Friday’s Euro-File: Ullrich’s training; Postal’s ‘fixing’; Belgian chocolate; Coppi commemorated; and JCTDU news

By Andrew Hood

Jan Ullrich spent his holidays on the Spanish island of Mallorca, training, we assume. The German star was spotted riding with several T-Mobile teammates and will return to the Mediterranean island later this month for more training.

The Spanish daily AS reported the 1997 Tour de France champion will make his 2004 season debut at the Mallorca Trophy, Feb. 1-5.

USPS ‘getting fixed’
Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal Service team status for the 2004 season is still pending, but team director Johan Bruyneel said it’s just a matter of paperwork. “We had some delay with the paperwork, mainly because of the late leaving of Roberto Heras, and then getting Jose Azevedo, and the complicated contract issues related to this,” Bruyneel told Lance Armstrong’s official web page. “It’s getting fixed.”

Postal was among five first-division teams (Fassa Bortolo, Alessio, Domina Vacanze, Milaneza and Kelme) on the UCI’s “pending list” when the division’s teams were announced last month. Fassa Bortolo has since been given the green light. The remaining teams have until a January 8 deadline or face Division II status for the upcoming season.

The 26 teams with D1 status include: Euskaltel-Euskadi, Islas Baleares, Seguros Liberty, Saunier Duval (Spanish); Gerolsteiner, T Mobile (German); Landbouwkredit, Lotto, Chocolade Jacques, Quick Step (Belgian); CSC (Danish); Ag2r, La Boulangere, Cofidis, Credit Agricole, Fdjeux.com, RAGT (French); Rabobank, Bankgiroloterij (Dutch); Phonak (Swiss); Fassa Bortolo, Lampre, De Nardi, Saeco and Vini Caldirola (Italian).

New rider for Belgian chocolate
The Belgian team Chocolade Jacques has signed Belgian rider Michael Blanchy to a two-year contract, EFE reported. The team is being led by Dave Bruylandts and Bart Voskamp, with Jans Koerts and Greben Löwik as lieutenants.

Italy marks Coppi’s death
Italy today marked the 44th anniversary of the death of the “campionissimo,” the legendary Fausto Coppi, who died of malaria in 1960.

Fans were expected to turn out in Castellania to pay their respects to Italy’s favorite son. A DVD is also being released with highlights from Coppi’s triumphs in cycling.

Tentative start list for TDU
Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under is just around the corner (January 20-25) and start lists for the teams are taking shape. Here’s the latest released by the race organizers:

Ag2r Prévoyance (F): Mikel Astarloza (Sp), Iñigo Chaurreau (Sp), Andy Flickinger (F), Nicolas Inaudi (F), Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Nicolas Portal (F), Erki Putsep (Est) and Mark Scanlon (Irl) Australia (Aus): Hilton Clarke (Aus), Allan Davis (Aus), Ben Day (Aus), Simon Gerrans (Aus), Ashley Hutchinson (Aus), Allan Iacuone (Aus), Scott Sunderland (Aus) and Stephen Wooldridge (Aus)Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team (Ned): Addy Engels (Ned), Rudi Kemna (Ned), Matthé Pronk (Ned), Julien Smink (Ned), Laurens Ten Dam (Ned), Remco Van Der Ven (Ned), Frank Van Dulmen (Ned) and Alain Van Katwijk (Ned)Crédit Agricole (F): Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Julian Dean (NZ), Cédric Herve (F), Mads Kaggestad (Nor), Eric Leblacher (F), Christophe Le Mével (F), Geoffroy Lequatre (F) and Benoît Poilvet (F)Domina Vacanze-Elitron (I): Lorenzo Cardellini (I), Francesco Failli (I), Antonio Fisher Murillo (Bre), Massimiliano Gentili (I), Massimo Giunti (I), Sergio Marinangeli (I), Massimiliano Mori (I) and Paolo Valoti (I)FDJeux.com (F): Baden Cooke (Aus), Bernhard Eisel (A), Philippe Gilbert (B), Thomas Lövkist (Swi), Bradley McGee (Aus), Mark Renshaw (Aus), Nicolas Vogondy (F) and Matthew Wilson (Aus)Lotto-Domo (B): Hans De Clercq (B), Glenn D’Hollander (B), Nick Gates (Aus), Robbie McEwen (Aus), Gert Steegmans (B), Wim Vansevenant (B), Aart Vierhouten (B) and Piotr Wadecki (Pol)Navigators (USA): Siro Camponogara (I), Vassili Davidenko (Rus), Jeff Louder (USA), David McKenzie (Aus), Kirk O’Bee (USA), Ciaran Power (Irl), Burke Swindlehurst (USA) and Philip Zajicek (USA)Panaria-Margres (I): Guillermo Bongiorno (ARG), Graeme Brown (Aus), Scott Davis (I), Giuliano Figueras (I), Fabio Gilioli (I), Brett Lancaster (Aus), Sergey Matveyev (Ukr) and Paolo Tiralongo (I)Quick Step-Davitamon (B): Frédéric Amorison (B), Laszlo Bodrogi (Hon), Aurélien Clerc (SUI), José-Antonio Garrido (Sp), Pedro Horrillo (Sp), Kevin Hulsmans (B), José-Antonio Pecharroman (Sp) and Bram Tankink (Ned)UniSA (Aus): Brett Aitken (Aus), Gene Bates (Aus), Steve Cunningham (Aus), James Hannam (Aus), Patrick Jonker (Aus), Adrian Laidler (Aus), Luke Roberts (Aus) and Russell Van Hout (Aus)United Water (Aus): Peter Dawson (Aus), Ashley Humbert (Aus), Mark Jamieson (Aus), Aaron Kemps (Aus), Richard Moffat (Aus), Nic Sanderson (Aus), Ryan Sullivan (Aus) and Bernard Sulzberger (Aus)