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22.09.2006/, Off day for Joost Posthuma in Salzburg, Frank Vandenbroucke fun ride, Lance Armstrong to run New
York marathon, Hamilton ban ends today, World championships: Oreggia with positive A-probe, Ullrich: confusion about documents
Off day for Joost Posthuma in Salzburg
Like last year in Madrid, Joost Posthuma (picture) wasn’t able to play an important role during the
World Championship Time Trial. The Rabo, who performed rather well earlier this season, had a bad day and couldn’t find
his rhythm from the moment he started. In the end Posthuma finished 42nd and had to give in 6’37” to the new champion
Fabian Cancellara. The cyclist from Switzerland was just too strong and took the title in an astonishing
way.
Surprisingly both cyclists had no idea why they performed the way they did. “I am surprised myself as
everything went smoothly”, the man from Switzerland commented. On the other hand Joost Posthuma noted that he “wasn’t
able to ride a reasonable pace, not a single moment and I am completely blank why.” Also the second Dutch participant
Stef Clement didn’t do great, but at least he finished among the middle group. Clement who is the Dutch national
champion finished 24th at 4’16”.
The ranking of Posthuma is a bit of a disappointment because he was doing rather great earlier this year.
For example he became tenth and eleventh in the two important time trials of the Tour de France. In one of them Posthuma even
knew to outdo David Zabriskie, who was the runner up in Salzburg on Thursday. Perhaps an indication that the performance of
the Rabo in Austria isn’t one to be worried about.
Posthuma will also participate in the Road Race on Sunday, that will deal with mostly the same track as today.
“The track wasn’t to be blamed”, Posthuma remarked.“Of course it was tough but normally it suits me
well. Unfortunately not today as I couldn’t find my rhythm for one single moment.”
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| Joost Posthuma during this years Eneco-Tour (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Frank Vandenbroucke fun ride
VDB, signed a few weeks ago with Italian team Acqua & Sapone, will be present at a ride organized by
local amateur cyclist in Gerenzago (Pavia, Lombardia).
The fun ride will be on October 15 and is organized by locals who wanted to honour VDB.The return of VDB into
the professional peloton was remarkable, on Saturday September 16 he finished 19th in the GP Misano his first race
for the Acqua & Sapone squad.
Lance Armstrong to run New York marathon
Seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong announced that he will run the New York marathon in November.
In an intervie with Eurosport the Texan stated: "I would like to be fit enough to at least break three hours, but that may
be ambitious." Armstrong continued by saying:"But three hours would be nice. I would love to run a two hours, 30 minutes one
of these days, but that's like a dream."
Armstrong will use the New York marathon to help raise awareness and money for his foundation and cancer
research.The race takes place on November 5.
| Michael Schär - Eneco Tour 2006 |
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| Lance Armstrong & George Hincapie during last years Tour de France (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Hamilton ban ends today
Tyler Hamilton's ban ends officially today and can return to competition. However the USADA started a new
investigation because of Hamilton's alleged involvement in the Fuentes affair.
World championships: Oreggia with positive A-probe
The Austrian federation announced tha an anti-doping test of one of its U23 riders, Marco Oreggia, returned
positive on Thursday morning. The A probe of the 20 year-old contained traces of Erythropoietin (EPO).
Oreggia has one week to ask for the opening of the B sample and will be replaced by Georg Hausbacher.
Earlier Markus Eibegger and Christian Ebner, the two other Austrian U23 riders who left the training
camp as officials arrived to carry out out-of-competition controls only a few days ago were excluded
of the World's team.
Ullrich: confusion about documents
The President of the Swiss cycling federation, Lorenz Schläfli is still waiting for the authentication of
the documents about Jan Ullrichs alleged involvement in the Fuentes affair. UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told reporters earlier
this week that the UCI has send all the documents to the national federations. Schäfli told reporters yesterday that he has
come to the world championships to meet with UCI officials in order to find out why the Swiss federation didn't receive the
documents untill now.
Meanwhile there are rumours that Milram, Discovery Channel and Astana are interested in giving Ullrich a contract
if his name will be cleared. Milram send out a press release today that they are not negotiating with Ullrich or his
manager. The press release continued that Jan Ullrich doesn't play a role in the planning for the 2007 Milram team.
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| Jan Ullrich during this years Giro d' Italia (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
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