News for January 14, 1998

Wilfried continues comeback

Wilfried Nelissen will continue his comeback after his bad fall in Gent-Wevelgem, some 20 months ago.

Nelissen has to undergo a small operation on Thursday to correct a problem with his knee. He made a brief return to competition at the end of last season after a layoff of more than one year. In the coming season he will try to return to his old ways.

Otegem, Belgium, Cyclo Cross, Cat A, January 12, 1998

A day after losing to Bart Wellens in the Belgian Cyclo Cross Championships for Espoirs, Sven Nijs has won the Category A race at Otegem. The current Under-23 World Champion took 1 minute out of Erwin Vervecken to take the first place.

 1. Sven Nijs                               
 2. Erwin Vervecken        		1.02          
 3. Peter Van Santvliet       		1.05          
 4. Peter Van Riet            		1.07          
 5. Arne Daelmans            		1.11

National Cyclo Cross Championships - More Results

Italy:

 1. Daniele PONTONI (Selle Italia-Guerciotti) 	       57.40 
 2. Scotti 						2.38 
 3. Bertoni 						2.55 
 4. Fabrizio Dall'Oste (Selle Italia-Guerciotti) 	3.11 (1st U-23)
 5. Tavella 					 	3.25 (2nd U-23)
 6. Vandelli						3.28 (3rd U-23)
 7. Sargenti 						3.43 
 8. Borini						4.26 
 9. Iori 						4.30 
10. Bilato 						4.46

66 starters 

Germany

 1. Joerg Arenz
 2. Malte Urban 
 3. Franz-Josef Nieberding

Slovakia

 1. Robert Glajza
 2. Pavol Medved
 3. Maros Kovac

Spanish hopes high at Vitalicio Seguros

Sport director Javier Mmnguez faces a season full of hopes with his new team, Vitalicio Seguros. "We will face the new season full of hopes and dreams and our main objective is to make a name for ourselves in national and international competition", he said. "Vitalicio Seguros is a new sponsor who has decided to risk and invest in cycling and that is very beneficial for the sport, since it is not easy to find a sponsor that will contribute the money to build a team with twenty quality riders, especially considering the way things are this days", added Javier Mmnguez.

He will also count on Josi Luis Lspez Cerrsn as assistant for the new team. Mmnguez has been a director for various national teams, including Novostil Helios, Moliner Vereco, Zor, BH and Seguros Amaya and was also part of Banesto during their peak. Commenting on his new team: "We have been building the best group of riders that we could, although one can't always get what you want, but we feel that we have a team of excellent young riders, who in some cases have tremendous possibilities".

In terms of the rider who could be the revelation for next season, Miguez said: "You never know which rider if going to explode at a certain time, specially now that there isn't a figure like Indurain, but Santiago Blanco and Juan Carlos Dommnguez, from our team or Unai Osa are in the position to, if luck accompanies them", assured Mmnguez. "There are many young riders, some of them not known to the public who could give great surprises, not only in my team but at ONCE or Banesto, who have also signed cyclists with excellent future", he added.

Vitalicio Seguros has been designed, according to Mmnguez, with the object of attempting to have riders of different styles. "We aspire to ride a good Giro d'Italia which could allow us to attend the Tour de France, which is one of our main objectives, he finished.

Team Polti

McDonalds has pulled out from sponsoring Team Polti. The team will remain, but will obviously need to seek additional sponsors. No word on potential ones.