May 8/03 11:03 am - Team Coast Suspended, Hamilton Worlds Receives 1.25 Million Trillium Grant, Four Days of Dunkirk, Crud to Mud DH, Parisien in France

Posted by Editoress on 05/8/03
 

Team Coast Suspended, Again...
Courtesy UCI

The UCI has recorded that Team Coast TT has still not paid the April salary owed to its riders.

This situation unfortunately demonstrates that the structural problems of this TT remain severe, despite all steps that were undertaken by the UCI to protect the interest of the riders.

Consequently, and according to the UCI Regulations, Team Cost is suspended with immediate effect.

Reinstatement of this TT is submitted to the introduction of structural or other measures providing for a sufficient guarantee that the obligations will be executed until the end of the year.

Team Coast TT is therefore not authorized as of today, to participate to any events on the international calendar.



Hamilton Worlds Receives 1.25 Million Trillium Grant
Courtesy 2003 Road Worlds

Photos

At a media conference held today in Hamilton, Ontario, the Hamilton 2003 Road World Championships Festival Committee was the recipient of a $1.25 million grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It is the largest grant to be awarded by the Trillium Foundation to an organization or event.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. Ontario Trillium Foundation grants are awarded to fund capital, operating and/or specific project costs in support of: Arts & Culture, Environment, Human & Social Services, and Sports & Recreation. The Foundation makes grants that have province-wide impact as well as grants in local communities across Ontario.

The Hamilton 2003 Festival will present a series of arts, cultural and entertainment events that will provide a great opportunity for community involvement with the World Cycling Championships. The Road World Championships will be held in Hamilton from October 6 to 12. The Hamilton
2003 Festival will be comprised of events created and managed by the Festival Committee and the second element will be partnerships with existing events and organizations.

The Trillium Foundation funding will assist the Hamilton 2003 Festival in planning, promoting and staging a schedule of events, as well as training, feeding and outfitting the volunteer base of between 2,000 to 3,000 individuals required for the Road World Championships.

Events for the Hamilton 2003 Festival include:


• Gearing Up for World Cycling, a charity fundraising event will be held in partnership with the United Way on September 24 with corporate teams raising funds through a stationary bike challenge

• Opening Ceremonies at Copps Coliseum on Sunday, October 5 with a welcome from the Federal, Provincial and Municipal Government as well as diversified entertainment to appeal to families in the local community and to visitors

• A delegation from the Verona 2004 Organizing Committee will hold a reception at Liuna Station on Thursday, October 9 at which time they will make a presentation to the cycling fraternity

• Gala Dinner to be held on Friday, October 10 at the Hamilton Convention Centre

• Six Nations Pow Wow during the week of the event, dates and location to be confirmed

• Hamilton Regional Arts Council in association with World Cycling is presenting a Festival of Arts at Hamilton Place on October 10 including native dance groups and Inuit throat singers from the Northwest
Territories

• Hamilton Regional Arts Council is also presenting an Arts and Entertainment Market on the rooftop of Jackson Square from Wednesday, October 8 to Sunday, October 12, this will be comprised of local artists and the entertainers will encompass many different art forms and cultures

• "Rib Row" featuring great food and entertainment will be put on by the International Village and the Downtown Business Improvement Association from Thursday, October 9 until Saturday, October 11 from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Ferguson Station, on Ferguson Avenue North between King and King William Streets

• Hess Village - the Gown & Gavel is partnering with Gears Bike Shop to stage the largest outdoor "Spin Class" ever seen in the area immediately following the races on Thursday, October 9 and Friday, October 10, both Corporate and Private Sector participants will help to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Society

• A Community Outreach Team comprised of four individuals has been formed and beginning in the middle of May will appear at community events and festivals throughout the region to distribute information on the World Championships and promote the event

• Wheels to Art - a national marketing initiative promoting that seeks to promote art related to the Road World Championships in Hamilton. This will be a cultural celebration and cross-promotion of sites and events in Hamilton and Niagara that will take place from May to October.

• Local artist Stephen J. Arthurs has completed an agreement with the Festival to produce original artwork which will be retailed on a limited edition basis; all prints will have a cycling theme

• The Hamilton 2003 Festival Committee is also in the planning stages of other events, which will incorporate a cycling theme and will have a very positive benefit for the community.

Jack Pelech is the Chair of the Hamilton 2003 Festival Committee, Cecelia Carter-Smith is Vice-Chair, Wayne Schreuer is Executive Director and Shannon Martin is Executive Assistant. The Festival Office is located at 149 Main Street East in Hamilton (corner of Main St E. and Walnut), the telephone number is (905) 524-3378.

Other members of the Festival Committee include David Adames and Maria Fortunato from Tourism Hamilton, Craig Dowhaniuk from the Morgan Firestone Foundation, Vincenza Travale, as well as Neil Lumsden, Giuseppe Ferrara and Norm Miller from the Hamilton 2003 Organizing Committee.

Jack Pelech, Festival Chair commented, "The Festival surrounding the Road World Championships represent an exceptional opportunity for the community to truly be involved outside of the actual races themselves. We would invite local organizations and individuals that wish to be involved with the Festival to please contact our office. In October, our city of Hamilton will welcome the world and we want to ensure that our guests feel welcome and enjoy their time here as spectators of the Road World Championships."

"We have a unique opportunity, through our $1.25 million grant to the Festival and volunteerism, to build on the strengths of a vibrant Ontario community," said OTF Chair Robert G. Power. "In addition to putting Ontario on the map for cycling enthusiasts from around the globe, this event will provide a tremendous injection of expertise and new opportunities for participation in our community's volunteer sector. This legacy will continue to benefit Hamilton long after the last competitor has cycled over the finish line," said Mr. Power.


Four Days of Dunkirk - France

Stage 2 - Sin-le-Noble to Bapaume 201 km

1 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 4:36:55
2 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance
3 Rudi Kemna (Ned) BankGiroLoterij Cycling Team
4 Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
6 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim
7 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf
8 Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère
9 Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon
10 Allan Bo Andresen (Den) Team fakta

54 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick.Step-Davitamon
65 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank
70 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon
93 David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal
103 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal
120 Christian Van De Velde (USA) US Postal all s.t.

GC

1 Frederic Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour 8:52:13
2 Stephane Berges (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance at 0:06
3 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 2:11
4 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2r-Prevoyance 2:15
5 Rudi Kemna (Ned) BankGiroLoterij Cycling Team 2:17
6 Tom Steels (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago s.t.
7 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 2:18
8 Michel Van Haecke (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
9 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole both s.t.
10 Benoit Joachim (Lux) US Postal 2:19

57 Michael Barry (Can) US Postal 2:21
61 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank
72 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick.Step-Davitamon
78 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon
92 David Zabriskie (USA) US Postal
110 Christian Van De Velde (USA) US Postal all s.t.

Points Standings

1 Frederic Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour 28 points
2 Yuri Mitlushenko (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 26
3 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 23
4 Stephane Berges (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance 21
5 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 20

Mountains Standings

1 Stephane Berges (Fra) Ag2r-Prevoyance 6 points
2 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank 6
3 Frederic Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour 4
4 Mederic Clain (Fra) Cofidis-Le Credit par Telephone 3
5 Marlon Perez (Col) 05 Orbitel 3


Crud to Mud - Whistler, B.C.

Whistler, May 8, 2003 - There aren't many places on earth where you can ski or snowboard in the morning and mountain bike in the afternoon, or vice versa. During the spring in Whistler, you can. To celebrate Whistler's unique diversity, Whistler Blackcomb and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park are hosting the 2nd Annual Crud to Mud Downhill, on Monday, May 19.

The event showcases the best of spring-time in both of Whistler's worlds. Participants ski or snowboard from the top of Whistler Mountain to the bottom of the snow line, where their bikes and equipment lay waiting. Once they've struggled out of their boots and are clipped into their bike pedals, participants race through A-line, the most popular advanced run in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

"The Crud to Mud is awesome; I had so much fun last year," said Jen Ashton, Whistler Freeride Team member, and the 2002 female Crud to Mud winner. "I was exhausted after the skiing portion, and then I was completely frazzled when I was trying to change from my ski gear into my bike gear."

The event coincides with the official opening weekend of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, as well as the first ever ESPN X Games Global Championship.

Registration for the Crud to Mud Downhill is open to all strong intermediate to expert skiers, snowboarders and riders. Participants can enter the following categories: open male, open female, open junior (male and female, 18 and younger), and open teams of two (male/female teams are welcome). Pre-registration is mandatory, and is available through Whistler Blackcomb Guest Reservations, at 604.932.3434 or 1.800.766.0449. Registration costs $30 for individuals, and $40 for teams of two, and the event begins promptly at 10:00am on Monday morning.

To find out more about the Crud to Mud Downhill, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and skiing and snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb during the summer, visit www.whistlerblackcomb.com.


Parisien termine dans le deuxième groupe

Montréal, le 8 mai 2003 (Sportcom) - Le vainqueur de la première étape du Tour de l'Essor breton, Cyrille Monnerais, 20 ans, a bien résumé la journée que les cyclistes venaient de vivre. " J'étais le moins cramé des cramés ", a lancé le coureur de Bretagne U Plouvien à l'arrivée.

François Parisien, seul Québécois à prendre le départ, abondait dans le même sens. " Le parcours de 150 km se terminait par cinq boucles d'un même circuit et il y avait une méchante bosse. Si le peloton s'est présenté à la première boucle groupé, ça n'a pas été long que ça s'est égrainé ", a raconté le cycliste qui porte les couleurs du VC Pontivy en France et des Espoirs de Laval au Québec.

" Depuis le Ruban granitier - une course à étape - je n'ai pas touché à mon vélo. Après cinq jours sans rouler, il fallait que je redémarre le moteur, il était plutôt enfumé. Lorsque tu vis une coupure comme celle-là, tu te sens mou, t'as pas de punch, t'es même un peu vache ", a imagé Parisien qui a soufflé ses 21 chandelles la semaine dernière.

Parisien a terminé dans le second groupe à 3 minutes trente secondes de Monnerais. " Je ne vise vraiment rien au classement général. Si je pouvais faire ma marque dans une ou deux étapes, ça serait bien ", a reconnu le Repentignois, qui utilise l'Essor breton comme préparation à un tour hollandais de dix étapes qui commence la semaine prochaine.

Vendredi, les coureurs ont droit à un contre-la-montre par équipe entre Kersaint-Plabennec et Saint-Thonan et une étape de 120 km entre Landerneau et Plouguerneau.