January 28/04 9:26 am - Canada Second in N.Z., Zierfuss Tributes, WADA-UCI Conflict, Bikers Wanted, Team Updates

Posted by Editor on 01/28/04
 

Canada Second in New Zealand

Team Canada has taken second place at the Trust House Tour in New Zealand, in the opening 7.4 kilometre team time trial. The team of Eric Wohlberg, Peter Wedge, Cory Lange, Charles Dionne and Dominique Perras finished behind the New Zealand national squad by 6 seconds.

Les Canadiens en bonne position

Montréal, le 27 janvier 2004 (Sportcom) - L'équipe canadienne composée de Charles Dionne, Dominique Perras, Eric Wohlberg, Cory Lange et Peter Wedge a pris le deuxième rang de l'étape initiale du Tour cycliste de Wellington, un contre-la-montre par équipe de 7,4 kilomètres, mercredi, en
Nouvelle-Zélande. L'équipe nationale locale, composée des membres de l'équipe de poursuite sur piste, a pris le premier rang avec une priorité de six secondes sur les Canadiens.

Le champion canadien du contre-la-montre individuel, Eric Wohlberg, a mené ses coéquipiers durant une bonne partie de l'épreuve. " Nous avons bien roulé. Notre rythme était soutenu, a indiqué Charles Dionne. Il y avait un peu d'adaptation à faire, mais tout s'est bien passé. Le contre-la-montre, c'est le domaine d'Eric et il a bien fait son travail. "

L'autre Québécois membre du contingent canadien, Dominique Perras, était lui aussi heureux de la tournure des événements : " C'est un premier effort cette saison et ça a fait mal ! Nous sommes en bonne position car l'écart n'est pas grand et nous n'aurons pas de maillot à défendre. "

Perras gardera un œil sur l'étape de samedi dont l'arrivée sera en ascension.


Hans Zierfuss Tributes Revised

We have collected various tributes to Hans Zierfuss that have been sent to us, and added them to the posting which went up January 17/04 at 9:45 am EST.


News from CCES

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport collects and sends out stories related to doping and cheating in sports. Occasionally we reprint ones of interest to the cycling community.

WADA president Pound sets sights on doping in cycling (source AFP)

PARIS - WADA president Dick Pound is once more taking UCI president Hein Verbruggen to task in the wake of the Cofidis doping controversy.

World Anti-Doping Agency boss Pound of Canada has continually been focusing on cycling as a problem area and Verbruggen, the world's top cycling official, is once more in his sights, Le Monde newspaper reported on Tuesday.

"Even the UCI president must admit there is a problem in cycling and that it has been going on for a 100 years," Pound was quoted in Le Monde as saying.

"To eliminate doping is a challenge generally but cycling is a sport where the challenge is particularly difficult to deal with. The public has not been fooled.

"They know Tour de France cyclists and others have been taking prohibited substances. It's the same thing in the United States with American football."

Last September, Pound and Verbruggen clashed verbally after the publication of a report by three WADA observers on the 2003 Tour de France.

According to the report, the fight against doping in the event had strong, positive aspects but there were also bad points such as in testing procedures.

The UCI said they had lost confidence in WADA and decided to ban their observers from subsequent races.

Questioned on this controversy by Le Monde, Pound said "We have studied the report and we have decided nothing has changed. We are very satisfied with the work of our observers."

The Cofidis scandal broke earlier this month and police are continuing their investigations.

Rider Cedric Vasseur was taken into custody with team-mate Phillipe Gaumont - who will be charged after he admitted using the banned blood booster EPO - before being released 48 hours later.


Bikers Wanted for Video

I'm looking for some guys and girls to show their skills and trick in a movie/show i'm producing. I'm a hardcore biker for about the past eight years. I own my own production company and I thought it was time for a new biking show/movie. The reason I keep calling it a movie/show is because I'm still talking to a couple station about airing this show. If that doesn't happen then I'll make it a dvd, with local bands playing on the fully edited movie. We'd be taking road trip, street riding, skatepark riding, north shore, downhills, trails, and races. BMX and mountain bikers.

I'm from Georgetown Ontario and if you don't know where that is that's ok, no one does. It's next to Mississauga and Brampton, west of Toronto. Please contact me for more information, rawfootageproductions@yahoo.ca. Filming will start spring 2004 and go into the summer.

Alex Colthart
Owner and Producer
416 705 1531


TDS-Schwalbe Announces 2004 Team Roster

After enjoying a very successful first season, the TDS-Schwalbe High Speed Team is proud to announce its 2004 roster:

Anne Samplonius - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Joan Davies - Ramona, Calif.
Shawn Heidgen - Elburn, Ill.
Emily Gloeckner - Denver, Colo.
Erin Carter - Ste. Anne des Chenes, Manitoba, Canada
Andrea Ratkovic - Norman, Okla.
Megan Monroe - Ripon, Wis.
Karen Bockel - Waiblingen, Germany

The team will have four returning riders from 2003; Anne Samplonius, Joan Davies, Shawn Heidgen, and Emily Gloeckner. Samplonius, Davies, Heidgen, and Gloeckner all proved their durability, strength and consistency by competing in events all over the United States and Europe from March to October.

Joining the team in 2004 will be Erin Carter, Megan Monroe, Andrea Ratkovic, and Karen Bockel. Carter rode for TDS as a guest rider in 2003 at select events. She will continue to race on the Canadian National team at Track events with a goal of making the summer Olympics. One of the younger members of the team, her International-level experience makes her a strong addition to the team.

Monroe has competed in Road, Mountain Bike, and Cross Cycling while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She won the 2002 Under-23 U.S. Cross Championship and more recently, the 2003 collegiate title. Monroe is a talented climber who hopes to leave her mark on the National level while learning from her experienced teammates.

Ratkovic makes a return this year to full-time cycling after three years of competing in multi-sport events. In 2001 and 2002, she was the U.S. Pro Duathalon Champion. Prior to 2001, Ratkovic rode for the dominant Autotrader.com Team. Her aggressive riding style and high energy will be an asset to TDS-Schwalbe, while working hard for various teammates.

Bockel has quietly established herself as one of the top Stage Racers in North America over the last four years. Although she is considered a threat in climbing stages, she is also a danger on the General Classification. Karen will be a valuable asset to the new line-up.

The TDS-Schwalbe team will be traveling to Spain in late January for training camp and early season racing before returning to the U.S. to start the National Racing Circuit in North America.

"We are very fortunate to have this group that is full of youth, experience, energy and motivation," says Karl Heidgen, Team Manager. More information about Team TDS-Schwalbe can be found at www.tdstelecom.com/biketeam.

Team sponsors include TDS Telecom, Schwalbe North America, Salsa Cycles, Gensan Nutritional, Tifosi Eyewear, Kinesys Performance Sunscreen, Cateye Computers, Soles Custom footbeds, Racin Jason Lubricants, Saris bike racks, Cyclops fluid trainers, Northwave shoes, Limar helmets, Biemme clothing, and Sockguy.

Schwalbe North America makes every effort to contribute to the sport of cycling by sponsoring youth, amateur, and professional cyclists as they pursue their individual and team goals. Schwalbe is also dedicated to providing outstanding customer service, consistency, and a superior product at competitive prices and pride themselves on being able to accommodate cyclists in all disciplines of the sport.


Norco Signs BC Cup Pro DH Champ Kyle Guay
Courtesy Norco

January 26, 2004, Port Coquitlam, BC - Norco Performance Bikes, one of North America's leading producers of high quality mountain bikes, components, and clothing, is proud to announce that it has signed North Vancouver local, 19 year old Kyle Guay, to its 2004 Factory program.

Finishing a stellar season in 2003 with a BC Cup Pro Men's Down Hill title win under his belt, as well as a super respectable second place finish overall in BC Cup 4 Cross competition, Kyle is poised and ready to charge onto the scene in '04. Joining team mates Mike Jones and Hugo Donais will only push this young protege to new heights as he tests his speed and stealth wit on and off the race course this season. Team Manager Dave Devlin says "this kid is hungry to be the best and he has all the potential to get there."

Kyle spends his time out of the saddle wrenching and manning the sales floors of John Henry Bike Shop. He can also be found at many local dirt jump parks honing his skills for 4 Cross racing; you can't miss this guys buttery style.

Look for Kyle on the BC Cup race series this season as he will be back to defend his Pro Men's Downhill title and find his way to the top of the podium in Pro Men's 4 Cross competition.