Tired of reports on road racers’ latest tweet and up-to-the-minute updates on collarbone surgery? Wondering what your favorite mudders have been up to? Doing your homework so you can win Cyclocross Magazine’s fantasy cyclocross league next season? We’ve got you covered with our new, weekly report on your favorite top ‘crossers. Each week Jake Sisson will bring you the latest news, gossip, and maybe even a tweet or two on the pro scene. Got something worth reporting? Let us know.
Niels Albert’s Manager Christophe Roodhooft is summoned to court over drug charges
Christophe Roodhooft, the manager of current World Champion Niels Albert, has been summoned to criminal court over charges that he was in possession of the drug DHEA (short for Dehydroepiandrosterone), which is a precursor to testosterone. A search of Roodhooft’s home in February of 2006 turned up quantities of the drug. At the time, Roodhooft had no connection with Albert, and Albert is in no way associated with the case. No comment has come out yet from either party, and it will remain to be seen if a connection between the two will continue.
Surgery? No surgery? Getting healthy as the days get longer
Belgian Riders Klaas Vantornout and Tom Van den Bosch have elected to take opposite roads this off-season when it comes to rehabilitating their ailing knees. Vantornout has elected to forgo an operation on his troublesome right knee, which he hurt in a fall in Pijnacker. While the Sunweb-Projob rider had felt sure that he was headed for surgery, his knee was feeling better by the close of the season and he has come to the conclusion that surgery will not be necessary. Van den Bosch, however, has determined that surgery on his knee was essential and underwent an operation shortly following the close of the season. The Revor man is now going through rehab and will be ready to start the season pain-free, barring any complications.
Vantornout’s teammate Sven Vanthourenhout has also decided to pass on surgery this off season, but on his wrist. Vanthourenhout hurt the same wrist that he broke earlier in the season that kept him out for a number of weeks. Despite the fall, there was no significant damage to the repaired bones, and surgery will not be necessary, despite early fears that an operation would be required.
Todd Wells takes Silver at Arizona road race
Specialized newest Factory Team rider, and two time national Cyclocross champion, Todd Wells took home second place at the White Mountain Road Club’s 10th annual OMYA/Superior Road Race in Superior, Arizona. Wells was part of a three man breakaway that came apart on the final ascent of the route’s KOM climb. Wells was not able to follow the wheel of eventual winner JR Grabinger of the Fly V Austrialia Team, but was able to hang on for the silver medal, holding off Christian Walker of the Platinum Performance Cycling Team. Todd’s brother Troy Wells racing for Team Clif Bar also took part, finishing the day in 12th place.
Jesse Anthony wins King of the Mountain Title at Tour of Taiwan
Jamis’ Jesse Anthony, currently moonlighting for Team Type 1 on the road, took home the Tour of Taiwan’s climbers jersey, with a three point advantage over Korea’s Hyo Suk Gong. Anthony had a pair of top 10 finishes, taking home 5th place in stage 4 and 8th in stage 6th. Overall, Anthony finished the tour in 17th place.
Trebon and Wicks ride into 24 Hours of Pueblo, come away with 2nd, while Katie Compton and Kelli Emmet go with one gear
Current National Champion Ryan Trebon and his Kona teammate Barry Wicks, along with Kona Factory Mountain Bike Team teammates Chris Sneddon and Matthew Slaven took part in the 24 Hours of Pueblo on February 14. The team was able to take home 2nd place in their division – the 4 person Open Men’s category – and ripped off 22 laps in 24 hours, 44 minutes and 12 seconds, 33 minutes and change behind the division winning team featuring the occasional cyclocross-racing Sam Schultz. Wicks notched the team’s fastest lap on the sixth lap of the race, at 1:00.16. Current Women’s Cyclocross National Champion Katie Compton was also at Pueblo, racing in the open Single Speed division, eventually finishing 9th. Compton’s fastest lap stopped the clock at 1:07.01. Compton was teamed up with fellow cyclocrosser Kelli Emmet, who notched their team’s fastest lap, at 1:06.23, and the fastest women’s lap. Compton was unable to overcome the team led by her husband, Mark Legg, who’s team finished 6th in the single speed division. Legg logged the fastest single speed lap at 1:04.45.
Sven Nys to turn his attention to the fat tires, to open season at Benelux Championships
With the dust still settling on the 2008-2009 Cyclocross season, World Cup, Superprestige, GvA Trophy Champion and UCI #1 ranked Sven Nys has already turned his sights to his other and newer passion, the mountain bike. Nys outlined his list of goals for the “off-season,” naming the European Championships as his number one aim for the summer, and a strong showing at the Cannabera World Cup in September his ultimate goal for the season. Nys will open his season in May with the Averbode Belgacom Benelux Championships.
In between his training for the mountain bike, Nys will also find the time to ride with his Landbouwkrediet-Colnago team on the road, with competitions scheduled in the Tour of Belgium, the Eneco Tour, and a ride at the Belgian Championships. Whether Sven will look to race more on the road remains to be seen, but for now, he looks to be seeking fitness for his mountain bike campaign.
Wilant Van Gils without a professional ride for 2009
Dutch Cyclocross star Wilant Van Gils did not have his contract with ZZPR.nl renewed for the 2009 season, and will have to look elsewhere if he wishes to remain on the professional circuit. Van Gils will now ride for the club team Team S-Supply.nl – Invicta. Van Gils’ top finishes this year were 6th place at the Dutch National Championships (Won by Lars Boom), a 7th place at the Nacht Van Woerden in Woerden, Holland (Won by Klaas Vantornout) and an 8th place at the Superprestige stop in Gavere, Belgium.
Any particular rider you want to hear about? Got something to report? Let me know via our community site, or email me: jake @ cxmagazine.com
