Lotto for 1998Jo Planckaert (27) will be the top man in the classics along with Andre Tchmil (now a Belgian rider). In the Tours, the protected riders will be Madouas, Laukka, Teteriouk and Verbrugghe.The team, managed by Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke has 21 riders. Newcomers are Aerts, Verheyen, Dierckxsens, the young Fin Laukka and Jean-Denis Vandenbroucke, the 21-year old son of the manager. 2000 World MTB Championships in Sierra Nevada, SpainIt has been announced that the 2000 MTB Worlds will be in Sierra Nevada, Spain. Candidates for other championships events include:
Olano sets the Tour as his major goalOn January 28, the Spanish team Banesto held their team presentation for 1998 at their offices in Madrid. As in previous seasons the Tour de France and Vuelta a España will be the main objectives. Team Manager José Miguel Echávarri and cyclist Abraham Olano were hopeful that they will be able to attain a podium finish at the Tour.Last season was a tough one, due to Olano's health problems which were traced to a strange virus. The physical problems suffered by Olano and the bad taste of his departure from the Vuelta a España are completely forgotten. Banesto 1998 shows up with a few novelties, some voluntary and some by force, like the Santi Blanco conflict. The team has changed for 1998, although it retains the same characteristics. The only inconvenience is the lack of experience in the team. "It's a shame", said Echávarri, "that both Blanco and Casero left. Their moment arrived and they didn't want to spend it with us. Even considering their departure, I think that we are as solid as in previous seasons with experienced riders willing to sacrifice for their leader or to teach the young ones. Tour and Vuelta will be our objectives, not forgetting other races". Abraham Olano, talked about the Tour which continues to be his main goal. "I don't see it so far away in the horizon. I'm motivated and hopeful that since I have taken care of the physical problems of last year due to a strange virus and the tonsils". "I think that if I'm healthy a place on the podium is within my reach. Last year was really tough for me and I finished fourth. That is a good reference and this season I will have the advantage of knowing all my rivals. What I'm very clear about is that I'm going to be a lot more demanding of myself to try to achieve the maximum possible, since I still don't know my limits". Olano's calendar until the Tour will be pratically the same as last year, said sport director Eusebio Unzue. He will start at Vuelta a Mallorca (Feb 8-12), Trofeo Luis Puig (Feb 22), Clásica Almería (Mar 1), Vuelta a Murcia (Mar 4 198), Miláno-San Remo (Mar 21, Semana Catalana (Mar 23-27), Gp Estella (Apr 3) and Vuelta al País Vasco (Apr 6-10). The change will be "Volta" a Cataluña (Jun 18-25) instead of the Dauphine Libere as a consequence of this year's delay of the Tour de France, which starts in Dublin, Ireland on July 11th and finishes August 2nd in Paris. This is the lineup for Banesto '98:
Rider DOB-Birth place Previous Team Debut Marino Alonso 16-11-65 Zamora Banesto 1987 José Luis Arrieta 15-06-71 San Sebastián Banesto 1993 Cándido Barbosa 31-12-74 Rebordosa, Por Maia 1996 Manuel Beltrán 28-05-71 Jaén Banesto 1995 Armand de las Cuevas 26-06-68 Troyes, Fra Banesto 1990 Manuel Fernández Gines 25-02-71 Granada Banesto 1994 Aitor Garmendia 03-03-68 Itsasondo ONCE 1990 José Vicente García 04-08-72 San Sebastián Banesto 1995 Jeremy Hunt 12-03-74 Tolnes, GB Banesto 1996 Eladio Jiménez 10-03-76 Salamanca Banesto 1998 José María Jiménez 06-02-71 El Barraco Banesto 1993 Francisco Mancebo 09-03-76 Madrid Banesto 1998 Pablo Lastras 20-01-76 Madrid Banesto 1998 David Latasa 14-02-74 Pamplona Banesto 1998 Jon Odriozola 26-12-70 Oñati Batik 1995 Abraham Olano 22-01-70 Anoeta Banesto 1992 Aitor Osa 09-09-73 Cestona Banesto 1995 Unai Osa 12-06-75 Cestona Banesto 1997 Miguel Angel Peña 08-07-70 Granada Banesto 1994 Orlando Rodrigues 21-10-69 Beira, Moz Banesto 1991 César Solaun 29-12-70 Bilbao Euskalt 1994 More Banesto AnalysisFor the first time in a long time Banesto's presentation was not a place to talk about the Tour or Indurain's shadow. The team's renovation - seven joining and nine leaving - the plans for the Tour or Olano's health had to be side by side with more vulgar subjects. All of it motivated by the case of Santi Blanco."We hope for a good year in Spanish cycling, but we would like for there to be a code of conduct for this sport", said General Director Luis Abril. "We will fight on the road like it should be, but outside of it we respect all people and rules", commented José Miguel Echávarri. This was obviously referring to the Blanco case. The continuity of sponsorship doesn't seem to be affected at this time - there are riders that have signed until the year 2000 , but there are doubts about the amateur team. "It continues to be an affluence of new talent for Spanish cycling - sometimes for us and sometimes for others", said Echavarri. Blanco to go to courtThe season will start with a court case. Santi Blanco, the young pearl of Spanish cycling, needs a license from the Federation to race. He still doesn't have it because Banesto his old team and Vitalicio Seguros his new team have not reached a financial agreement. Vitalicio has to pay Banesto, since Blanco is under decree 1.006 (unilateral cancellation of a contract).Vitalicio offered 75 million pesetas ($US480,900) and Banesto didn't accept. Since neither team is willing to give up, the Blanco case will be resolved in court. It is expected that the judge will make a decision by February 18th. Banesto assures that they don't want to harm the rider and that he will get his license. Indurain sets up a foundationMiguel Induráin has establishe a foundation. The Miguel Indurain Foundation, which has a set up capital of 100 million pesetas ($US641,200) was announced yesterday in Pamplona and aims to contribute in the improvement of the preparation of Navarran athletes, sponsor the formation of technicians, back up sport investigation, promote endurance sports and attract further financial resources.Indurain explained: "There are always stronger organisations that attract athletes away from Navarra. But it is better if they can be sustained and develop their sporting skills in their own city." Some Teams AnalysisJeff van Looy from Meta 2 Mil put together this insight into the beginning of the season and all the new teams.Mapei: New co-sponsor (Bricobi), but very few changes. The Italo-Belgian Team Mapei-Bricobi was presented on Friday, January 16th at a Flemish-Belgian location in Tiet. They debut with a new co-sponsor (Bricobi) and therefore a new look, substitutes Belgian Supermarkets GB, becoming co-sponsor on the jerseys, which represents no changes in terms of names and objectives. Leaving the team will be Belgian Carlos Bomans (Palmans), Polish Zenon Jaskula, Japanese Yoshiyuki Abe (Shimano Japan) and Valentino Fois (Vini Calderona). The three new riders will be the talented Italian neo pros Massimo Codol, Giulano Figueras and Mateo Frutti and starting in May, Beloso. For one more year the main riders will be Johan Museeuw, Andrea Taffi and Franco Ballerini for the World Cup and Pavel Tonkov for the Major Stage Races, choosing the Giro and Vuelta and not the Tour. While Tom Steels and Jan Svorada will be the stage hunters in all stage races. Even though 1998 it's supposed to be Mapei's last season as main sponsor, it looks more and more possible that they might extend the contract one more year. Mapei's boss, Squinzi, has said that he will have an answer before the season ends. The team includes: Franco Ballerini (Ita), Davide Bramati (Ita), Gianni Bugno (Ita), Massimo Codol (Ita), Giuseppe di Grande (Ita), Gianni Faresin (Ita), Giuliano Figueras (Ita), Matteo Frutti (Ita), Paolo Lafranchi (Ita), Gabriele Missaglia (Ita), Daniele Nardello (Ita), Gianluca Pianegonda (Ita), Andrea Taffi (Ita), Stefano Zanini (Ita), Oscar Camenzind (Swi), Bart Lesyen (Bel), Johan Museeuw (Bel), Wilfried Peeters (Bel), Nico Mattan (Bel), Tom Steels (Bel), Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel), Zbigniew Spruch (Pol), Jan Svorada (Ch) and Pavel Tonkov (R). Sport Directors: Patrick Lefevre (Bel), Pietro Algeri (Ita), Fabrizio Fabbri (Ita) and Maurizio Piovani (Ita). Manager: Giuseppe Saronni (Ita). TVM: For the thirteenth year in a row, Hoogeveen, Netherlands was the site of Team TVM's presentation on the 15th of January. This is the thirteenth year that the insurance company sponsors the team directed by Cees Priem. Together with Kelme, TVM is one of the most loyal sponsors in the peloton. TVM is a mixture of seven nationalities, an exotic team. This year the team will start without Dane Jesper Skibby (Jack and Jones), but that doesn't worry Priem. "Our winners are still loyal to the team, referring to sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens now with Outchankov to setup his sprint Lars Michaelsen, Hendry Van Dijck and Peter van Petegem for the one day races and for stages, while for the overall in stage races will be Russian Sergei Ivanov, Frenchman Laurent Roux and Dane Claus Moller. The team includes: Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned), Davy Dubbeldam (Ned), Tristan Hoffman (Ned), Steven de Jongh (Ned), Miquel Van Kessel (Ned), Servais Knaven (Ned), Bart Voskamp (Ned), Pieter Vries (Ned), Geert Van Bondt (Bel), Johan Capiot (Bel), Hendrik Van Dijk (Bel), Peter Van Petegem (Bel), Michael Anderson (Swe), Michel Lafis (Swe), Oliver Asmaker (Fra), Laurent Roux (Fra), Sergei Ivanov (Rus), Nicolai Bo Larsen (Den), Lars Michaelsen (Den), Claus Moller (Den) and Sergei Outchankov (Ukr). Sport Directors: Cees Priem (Ned) and Hendrik Redant (Bel). Rabobank: Bets on youth. The Dutch bank, Rabobank had their presentation in the city of Utrecht on January 21st. The team is composed of 12 juniors, 15 espoirs and 21 elite riders. Although the public is mostly interested in the professional team, the team president, Wijffels, showed his satisfaction for the young riders. The results has been the incorporation of Johan Bruinsma, Bert Hiemstra and Mark Lotz, who last year were part of the espoir team and this year will ride for the professional team. Rabobank has lost Johan Bruyneel (ONCE), Danny Nelissen (Jack and Jones), Arvis Piziks (Jack and Jones), Michael Blaudzun (Telekom) and Erik Breukink (public relations) for 1998. In addition to the three neo pros, also coming to the team will be Maarten den Bakker (TVM), Mark Wauters (Lotto) and Beat Zberg (Mercatone Uno). Rabobank expected better luck last season, in which they missed the World Cup, with an injury suffered by Sorensen, when it seemed that he had it clinched. They also hope that Austrian Peter Luttenberger will come through, even if it is a year later. Even though the road racing season is yet to start, Rabobank has already had their first success thanks to Groenendaal and Van der Poel, the two great stars of International Cyclo Cross. Even though the contract with Rabobank expires in the year 2000, everything seems to indicate that they will sign an extension. The team includes: Leon Van Bon (Ned), Michael Boogerd (Ned), Jan Boven (Ned), Maarten Den Bakker (Ned), Johan Bruinsma (Ned-neo), Erik Dekker (Ned), Richard Groenendaal (Ned), Max Van Heeswijk (Ned), Bert Hiemstra (Ned-neo), Patrick Jonker (Aus), Jan Koerts (Ned), Mark Lotz (Ned-neo), Koos Moerenhout (Ned), Adrie Van der Poel (Ned), Aart Vierenhout (Ned), Danny Jonasson (Den), Rolf Sorensen (Den), Mark Wauters (Bel), Beat Zberg (Swi), Peter Luttenberger (Aut), Robbie McEwen (Aus). Manager: Jan Raas. Sport Directors: Theo De Rooy, Adrie Van Houwelingen and Joop Zoetemelk. Palmans: Every season something bigger. It was six years ago that Palmans, a transportation company, came into cycling as a private sponsor for a regional cyclist Peter Spaenhoven, who still rides for Palmans, together with 14 other riders. Amongst the riders there is Wilfried Nelissen, the Belgian ex-champion, who tries to reestablish himself at the top of the peloton after almost a year and a half out of the glamour. The team also counts with two cyclo cross specialists, Marc Janssens (Belgium's champion) and Mario de Clerq. In the long run to survive, Palmans needs a co-sponsor, badly. Its top signing for 1998 is Scotty Sunderland from Australia. The team includes: Carlo Bomans (Bel), Frank Corvers (Bel), Hans de Clerq (Bel), Mario de Clerq (Bel), Johan De Geyter (Bel), Marc Janssens (Bel), Wilfried Nelissen (Bel), Karl Pauwels (Bel), Peter Spaenhoven (Bel), Gert Vanderaerden (Bel), Steven Van Malderghem (Bel), Jürgen Vermeersch (Bel), Roger Hammond (GB), Frank Hoj (Den) and Scott Sunderland (Aus). Jack and Jones, Accept Card and Chicky World: Three new Danish Teams. From zero to three, the health of Danish cycling seems excellent. Three Danish teams have had presentations already: Jack and Jones (with Danny Nelissen, Jesper Skibby and Brian Holm), Accept Card (with Track riders Jens Veggerby and Jimmi Madsen) and a smaller team, Chicky World, which will be directed by ex-professional Kim Andersen. "Bjarne Riis' victory at the Tour 1996 has been stimulating for Danish cycling. And it has been Riis himself who has been able to get the necessary resources to set up Team Jack and Jones", declared Brian Holm. "From now on, Danish cyclists also have chances for the future. I hope to be able to give my help as team captain. At my age, 35 years old, the pressure from a team like Telekom, where you have to perform every day at 100%, weighs heavily". Jack and Jones begins their first year in 26 position in the UCI classifications, so it won't be able to ride the World Cup or great classics, but that doesn't worry the directors, since they feel that the first year will be a year of learning. Jack and Jones: includes Christian Andersen (Den), Brian Holm (Den), Marc Strange Jacobsen (Den), René Jörgensen (Den), Michael Kyneb (Den), Michael Steen Nielsen (Den), and Jesper Skibby (Den), Michael Rosberg (Den), Danny Nelissen (Ned), Arvis Piziks (Let) and Juris Silovs (Est). Sport Director: Alex Pedersen. Accept Card: includes Tayeb Braikia (Den), Stig Guldbäk (Den)), Martin Kryger (Den), Jimmi Madsen (Den), Kim Marcussen (Den), Sören Petersen (Den), Jakob Piil (Den), Morten Sonne (Den), Jens Veggerby (Den), Jan Karlsson (Swe), and Björnar Vestöl (Nor). Sport Director: Fritz Mogensen. Chicky World: includes Simon Borchmann (Den), Svein Gaute Hoelestol (Nor), Allan Johansen (Den), Marc Tune Madsen (Den), Bjarke Nielsen (Den), Dennis Rasmussen (Den), Michael Sandsstöd (Den), Lars Schröder (Den), Törsten Schmidt (Ger) and Steffen Kjaergaard (Nor). Sport Director: Kim Andersen. The missing Frenchman at Home Market-CharleroiThe second French rider for Home Market-Charleroi is Jerome Laveur-Pedoux (from Lyon, VC vaulx-en-Velin, formerly stagiaire with Agrigel in 1996). |