News for January 8, 1998

Contracts and Transfers

Indurain reflects on his retirement in 1997

- He's asked by reporters everyday: Miguel, please, could you give me an interview to speak about your first year away from cycling?

- No.

That is invariably his answer, always accompanied by an explanation. "I no longer have anything to say, I'm no longer a cyclist. Ask the young ones".

When Miguel Induráin makes a decision, he abides by it, no matter the consequences. He said it in his goodbye letter, read a year ago, on January 2nd, 1997 at the Hotel Ciudad de Pamplona in front of a crowd. From now on, I will dedicate myself to me, my wife and my son, to my family life. That is a promise that he wanted to keep. He wanted to be retired at 32 and has done it, incredible.

"Neither when he was a cyclist or now. Indurain has never been conscious of what he means to Spanish society", says José Miguel Echávarri, his director and friend until the painful breakup which preceded the retirement. "Those ideas that he has entered a sacred shrine of the riders who have won five Tours, that he is a myth and all that, they don't mean anything to him. He was a man that got on the bike and started to pedal. And doing that he started to win Tours. 'It must not be that, when I have achieved it', he used to say. SO he didn't give it any value".

Marisa, his wife knows that her husband is a myth. A few months ago Induráin and family changed residences. They left their 'chalet' in Villaba and moved to the center of Pamplona, to a penthouse. The first thing that Marisa asked the neighborhood committee to do was to increase the security measures. She didn't feel safe for her, her husband or their two year old boy.

After reading his retirement letter, Induráin went shopping for 'Three Kings Day' in Pamplona. While the fax in his house in Villaba started to vomit more and more paper. They were all offers. Companies, public organizations. They all wanted the Indurain image. The majority of the papers stayed there gathering dust. He told the ones that he answered, simply no. "I don't want to do anything that will take time away from me. I don't want to have any obligations in my agenda. Nothing complicated", he explained.

Miguel Induráin has good memory and doesn't easily forget. "I'm riding la Vuelta against my will. I've been forced to do it". That declaration in August of 1996 was not a temporary show that he was angry, a passing tantrum. It was an important declaration, something like: Banesto no longer exists to me. Induráin participated in that Vuelta and it even seemed that relations have gone back to normal for awhile. Some higher officials in the bank even announced that they had made him an offer for a life long contract that Indurain would accept.

Just a month after Induráin's retirement he ate at Banesto's main office at Sevilla Street, in Madrid, with Alfredo Sáenz, president of the bank. He was courteous and amicable. He joked about ONCE's offer to ride with them for 1997. "These people from ONCE, they thought that everything was about money", he said. Seeing that things were open with them, Sáenz made him an offer that he couldn't refuse: he would be in charge of welcoming new customers to the bank. He would write them a letter and would be available for any problems they had. He would have no obligations and could do it from his home in Pamplona. A few days later he received in Villava a rough draft of the contract. The amount that he would make was blank, Indurain said that he would look at it. The months passed and nothing. He didn't call. In May, Induráin went to France, with his family to Eurodisney, as an invitation to promote the Tour's time trial. He announced in an international press conference that: "I have refused Banesto's offer". At the bank they found out because of the press. That slap in the face would be the definitive one, but not the first.

An athlete that leaves competition can't stop exercising abruptly, his body would suffer enormously. So Indurain rides, when he can, some 50 kms a day. Pinarello, the Italian manufacturer for Banesto's bicycles, made him a special one as a gift for his retirement, but Induráin wanted to break with all the team's past and didn't accept it. He went to a shop in Pamplona and bought a Cannondale. A lot of people found out because of Indurain's surprise when the five time Tour winner was told the price of his working tool: half a million pesetas. A lot of foreign newspapers published the news. Cannondale, an American brand took advantage of the opportunity. They launched a campaign using news clippings, that's how by paying 500,000 pesetas, Indurain ended up giving publicity.

Indurain's contract with Banesto - some 300 million pesetas a year - included the rights to use his image. Even then, if the cyclist had any offers that he was interested in, the bank would sometimes give his permission to accept it as long as it wasn't in direct competition with Banesto. In the Summer of 1996, Indurain told the bank that he wanted to make an add for some bakery products, the bank didn't allow it. Already retired in 1997, the only publicity campaign that he has participated in has been for the bakery products that the bank forbade him to promote. Revenge? Other than those products, the Navarran has said no to everything. He didn't even accept the offer to be a Tour commentator for TV and Radio.

Pedro Delgado, the previous Spaniard to have won the Tour, is very different. He multiplies his public exposure. Not long ago, Delgado left Induráin a message in the answering machine. "Miguel, the people from the cellular phones want to talk to you. I think that they can make you a good offer. Call me". He got tired of waiting. Sometime later he was able to talk to Induráin. "What's happening that you haven't called me? Aren't you interested in that matter?". "What matter?" answered the Navarran. "Oh that! No.".

Pedro Antonio Martín Marín, the State Secretary of Sport, was even called by Indurain's wife one day. "Do something, I have Miguel at home and he doesn't want to go out. Invite him to dinner in Madrid or come by here." Indurain has always responded to the initiatives of the Superior Council of Sports, although in lesser a measure that what they would have desired. Martín Marín announced that Induráin had accepted the job of sport ambassador for Spain. His performance has only seen him accompany the delegation for Sevilla 2004 that went to Laussane to try to get the Olympics.

As much as Indurain has wanted to remain a recluse, he has had a lot of appearances during his first year of retirement. "Maybe too many", said Indurain himself. "But it has been because it is the first year. Next year you'll see less of me". He has also being very peculiar when he has made decisions. A month ago, José María Aznar invited different athletes to eat with him at Moncloa, amongst them Induráin. All of them showed up, dressed elegantly. All except Induráin, who just wore a jersey. In the morning he had called to find out if the event would be formal or intimate. Even being a private event there were pictures taken on he staircases of La Moncloa. Induráin was sent to the third row where only his head could be seen. That night a newspaper gave a party and Indurain wore an Armani suit.

The clothes that he wears have become a sign of what he's thinking. The bank directors realized it for the party after Indurain's last Tour in 1996, when the rider showed up wearing jeans and sailing shoes without socks. "I didn't think that there would be a party since I didn't win", is all he said as explanation. Then he said about an oil painting of himself that Banesto's president gave him: "It is a bit large for my room". Something was going wrong.

Maybe because of Marino Alonso's advise, his best friend after 14 years with Banesto, Induráin has bought clothing from great Italian designers. Marino, who is still with Banesto loves Versace and company. Indurain wears the clothes occasionally. You only needed to see him at his most recent public appearance, an 'against drugs' soccer game at Bernabeu. He was wearing a long jacket and matching suit over his impressive appearance - he now eats everything that was forbidden before, but hasn't gained more than 4 or 5 kilos: he's at around 86 (189 lbs.), not a lot for his 1.88 meters (6'2") - nobody could have guessed that just a year ago he was a cyclist.

Induráin is not Charly Gaul, that man from Luxemburg winner of the 1958 Tour, who after he retired he started leaving like a monk. But he has been able to turn the page without looking back. "I don't miss those times at all. I'm not jealous of seeing the other cyclists suffer. You can see it much better on the TV". No, Induráin is not like so many champions who still can be found in the press rooms of the great races. He is not like Fignon, Roche, Merckx, Hinault, Gimondi or Moser, who still need the flashes of the cameras.

"I'm here next to Hinault, going wherever they want to go". Merckx and Hinault, the other two winners of five Tours that are alive, were proudly present at the start of the last Tour. They were there with Induráin paying homage to Jacques Anquetil, the deceased five times winner. They would have suffered if the Tour hadn't invited them. Induráin saw that social act as an obligation. He was the one that received the most applause, but he only had in his mind his schedule and the time when he would get back on the plane to return to normality. His normality consisted in getting together with his friend Sabino Padilla, also his doctor during his years at Banesto, his wife and the wife of Marino Alonso to go on a Tour. They went to the side of a road in Val Louron to see the "Queen Stage" and clap at the peloton like another fan. Without an official car, without a chauffeur. Afterwards he went by the hotel where Banesto was staying to say hello to his ex- teammates. But he didn't go in. He stayed at the door and sent notice that he was there. They came out to see him.

Induráin wants to be normal, without a past, but the past is still there. His departure from Banesto and from cycling left a lot of open wounds. He hasn't done anything to help them heal, he trusts that time will take care of that, but a year later the wounds are still open.

José Miguel Echávarri doesn't want to talk. "I have a feeling of emotion, that I keep in my heart and a feeling of illusion that I use in my daily work", he says. He still gets letters addressed to Induráin. Letters that he takes to the Banesto office in Pamplona, so they can forward them to the champion. The past of Echávarri, the man that modelled that big young man as the best cyclist of the latter years and Indurain's are the same. But their future has become parallel paths, that won't meet.

The path also chases Echávarri. "Won't you also ask him, how has the year being without Induráin?", worrily inquires Echavarri's wife, María Pilar. This last week, they haven't stopped punishing him with that". The rupture with Induráin was for Echávarri a prediction that cycling as such would no longer exist for him. He tried to get illusioned with the young riders from the team, to think about the future and was struck by reality. He was struck by Santi Blanco and his departure because of money to Vitalicio; he found amateurs like Sastre, who would also leave him. He was so closed up with Indurain that he couldn't see where the world was going.

"When Miguel called me on January 1st, 1997 to tell me that he was retiring, I felt a mutual liberation. I knew that with us, with Banesto, he couldn't continue; and I also knew that he wasn't a cyclist anymore, that he just couldn't continue somewhere else like if nothing had happened". Echávarri still gets letters criticizing him for suggesting that Indurain had done the right thing in abandoning cycling. Because he had said that he wasn't mentally ready to win anymore Tours.

Miguel Induráin is not like anybody. He is unique. Gentle, accessible, willing, simple and ... quiet. "His silence speaks", it used to be said in his time. His silence continues to speak, but now there is nobody to interpret them.

Danish 6 Day Rider tests positive

The test was taken on the third day of the race as part of a random selection. After the final there was not taken a test (not in line with the regulation) as the police raided the area and demanded test of all French riders.

The laboratory doing the analysis is the same Parisian that found Paola Pezzo positive. In a very short time period, they have found 10 different sports people positive with Nandrolone. A few days before the race in Grenoble, Jakob was tested in Herning and the result was negative. When he learned about the result of the test on December 7, Jakob immediately asked for a new test to be taken that day. The reasoning behind that was that if he was negative just before Grenoble then the positive test in Grenoble would make the possible taking of the Nandrolone specific to a week in November. And it should still be traceable in December. Until now it has not been possible for Jakob to have the new test.

He is however having the second sample tested, but probably also at the laboratory in Paris.

thanks to Finn Jorrald

Italians in Training

Team Saeco of Cipollini, Gotti and Petito has selected Marina di Bibbona, where the men of Corti and Salutini will meet on the 12th. At Donoratico, on the same day will meet Michele Bartoli and his new teammates of Asics-CGA. At San Vincenzo the new team Ballan with Colombo and Baffi will start to work. Team Polti of Rebellin and Merckx has selected Castagneto Carducci, like Team Riso Scotti of Minali. Based at Donoratico, from January 26th, will be Bruno Reverberi's patrol of Scrigno-Gaerne.

Descending a little bit more south. Marco Pantani liked Terracina in 1997 and has decided to return for an intense period of work: sport director for MErcatone Uno-Bianchi, Giuseppe Martinelli will work them out for two weeks. Pantani, will start his season at the end of February at Valencia.

Team Brescialat-Liquigas of Zaina will meet at San Vincenzo on January 31. Claudio Chiappucci, who has spent the New Year feast at St. Moritz riding a little bit on the road and mountain bike, will retreat with his teammates from Ros Mary-Amica Chips at Lake di Garda, at Desenzano, from January 8th. With Stefano Faustini and Giorgio Furlan, the leading men for Vini Caldirola-Longoni Sport, meeting from January 7th in Monaco.

Stefano Giuliani, the inspiration of the new Team Mobilvetta-Northwave, will land his athletes at San Vito Chietino for a long retreat of 3 weeks, starting January 8th. For two teams, the season has already started. At the beginning of the month, going to South America will be Pierobon, Vergnani, Frigo and Pulnikov of Team Kross-Selle Italia; Castaldo, Massa, Paolini, Gimondi, Patuelli, Ferti, Zattoni and De Pasquale of AmoreandVita-ForzArcore. And they will all participate at la Vuelta a Tachira, in Venezuela. Later in the month, another group of the Tuscan team captained by Magnusson, will cross the Atlantic to participate at the Tour of Mexico. It is curious to see how the riders of Kross-Selle Italia, the team of Gianni Savio, with an Italian sponsor and Colombian affiliation are spread. The riders will be working from the end of January and beginning of February in three continents: South America (Venezuela and Colombia), Europe (at the GP Etruschi o February 1st) and Australia, with two Autralians at the Tour of Tasmania.

Rolf Aldag seriously injured

Later news said that Rolf Aldag will resume training in a couple of weeks as he recuperates from injuries suffered last Saturday during a training ride when he was struck by a car. Belgian Walter Godefroot, sport director of Team Telekom commented that the cyclist is recuperating well from his left broken femur and right collarbone and it is possible that he will leave the hospital in Hamm, in a couple of days. Twenty nine year old Aldag has been a professional since 1991 and is one of the important components of the victories of Danish Bjarne Riis and German Jan Ullrich winners of the last two editions of the Tour de France.

Ullrich takes over the microphone

Oudenaarde, Belgium, Cyclo Cross, January 4, 1998

 1  Bart Wellens (Bel)
 2. Peter Van den Abeele (Bel)       	1.02
 3. P. Van Riet (Bel)                 	1.18
 4. Andy Daelmans (Bel)                 1.50
 5. Danny De Bie (Bel)                  2.27
 6. Ben Berden (Bel)
 7. T. Pynaert (Bel) 
 8. H. Wuyts (Bel)
 9. N. Clarysse (Bel)
10. O. Dlask (Cze)

Magstadt, Germany, Cyclo Cross, Cat 1, January 5, 1998

 1. Radomir Simunek (Cze)	     1.01.29
 2. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi)		0.43
 3. Peter Willemsens (Bel)		1.35
 4. A.Moonen (Bel)			1.54
 5. Peter van Riet (Bel)
 6. O. Lukes (Cze)
 7. J. Arenz (Ger)
 8. Patrick Blum (Swi)
 9. P. Dlask (Cze)
10. Beat Blum (Swi)

GP del Epifania, Italy, Cyclo Cross, Cat 2, January 6, 1998

 1. Daniele Pontoni (Ita)
 2. Paul Herijgers (Bel) 
 3. G. Bolatoi (Ita)
 4. F. Scottii (Ita)
 5. D. Bertonii (Ita)
 6. F. Margoni (Ita)

Tour of Texas Cancelled

The organisers are withdrawing from cycling promotion.

Santa Cruz, USA, Super Cup Round 6, January 4, 1998

"It’s a great course, of the caliber for a (cyclo-cross) national championship," said Clark Natwick, national cyclo-cross coach.

Some of the nation’s best ‘cross men made the trip to the West Coast for the seniors men’s race. Bart Bowen (Saturn), Marc Gullickson (GT) and Fox were among the standouts. The race itself was well fought from the start and a victory for Fox was never a given. Even though Fox maintained his lead throughout the event, the cool weather and long run-ups took their toll. He admitted to having cramps for the last two laps and being concerned that Bowen would be able to catch him.

Time and fitness were on Fox’s side as he powered his way to victory.

"It was amazing to see how much faster Jed Fox was than our guys (Santa Cruz riders)," said Jeff Clark, the local race promoter and coordinator of the Surf City Cyclo-Cross Series. "He beat Justin (Robinson) by almost two minutes. The only other guy to do that this year was (Olympic mountain bike champ) Bart Brentjens."

Fox’s win sets up a final round duel for the overall title. Dale Knapp (Redline) did not compete in Santa Cruz, but kept his overall lead, though it was trimmed to a mere eight points. Gullickson and Bowen, the defending Cup champ, also have very slim chances heading into Saturday’s final.

A bent fork, not the mud, turned out to be the turning point of the women’s race. Like the men, a strong women’s field was on hand to contest this Super Cup event. Unlike the men’s race, the rain decided to take a break and warm weather prevailed. The 45-minute race saw Rachel Lloyd of Marin County taking a commanding lead. Quickly after the start Lloyd, whose background is in mountain biking and has little prior ‘cross experience was at the front of the pack and looking strong.

This day was not to be hers however, as a broken fork caused her front wheel to rub the bike’s downtube. In a race decided by seconds it was the only edge Ann Grande of Team Redline needed to catch and pass Lloyd.

"She was going strong, I saw her having trouble with her fork and ran away from her," said Grande.

Lloyd would eventually finish fourth after her impressive effort through the mud-bogged course.

Grande’s win, her third in the series, moved her into first place overall, eight points ahead of teammate Katie Blincoe, the defending Cup champion. If Grande finishes in the top three at the Final, she will win the overall title.

In other action, Will Bacher (Mountain Tracks) won the under-23 race, while runner-up Adam Krause (Saturn-Redline) moved into the overall Cup lead. Krause is scheduled to compete at the World Championships at the end of the month. Narayon Mahon (Redline) recorded his sixth straight junior men’s victory, topping Cameron Falconer (BBC) by 50 seconds. Mahon clinched the overall title a week ago. Local Larry Hibbard (Bontrager) won the men’s masters 35+ event, while runner-up Robert Meighan (TCB-Steelman) moved within eight points of the overall Cup lead with one race remaining.

In non-Super Cup competition, John Elgart (Alto Velo) won the masters 45+ race.

The Cyclo-cross Super Cup is a seven-race national cyclo-cross series. The seventh and final event will be held at the Hellyer Park Velodrome near Morgan Hill, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 10.

Senior Men
1. JED FOX (BONTRAGER), Ashland, Ore., 59 mins, 20 secs; 2. Bart Bowen
(Saturn), Albuquerque, N.M., @:11; 3. Marc Gullickson (Team GT), Durango,
Colo., @2:06; 4. Brent Prenzlow (TCB-Steelman), Encinitas, Calif., @2:30; 5.
Justin Robinson (Bontrager), Santa Cruz, Calif., s.t.; 6. Kevin Merrigan (Otis
Guy), Castro Valley, Calif., @2:36; 7. Todd Hoefer (Blackmarket), San Jose,
Calif., @3:29; 8. Nathan Lloyd (Family Cycling Ctr), San Francisco, Calif.,
@5:53; 9. Rex Boyes (Bicycle Trip), Santa Cruz, Calif., @6:28; 10. John
Senkier (Another Bike Shop), Santa Cruz, Calif., @8:20.
Cyclo-cross Super Cup Standings (after 6 of 7 events)
1. DALE KNAPP (REDLINE), Tacoma, Wash., 82 pts; 2. Fox, 74; 3. Gullickson, 62;
4. Bowen, 56; 5. Frank McCormack (Saturn), Leicester, Mass., 40.
Senior Women
1. ANN GRANDE (REDLINE), Seattle, Wash., 45 mins, 36 secs; 2. Kathleen Lenno
(unattached), Santa Cruz, Calif., @:33; 3. Mary Hearn (Polo Sport), Menlo
Park, Calif., @1:13; 4. Rachel Lloyd (unattached), Santa Cruz, Calif., @1:54;
5. Gina Hall (Breezer-Clif Bar), Oakland, Calif., @3:22; 6. Jackie Sterner
(Aegis), San Luis Obispo, Calif., @4:36; 7. Christine Vardaros (Breezer),
Marin, Calif., @4:52; 8. Donna Sisson (Blackmarket Scooby Snax), Santa Clara,
Calif., @5:09; 9. Camille Moitozo-Lam (Wheelsmith), Menlo Park, Calif., @5:25;
10. Nicole Amaral (Blackmarket-Scooby Snax), San Jose, Calif., @8:03.
Cyclo-cross Super Cup Standings (after 6 of 7 events)
1. ANN GRANDE (REDLINE), Seattle, Wash., 94 pts; 2. Katie Blincoe (Redline),
Mercer Island, Wash., 86; 3. Kathy Sarvary (Merlin-SmartFuel), Woburn, Mass.,
30; 4. Sisson, 28; 5T. Hall, 24; 5T. Emily Thorne (ECVC), S. Hamilton, Mass.,
24.
Under-23 Men
1. WILL BACHER (MOUNTAIN TRACKS), Santa Cruz, Calif., 54 mins, 39 secs; 2.
Adam Krause (Saturn-Redline), Seattle, Wash., @3:11; 3. Jack Diemar
(PowerBar), Bedminster, N.J., @3:46; 4. Dan Sullivan (Mud Puppy), Castro
Valley, Calif., @7:35; 5. Aaron Odell (unattached), Campbell, Calif., @8:18.
Cyclo-cross Super Cup Standings (after 6 of 7 events)
1. ADAM KRAUSE (SATURN-REDLINE), Seattle, Wash., 50 pts; 2. Shawn McCormack
(NECSA-Richard Sachs), Plymouth, Mass., 38; 3. Chris McDonald (Univ. of
Massachusetts), Hampden, Mass., 34; 4T. Diemar, 32; 4T. Alex Grabau (Schwinn),
Newton, Mass., 32.
Junior Men
1. NARAYAN MAHON (REDLINE), Port Townsend, Wash., 40 mins, 7 secs; 2. Cameron
Falconer (BBC), Berkeley, Calif., @:50; 3. Jackson Stewart (Los Gatos BRC),
Los Gatos, Calif., @4:29; 4. William Longstreth (BBC), Berkeley, Calif.,
@6:04; 5. Chris Johnson (Kelly), Marin, Calif., @8:06.
Cyclo-cross Super Cup Standings (after 6 of 7 events)
1. NARAYAN MAHON (REDLINE), Port Townsend, Wash., 100 pts; 2. Peter Lawler
(NECSA-Richard Sachs), New Ipswich, N.H., 32; 3. Sperling, 30; 4T. Elliot
Lander (ECVC), Beverly, Mass., 22; 4T. Joe Alachoyan (NECSA-Richard Sachs),
22; 4T. K.C. Kopper (Missing Links BC), Hingham, Mass., 22.
Masters Men
1. LARRY HIBBARD (BONTRAGER), Santa Cruz, Calif., 39 mins, 16 secs; 2. Robert
Meighan (TCB-Steelman), Los Gatos, Calif., @:47; 3. Greg Foy (Bicycle Trip),
Santa Cruz, Calif., @1:19; 4. Jim Gentes (unattached), Santa Cruz, Calif.,
@1:25; 5. Senkier, @1:27; 6. Doug Grattan (Alta Alpina), Gardnerville, Nev.,
@1:32; 7. Mark Weaver (Blackmarket), San Jose, Calif., @1:46; 8. Anton
McGready (3rd Rail), Albany, Calif., @2:33; 9. Tom Sullivan (Sullivan’s),
Santa Cruz, Calif., @4:51; 10. Mike Foletta (unattached), Santa Cruz, Calif.,
@5:12.
Cyclo-cross Super Cup Standings (after 6 of 7 events)
1. TIM RUTLEDGE (REDLINE), Seattle, Wash., 78 pts; 2. Robert Meighan
(Steelman-Fox), Los Gatos Calif., 70; 3. Ed Momm (Fat City Cycles), Kittery,
Maine, 40; 4. Paul Curley (World T.E.A.M.), Taunton, Mass., 32; 5. Michael
Barrett (Fat Dog Cycles), North Easton, Mass., 28.