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04.07.2007/ Rabobank is ready for the
Tour, Michael Boogerd Foundation starts, Skil-Shimano renewed sponsor contracts, CNN changes air date of show
featuring Daniel Sheret
Mailbox - win a picture in poster format with Original Autograph of Michael Boogerd
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.
Please note: your letter should not be longer than 350 words. The editor choose every month "The letter of the month".
The writer of the best letter in June 2007 will receive a picture in 20 X 30 CM format with original handwritten
autograph of Michael Boogerd.
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Special Coverage Tour de France 2007
Toyota United's Sean P. Tucker: "There are ... only two ways to fix the problem of doping"
Stuttgart is considering to cancel world championships
Quickstep doctor Yvan Van Mol accused of importing PEDs
Jaksche will cooperate with authorities
Jaksche: "The team management knew everything"
Luigi Cecchini: "If media is creating a certain image of you you can't really fight it"
N.O.S.: CSC won't sign UCI charter
New: CSC: To sign or not to sign?
New: Godefroot and Astana part ways
New: CONI investigating Stanga after 'new' doping investigations
New: Unibet.com out of AIGCP!
Rabobank
is ready for the Tour
"Our team is very similar to the one last year," said Erik Breukink at the Rabobank team presentation at the
Holland Casino in Valkenburg on Monday morning. "We are able to compete in every category; Menchov for the classification,
Freire in the sprint stages and Rasmussen in the mountain stages. I am curious about Thomas, but I also have full confidence
in his debut. Additionally, we have four other guys who the team is going to really need. Lastly, Michael Boogerd (picture),
who is a very important asset with his experience. He can be so important for his captains during the decisive moments."
The man from The Hague did, however, indicate that he will need the first week to get more in shape. "In other
years, I started strongly and felt weaker while nearing the end of the race. Right now, I am not feeling that well because
of a knee injury, and hopefully I can finish strongly this time around. Am I thinking about the fact that this will be last
Tour? Actually no, but those thoughts might hit me when we are in Paris. But first, I want to play a prominent role in the
race and be there for my teammates during the tough moments."
Dekker hopes for a debut à la Weening
Thomas Dekker also thinks he will need the first
stages to get in good condition. "I have, after all, been plagued by a lingering hip injury the entire spring season. In hindsight,
I sometimes wonder how I was able to win both the classification in Romandie as well as that stage in Switzerland? I want
to support my captains as best as I can and when possible capture a nice prize. I was able to quickly get over missing the
Tour last year. My body simply said no. That is frustrating, but I knew I could not venture anything. That makes it easier
to accept."
The just 22 year old rider – who, after the official part of the team presentation had ended, had to
answer most questions posed by journalists – would really like to copy Pieter Weening’s debut. The Frisian immediately
won a transitional stage in the 2005 edition. Weening: "I hope I can join an escape during one of the transitional stages
this year. I noticed last year that you should not take for granted that you are represented in an escape, no to say winning
it." Even though the last few days were characterized by fright and terror, the Rabo cyclist does not travel to London trembling
with fear. "It seems highly unlikely that they will pick me out. But, I hope they got everything under control there."
Bram de Groot well aware of task ahead
Bram de Groot also hopes he can just go at it
during a stage, but the rider also showed that he is well aware of the task ahead of him. "I am part of the team mainly to
help others. And who knows, I might have one good day. But I think this role is perfect; I have ridden so many races already
this season. Almost the complete spring season, except for Liege-Bastogne-Liege. I then took some rest, and started building
again the last couple of weeks."
The team leaders duo Breukink/ Erik Dekker had the final word in Valkenburg. "It is not a goal to perform
better than last year, because that was incredible, but we try to perform as well as we can," said the debuting team boss
("I will not let myself be surprised, but it will probably become a madhouse from now on"). "Last year, we quickly claimed
a stage victory with Freire, which had a tremendous impact. As long as the ball just starts rolling…", added Breukink.
"Then things will become a lot easier."
Michael
Boogerd Foundation starts
The
Rabobank Cycling Teams have started the Michael Boogerd Foundation. The foundation will support four charity funds on a structural
basis. Erik Dekker has been appointed as chairman of the Michael Boogerd Foundation.
Every day the Rabobank Cycling Teams get many requests for material, moral or financial supporter.
"We choose for support on a structural basis, rather than having a wide spread focus," explains the new commercial manager
of the Rabobank Cycling Teams, Mark van de Camp.
The Michael Boogerd Foundation will adopt four charity funds. Van de Camp: "We choose for
those funds that focus on ‘the child’, ‘moving’ and ‘health’. Those theme’s touch
our riders. They are very concerned with these theme's." The four charity funds the Rabobank Cycling Teams will cooperate
with, are: KiKa, Right to Play, War Child and Ride for Roses.
During the Tour de France in cooperation with Dutch newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad' attributes
of the Rabobank Cycling Team will be sold by auction. The entire proceeds will go to the Michael Boogerd Foundation.
At the end of November 2007, publisher 'De Buitenspelers' will publish a tribute to Michael
Boogerd and Erik Dekker by Dutch cycling journalists Peter Ouwerkerk, Joop Holthausen and Marije Randewijk. The special edition
of the book 'Michael & Erik, een tijdperk' (‘Michael & Erik, an era’), 2007 copies in total, will be signed
by both Boogerd and Dekker. The Michael Boogerd Foundation will transfer the profit from this special edition entirely to
the charity fund KiKa ('Kinderen Kankervrij'- no more cancer for children).
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| Michael Boogerd will start at his final Tour de France (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Skil-Shimano renewed sponsor contracts
Portable power tools manufacturer Skil Europe B.V. and the leading cycle component manufacturer Shimano Inc. will continue
to be the main sponsors of the Skil-Shimano professional cycling team through the 2008 season. The team made its debut
in the international professional cycling peloton in 2006. Skil has also expressed its intention to continue its links with
the team after 2008. The increased commitment of both main sponsors is underlined by their involvement in renewing the structure
of the team, making it ready for the future in organizational terms.
From 2008 the team will operate under
a new and transparent business structure. This will provide the basis for achieving the strategic goals of the team (further
internationization of activities, talent development and strict observation of ethical principles), through which the team
and its sponsors intend to make a positive contribution to the future of cycle racing. The new managing director of the Skil-Shimano
pro cycling team from 1 January 2008 will be Iwan Spekenbrink, currently joint team manager.
After decades
in cycle racing as manager and team leader, Arend Scheppink decided a number of years ago to gradually phase-out his activities
in the team to spend more time with his family, as well as on traveling and hobbies. In view of the further professionalization
with the planned new organizational structure, Scheppink has stated his willingness to continue his involvement with the Skil-Shimano
team in 2008. He will support the team management as member of a supervisory and advisory board that also consists of Ir.
Gerhard Kobesen, president of Skil Europe B.V., and Marc van Rooy, managing director of Shimano Europe Holding B.V.
The team’s sporting policy will continue to focus in the coming seasons on investing in cycling talent and strengthening
its international positioning, while at the same time observing the strictest ethical principles. The team will consist of
a mix of talent and experience, presenting itself in Europe as an international team but with specific attention for further
development of its activities in France. Completing the team in Europe will be a number of promising Chinese and Japanese
riders. Rudie Kemna, Piet Hoekstra and Hisafumi Imanishi will again be the sports directors.
For Skil Power
Tools and Shimano, this extended commitment represents "the continuation of an excellent and ambitious strategy," and they
have expressed their fullest confidence in the personnel who will be involved in its implementation.
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| Paul Martens during last years Münsterland Giro (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
CNN changes air date of show featuring Daniel Sheret
The “Against All Odds” segment featuring Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team sponsored endurance cyclist
Daniel Sheret that was originally scheduled for airing on Wednesday, July 4, on CNN’s “Larry King Live,”
will now be seen on Friday, July 27.
Sheret, a below-the-knee amputee, is in the midst of an across-the-world trip
to raise money and awareness for Clear Path International’s work with landmine and bomb survivors. He left Washington,
D.C., on June 1 and is currently cycling through Missouri.
CNN’s decision to postpone Wednesday’s “Against
All Odds” show segment was made to increase viewership, Sheret said.
“They thought my story would get
more coverage on a day that was not a holiday,” he said. “The producers seemed quite pleased with the outcome
of the show after adding images and doing the magic things they do in editing. I am very excited to see it.”
Sheret
flew to Los Angeles for the taping of the segment last month. He is expected to arrive on the West Coast later this month,
then cross the Pacific to resume his 14,000-mile journey.
The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team and Team Owner Sean P.
Tucker are proud to sponsor Sheret by outfitting him in the squad’s official clothing and providing him with –
among other things – a limited-edition United brand 2006 team-issue bicycle.
For more information about his
journey or to make a donation, visit www.abilitytrek.org or link from the official Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team website, www.toyota-united.com
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