Tour de France News for June 3, 2003 Edited by Jeff Jones Definite: no Cipollini in Tour The Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), organisers of the Tour de France, today finalised its selection of teams for the upcoming Tour. The 22 teams already selected through UCI rankings and wild card invitations will remain in place, meaning that Mario Cipollini's World Champion's jersey and the Domina Vacanze team will not be seen in the Centenary Tour. The A.S.O. issued a press release early on Monday evening to indicate this, noting that the 22nd and last place was given to Team Bianchi, which the Professional Cycling Council permitted as the successor to Team Coast, keeping all of Team Coast's Grand Tour entry privileges. The A.S.O. also pointed out that it has "completely respected the regulations applicable to the participation of teams in the Grand Tours (article 2.6.003bis)." "Concerning the possibility of adding a 23rd team, ASO gave itself an additional period of time to reflect on the final intervening factors since May 19. Nonetheless, it has concluded that this decision, besides being contrary to the rules governing professional cycling... would have compromised the security of the race and the quality of the organisation." The final selection: Team Bianchi Gerolsteiner Team Telekom Lotto-Domo Quick Step-Davitamon Team CSC Kelme-Costa Blanca iBanesto.com ONCE-Eroski Euskaltel-Euskadi Rabobank Alessio Caldirola-So.Di Fassa Bortolo Saeco Macchine Per Caffe US Postal Service-Berry Floor Credit Agricole Fdjeux.Com Brioches La Boulangere Ag2R Prevoyance Jean Delatour Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone Cipollini refuses to comment on Tour non-selection Although clearly disappointed with the A.S.O.'s final decision not to include his Domina Vacanze team in the Centenary Tour, Mario Cipollini declined to comment on the issue. The World Champion's only response to questions today was, "I don't intend to release any comments about the decision of Leblanc." Cipollini, who last month broke the all time record of Giro d'Italia stage wins, has received overwhelming support from the public, who want to see him in action again in July. However Jean-Marie Leblanc has chosen to favour French cycling, selecting three French teams along with Spanish squad Euskaltel-Euskadi, and the newly refinanced Bianchi team of Jan Ullrich. The A.S.O. today ruled out the possibility of a 23rd squad in the Tour, citing security and organisational reasons. The last time that Mario Cipollini raced in the Tour was in 1999, when he won four stages in succession - a feat not achieved since 1930. As one of the greatest sprinters in the world, he also helped restore the credibility of the race after the Festina affair of 1998. However Cipollini has never been able to finish the race in seven attempts, and this has clearly struck a discordant note with Leblanc, who is evidently of the opinion that sprinters should suffer over the mountains and make it to Paris. It's a Catch 22 for Cipo, who hasn't been given another chance to race the Tour since his exit in 1999. If he wants to ride the Tour ever again, he will have to be part of a team that is automatically qualified. US Postal's preliminary Tour team The US Postal-Berry Floor team has selected 14 riders for the upcoming Tour de France, of which nine will be chosen come race time. According to Het Nieuwsblad, team director Johan Bruyneel named Lance Armstrong, Roberto Heras, Jose Luis Rubiera, Manuel Beltran, George Hincapie, Viatcheslav Ekimov, Pavel Padrnos, Guennadi Mikhailov, Victor Pe�a, Beno�t Joachim, Floyd Landis, Max van Heeswijk, Christian Vandevelde and Steffen Kjaergaard. On paper it looks like a very strong team, especially with the addition of climber Manuel Beltran and the return to form of George Hincapie, who had to miss his favourite spring classics due to a sinus problem. In the mountains, Armstrong will have the choice of Heras, Rubiera, Beltran, Pe�a, Landis and Vandevelde, while on the flats, strong tempo riders such as Hincapie, Padrnos, Mikhailov, Joachim, Ekimov, Kjaergaard and Van Heeswijk will be more than adequate for keeping Armstrong out of the wind. Lotto-Domo's preliminary Tour team The Lotto-Domo team for the Tour will once again be primarily interested in stage wins, with sprinter Robbie McEwen hoping to repeat his performance from last year when he won two stages and the green jersey. Along with McEwen will be Rik Verbrugghe, who has recovered from his crash in the Giro and will aim for a stage win in the Tour. Also Axel Merckx will be there, aiming for a good placing on the general classification. The remaining 10 riders, of which 6 will be selected are: Serge Baguet, Christophe Brandt, Hans De Clercq, Christophe Detilloux, Nick Gates, Leif Hoste, Thierry Marichal, Axel Merckx, Koos Moerenhout, Leon Van Bon and Aart Vierhouten. Aerts hopes for Tour spot Telekom's Mario Aerts is hoping that he'll make his team's selection for the Tour de France, which starts on July 5 in Paris. After an injury plagued early season, he believes will be ready for La Grande Boucle. "I'm pretty sure I can ride the Tour, that's what I've been training for the whole spring season," he told Het Laatste Nieuws. "I know, once I signed a contract with Telekom, the chances for a Tour selection would be smaller than with Lotto. If I reach a good level (a stage win) in the Bicicleta Vasca and the Tour of Catalonia, I can take charge of my selection. Once I've got these two tours in my legs, I'll be in good shape for the Tour." Aerts' chances were helped by the unfortunate crash of Cadel Evans in the Rund um den Hainleite on Saturday. Evans broke his collarbone for the second time in six weeks, and will almost certainly not contest the Tour. "With Evans not in the Tour, my chances to be selected are greater," said Aerts. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)

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