May 2/01 9:37 am - TdF Selections, Ontario News, Canadians in Europe, Nova Scotia News

Posted by Editor on 05/2/01
 

Tour de France Final Teams Selected

Tour de France race director Jean Marie Leblanc announced earlier today the final team selections for this year's Tour, and Mercury-Viatel was not among them. The final five teams selected are Lotto (Belgium), Euskaltel-Euskadi (Spain), CSC World Online (Denmark), Big Mat (France) and La Francaise des Jeux (France). Noticably absent from the list are the teams of Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno) and Mario Cipollini (Saeco). The final two French teams (both Division II) bring the total number of French squads for this year's race to 8. In addition to the above named 5 teams, the previously selected 16 squads are:

Team Deutsche Telekom (Germany)
Domo - Farm Frites (Belgium)
Banesto (Spain)
Kelme-Costa Blanca (Spain)
O.N.C.E. (Spain)
U.S. Postal Service (USA)
Ag2R Prevoyance (France)
Bonjour (France)
Cofidis Le Credit Par Telephone (France)
Credit Agricole (France)
Festina (France)
Jean Delatour (France)
Fassa Bortolo (Italy)
Lampre - Daikin (Italy)
Mapei - Quick Step (Italy)
Rabobank (Netherlands)


Team Spot Available at Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous 24 Hour Race
Courtesy W.O.W.

We have had a last minute cancellation from one of our 5 person teams. Last Friday almost the entire team was laid off from work so they have had to withdraw from the race. The team spots have been sold out for months but this cancellation means that those that can act fast can get in to this extremely unique event on May 19-20. We take only 100 racers split between teams and solos. Everyone gets a cabin to sleep in, four wonderful meals, and a superb race course at the Mansfield Outdoor Centre (site of the 2001 Ontario MTB Prov. Championships). Please email or telephone W.O.W. at 905-567-7593 if you'd like to get this last team spot. As well we have room for 3 more solos racers. Full info at www.wowmtb.com


Kelso Ontario Cup Update
Courtesy W.O.W.

The course preparations are going extremely well for Round 2 of the Ont. Cup MTB Race Series on May 12/13. Early registration bonus t-shirts are just about gone so better register soon if you want one.

The new DH is shaping up just amazingly thanks to the work of many volunteers (special thanks to Peter Appleton and crew). There is a new lower section to the course with a brand new exit from the woods, and a bunch of new jumps and berms out on the ski hill. It's going to be awesome with the finish in front of the new chalet. Start is the same as last year, and the big rocky drop is back again. Its just about ready for training.

The cross country course has all sorts of changes as well. Each lap features 2 climbs of the escarpment for a serious test of lungs and legs. The XC course also uses the Cliff Edge trail for the first time ever (special thrills for those that like rocks). The Kelso Park Staff have also created a cross over bridge for the XC near the old chalet which means that the course can pass by the Start/Finish twice per lap. The big news is the brand new descent off of the hill. It twists and turns over a series of bridges in a steep ravine. Good bike handlers will be rewarded. Course marking for the XC starts on Friday morning (weather permitting). There will be enough arrows to get you around the course by Saturday morning. Course maps will be posted on the net by Sunday. Spokes 'N Slopes, the great sponsor of the Kelso OCUP, will be using the race course for their Tuesday night series on May 8th if you want to try it at speed. For full info and registration forms visit the W.O.W. web site at www.wowmtb.com


Espoir Cycling Bursary

Prior to the start of the well attended, hot and super fast, A-criterium on Tuesday, May 1st, Colin Burn was awarded the first part of the $1000.00 National Capital Region Espoir Cycling Bursary. The bursary also carries a free entry into the criterium series and a piece of bike jewelry courtesy of Bike-bodygear.com and a ticket to last season's Biker Bash. The financial contributors to the bursary include Full Cycle, Ottawa Bicycle Club and Seenite Sports. The bursary is to help espoir cyclists to attend events farther a field than local races. Currently the bursary is open to all mountain and road cyclists, however, interest through the donation of funds from local athletes may allow next season's bursary to be awarded to individual athletes from both disciplines.

The cycling community of the National Capital Region wish Colin the best for his first espoir season. I also ask all local cyclists to support and thank Full Cycle on St Laurent Blvd. and the Ottawa Bicycle Club for their financial contributions.

Ross D. Knight
Seenite Sports


Lukaszewicz Ninth

I am here in Poland getting ready for the Peace Race. I've done two races so far and in the last one G.P Weltur (1.5 UCI) I got 9th. Dominique Perras is here with his team for more races.


Espoir Liege-Bastogne-Liege

1 Ruslan Gryschenko Zoccorinese Vellutex Casa Selezione 4:27:00
2 Tom Boonen Kortrijk Groeninge Spurters at 0:09
3 Andrey Kashechkin Domo-Farm Frites
4 Jerome Pineau Vendee U
5 Lorenzo Bernucci Zoccorinese Vellutex Casa Selezione all s.t.

28 Cory Lange Canada 1:02


Cyclesmith Big Ring, Big Tide Road Race - Nova Scotia
Report and results courtesy of Sara Francis

Maitland, N.S. was home to the 5th annual Cyclesmith Big Ring, Big Tide Road Race on April 29th. In what many veteran racers described as the largest field they could ever remember being assembled for a road race in the Maritimes, 113 riders toed the line on a brilliantly sunny but cool day.

The Senior womens field saw N.B.'s Karen DeWolfe put in another strong out-of-province performance by edging Halifax's Ruth Coates for the win. Karen's team-mate Jane Mckeown was the third rider in this Radical Edge sandwich. Of particular note was the presence of as many as 6 first time women road racers in the 16 rider field, a trend we hope continues throughout the year!

Dynamic Duo Melanie and Dawn Jardine again used their excellent teamwork to put the hurt on the Canada Games Women's field by pulling away to a 9 minute lead over third place Kate Scallion.

The pride of PEI, Cory Jay, fresh back from training and racing in the States picked himself up of the tarmac quick enough from a late race crash to take the honours in the Canada Games Men's race. The race for the other podium positions was anything but decided, however, as an extremely deep Nova Scotia contingent of young  racers sprinted up the finishing climb. Less than a minute separated the next seven riders but in the end it was Cyclesmith's Mike Lawrence that snagged the second place cash and points over Spokebender's Jamie Lamb.

In the Senior Men's event, Race organizer Terry Tomlin exchanged his hat for a helmet long enough to frustrate a strong and determined Radical Edge (Fredericton) team. Midway into the race a break of 8 riders - Foster, Jay, Richardson, Mckeown, Betts, Chown, Coates and Tomlin - escaped and built a three minute lead over a disorganized pack. A late race crash, however, saw Richardson (Bike Club), Mckeown (Radical Edge) and Tomlin (Cyclesmith-Trek) escape with 18 kms to go. Tomlin attacked with 6km to go and soloed in and Mckeown edged Richardson on the final painful climb.

Many thanks go out to Bell Sports/Maxmarket (prizes), Maitland Historical Society (registration venue), the Maitland Boy Scouts (corner marshals) and the many volunteers that helped make this edition of the Big Ring a race to remember. The next race on the Maritime Road race calendar is May 6th in Dieppe (contact Mike's Bikes for details) followed by the ever popular and scenic Aspotogan Road Race on May 13th in lovely Bayswater, N.S.

Senior Men 1,2,3 - 92kms
1.Terry Tomlin, Cyclesmith/Trek, 2:26:07
2.Brian Mckeown, Radical Edge, 2:26:31
3.Matt Richardson, Bike Club, 2:26:43
4.Matt Betts, Radical Edge, 2:27:20
5.Nathan Chown, Radical Edge, 2:28:16

Canada Games Men - 92kms
1.Cory Jay, CPEI, 2:27:16
2.Mike Lawrence, Cyclesmith, 2:30:18
3.Jamie Lamb, Spokebenders, 2:30:27
4.Will Wong, Bike People, 2:30:27
5.Andrew Scott, CPEI, 2:30:27

Senior/Vet Women - 69 kms
1.Karen DeWolfe, Radical Edge, 2:13:08
2.Ruth Coates, ind. 2:13:19
3.Jane Mckeown, Radical Edge2:14:28
4.Sherry Huybers, Spokebenders,  2:18:59
5.Gwen Rowlands, Lunenburg Bike Barn, 2:22:26

Canada Games Women - 69kms
1.Melanie Jardine, Bike People, 2:35:56
2.Dawn Jardine, Bike People, 2:36:09
3.Kate Scallion, Spokebenders, 2:45:37
4.Laura Kindervater, Bike People, 2:45:55
5.Jodi Smith, CPEI, 2:49:17

Senior 4 Men - 69 kms
1.Clint Simmons, Ind, 2:04:09
2.James Atwood, Sea Level, 2:07:01
3.Peter Wood, Team Freewheeling, 2:07:24
4.Josh Mayich, Cyclesmith, 2:07:29
5.Sean McDonnell, 2:07:42

Vet Men - 69 kms
1.Mark Smith, Bicycles Plus, 2:03:42
2.David Stachon, Cyclesmith, 2:06:28
3.Stuart Inglis, Bicycles Plus, 2:06:40
4.Peter Campbell, Ind, 2:06:42
5.Pat Saulnier, Ind, 2:07:26

Novice Men -46kms
1.John Barrett, CPEI, 1:48:22

Novice Women - 46kms
1.Melanie Pearson, Ind, 2:02:32
2.Jean MacRae, Ind, 2:24:44

Under17/Under 15 - 46kms
1.Jason Lee, Ind, 1:34:47
2.Bobby Hennessey, CPEI, 1:41:40