Cycling News from around the World 10.04.12

Amstel Gold threatened by police strikes - De Vlaeminck unimpressed by Boonen triumph - G-Man Thomas should have opted for Tour says coach - Brailsford optimistic - Good news for Leukemans - Red Baron hunting new bike record

Amstel Gold Race under threat
The Amstel Gold, first run in 1966 and every year since, may not go ahead this year as police have threatened to strike over wage demands. The event is due to take place on the 15th of April, with organisers awaiting further information. (More from Wielerland)

De Vlaeminck unimpressed by Paris-Roubaix

Roger de Vlaeminck won four editions of cycling's
hardest race in the 1970s

Omega Pharma-QuickStep's Tom Boonen is doubtless ecstatic after winning a fourth edition of Paris-Roubaix, one of the most legendary races in cycling and arguably the toughest. However; Roger de Vlaeminck - the only other man to have won four - is not as impressed, though he doesn't blame Boonen for what he describes as a victory against third-rate riders.

"Tom can't help it that he had no opposition in this race," says 64-year old De Vlaeminck, who won his first Paris-Roubaix in 1972 and his fourth in 1977. "The competition was no obstacle to him. Probably, they could not be better. For the Belgians, it was fantastic; but for the average foreign cyclist there wasn't much excitement. A sad affair."

He takes care not to criticise Boonen, who won the race after escaping the peloton with 50km to go and then rode solo to the finish line, but feels that the race lost out through the lack of anyone willing or able to chase him. "I hope Cancellara will be there next year," he says, the Swiss star having been kept away by a quadruple fracture of the collar bone sustained at the Ronde van Vlaanderen this time around. "Then we'll see another race." (More from Sportwereld)

Geraint Thomas

Thomas should have opted for the Tour, says Sutton
British Cycling coach Shane Sutton believes that Geraint Thomas should have been more selfish and chosen to go for personal glory at this year's Tour de France rather than aiming to retain the Olympic Men's Pursuit title for his native Wales.

"I actually think G[eraint] is so iconic in this part of the world [Wales] that he feels the support he's had over the years and the support he continues to get from everybody - it's so massive I think he
feels he has to return the favour.

I think that's probably not the right reason and the pressure that must be on him not to ride the Tour, he must be killing himself. Because he is a grand tour rider, one of the best grand tour riders that we have, and he's a guy that actually I think could go a long way in a grand tour if he wanted. He can lead out, he can climb - he can do everything. He's one of the great bike riders out there at this moment in time." (More from BBC Sport)

Brailsford hopeful for London
British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford is optimistic after the team's excellent showing at the UCI World Track Championships - British cyclists won half the medals on offer for races that also feature in the Olympics.

"We've got more to come," he says. "The dilemma is that if you select now the riders know what they are doing and can train a little bit more specifically. The downside is that in 16 weeks anyone's form might not to be the same. That is the conundrum: late for form, but early for clarity of purpose." (More from The Daily Mail)

Laura Trott

Brailsford has also made note of Laura Trott's impressive riding at the Championships, during which she took two laps at the front in the Team Pursuit helped the British squad to another gold medal and a new World Record time. "She's pretty special," he said. "She was absolutely brilliant in the team pursuit and she rode an absolutely faultless omnium. Super talent - 19 years old. Wow. It's pretty exciting." (More from Cambridge News)

Good news for Leukemans
Vacansoliel-DCM have confirmed that Bjorn Leukemans, who suffered a knee injury at the Ronde van Vlaanderen, will not require surgery to repair damage to his menisci, the two cushions of cartilage within the knee that serve to reduce friction between the femur and tibia.

Vacansoleil-DCM ‏ @VacansoleilDCM
Better news for #leukemans: No operation (k)needed!

The Red Baron hunts a new record
Eric Barone is looking to set a new World Record downhill cycling. The Frenchman, now aged 51, holds the current record of 222kph which he set on snow at Les Arcs on the 21st of April 2000. An attempt on the 9th of April this year came to nothing when he "only" reached 158kph. "I'm a little bit disappointed, but I remain optimistic," he said afterwards. "I will try again whatever happens in better conditions with a harder surface of snow." (More from Sport.fr)