Second Edition News for April 29, 1998

Scott Update

Thanks to everyone so far. Scott has had dozens of messages - from the four corners of the globe - from people who know Scott, from riders in the pro-peloton, from fans, from people who simply follow bike racing through these pages and even from the UCI itself.

Every single one has been passed on to Sabine for Scotty and they're joining a growing mound of correspondence at their home in Zottegem. Unfortunately, he's simply too unwell right now to grasp that there's been this flood of corrrespondence and calls. But, he will and I know how much it'll be appreciated by him as it is already by Sabine.

The latest news from Sabine: Tomorrow, Scott will be moved within the Gent hospital from intensive to high care - a sure sign that the doctors are encouraged with his progress. He's just come off the morphine-drip (which is good news) but the downside of that is that he's really started to feel the pain and, as a consequence is - says Sabine - particularly grumpy.

He is now strapped up in a neck-brace to minimise movement of his neck muscles. There's very bad bruising (all over his body) but the doctors have reported no damage that they're concerned about. The operation he had did, in fact, remove not one but two blood clots from the back of his head. And, time (as reported earlier) was really of the essence. If they had have waited for the operation his sight (at the very least) would have been impaired for life. His vision is still not one hundred per cent, he can recognise things or people close up but can't see the other side of his hopspital room - yet.

He's taking a little food and speech is very difficult at present. Latest indication is that he'll be hospitalised for a minimum of another four to six weeks with no training whatsoever before the middle of July. Finally, Sabine also mentioned that the Palmans staff and team officials have been outstandingly helpful and incredibly supportive of Scott and his family.

You can send best wishes to Scott to this email address: Neilstorey@aol.com. Neil will pass them on.

Dutch Report on Priem

Reinier Meijer sent this report from the Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant. "At the finish in Maastricht, Cees Priem was still dazed. Priem: "What has happened is terrible. I was talking with Van Petegem when suddenly a jury car in front of me stopped. I had to jam on my brakes. In my opinion it was more of a case of him falling against the car than me hitting him. As team leader you have to do 10 things at the same time in the car. It was a very unhappy confluence of circumstances. This sort of things happens more often than people know, but because the camera was there it attracted the attention. Some people called out and demanded that that I stop, but what could I have done there?"

Netherlands, Criterium Made, National Event, April 26, 1988, 80 kms:

  1. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 		             1.49.48 (43,716 km/h)
  2. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites
  3. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Mapei
  4. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
  5. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM-Farm Frites
  6. Erwin Thijs (Bel) Vlaanderen 2002
  7. Peter Spaenhoven (Bel) Palmans-Ideal
  8. Johan Capiot (Bel) TVM-Farm Frites                  	0.25
  9. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank
 10. Nico Mattan (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi

Boucles d'Artois, France, April 25

  1. Jean Michel Thilloy (Fra)
 ..
 17. Ronny De Meuter (Bel)
 24. Rik Coppens(Bel)

Latest UCI Rankings as at April 28

  1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE       			2294 points
  2. Michele Bartoli (Ita) Asics         		1796
  3. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar        		1560
  4. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom           		1518
  5. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei-Bricobi           	1448
  6. Alex Zuelle (Swi) Festina      			1386
  7. Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi   		1361
  8. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom            		1122
  9. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei-Bricobi    		1103.5
 10. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino            		1089
 11. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Polti         		1058
 12. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Cofidis   		1039
 13. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank   			1036
 14. Fernando Escartin Coti (Spain)  			1015
 15. Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Festina      		1012
 16. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Festina      			 999.75
 17. Johan Museeuw (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi          	 991
 18. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino          		 989
 19. Abraham Olano Manzano (Spa) Banesto    		 937
 20. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina        		 929.75

Michael Boogerd to rest

Michael Boogerd will not start in the Tour of Romandie which begins on Maay 5). He will take some rest after his efforts in the last weeks.