Oldest Pro signs a new contract - there's hopeThe oldest professional is Fred Rompelberg who is Dutch, lives in Maastricht and was born in 1945. He has been a professional since 1971. He has signed with the Belgian Daewoo-Spar-RDM team.The team is:
Fred Rompelberg (Ned) Etienne De Wilde (Bel) (from De Schacht) Rik Van Slycke (Bel) (from RDM) Geert Omloop (Bel) (from EC Bayer) Werner Vandromme (Bel) (from RDM) Wim Omloop (Bel) (from Palmans) Roman Polansky (Bel) (neo) Rik Claeys (Bel) (from Colstrop) Michel Cornelisse (Ned) (from Foreldorado) Brian Dalgaard (Den) (from EC Bayer) Matthew Gilmore (Australian-soon to be Belgian) (from RDM) GP Costa degli EtruschiThe 3rd Gran Premio Costa degli Etruschi will be raced in Donoratico, in the presence of National Cycling Supervisor Alfredo Martini. The race, which will open the Italian cycling season on Sunday, and has over 200 riders registered. The start is programmed for San Vincenzo, at 11:35am. After a nine kilometer ride at 'tourist's speeds' the race will cover 159 kms, doing 3 laps of a 25kms circuit and 8 laps of a 10.5 kms circuit.Some of the featured riders will be from: Mapei-Bricobì (Bugno, Museeuw and Zanini), Saeco-Cannondale (with Cipollini deciding whether to race at the last minute), Polti (1996 winner Guidi), Scrigno-Gaerne (1997 winner Conte and Casarotto), Riso Scotti (Minali and Baldato), Rabobank-Colnago (Boogerd and Van Bon), Ballan (Gontchenkov, Colombo, Ugrumov and Leoni), Brescialat-Liquigas (Zaina and Piccoli), Asics-CGA (Malberti), Mobilvetta-Northwave (Colagè and Tebaldi), and Amore e Vita (Magnusson). Pontoni to startDaniele Pontoni may still defend his World Title at Middlefart on Sunday. The Italian Cycling Federation are still to decide whether he can go to Denmark. The Italian was caught taking cocaine. "The international regulations have for the time being no allowance for suspension, and also the elite rider Pontoni is at fault under which rules." said the spokesperson.Pontoni maintains he is innocent and has said that the urine sample was switched. A special commission must decide whether Pontoni will be punished under the rules of the Italian Olympic Committee. Francaise des Jeux for 1998La Francaise des Jeux, the French team directed by Marc Madiot, will count on the following riders this season: Berzin (Rus), Bouyer, Casper, Guesdon, Heulot, Jan, Ledanois, Magnien, Mengin, Morelle, Morin, D. & J. Na, Perque & Vogondy (Fra), D'Hondt (Bel), Gianetti (Swi), Horner (USA), McGee (Australia), Peron and Vanzella (Ita), Sciandri (GB). |