanada and working with Lance Watson and CTS will only help us to achieve this goal,” said MultiSportsCanada President Trevor Soll. “Lance has proven he is able to bring out the most from his athletes, which is evident in his work helping with Simon Whitfield win the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold Medals.”

Both organizations will share a co-branded web site for individuals to find out more about CTS coaching services. The site will also be updated with weekly training tips and articles from Lance Watson and other CTS coaches.

Established in 1995, MultiSportsCanada Inc. (formerly T&D Athletics) specializes in sport and event management, promotions and sponsorship services. MultiSportsCanada has been involved in running triathlon specific events throughout western Canada for the last 10 years. This year, in addition to the Vancouver Triathlon, MultiSportsCanada is proud to host another 20 multi-sport events in Alberta and British Columbia, including the Canadian Duathlon Championships in Calgary. MultiSportsCanada (www.multisportscanada.com) is the largest multi-sport event organization in Western Canada.

Carmichael Training Systems, founded in 1999, is a community of athletes and coaches dedicated to improving the performance and lives of athletes of all levels and disciplines. Led by Chris Carmichael, CTS brings coaching expertise, product advice and endurance sports information to the athletic community via the world wide web. CTS works with a wide variety of athletes including four-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong, 2000 Triathlon Olympic Gold Medallist Simon Whitfield, Montreal Canadiens Captain Saku Koivu, 2001 Mountain Bike World Champion Alison Dunlap, World Record Swimmer Ed Moses and Indy Car racer Eliseo Salazar. CTS is also the official coaching authority of the US Postal Service Cycling Team and the Trek/VW Mountain bike team. CTS also serves as the official coaching service for the US Paralympic cycling team and is the nationally endorsed coaching partner of the MS Society.

Landbouwkrediet-Colnago Sacla News

In addition to this notice from the Landbouwkrediet Colnago team, please see podofdonny's excellent 2003 team profile here. From the 13th through the 19th of January, Ernest Colnago's Landbouwkrediet boys will be in Loano, in the Savona province of Italy. The team is hard at work preparing for its premier race, the GP Costa degli Etruschi on February 2nd.

Princeton University Cycling Team for 2003

Princeton University and Mercury Vehicles are proud to present the 2003 Princeton University Cycling Team. For a third year Mercury Vehicles will be the team’s title sponsor, with special thanks to the Lincoln-Mercury Dealer’s Association of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The team will again be riding Fuji Team bicycles, which are rapidly becoming the gold standard in the collegiate peleton. Other sponsors include the Friends of Princeton Cycling, Rudy Project Eyewear, Kopp’s Cycles, Pacific Health Labs, and Giordana apparel.

After winning the Eastern Conference Division II title for a second straight year in 2002, the team is upgrading to Collegiate Division I for 2003. The team’s ambitions are a record eleventh Ivy League Cycling Championship, a win in the road race at Collegiate Nationals, and an Eastern Conference Championship.

The team is led by four-time Collegiate National Champion Tyler Wren. Top sprinter Scott Rickard is back, with the ambition of taking out some fast finishes for the team. The team is also pleased to welcome Alistair Sponsel, who comes to Princeton after already ascending the Nationals podium while at Indiana University. The team will also benefit from the experience of Jason Houck, Elliot Holland, Rob Murray, Peter Peumans, and Max Shtein who are all returning for a third year racing with the team. The women’s team will feature veterans Amanda Alexander, Michelle Hemmat, and Kate Swearengen racing alongside promising rookies Dana Hollenbeck and Laura Stark.

Coaching the elite men will be Patrick Kennedy of Denville NJ. Rod Murray of Cycle Right Training, Morrisville NJ will be working with the women and the men’s development team. Peter Betjemann, former Junior National team rider from Amherst MA will be the sprint coach.

Team Sponsors:
Mercury Vehicles
Fuji Bicycles
Friends of Princeton Cycling
Rudy Project Eyewear
Kopp’s Cycles
Giordana Apparel

Coaches:
Peter Betjemann
Patrick Kennedy
Rod Murray

Head Mechanic:
Mark Parrett (sophomore)

Elite Men:
Jason Houck (senior, civil engineering)
Elliot Holland (junior, environmental engineering)
Rob Murray (PhD candidate, mechanical engineering)
Peter Peumans (PhD candidate, electrical engineering)
Scott Rickard (Phd candidate, applied mathematics)
Max Shtein (PhD candidate, chemical engineering)
Alistair Sponsel (PhD candidate, history of science)
Tyler Wren (senior, economics)

Women:
Amanda Alexander (junior, religion)
Michelle Hemmat (junior, public policy)
Dana Hollenbeck (junior, religion)
Laura Stark (PhD candidate, sociology)
Kate Swearengen (junior, religion)

This week on "Wheels of Steel"

This week on “Wheels of Steel” we’ll hear from Adventure Race team Montrail, winners of the 2002 Raid the North Extreme. Team captain, accomplished rock climber, elite adventure racer and internationally ranked as an outrigger canoe paddler and whitewater rafter, Rebecca Rusch joins us to talk about how she wound up living out of her truck. We’ll also hear from Team Montrail’s new “Rookie” Shane Sigle.

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