| 10/17/2001 | + RACING
17.10.2001 17.10.2001 Milano-Torino ITA 1.1 MEL
Italian Mirko Celestino (Saeco), won the three-man sprint today, to take the LXXXVI edition of Milano-Torino, which was raced from Novate Milanese to Piemonte over 203 kms. Celestino beat Swiss Niki Aebersold (Coast) and Italian Eddy Mazzoleni (GS Tacconi Sport-Caldirola). The race had a fast start, registering an average speed of 45 kph in the first three hours. That prevented any escape attempts from coming to fruition. It wasn't until km 139 when an escape materialized from Peers, Hruska and Ferrari, who were later joined by Paolo Valoti. They would eventually be joined by other riders, making up a leading group of 26. This group would dangle in front at about 30 seconds from a chasing peloton led by Fassa Bortolo and Alexia. The breakaway lasted until there were 49 kms to go.
There were other attempts after that, but they didn't prosper. With 25 kms to go, in the vicinity of the climb of Superga, there was an attack by Spaniard Eladio Jimenez (Ibanesto.com), who was joined by Jaksche, Blaudzun, Sciandri, Duma and Nardello. These six riders were also caught, as well as another attempt by Gilberto Simoni, Ginaluca Valoti, Danilo Di Luca and Luttenberger, who tried to get away on the descent.
The peloton reached Torino as a compact group and it was only in the final meters that Celestino, Aebersold and Mazzoleni moved away and disputed the sprint amongst themselves in the Fausto Coppi Velodrome.
RESULTS:
1. Mirko Celstino (ITA/Saeco) 4h 25.06 (45.719 kph)
2. Nike Aebersold (SUI/Coast) s.t.
3. Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA/Tacconi) s.t.
4. Tomas Konecny (RCE/Domo Farm) at 04"
5. Fabio Sacchi (ITA/Saeco) at 04"
6. Raphael Schweda (GER/Coast) at 04"
7. Mathew Hayman (AUS/Rabobank) at 04"
8. Mykhaylo Khalilov (UKR/Selle) at 04"
9. Mathé Pronk (HOL/Rabobank) at 04"
10. Peter Luttenberger (AUT/Tacc.) at 04"
Recent Past Winners:
1990 Mauro Gianetti (Swi)
1991 Davide Cassani
1992 Gianni Bugno
1993 Rolf Sorensen (Den)
1994 Francesco Casagrande
1995 Stefano Zanini
1996 Daniele Nardello
1997 Laurent Jalabert (Fra)
1998 Niki Aebersold (Swi)
1999 Markus Zberg (Swi)
2000 Not held
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+ NEWS
THE CASERO SITUATION
Spaniard Angel Casero, recent winner of the Vuelta a España has been negotiating with teams for 2002, after his Team Festina decided to sop sponsoring a cycling team. One of the teams that have been mentioned as being interested in Casero has been Team Kelme, but negotiations have not been as simple as expected. It turns out that The Community of Valencia, which is one of the team's co-sponsors had offered to increase their financial involvement in the team, in order to pay for Casero's salary. But this is not sufficient for Team Kelme, because the salaries that they pay their riders are too small
and that could cause problems if they signed a rider with a salary much higher than the rest. In addition to that, the team is in the middle of negotiations to improve the contracts with Sevilla, Botero, Vicioso and Quique Gutierrez and they don't want budgets to shoot through the roof.
Casero is asking for 190 million pesetas a year (US$1 million), plus bonus for results, which seems to be the amount that is being contributed by the government of Valencia. But Kelme is offering 120 million pesetas (US$655,000), with no bonuses and including the salaries of his brother Rafael and Vicario, which also rode with him at Festina and Casero wants to bring. Kelme wants to use the rest of the money to increase the contract with their current riders. Casero's camp assures that negotiations are going well and they are not desperate after receiving offers from Lampre, Saeco and more recently from German Team Coast. He has also spoken to Manolo Saiz from Team ONCE-Eroski.
The Spanish media has also reported a controversy with Kelme's team doctor, Eufemiano Fuentes. According to sources, the Kelme doctor had consultations with Casero during the Vuelta, while he was in direct competition with Kelme's Sevilla, which would seem to indicate a conflict of interest. But the good doctor has responded that he has a clause in his contract with Kelme, which allows him to treat riders from outside Kelme. Fuentes denies any contact with Casero: "I don't care if people say that I'm the doctor for Casero, Armstrong, Bush or Bin Laden. I don't care what they publish. Those that are affected by
it will clarify it, if they want to. I'm not treating Casero at this point, but if I was, I wouldn't say it, respecting the patient-doctor relationship". The Spanish cycling newspaper Meta2Mil, claims to have a recording of a message left by Dr. Fuentes in Casero's voice mail.
Casero on his part had the following comments about the dilemma with the doctor: "That matter is in the hands of my lawyers, they have told me not to comments anything, but it is false". About the possibility of sharing the team leadership with Sevilla at Kelme, he had this comments: "I wouldn't have a problem sharing the lead with Sevilla, since it is better for a team to have two serious alternatives, rather than one".
2002 TOUR DE FRANCE
It looks like there has been a leak about the route of the coming Tour de France, since the announcement is not programmed until later on in the month. But the reports say that the 2002 version could be more interesting than the previous one. After a Prologue in Luxembourg, the riders would re-enter France traversing Metz, to slowly head to Brittany, after passing by Normandy. The peloton will then head to Plouay, place where the 2000 World Championships were held. Then the race will head towards southwest France, with a transfer to Bordeaux and a stage in the Pirenees. The peloton will
then head to the Alps, where the riders will face Les Deux Alpes and La Plagne. As it is not traditional, the Tour will then head to Paris.
EL CHAVA'S END OF THE SEASON
Jose Maria Jimenez (iBanesto.com), will not take part in the Escalada a Montjuic due to problems with a knee. Accoring to the team doctor, the problem may require surgery, which could mean an end of the season for Jimenez.
HOUR RECORD ATTEMPT
Thirty three year old German Thomas Liese (Team Nuernberger), will attempt to break Chris Boardman's Hour Record at the Berlin velodrome on Saturday. Liese, who returned to professional cycling last year after a 12-year break, rated his chances of beating the 49.441 kilometres set by Boardman last October at 50/50. "If I have a good day, anything is possible, said Liese.
SIMEONI SUSPENDED
The Antidoping commission of the Italian Olympic Team has demanded that the Italian Cycling Federation suspend Filippo Simeoni (Cantina Tollo-Acqua Sapone) for six months for the use of banned substances.www.infociclismo.com
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