News for January 4, 1998

The Italian Teams and Analysis for 1998

1. There will be 15 teams one less than in 1997. One of the teams is registered in Colombia but has Italian management. Two teams have come from the demise of Team Batik-Del Monte - Team Riso Scotti managed by Emanuele Bombini and Team Ballanmanaged by Flavio Miozzo. MG-Technogym and Team Roslotto-Z have both withdrawm from cycling sponsorship. Team Vini Caldirola-Longoni Sport will take over from Aki-Safi and Mobilvetta-Northwave from Team Refin-Mobilvetta.
2. Mapei-Bricobì has the most riders - 25.
3. Ballan and Ros Mary-Amica Chips will have the fewest with 14.
4. There will be 277 registered riders on Italian teams to which we should add 17 that ride for teams from outside of Italy for a total of 294. But M. Velo is included in 2 teams: Brescialat-Liquigas and Mercatone Uno! (so 277 minus 1 = 276. Thanks Wim!).
5. There are 55 foreigners, 59 Neo-Pros (49 Italian and 10 foreign).
6. The biggest shock is the transfer of Michele Bartoli, from Team MG-Technogym to Asics-CGA. Boifava's Asics Team (after a bad 1997), has pushed out Chiappucci and Zaina and has rebuilt the team around Bartoli with riders like: Scinto, Coppolillo, Bettini and Tani.
7. Enrico Zaina has gone to Team Brescialat-Liquigas, where he will be number one for the stage races and where he will be an example for young riders like Sgambelluri and Mason.
8. Claudio Chiappucci, who was suspended twice after having excessive blood levels during 1997 (on the eve to the Giro and the Worlds), will try to reestablish himself at Team Ros Mary-Amica Chips.
9. The strength in world cycling will still be Team Mapei with Squinzi remaining as manager. They add a new Belgian sponsor Bricobì. Only 3 significant additions are the neo-pros Giuliano Figueras, U-23 World Champion at Lugano, Massimo Codol and Matteo Frutti. They will be next to Tonkov, Bugno, Tafi, Museeuw, Faresin and Zanini, with 1998 being the year where young Di Grande may consecrate himself.
10. Marco Pantani has reinforced his Team Mercatone Uno-Bianchi so he can assault the Giro and the Tour. Added are Fincato, Forconi and Velo (all who can help in the mountains) and Konyshev and Fontanelli.
11. Ivan Gotti, winner of the 1997 Giro, will have Savoldelli and Piepoli as principal bodyguards, at a Team Saeco that will also have the double punch of Cipollini and Petito.
12. Team Polti has been significantly reinforced with Guerini (3rd in the 1997 Giro), Luc Leblanc and Axel Merckx, being assisted by Davide Rebellin, returning to Stanga's group from Francaise des Jeux, Fabrizio Guidi and the Number 1 track rider, Silvio Martinello.
13. Giorgio Furlan is the bet of Vini Caldirola-Longoni Sport, which will also include Stefano Faustini.
14. Team Cantina Tollo-Alexia Alluminio has trimmed itself down and has aimed at quality. The main rider will be Sergei Gontchar, the Ukranian who is a very strong time triallist and who aims toward the stage races.
15. Italians, Colombians, Ukrainians, Latvians and Australians are massed at Team Kross-Selle Italia, where Gianni Savio will be putting his trust on Frigo's sprint and the rebirth of Pulnikov.
16. There are 17 emigrant riders in 1998 (14 last year). Returning is Davide Rebellin from La Francaise des Jeux who won two World Cup Races (San Sebastian and Zurich) and will wear the jersey of Team Polti. His brother Simone has retired. The new emigrants for 1998 will be Andrea Ferrigato, Francesco Casagrande, Wladimir Belli, Massimiliano Lelli and Alessandro Bertolini. Here is the breakdown of the riders that will ride outside of Italy: Gianluca Bortolami, Wladimir Belli and Bruno Boscardin (Festina), Alberto Elli, Rodolfo Massi and Marco Saligari (Casino), Maurizio Fondriest, Francesco Casagrande, Alessandro Bertolini and Massimilano Lelli (Cofidis), Giovanni Lombardi and Francesco Frattini (Telekom), Andrea Peron and Flavio Vanzella (La Francaise des Jeux), Eros Poli (Gan), Andrea Ferrigato (Vitalicio Seguros). La Francaise des Jeux, who has lost Rebellin, will count on Italo- English Maximilian Sciandri.

Italian Team Listings for 1998

ASICS-CGA - Italy, 19 riders, Carrera bikes, managed by Davide Boifava Sport directors: Serge Parsani and Pietro Turchetti.

Riders: Bonetti, Bongioni, Bianchi, Colonna, D.Ferrari, Noé, O. Pozzi, Roscioli, Schiavina, Shefer (Kaz), Simeoni, Turicchia.

New: Bartoli, Bettini, Coppolillo, Scinto, Tani.

Neo's: C. Bianchini, Malberti, and from September, K.A. Arvesen (Nor) and Ivan Basso.

AMORE and VITA-FORZACORE - Italy, 20 riders, Fausto Coppi Bikes, managed by Giuseppe Lanzoni. Sport directors: Gian Luigi Barsottelli, Roberto Pelliconi and Sandro Lerici.

Riders: Andriotto, Ferti, Giacomelli, Jones (Zim), Magnusson (Swe), Patuelli, Zattoni, Zucchi, De Pasquale.

New: Profeti (ex-Kross), Peter Rogers and Matt White (Australia, ex Giant-AIS)

Neo's: Cannone, Leporatti, Lupi, Gimondi, Puglioli, Castaldo, Massa, Paolini.

BALLAN - Italy, 14 riders, Scapin Bikes, Sport directors: Flavio Miozzo and Dario Mariuzzo

Riders: G. Colombo, Leoni, Baffi, Sergei Gontchenkov (Ukr), Poitr Ugrumov (Rus), Cattai, Canzonieri, Finco, Loda, Tosatto, Tronca

Neo's: Baldo, R. Ongrato and A. Ongarato.

BRESCIALAT-LIQUIGAS - Monaco, 17(?) riders, Wilier Triestina bikes, managed by Fabio Bordonali. Sport directors: Giancarlo Perini and Dino Zandegu.

Riders: Bruseghin, Camin, Contrini, M.Della Vedova, Milesi, Piccoli, Raimondi, Serpellini, Sgambelluri and Velo (?).

New: Zaina, Bertoletti

Neo's: Figura, Ivanov (Mol), Mason, Moreni, Rastelli.

CANTINA TOLLO-ALEXIA ALLUMINIO - Italy, 20 riders, Pinarello bikes, managed by Vincenzo Santoni. Sport directors: Franco Gini, Palmiro Masciarelli, Giuseppe Petito

Riders: Di Renzo, Frizzo, Gentili, Hvastija (Slo), Pierdomenico, P.Valoti.

New: Baronti, Bellini, Colage, Villa, Gontchar (Ukr), Mazzanti, Simoni, Strazzer

Neo's: Magnani, Cavagnis, Giunti, Trenti, Ljungqvist (Swe), Rittsel (Swe).

MAPEI-BRICOBI - Italy, 25 riders, Colnago bikes, managed by Giuseppe Saronni. Sport directors: Pietro Algeri, Fabrizio Fabbri, Patrick Lefevre (Bel) and Maurizio Piovani.

Riders: Ballerini, Bramati, Bugno, Camenzind (Swi), Di Grande, Faresin, Lanfranchi, Leysen (Bel), Mattan (Bel), Missaglia, Museeuw (Bel), Nardello, Peeters (Bel) Pianegonda, Steels (Bel), Spruch (Pol), Svorada (Cze), Tafi, Tonkov (Rus), Van den Broucke (Bel) and Zanini.

Neo's: Codol, Figueras, Frutti and Belohvosciks (Lat from April)

MERCATONE UNO-BIANCHI - San Marino, 19(?) riders, Bianchi bikes, managed by Giuseppe Martinelli. Sport directors: Allessandro Giannelli and Orlando Maini.

Riders: Artunghi, Barbero, Borgheresi, Checchin, Conti, Garzelli, Pantani, Pellicioli, Piovaccari, Podenzana, Siboni, Traversoni, Dall'Olio.

New: Fincato, Fontanelli, Forconi, Konychev (Rus), Velo (?) and

Neo's: Napolitano.

MOBILVETTA-NORTHWAVE - Italy, 16 riders, Fausto Coppi bikes, managed by Daniele Sebastiani Sport directors: Stefano Giuliani and Franco Vona

New: Manzoni, Tebaldi, Chiurato, Paluan, A. Pozzi, Tomi, Alberati, Della Bianca

Neo's: Recinella, Scalmana, Trombetta, Ragnetti, Giroletti, Fioroni, De Nobile, Caviglia.

RISO SCOTTI - Italy, 17 riders, De Rosa bikes, managed by Emanuale Bombini. Sport directors: Bruno Leali and Alberto Volpi.

Riders: ex-Batik: Minali, Brignoli, Brognara, Cenghialta, Spezialetti

New: Baldato, Bobrik (Rus), Caruso, Casagranda, Charriere (Swi), De Beni, Miceli, Pistore.

Neo's: Di Biase, R. Ferrari, G. Palumbo, Rezzani.

ROS MARY-AMICA CHIPS (Switzerland) - 14 riders, Nybcor bikes, managed by Marino Basso. Sport directors: Sandro Quintarelli and Paolo Dotti.

Riders: De Paoli, Finesso, Dotti, Varocchi.

New: Chiappucci, Gelfi, F.Bontempi, Della Santa, Arazzi, Molinari, Zatti, F.Puttini (Swi), Uria (Spa).

Neo: Campagnari.

SCRIGNO-GAERNE - Italy, 18 riders, Viner bikes, managed by Bruno Reverberi. Sport directors: Enrico Paolini, Piero Pieroni, Roberto Reverberi.

Riders: F. Casagrande, Casarotto, Conte, Rossato, Petacchi, Pieri, Secchiari, Vatteroni.

New: Balducci, Laddomada.

Neo's: Auriemma, Axelson (Swe), Belluomini, Cei, Douma (Ukr), Glomser (Aut), Panetta and Zanetti.

SAECO (San Marino) - 21 riders, Cannondale bikes, managed by Claudio Corti. Sport directors: Antonio Salutini and Bruno Vicino.

Riders: Cipollini, Conti, Buschor (Swi), Calcaterra, Donati, Fagnini, Faverio, Fornaciari, D. Frigo, Mazzoleni, M. Mori, Moos (Swi), Petito, Scirea, Rich (Ger).

New: Savoldelli, Kokorine (Rus), Padrnos (Cze), Piepoli.

Neo's: Commesso and Morscher (Aut)

TEAM POLTI - Italy, 19 riders, Fausto Coppi bikes, managed by Gianluigi Stanga. Sport directors: Vittorio Algeri and Antonio Bevilacqua.

Riders: Atienza (Spa), Brasi, Celestino, Cassani, Colleoni, Crepaldi, Gualdi, Guerini, Jaksche (Ger), Leblanc (Fra), Merckx (Bel), Sacchi, G. Valoti .

Neo's: F. and L. Guidi, Martinello, D.Rebellin, Salvato, Zinetti.

VINI CALDIROLA-LONGONI SPORT - Monaco, 15 riders, Basso bikes, managed by Roberto Amadio and Enrico Maggioni. Sport directors: Mario Beccia and Stefano Zanatta.

Riders: ex Aki: Calzavara, Dalla Costa, Faustini, Murtas, Radaelli, G. Sironi, Zanette, Zanetti, Zanotti.

New: Apollonio, Furlan, Dante.

Neo's: Simonetti, Trentin and De Mauri.

KROSS-SELLA ITALIA (Colombia) - 23 riders, Daccordi bikes, managed by Gianni Savio. Sport directors: Fabio Becherini and Antonio Castano (Col).

Riders: F. Frigo, Citracca, Gili, Gobbini, Mori, Pulnikov (Ukr), David McKenzie (Australia), Goyenece, Lozano, Saavedra, W.(??-Jaime?) Mora (all Col).

New: Pierobon, Vergnani, Mondini, Baliani (neo), Bernal (Col), Zapata (Col).

Neo's: Forero, Anaya, Delgado, Brand, Vainsteins (Lat-neo) and Tristan Priem (Australia)

Thanks to Wim and Frank for their hard work.

Veldegem, Belgium, Cyclo Cross, Category A, December 31, 1997

 1. Mario De Clercq (Bel) Palmans
 2. Danny De Bie (Bel) Rollini
 3. Sven Nijs (Bel)
 4. G. David (Bel)
 5. P. Willemsens (Bel)
 6. Arne Daelemans (Bel)
 7. B. Rondelez (Bel)
 8. K. De Roose (Bel)
 9. A. Moonen (Bel)
10. N. Clarysse (Bel)
...
15. Marc Janssens (Bel) Palmans
17. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
18. Paul Hereygers (Bel) Tonnisteiner

Pétange, Luxemburg, Cyclo Cross, Category A, January 1, 1997

 1. Daniele Pontoni (Ita)
 2. Marc Janssens (Bel) Palmans
 3. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Espace
 4. Dominic Arnould (Fra)
 5. C. Mengin (Fra)
 6. Wim De Vos (Ned)
 7. A. Moonen (Bel)
 8. P. Van Riet (Bel)
 9. Danny De Bie (Bel) Rollini
10. A. Mudroch (Cze)

Surhuisterveen, Netherlands, Cyclo Cross, Category A

 1. Van de Poel (Ned) Rabobank         59.10
 2. Paul Hereygers (Bel) 		1.05
 3. Ben Willems (Bel) 			1.10
 4. Ben Berden (Bel) 			1.15
 5. P. Willemsens (Bel) 		1.28
 6. A. Moonen (Bel) 			1.35
 7. Gretinus Gommers (Ned) 		1.45
 8. Mario De Clerq (Bel) Palmans 	1.50
 9. Arne Daelmans (Bel) 		2.10
10. Nijland (Ned) 			2.30

New Year's Resolutions from the Italians

Michele Bartoli, 27 years of age, 7 wins in '97, including Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the World Cup. He will ride for Asics-CGA in 1998. "For 1998 I want to reconfirm my performance: if I can perform like in the last two seasons I will be very happy. My objective is always the Classics, when I have won them all I can think of others... Like the Giro d'Italia, for instance. For 1998 I will concentrate in a Classic that I haven't won, I have a Flanders and a L-B-L, but I think of Lombardia, which this year gave the the World Cup".

Mario Cipollini, 30 years old, has 16 wins in '97, with five stages at the Giro and two at the Tour. He will once again ride for Saeco in 1998.

The Lion enters his 10th season as a Pro. "I will say that I aim for Milano-San Remo, Sanremo has been a dream all of my life, it is a shame that the year that it was won by a sprinter, I wasn't in shape. So overall what I want for 1998 is good health".

Davide Rebellin, 26 years old, three victories in '97, including la Clasica San Sebastian & the GP Suisse of the World Cup. He returns to Team Polti for 1998.

"For 1998 I hope above all that nothing happens to me that will prevent me from doing my job well. I think specially about my fall at the last Tour and my vertebrae problem. If I think about races, I win that would make me happy would be Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a Classic that I've always liked and that matches my characteristics. I also think about the World Cup.

Ivan Gotti, 28 years old, winner of the Giro d'Italia '97, conquering the Pink Jersey with his win at Cervinia. Will ride for Saeco in 1998. "I hope to reconfirm my preformance of '97. The Giro is important, it would be beautiful to defend the Pink Jersey and the Tour is very important too".

Raymond Pauwels dies

Big Track Night at Shepparton

Scratchmen and current world champions Jeff Hopkins and Brett Lancaster took second and third place respectively. Daniel Hutchinson who had the same mark in the handicap as Gephart came fourth.

Gephart is now focusing on the biggest Wheelrace in Australia, the Austral, which is staged at the Northcote velodrome in February. His road ambitions extent to the professional Sun Tour of Victoria in November.

He was reported by Shepparton Times cycling writer, Keith Esson as saying: "This is unbelievable. I cant describe how it feels, but I'm loving it. The hard work has paid off and the result could not have been achieved without the blokes in my bunch working so hard. I was pretty confident that I would do well, but I did not know exactly how I would go in a class field like this one. Riding the Bendigo super race early last month put the speed in my legs and training with the (Shepparton) boys topped me right up. I finished fifth at Echuca and Bendigo in wheelraces on the circuit so I knew a big one wasn't far away. The fact the big one was Shepparton and the 50th has made tonight even sweeter."