Second Edition News for August 2, 1998

The drugs scandal update

- Biofamilia (a company that produces biological products) has cancelled the sponsorship contract with Alex Zülle, because of his ambiguous messages about using drugs. Biofamilia maintains a 'clean' image and they have stated that they want to keep it. They saw a drug-free Zülle as being a good vehicle for their image. Not now given his revelations in the Festina scandal. The contract was worth around $US70,000.

French National Track Championships, Costebelle ŕ Hyčres Velodrome

On Saturday, Félicia Ballanger and Florian Rousseau dominated the French National Track championships, just a month before the World Championships begin at the Bordeaux.

Félicia Ballanger won the sprint 2-0 with times of 11.250 and 11.503. She is already the national 500 metres champions and she dominated Magali Humbert-Faure.

The World 500 metre Champion from Perth last August, she was close to the record established in September 1997 at Bogota during the Worlds of 10.905. Ballanger, who is 27-years old, now goes into the Worlds as a strong favourite.

Rousseau, who had already won the sprint and is a double world champion in the Keirin, won the national Keirin title in a very physical race.

Similarly, in the pursuit, just as demanding in different ways to the Keirin, Rousseau was the winner in front of Frédéric Magné.

The team from l'Ile de France won the Madison (200 laps of the velo) in front of the team from Lyon.

British National Track Championships, Manchester Velodrome

Madison:

 1. Rob Hayles and Jon Clay (Team Brite) 			46 pts
 2. Phil West (Adidas-Scicon) and James Notley (Team Ambrosia)	31 (-4 laps)
 3. J Taylor (Harlow) and Rob Wood (Harrods) 		25 (-4 laps)
The fourth placed riders were 10 laps down!

A fast race, totally dominated by six-day rider Rob Hayles and his partner Jon Clay. West and Notley both fell during a change after 20 laps, and both completed the rest of the race on their spare bikes.