Post-Tour Crit Results: Aalst and Grazer Altstadt

July 28: Aalst Criterium (Belgium)

1. Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo)
2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo)
3. Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com)
5. Serge Baguet (Lotto-Domo)
6. Kurt Van De Wouwer (Quickstep-Davitamon)
7. Viatcheslav Ekimov (US Postal-Berry Floor)
8. Marc Wauters (Rabobank)
9. Stijn Devolder (Vlaanderen-T Interim)
10. Roy Sentjens (Rabobank)

July 29: GrazerAltstadt Criterium (Austria)

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal-Berry Floor)
2. Bernhard Eisel (FDJeux.com)
3. René Haselbacher (Gerolsteiner)
4. Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner)
5. Gerrit Glomser (Saeco)
6. Peter Luttenberger (Team CSC)
7. Gerhard Trampusch (Gerolsteiner)
8. Peter Pichler (Resch & Frisch)
9. Jochen Summer (Volksbank Ideal)
10. Werner Riebenbauer (Team Fakta)
(Thanks to Karen L.)

Cipollini returns to the road in Chaam and Hannover

Cyclingteam.net has announced that Mario Cipollini will compete with teammate Mario Scirea in the 8th Dutch Acht van Chaam on Thursday evening, and on Friday evening with Giovanni Lombardi and Mario Scirea at the German Nacht von Hannover. Cipo has not competed since he retired from the Giro.

IGG ready to ride in Hamburg - Updated

Courtesy ONCE
Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano is on the start list for the Hew-Cyclassics this weekend. He received his medical okay to compete this week; ONCE doctor Alberto Garai said that IGG phoned him two weeks ago to say that he was able to hold the handlebars with force in the ascents, stating also that the team hopes he arrives in good form for the Vuelta, and that so far his recovery is has been correct. Galdeano crashed during the time trial at the Deutschland Tour in June that required surgery to his shoulder and clavicle.

By strange coincidence Galdeano will return to racing on the same roads that he crashed on. It is the Galdeano’s beginning of preparation for the Vuelta, his next big target. (Marca and Silver Flyer)

ONCE Men for New York

Three riders of team Once will compete in the New York City Championships criterium: Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano, Isidro Nozal and Jose Bento Azevedo. Visit the ONCE site here.(Thanks to Silver Flyer)

Davide Rebellin has asthma

Gerolsteiner's Davide Rebellin had breathing problems during the Tour and abandoned on Stage 14. He has now learned that he suffers from asthma, and this will change how he approaches cycling from now on. He may be treated by a specialist center this week, and says that he will have to take medications constantly to keep the condition under control. He says that riding through areas of vegetation will be a particular challenge to him, and that his morale at present "is zero." We wish this great rider the best, and hope to see him soon. (Radsport News)

Popovych sticks with Papa Colnago

Courtesy Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
In spite of many offers from larger teams, young gun Yaroslav Popovych, who was an excellent third in this year's Giro d’Italia, has decided to stay with the Landbouwkrediet-Colnago team for another season.

Popovych confirmed his decision on Tuesday that he would prefer to stay with Gerard Bulens and of course the Colnago family who have taken a special interest in the riders career. Landbouwkrediet-Colnago have now confirmed the following riders for next season, with more signings expected soon.

Ludo Dierckxsens
Johan Verstrepen
Bert De Waele
Ludovic Capelle
Tomas Vaitkus
Mikhail Timochine
Yuri Metlushenko
Ruslan Gryshenko

Visit the Landbouwkrediet-Colnago Team site here. (Silver Flyer)

Mayo, the hero of Igorre

Euskaltel's Iban Mayo, who finished 6th in the Tour de France and was also the winner of Stage 8, received a "knightly" welcome from a team in his home region of Viscaya - an arch of...not swords, but wheels...

Photo courtesy AS.com and Aitor Martin

AS.com also reports that Mayo is being sought by no less than six teams besides his own for next season - Quick Step, Phonak, Rabobank, Cofidis, Saeco y Domina Vacanze.

Rabobank for the Vuelta

Courtesy Daily Peloton
The Rabobank team have announced their provisional line up for the Vuelta. Provided he makes a full recovery from his injuries sustained on stage 1 of the Tour de France, Levi Leipheimer will Captain the squad. For this year's Vuelta, which is held between the 6th to the 28th of September, 12 riders have been chosen, which will be reduced to 9.

Selected Riders:
Maarten den Bakker, Robert Bartko, Jan Boven, Addy Engels, Mathew Hayman, Steven de Jongh, Karsten Kroon, Levi Leipheimer, Ronald Mutsaars, Michael Rasmussen, Thorwald Veneberg and Beat Zberg.

Leipheimer is expected to have recovered in time for the race while Den Bakker, after a few problems off the bike, seems back to his best as his stage victory in the Uniqa Classic this July shows.

The big surprise is the absence of Oscar Freire; however he has just completed the Tour de France and instead will concentrate on the World Championships in Hamilton.  Visit the Rabobank site here. (Thanks to Silver Flyer)

What would you do for Tour pictures?

Apparently, some people will do a lot.

In order to get "unusual" shots of the peloton on the Alpe d'Huez stage of the Tour, Kona Clump rider Dave Watson built a jump over a road the riders would pass on (just before the summit of the Col de Galibier), and at the critical moment launched bike and self over the road to shoot still photos. The production, assisted and filmed by Freeride Entertainment, was planned in secret in order to gain maximum spontaniety from the riders and the crowd. As the critical time came:

Dave patiently waited as the riders rounded the corner. Prior to the jump, Dave had no chance to take a practice jump for fear of giving away our intentions. Jump time came and Dave climbed aboard his Stab Primo and punched it toward the lip with no hesitation.

Jumping just over the back of the peloton as to take no chances of injuring riders on an unknown jump, Dave sailed approximately 45 ft before touching down. Due to a last minute brake check to ensure the safety of the riders below, Dave came up slightly short and was bucked by his bike into the rocky terrain. Fans rushed to Dave to see the extent of his injuries. Slightly dazed with paramedics and police surrounding him, the crew was unsure what the outcome would be.

Thankfully the end of this story is a happy one. The paramedics insisted on taking Dave on a two-hour ride out the mountains to the hospital and the police didn’t seem to mind since the only person potentially hurt was Dave. Released from the hospital with a partially separated shoulder, sore back, neck, and a severely bruised groin, Dave will recover fully.

Read this fascinating article at North Shore Mountain Biking.

Photo courtesy of Big Lines

New Div II team by Lefevre next year

Patrick Lefevre, general manager of the Quickstep Davitamon team, is working on a new Div II team, Bodysol, for next season. The contracts with main sponsors Bodysol (like Davitamon, a sub-division of Omega Pharma, which produces health products) and Brustor (sun-shielding) have been signed, and the first riders have been recruited. Bodysol engaged itself for 3 years in the peloton, Brustor for one year with an option for a second one.

The Div III team of Quickstep-Davitamon, that dominated the Belgian youth scene this year, will deliver 7 young guns. These are Wim De Vocht  (winner of Tour of Flanders U23), Bart Dockx (consistent podium places), Dimitri Muravyev (Tour de Normandie winner),  Sébastien Rosseler (TT specialist), Preben Van Hecke (Omloop het Volk U23 winner), Johan Vansummeren (L-B-L U23 winner) and Jeremy Yates (2000 junior world champion). They’re also looking to sign the young Dutchmen Arno Wallaard and Johnny Hogerland.  Negotiations are ongoing with Nico Mattan to sign him as road captain for the team, guiding the young riders with his great experience and knowledge of the pro peloton.

The team will eventually consist of 12 riders and will be following only one racing program that will consist of both Belgian and international races. Manager will be Herman Frison, formerly leading the Div III team.  Bodysol-Brustor will be going their own seperate way, with its own structure, jerseys, material, etc.

Frison’s position in the Div III team will be taken up by Theo Nauwelaerts and Andy Misotten; Sweet Paradise will be the sponsor. Sweet Paradise at its turn is the former sponsor of the juniors team of Quickstep-Davitamon, which will cease to exist. However, there will be a satellite team for the Quickstep juniors, led by Luc Dierick.

There have been rumours that a team like Bodysol-Brustor would make an excellent place for Johan Museeuw to make his debut as a directeur sportif, but Museeuw himself has, up until now, played these rumours down, saying he’d miss the direct contact with many people he has worked with for almost his entire career. (Thanks to Jan Janssens, Gazet Van Antwerpen, www.gva.be)

22nd Southeast Asia Games - Vietnamese cyclists plan on lots of medals

Vietnam is expected to take 15 medals in all 10 cycling events at the 22nd SEA (Southeast Asia) Games, half of total medals available in the races. The SEA Games will take place the first two weeks in December in Hanoi - the cycling events from 5-12 December.

According to General Secretary of the Vietnam Cycling Federation, Doan Kim Phach, the target is a big challenge, but within reach. He reasoned that Vietnamese cyclists are familiar with the terrain. Nearly US$266.000 has been invested in training and buying equipment for the cyclists. In addition, the National Sports Committee will import another 11 US-made racing bikes and the most advanced equipment to realize the set target.

At the 21st SEA Games in Malaysia, Vietnamese cyclists claimed three gold medals. They also won five of six medals to finish first at the Southeast Asian Championships in Hanoi last November.

At the International Terrain Cycling Tournament in Indonesia last month, Vietnamese cyclist Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, who outpaced her competition at the previous SEA Games, took the champions title in the women's competition, while team-mates Dang Phuoc Hoa and Nguyen Thanh Dam took second and third positions in the men's competition, respectively.

The national terrain and road cycling squads are currently training in mountainous Hoa Binh and northern Vinh Phuc provinces to prepare for the Games.

Next month, twelve cyclists selected from these squads will take part in the Asian Terrain Cycling Tournament 2003 in the Republic of Korea.

Original article appeared at Voice of Vietnam here. The SEA Games website is here.

5th Annual Mt Holly-Smithville Invitational GP

August 2nd in Mt. Holly, New Jersey - the 2003 Mt Holly-Smithville Invitational GP will include professional and amateur cyclist from 16 different countries from around the world. The race is highlighted by the return of the UCI Div II Navigators along with several of the of the Div III teams also in attendance including Schroeder Iron, Health Net, Colavita-Bolla, OFOTO-Lombardi Sports, Sportsbook.com and Jittery Joe's. The Outdoor Life Network will also highlight this year's event on its Thursday Nite Summer Sports Zone show and will air on August 7th.

Riders from 27 professional and amateur teams are competing for $10,000.00 in prize money. The riders will complete 7 laps of a 12 mile circuit through Mt. Holly, Eastampton, Westampton and Springfield Townships. Once they complete the 7 laps, the riders will then complete 3 laps of the 2.7 mile finishing circuits through downtown Mt. Holly, each lap will include the "Mount" which is the highest point in Mt. Holly.

All proceeds will benefit the H.B. Smith Village Conservancy and its efforts to restore the Smithville mansion and upkeep of the Smithville county park. This year's corporate partners include NJ Cure Auto Insurance, CDM Engineers, Waste Management, NFL Films and Sovereign Bank. Additional support was supplied by FUJI Bicycles, Comcast Cable, Till Paint Company.

The race starts at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 2, 2003, in front of the Prison Museum on High Street, in Mount Holly. For additional info on the race visit http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/announcements/bikerace/index.htm

Palmares
2002 - Victor Rapinski - Saturn
2001 - Alex Lavalle - Kissena
2000 - Roosevelt Martin - TOGAdash.com-CRCA
1999 - Johnathan Erdelyi - Ideal Tile/YSG

Competing Countries
Australia
Argentina
Belarus
Canada
Columbia
Dominican Republic
Guyana
Holland
Italy
Ireland
Mexico
New Zealand
Poland
Russia
Uruguay
United States

Nothstein to race at Northbrook, Illinois in August

Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time World Champion cyclist Marty Nothstein will make a special guest appearance at the Northbrook Park District Ed Rudolph Velodrome on Thursday, August 14, competing against other professional stars in a race to benefit the Velodrome resurfacing effort.

Nothstein, Gold Medalist in the match sprint at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and Silver Medalist in the event at the 1996 Atlanta Games, joins members of his Navigators Professional Cycling Team, the West Virginia Professional Cycling Team, and other national and international riders in a $500 Points Race sponsored by Alberto’s Rides and Rags, a prominent local bicycle shop located in Highland Park, Ill. The night will also include a full slate of races for local riders sponsored by Redline Racing.

Many of the professionals are in the Chicago area to take part in that weekend’s National Criterium Championship in Downer’s Grove, Ill., and will be in their best shape of the year. “This is a great opportunity to showcase high-caliber racing and help a historic venue,” says Peter Janunas, Northbrook Cycle Committee president. “The Northbrook Park District Ed Rudolph Velodrome has been the home to dozens of National and World Champions over the years, and this is a chance to show support for keeping track racing alive in the greater Chicago area.”

Last resurfaced in 1989, 14 years of harsh winters and wet springs have taken their toll on the Velodrome’s asphalt surface. Extensive patching has kept racing going over the past several years, but the facility is now due for a complete resurfacing. The Northbrook Park District, which owns the facility, has offered to fund half of the project, asking the Northbrook Cycle Committee (NCC) to raise funds to complete the effort.

The NCC is a 501(c)3 charitable organization of riders, fans, and officials that organizes and promotes Thursday Night Racing and other programs at the Velodrome. Devoted to bike advocacy within Northbrook, the NCC helps the Park District maintain the Velodrome and is a member of the Northbrook Historical Society and the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce.

A special fund has been set up by the NCC for resurfacing efforts. Tax-deductible contributions from individuals and organizations can be sent to Northbrook Cycle Committee, P.O. Box 1101, Northbrook, IL 60065-1101. Contributions will be put into a reserve fund to be used only for resurfacing; contributors are asked to provide full contact information and indicate “Track Campaign” on all checks. A CPA has volunteered his time to assist the NCC in accounting for all funds received.

New cycling radio show debuts August 6th, 2003

Folsom, Calif-- AdventureSports Radio invites listeners to enjoy the newest addition to its programming lineup, “The Winner's Circle with Dave Towle.” What will Dave’s new show be all about? It’s about having a fun and taking an informative look at road and mountain bike racing from its epicenter, Boulder, Colorado. “Boulder has a plethora of interviewees, and I’m sure they’ll all take a turn at the front, during what will hopefully become one of the funnier and more compelling hours of radio each week on AdventureSports Radio,” said Dave Towle, the show's host.

The Winner's Circle will include weekly commentary from Dave about current issues facing bicycle racing, interviews from some of the sports brightest stars, like Chris Wherry, Alex Candelario and Len Pettyjohn, just to mention a few. And, we’ll look at the well-oiled underbelly of cycling with mechanics, industry movers and shakers, race promoters, as well as interesting people and places from the pedal world. “This gives us a unique perspective on the race scene right from the people involved and from their own surroundings,” commented Glenn Stilwell, AdventureSports Radio's owner and founder.

Dave Towle began racing his bike at the first Red Zinger Mini Classic in 1980, and his passion for cycling has lived on ever since. After years of wrenching on the pro road and mountain scenes, he is now one of the top cycling commentators in the country, announcing at the Tour de Georgia, Sea Otter, Wachovia Week, and the SFGP championships this year. The Winner's Circle is recorded in Boulder Colorado, the epicenter of American cycling.

“The Winners Circle with Dave Towle” premieres Wednesday, August 6th, 2003 at 9am Pacific Time.

Listening is easy and it’s Free!!! To hear AdventureSports Radio point your browser to our homepage and press the “Listen Now!!!” link. You need either the Winamp or Realaudio media player installed.

AdventureSports Radio is the sports/talk station for those who enjoy the Adventure Sports - whether that be cycling, running, triathlon, or adventure racing, just to name a few. Please tell a friend about this web radio station.

Please be sure to sign-up for the AdventureSports Radio Newsletter. Get station information, show updates, and program notices. To join, send email to adventuresportsradio-subscribe@topica.com.

Advertisers: If your product or service is geared towards people with an active lifestyle, and you're seeking a focused audience, then check into advertising with AdventureSports Radio. We have attractive advertising packages available for our signature programming and special events. For more information please visit our Media Kit or contact, glenn@adventuresportsradio.com.