Daily News Roundup

Emma Johansson sustained two
broken collarbones on the 14th of January
(image credit: Eriohm CC BY 3.0)

Emma Johansson - the 28-year-old rider who sustained two broken collar bones during a training ride when she was involved in a collision with a car a month and a half ago - has recovered in time to compete in the upcoming Omloop van 't Hageland, her Hitec Products-Mistral Home team has confirmed. She had hoped to be able to ride in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, originally planned as the start of her season, but was aware doing so would be unlikely. The race takes place this Sunday the 4th of March at Tielt-Winge.

Marianne Vos

Meanwhile, following a short break after the cyclo cross season (which saw her yet again become World Champion) the Dutch superstar Marianne Vos will begin her season at the Acht van Dwingeloo on the 8th of March, which she won last year at the beginning of a spectacular season which confirmed her status as one of the most successful professional cyclists of all time. Now backed by a Rabobank team constructed around her and with the intention of driving her towards even more victories, her opponents will be keeping close watch to see just what they're up against this year.

The Tour of the Basque Country and the Clasica San Sebastian have been saved from financial oblivion, for this year at least. Both races had warned that they lacked the money to go ahead this year. causing alarm in the cycling-obsessed Basque Country and among Basque cycling's many fans abroad. Bilbao newspaper Deia reports that the Basque government has agreed to put €200,000 towards the events - €160,000 less than in the last three years, but sufficient for the races to be held. Recent news that average salaries paid to ProTeam cyclists have risen from €190,000 to €264,000 over the same period - and widespread back-slapping over professional cycling's supposed financial health - have led to calls that the UCI should provide more money towards races that find themselves in difficulty.

Alberto Contador, the three-time Tour de France winner who was recently (and controversially) banned for two years after the CAS found him guilty of doping, might not return to Saxobank when the backdated ban expires on the 6th of August, says Danish site sporten.dk. The team has relied on the rider to a large extent and, as a result, its ProTeam licence was earned partly due to his results and he is not happy with this according to an "anonymous source."