January 22/02 5:30 am - Wohlberg, Bessette, B.C., DiGuistini, MS Ride, Qatar

Posted by Editor on 01/22/02
 

Update to Team Canada for Tour de Langkawi
Courtesy CCA

The CCA has announced that Saturn pro Eric Wohlberg will be replacing Alexandre Lavalee (Montreal) in the Tour de Langkawi team. Wohlberg is very familiar with Langkawi, and has won a stage here in the past.


Bessette Update

We have not heard back from Lyne Bessette yet regarding the CCA denial of her appeal to represent Canada at the Cyclo-cross Worlds, but we did want to clear up an erroneous report from another website stating that the COA (Canadian Olympic Committee) had something to do with the refusal.

There is no one from the COA on the High Performance Committee, and in no way are they involved in the decision (and there is no valid reason that we can think of that they would be). We checked with National Team Co-ordinator Sean O'Donnell at the CCA and he was just as surprised as us to hear of this bizarre conspiracy theory.


New B.C. Insurance Plan
Courtesy Cycling BC

Cycling BC has elected to opt out of the CCA insurance program and has purchased coverage which is not only more comprehensive but also cheaper for our members.

You can get details of the new plan here:

www.cycling.bc.ca/files/insurance-memo-to-clubs.htm
www.cycling.bc.ca/files/insurance-memo-to-members.htm


Diet Rite Signs Agreement to Sponsor Women's Cycling Team
Courtesy Podium Sports Management

PLANO, TEXAS, Jan. 22, 2002 - Diet Rite, a popular diet soft drink brand, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Boulder-based Podium Sports Management, Inc. to sponsor a women's professional cycling team.

"We are thrilled to be involved with the exciting sport of women's cycling," said Kate Cox, brand manager for Diet Rite. "Diet Rite is a healthier soft drink choice that tastes good and makes you feel good about yourself. By partnering with a women's pro cycling team, we are reaching our key consumers, who want to lead active, healthy lives, in a way that's meaningful to them."

While the Diet Rite Women's Cycling Team may be new, the names on the roster should be recognizable to cycling fans. The core of the roster is based on last years Proctor & Gamble team ( 3rd in the 2001 Pro Tour ) with returning riders Cheryl Binney, Kori Kelly, Mina Pizzini and sprint ace Joanne Kiesanowski. Adding strength and depth to the new Diet Rite team will be 2000 Pro Tour winner Tina Mayolo-Pic and super stage race talent Cybil DiGuistini, who returns to North America after a season in Europe. Rounding out the roster are some developing talents in Junior Track Worlds silver medalist Sarah Hammer and Colorado criterium queen Kerry Soraci.

The Diet Rite Women's Cycling Team will be competing in a full national schedule starting with the NRC opener in Merced, Calif., on March 2-3.

"I'm very excited about the new roster and having Diet Rite on board as our title sponsor," said Jeff Corbett, director of the Diet Rite team. "These women are coming to compete, and I think they'll surprise a lot of people this season."

The Diet Rite Women's Cycling Team is also proud to welcome a host of new industry sponsors led by new bike sponsor Masi. Masi is a name steeped with tradition but is now offering a new, very modern and technologically advanced line of bikes. Joining Masi will be Time, with a full compliment of forks, shoes and pedals. Additional product sponsors include Bell, Rudy Project, Verge, and Cane Creek.

Once the season starts, fans can follow the Diet Rite team every week at TeamDietRite.com


4th Annual Roller Ride for Multiple Sclerosis

Mark Hopper will attempt his 4th annual charity ride for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He dropped us a short note to state his intentions.

I am planning to repeat my 1000km roller ride at this year's Toronto International Bicycle Show. Last year, my third attempt, was the first that I completed the 1000km and in the process managed to raise some money and awareness of MS.

This year fellow Randonneur Larry Strung will join me in trying to set his own personal roller record.

If you plan to attend the show, be sure to drop by the MS booth, make a donation and lend a few words of encouragment to Mark. The Toronto International Bicycle Show takes place March 1-3.


Tour of Qatar

Stage 1 - Doha 117 km

1 Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Alexia Alluminio 2:43:44
2 Luciano Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Lampre-Daikin
3 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux
4 Thorsten Wilhelms (Ger) Team Coast
5 Miguel Martin Perdiguero (Esp) Acqua e Sapone-Cantina Tollo
6 Christophe Capelle (Fra) Bigmat.Auber 93
7 Rudi Kemna (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
8 Damien Nazon (Fra) Bonjour
9 Allan Bo Andresen (Den) Team Fakta
10 Guido Trenti (USA) Acqua e Sapone-Cantina Tollo

53 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC Tiscali
55 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom all s.t.

Stage 2 - Al Zubarah to Doha 131 km

1 Damien Nazon (Fra) Bonjour 3:04:16
2 Jeremy Hunt (GBR) Bigmat.Auber 93
3 Thorsten Wilhelms (Ger) Team Coast
4 Christophe Capelle (Fra) Bigmat.Auber 93
5 Andre Korff (Ger) Team Coast
6 Rudi Kemna (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
7 Miguel Angel Meza (Mex) Team Colpack-Astro
8 Steffen Radochla (Ger) Team Coast
9 Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Alexia Alluminio
10 Alexandre Chouffe (Fra) St Quentin-Oktos

36 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom
46 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC-Tiscali all s.t.

GC

1 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Team Fakta 5:47:50
2 Luciano Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Lampre-Daikin at 0:02
3 Damien Nazon (Fra) Bonjour 0:04
4 Ivan Quaranta (Ita) Alexia Alluminio s.t.
5 Jeremy Hunt (GBR) Bigmat.Auber 93 0:06
6 Rudi Kemna (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus 0:07
7 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC-Tiscali
8 Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux both s.t.
9 Thorsten Wilhelms (Ger) Team Coast 0:08
10 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) La Francaise Des Jeux s.t.

43 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 0:10