José Antonio Montero, the Genereal Secretary of the ONCE Sport's Group, announced today that Abraham Olano "will reinforce the team in a very important way". This was after Olano signed his contract with ONCE for two years at the headquarters of the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (National Organization of the Spanish Blind - ONCE). After taking care of small discrepancies between both sides on the financial side, Montero seemed very satisfied for having signed a rider whom he considered "a first figure of the International Cycling World".
"Maybe at some point of the negotiation we lost our nerve and needed a small dose of patience to sit down with time and take care of this very small differences, but after finishing with the last document of the transaction, today ten minutes were sufficient, commented Montero.
About Olano's job in the team, Montero said: "He will be one more team leader, for the group that we already have with Laurent Jalabert, Mikel Zarrabeitia and David Echevarria. The way we work is we support the rider who's in the best situation in the general classification. Olano is a great rider and he will share with Jalabert the number one position, that is without undervaluing the rest."
Olano said: "I have always liked the way that Manolo Saiz works and I wanted to try and see how I would do".
Olano speaks about it...
Abraham Olano spoke on Wednesday about the days of uncertainty that he experienced until they came to an agreement with ONCE. "The last five days have been tough and the last time that I went out to train, three days ago I had no motivation, I was pretty depressed. That's the moment when I trealized that I had to take care of this as soon as possible, I couldn't continue like that", said Olano, who gave a talk today ay the University of Navarra together with his doctor and trainer, Iñaki Arratíbel.
Olano added: "At times I thought about leaving it, but that's just at the moment, because then you think about it and realize that you are 28 years old and I have still have a lot to say in cycling". The Guipuzcoan rider explained that he didn't sign with ONCE earlier due to an excess amount of trust between the two sides" - all there talk was done over the telephone with nothing sealed in legal terms.
"The situation was complicated and I thought that I was going to lose my opportunity, but everything was easily solved once we sat down to discuss the two clauses in disagreement".
Olano told the students that two years ago when he signed with Banesto he thought that he would end his career at that team. He also commented that he won't determine his racing calendar for 1999 until the team camp in January. When asked about the climb of La Gamonal at the next edition of la Vuelta a España, Olano said: "It's very tough and demanding, but it doesn't scare me because the climbers don't tend to attack from very far. It will be exciting and there will be a lot of movement".
35-year old Tchmil said: "I shall be very strong in the spring. I will remain in top form until the Amstel Gold Race."
His first win might have been at a stage race of lesser importance, but he would show his class by winning the Four Days of Dunkirk, a stage race ranked a 2.1 by the UCI. To confirm his talent he was able to take the overall GC at the Tour de l'Oise, where his teammates took all the stages. His great season ended with a stage win at the Tour of Poland. In total, six victories which make him the most succesful Neo Pro for 1998. In Spain his name was also known when he placed second overall at The Tour of Murcia, behind his teammate and leader, Italian Alberto Elli.
Another Neo that showed his class was Lithuanian Romans Vainsteins, with five wins, including the Gran Premio Industria e Artesanado in Italy and the GP Jornal de Noticias in Portugal. He finished eleventh at the World Road Race in Valkenburg.
Salvatore Commeso, didn't win any races, but in his first year as a professional he finished 13th overall in the World Cup competition, thanks to a third place at the GP Suisse and a fourth place at the German HEW. His compatriot Rodolfo Ongarato, from Team Ballan, performed well at the Summer Italian Classics and won the Trofeo Melinda.
Swede Rittsel, Ukrainian Vladimir Duma and Moldavian Ruslan Ivanov (road and time trial) were the only Neo-professionals to win their National Championships.
Two riders competing at the World BMX Championships in Melbourne in July have tested positive to asthma drugs which are on the banned list. Roger Vaughan, AAP's super cycling journalist has done some digging and concludes that the riders were at a UCI sanctioned event - the only such event in Australia at the time was the BMX championships. No-one knows who the riders are though. The UCI has also been slow in notifying the ACF or BMX Australia.
The issue seems to be one of incomplete paperwork on the registration forms. Riders are permitted to take the medication if they declare it with support from a team doctor (or thoracic specialist). The riders did not complete all the relevant papers.
Canadian outed for 4 years
Canadian cyclist Steen Madsen was given a 4 year ban from the Canadian Cycling Association after he tested positive to the steroid Nandrolone. Madsen gave a positive urine test on November 11 in Edmonton, Canada.
The two samples - the first tested at the IOC-accredited laboratory in Montreal on December 2, and the second 10 days later - concurred.
Madsen had only just become part of the Canadian team development program.
Pantani has joined the legends of the sport - Coppi, Merckx, Fignon, Hinault, Roche and Indurain who all were winners of the two great national tours in their careers.
This little man of 170 cms and 58 kilos decisively upset the path of the German Jan Ullrich towards being the natural successor to Miguel Indurain. His victories on the Plateau de Beille and at Deux-Alpes will now become part of the glorious tradition of Tour de France history. His performance in 1998 is especially brilliant given the bad injuries that he has had to contend with. With the dominating strength of Ullrich and the long haul back to top level racing, Pantani's last coming was particularly notable. The rider fro Cesenatico is the first pure climber since Lucien Van Himpe in 1976 to win the Tour de France.
The question being asked now is whether this dominance will last or whether he will prove to be an ephemeral king in the mould of the Danish rider Bjarne Riis in 1996. When asked about this, Pantani said was not even sure he would be riding the Tour de France next year.
The 1999 Tour, which will monitor drug taking like never before, also risks being without the other great character, Richard Virenque, who has announced his retirement. His departure will mean a loss to the French cycling fans.
Men's 4 km Team Pursuit Final: South Korea 4.36.609 beat Kazakhstan 4.43.786 Ride-off for 3rd: China 4.32.831 beat Taiwan 4.38.164
A grade, 25 minutes plus three laps: 1. Matt Hayman (Rabobank) 2. Tim Christopher (ACT AS) 3. Denis Mungoven (Catalyst) 4. Mick Hardy (Catalyst) 0.05 5. Shane Paton 0.05 6. Gareth Paton (Bike Shed) 0.05 7. Joel Stewart (Team CBF) 0.05 8. Chris Green (Bike Shed) 0.05 Started: 33 B grade: 1. Gerry Elias (Team CBF) 2. Liam Downing (Lonsdale) 3. James Meadley (Team CBF) 4. Tim Buchanan 5. Jason Chalker 6. Mary Grigson 7. Tracey Gaudrey 8. Trevor Rix (Lonsdale) 9. Dave Hennessy 10. Dave Sutton Started: 23 C grade: 1. Sam Alison 2. Kevin Miller 3. Mark Williams 4. Peter Coll 5. Paula Sutton 6. Cilla Ballard 7. Andrew Mohr 8. Michelle Dillon 9. Bill Neate 10. Lorraine Haslem Started: 27
The A grade field sported a field of 33 riders. The first clear break of the day saw Matt Arnold, Denis Mungoven and Mark Carter steal a 50m gap after six minutes of racing, the trio only stayed clear for one lap before succumbing to chasing pack, plus the realisation that the 50m gap was not increasing and further efforts would be futile.
Shortly after the half way stage Mungoven was amongst the frivolity again, this time luring the international riders Hayman and Christopher away with him as well as team mate John Forrest. Mungoven's Catalyst team mate Mick Hardy attempted to bridge the gap to the quartet, only to find the pace too intense and the winds too strong, and slipped back into the bunch. four laps later John Forrest found the going too tough and also dropped back to the shelter of the main bunch.
With two of the strongest teams, Catalyst and ACT AS represented in the break, there was little resistance from the chasing peloton. In fact no other teams could be seen, while Catalyst rider Michael Payne remained at first wheel, lap after lap, maintaining a steady firm pace, just enough to allow his team mate's breakaway trio to forge a considerable gap.
Lonsdale Street rider Paul Ingwersen eventually grew tired of the parade and shot clear on his own, in hot pursuit of the lead. With three laps to go Ingwersen would have his work cut out and as luck would have it the main field seemed content to allow his lead to increase. The gap and the distance remaining proved too much and with one and a half laps remaining Matt Arnold and Mark Carter set about reeling him in, with the intention of taking fourth and fifth places.
Meanwhile the lead trio were lining up to contest a tactical battle for the victory. Mungoven led the sprint out and steadily wound the already high tempo up another notch, it was Hayman, in a frame flexing burst of acceleration who rapidly moved past the front pair out of the final corner. Matt Hayman, riding for the Dutch Rabobank team took line honours ahead of Australian representative Tim Christopher who couldn't match the sudden burst, with the underdog Mungoven taking third.
In the bunch sprint, Hardy hit the front with about 400m remaining and was untroubled as the field was strung out over the final lap, Hardy had little trouble disposing the two Paton brothers Shane and Gareth.
In the B grade it was again Liam Downing who shovelled the bulk of the coal for the express train. Also active were international representatives Mary Grigson and Tracey Gaudrey, who played their part in maintaining a high tempo.
Triathlete Luke Grattan punctured his front wheel early in the race, and rejoined after a wheel change. Two laps later Grattan attacked and opened a handy lead of about 50m which he maintained for over two laps.
After their allotted 15 minutes plus three laps, it came down to a somewhat reduced bunch sprint, the attrition due to such a constant fast pace. Coming from over two hundred metres to go, it was Gerry Elias who showed a change in form to lead the sprint out and hold off the fast finishing Liam Downing, from the ever consistent James Meadley in third place.
The C grade had a fantastic large field of 27 riders which consisted mainly of new riders to the sport of cycling. The C grade field remained pretty much intact for the whole race and the novice riders lapped the fast circuit up while displaying generally courteous race etiquette.
The C grade race suffered the misfortune of having B grade catch them only one and a half laps from their finish. Kevin Miller on the front of C grade swung wildly across the road as B grade initiated their overtaking manouvre, forcing the two grades into the gutter. It took another half a lap for B grade to get enough room to try again, by which time C grade was in full cry, heading for the line.
In the end is was Sam Alison who threaded his way through to take the victory ahead of Kevin Miller and Mark Williams in third.