Published June 21, 2002 01:00AM
CSC-Tiscali: Riis's pieces
In the peloton since 2001Sponsors: CSC: Internet access provider; Tiscali: informationtechnology companyBudget: $5.6 millionManager: Bjarne RiisDirecteur sportif: Alex PedersenAssistants: Johnny Weltz, Christian AndersenRidersJALABERT Laurent (F), November 30, 1968HAMILTON Tyler (USA), March 1, 1971PERON Andrea (I), August 14, 1971PIIL Jakob (Dk), March 9, 1973PIZIKS Arvis (Lat), September 12, 1969SANDSTÖD Michael (Dk), June 23, 1968SASTRE Carlos (Sp), April 22, 1975SÖRENSEN Nicki (Dk), May 14, 1975VAN HYFTE Paul (B), January 19, 1972
Riis’s piecesDenmark’s love affair with cycling
Denmark
Jalabert
Photo:
In the peloton since 2001
Sponsors: CSC: Internet access provider; Tiscali: informationtechnology company
Budget: $5.6 million
Manager: Bjarne Riis
Directeur sportif: Alex Pedersen
Assistants: Johnny Weltz, Christian Andersen
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Riders
JALABERT Laurent (F), November 30, 1968
HAMILTON Tyler (USA), March 1, 1971
PERON Andrea (I), August 14, 1971
PIIL Jakob (Dk), March 9, 1973
PIZIKS Arvis (Lat), September 12, 1969
SANDSTÖD Michael (Dk), June 23, 1968
SASTRE Carlos (Sp), April 22, 1975
SÖRENSEN Nicki (Dk), May 14, 1975
VAN HYFTE Paul (B), January 19, 1972
Riis’s piecesDenmark’s love affair with cycling truly began with Bjarne Riis’s victoryin the 1996 Tour. Riis, as manager, found some new sponsors for this Danishsquad and, above all, he convinced Laurent Jalabert to take up the challengewith him. A formidable team in the classics, CSC-Tiscali will try to capturenew trophies in the Grande Boucle. However, Jalabert, winner of two stagesand the best climber’s jersey in 2001, was injured at the start of theseason, but he’ll be ready for the start in Luxembourg on July 6. Thisyear has seen the arrival of the American Tyler Hamilton, a weighty reinforcementin regard to the Tour’s general classification. Two other newcomers, theItalian Andrea Peron and the Spaniard Carlos Sastre, also promise to bepositive influences on an already comprehensive squad.TEAM WINS2001
L. JALABERT: Tour de France, best climber and two stages; ClasicaSan Sebastian.
PIIL: Peace Race, overall and two stages; GP d’ouverture laMarseillaise.
ASMAKER: Tour of Picardy, one stage.
BLAUDZUN: Tour of Hessen.
GARCIA: Tour of Hessen, one stage.2002
L. JALABERT: Tour du Haut-Var; Paris-Nice, one stage.
INTERVIEW
Bjarne Riis, manager:
“We rode a magnificent Tour last year, with Laurent Jalabert takingthe best climber’s jersey, the overall most aggressive rider prize andtwo stage victories. This year, our goal is to do even better. Laurent’spassion for the Grande Boucle is such that his preparation is always impeccable.Hamilton will be very valuable in the mountains, especially to play forthe GC. Then add Sastre and Peron, and our team will undoubtedly be betterequipped than last year, even though we already had a great group of guys.Jalabert is the leader, but each rider will be able to try his luck. ThisTour de France may seem to have a strange structure, but, no doubt, likeevery year, there will be numerous twists and turns. That’s what givesthis race its magic!”