News for February 4, 1998

Those who made comebacks - Part I

  1. Kris - notes that Etienne De Wilde did not retire as is indicated on the list I published yesterday. He stayed elite with contract but had a private sponsor (De Schacht) in 1997. He actually already rode for De Schacht in the last part of 1996, after a dispute with his then sponsor RDM during the 1996 season. He was fired and then immediately signed with De Schacht and stayed on there for 1997. He's back now with RDM(-Daewoo-Spar) for the 1998 season.
  2. Nick (Fat Fame!) - of the Best 6-Day site there is - notes that two English riders on the list also did not retire. Rob Hayles is still a pro, currently riding the Copenhagen Six! He's part-trackie, part-roadman. He rode at the track worlds in Aus last year - remember the Brit who pulled his foot out in the team event? Hayles rode for Ambrosia in 1997, and is riding for the new Virgin / Brite Voice team in 1998.

    Russell Williams was also still riding in 1997 as a pro for Ambrosia. Amongst other things, he won a track title (points, 35-39 year olds) at the world track masters in Manchester.

Mario De Clercq -- Quotes/Achievements

The new world elite cyclo-cross champion attributes his success in part to having moved from Lotto to the smaller Palmans team. "When I was at Lotto," he explains "my winter activity was very restricted since [directeur sportif Jean-Luc] Vandenbroucke wanted me to conserve my resources for the road-racing season. He forced me to ride the Tour de France, but I didn't like the Tour."

De Clercq overcame serious illness in 1997. "I'm not by nature that expansive," he says, but if I didn't explode with joy after my victory it was [as much] because I've learnt to put a relative value on things after what I've experienced." -- there was a fear in 1997 that he had cancer and then in May he underwent an operation for the removal of a cyst from his throat and afterwards for four months one side of his face was paralysed.

Born 5 March 1966 at Oudenaarde, Belgium (his father Rene was world amateur cyclocross champion in 1969).

  1. Cyclo-cross: World Champion, 1997; 3rd Belgian National Championships 1997 and 1997.
  2. Road: Winner Tour of the Vendee 1995 (2nd in 1994); Winner one stage of the Tour of the Mining Valleys 1991; 3rd Fleche Brabanconne 1992; 3rd GP de Wallonie 1993; 4th Omloop Het Volk 1993; 14th Paris-Roubaix 1994

Koerts and Lotz back in the Netherlands

The Rabobank riders Mark Lotz and Jans Koerts are now back home in the Netherlands. They were both taken to hospital in Italy on Sunday after falling heavily in the traditional opening race in Italy at Estruschi.

The neo-prof Lotz in his debut race sustained concussion and has been advised to take a week off training for rest. Koerts damaged some vertebrae in his back, but their is no fracture. He has to be examined by a doctor with the Rabobank team before he can ride again.