|
10.03.2007/ Vuelta Murcia: Brown won stage 3, Cooke new overall leader, Casper
wins first stage Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Jan Ullrich not at Volksbank presentation, Stefano
Zanini hit by a car while training, Alex Efimkin takes Giro del Capo's stage and overall lead,
Christian Müller wants to score at stage races
Mailbox - win a nice surprise with Original Autograph of Jan Ullrich
Letterbox: You can send your letters with ideas, comments and other things you would like to let us and
our readers to know to: letters@cyclingheroes.de . Some of the letters will be published on our website. We can only publish letters with your full name, hometown
and country.
The editor choose every month "The letter of the month". The writer of the best letter in March 2007
will receive a nice surprise with original handwritten autograph of Jan Ullrich.
|
Jörg Jaksche: no team and without investigation
Special coverage Jan Ullrich retires
New: Will Puerto be archived?
Vuelta Murcia: Brown won stage 3, Cooke new overall leader
Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) is the new leader in Vuelta a Murcia. Cooke finished second in today's stage and
takes over the leader jersey from José Joaquin Rojas. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) won the third stage, a 146-kilometer route from
Puerto Lumbreras to San Pedro del Pinatar, in a bunch sprint.
"It was a fairly uneventful stage, where three riders escaped early, but they were caught by the peloton without
drama and without ever posing any threat. Towards the end we tried to line JJ Haedo up for the sprint, but unfortunately he
was boxed in, which is what happens sometimes, I guess," said CSC sports director Kim Andersen after the stage.
"Saturday's
time trial is where the battle begins, and I think we have potentials in both Jens Voigt and Lars Bak," concluded Kim Andersen.
Casper wins first stage Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
Jimmy Casper (Unibet.com) has won the first stage of Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen today. Casper was the
best in a bunch sprint at the end of the race.
"Our team started heading the peloton at 12 kilometres from the finsih
line and totally focussed on the stage win with Jimmy Casper", explained Unibet.com team leader Hilaire Van Der Schueren.
"Erwin Thys and Stijn Vandenbergh did an excellent job for the team, while Marco Zanotti perfectly piloted Jimmy Casper in
the final. A nice victory."
|
| Baden Cooke took over the overall lead at Murcia (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Jan Ullrich not at Volksbank presentation
Team Volksbank announced today that Jan ullrich will not attend at the Volksbank team presentation.
The presentation will take place in Vienna. At the team website Ullrich was quoted saying: "For
me it's important that there is only one to the fore at the team launch, namely the Volksbank-team. Due to reportings of the
media during the last few days and weeks, I doubt that this would be the case if i was present. It isn't about individuals
but it's about the team, that contains 17 ambitious riders. At this, the name Jan Ullrich shouldn't be to the fore. Together
we can achieve great things as soon as the situation has cleared up", Ullrich said.
Volksbank team manager Thomas Kofler
said: "Jan is convinced of our team. There is passion and zeal for cycling sports behind it for Jan as well as for us. This
is why i understand and accept his proposal that proves that our relationship is based on friendship and trust."
Ullrich's press officer Michael lang told Cyclingheroes yesterday that Ullrich is very happy with the Volksbank
squad.
Jan Ullrich is in South Africa at the moment. The winner of the 1997 Tour de France takes part at the Cape
Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour and will ride 110 kilometers along with 35.000 participants to raise money for
the Starfish and Imibala charities. Imibala Charity supports disadvantaged children in grade school and the Starfish Foundation helps
children orphaned by AIDS.
Ullrich told German website sz-online.de: "No child should stand aside. That's essential in sports
and everyday life." Dave Bellairs, organiser of the Argus-Tour and vice-president of the South African Cycling Federation
is glad to have such a prominent guest: "Our jubilee edition of the event is being valorized with this. Jan is popular
in South-Africa." Asked about the allegations against Ullrich, Bellairs said: "There were only suspicions. Jan was in a very
good shape, he would have won the Tour again. As long as they can't proof an offence he is innocent."
|
| Jan Ullrich is in South Africa at the moment (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Stefano Zanini hit by a car while training.
Stefano Zanini has been hit by a car while training in Italy yesterday. An apparently
harmless accident turned later on to be a badly torn muscle, which will put an end to the spring time activities of our Italian
rider. So no Tirreno-Adriatico, no Milaan-San Remo and no Coppa Bartoli for our Stefano. His replacement will be designated
after the West Flander's 3-days.
Alex Efimkin takes Giro del Capo's stage and overall lead
Alex Efimkin (Barloworld) took Friday's
third stage and the overall lead at the Giro del Capo, replacing his South-African team-mate Ryan Cox.
The Russian
rider attacked a lead group of three on the final climb (when he was 2 km to go) to get a solo win after 125,9 km from Visserhok
to Malanshoogte. Another Team Barloworld rider, Felix Cardenas, place forth in this stage, while Cox felt over 2 minutes behind.
Cox
is now second on the GC and Cardenas third. Looking forward Saturday's decisive Signal Hill time-trial (5,5 km).
Christian Müller wants to score at stage races
This season’s Skil-Shimano team is made up of 25 cyclists. Christian Müller is one
of the seven newcomers. The 25-year-old German has represented ProTour team CSC these past two seasons. He doesn’t view
his switch to Pro Continental team Skil-Shimano as a retreat though, but rather as an advance. ‘It may appear to be
a step back, but I don’t see it like that at all,’ says Müller. ‘At CSC I was one of the many riders; at
Skil-Shimano I hope to mature into one of the leaders of the team. All things being equal I can ride for myself more and I’ll
be given more responsibility. I like riding in a smaller team. The team’s mindset appeals to me a lot. Everyone is motivated
to show what they can do this season.’
The German time trial rider experienced two teambuilding survival camps with CSC. ‘I
have to say I was very impressed the first time, but it isn’t exactly fun. You get six hours’ sleep for three
days and you hardly eat. You’re all in the same boat, which brings you together. We did a lot of sailing last year and
we had to endure a lot of cold weather, so I cannot say I missed the camp this year. At Skil-Shimano we had a training camp
in Majorca, where I got to know my team-mates well.’
Müller won the European and German time trial for youths in 2004.
This season he wants to forge a reputation in stage races. ‘I also hope to be selected for the time trial world championship,
which will be held in Stuttgart. It would be nice to take part in a championship on home soil.’
|
