Cycling Round Up

Tour of the Mediterranean: February 2002

Tour of Med interview: COOKE AIMS FOR CLASSICS, WILSON LOOKS AHEAD (By Shane Stokes Feb 21)

La Francaise des Jeux pro Baden Cooke has set his sights on a ride in the Tour de France this year. The Australian sprinter has been told by his team that if they are selected, he should be picked for the squad. ‘That is my main goal for the season, but I also want to win some big races, do well at Paris-Nice, and learn from the classics’, he stated.

Despite his early-season preparation being hampered by injury, the former Mercury rider had the encouragement of a third place finish at the end of stage 3 of the Tour of the Med last week. ‘That was a bit of a boost. Things are good on the team, myself and Matt (Wilson) are having a bit of trouble learning French but it is coming along slowly. I am settling in well, though’.

As for Wilson, he is also content. ‘The team are all really supportive and not applying a lot of pressure at this stage, which is important for me. I am a first year pro so I don’t really know what to expect from myself…it is difficult to set really big goals now but I obviously want to impress the team. We have got a good sprinter in Baden Cooke and I am there to help him whenever I can as well. If I can get a win here and there for myself as well, that would be great’.

‘Down the line, I just want to be the best rider I can. I want to look at the one-day races, I think, that will be my strong point. Hopefully I will get some experience in those between this year and next year’, he says.

LEIPHEIMER AIMS HIGH: (By Shane Stokes Feb 20) Levi Leipheimer is relaxed, or as the French would say, détendu. In spite of the brooding clouds gathering overhead which promise, any minute, to begin spilling down another day of cold rain, he is chatting contentedly at the départ area of the Tour of the Mediterranean's third stage in Villeneuve Loubet.

It takes a moment to recognize him; a new Rabobank jacket covers his trunk and a thick cap his balding forehead. But Leipheimer it is, relaxed in his role with the Dutch squad and clearly content with both his current form and his transformed life.

‘I am happy with my condition, I am very solid’, he says, smiling broadly. ‘I am not expecting to be anything super right now but in the team time trial I was good, I didn’t miss a pull and I felt strong the whole way. I was happy with that’.

Leipheimer is several months away from his main goal of the season, the Tour de France, and so for now he is biding his time, building slowly and settling in with his new squad. It is early days yet but thus far everything has gone well. ‘The team is great. It is still new for me, but everybody has made sure that I understand everything and have made me feel welcome. That is all I can ask for. So far it has been perfect, it is dream come true for me, really’.

‘There is no real pressure right now. They (Rabobank management) have been really good about that, they have told me for now, just get to know everybody. I think they are happy with they way I am riding at the moment. That is all that they want at this time of year’.

Leipheimer is planning a steady build up to the Tour, with no major goals before the race. Third in the Vuelta has clearly boosted his confidence and he is happy to stake his season on three weeks in July. But how does he think he can do in cycling’s biggest contest?

‘You know…I don’t want to quantify it with a placing’, he says carefully, wary of making rash predictions. ‘But I think you are going to see something along the lines of what I did last year. Third in the Vuelta, I have got it in myself to do that kind of performance again'.

'Some people were surprised but I know I can repeat it…’, he adds with conviction.

(The full article on the Mediterranean Tour will appear in next issue of Velonews magazine)

VANDENBROUCKE SET FOR CLASSICS: (By Shane Stokes Feb 19) After an encouraging performance in the Tour of the Mediterranean race Frank Vandenbroucke has expressed satisfaction with his current form and says that he expects to be in condition for the spring classics.

'The form is pretty good right now, but not enough for first place. I think that after Tirreno-Adriatico I will be at a good level, in time for races such as Paris Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders', he told Irishcycling.com at the Med Tour.

Vandenbroucke's progress this season has surprised some observers who had stated that his near two-year hiatus from professional cycling would spell the end to his winning ways. However, while he only started training again in earnest last Autumn, solid performances in the Tour of Quatar and the Tour of the Mediterranean have shown that his return is on course.

'I am not really surprised to be where I am', he stated, 'as I trained well during the winter. But I must be patient - the fact remains though that I haven't done much racing in the past two years, so I know that it will take a few more races for me to return to an acceptable level'.

Vandenbroucke missed almost all of last season, and most of 2000, due to a variety of problems including the breakup of a longterm relationship, team disharmony and severe depression. There is little trace of that now; at the Mediterranean Tour the Belgian was relaxed, happy and clearly getting on with his Domo team mates.

Team management are encouraged. 'He is doing well', said Directeur Sportif Hendrik Redant, 'we are very happy with his progress and he is fitting in well with the team'. However, despite his quick return, Vandenbroucke is unlikely to start cycling's biggest race this year. 'I will not do the Tour', he said, 'not this season.'

'At the moment it is not in his programme to ride the Tour, no', confirms Redant. 'But if he keeps improving like he is, then we may look at that decision again.'