News for September 29, 1998

Contracts and Transfers

* Frank Hoj, will ride for US Postal next year. The team has also signed Kevin Livingston from Cofidis.

* Strong hint is that Laurent Brochard, who has previously been linked to Casino, will not ride with them next year. More later.

* The new Italo-Belgium team of Lampre-Daikin under the direction of Beppe Saronni is nearly complete. It consists of Franco Ballerini (Mapei), Marco Serpellini (Brescialat), Daniele De Paoli (Ros Mary), Gabriele Missaglia (Mapei), Massimo Codol (Mapei), Simone Bertoletti (Brescialat), Matteo Frutti (Mapei) and the neo's Marco Pinotti and Matteo Algeri. Non-Italian riders contracted are Pavel Tonkov (Rus), Jan Svorada (Cze), Oskar Camenzind (Swi), Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) all from Mapei, Pavel Padrnos (Cze, Saeco), Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) and Robert Hunter (Rsa) Ludo Dierickxsens Bel, Lotto). They will officially sign on Tuesday. The team had wanted Belgian Marc Streel (Casino) but he is going to Home Jack and Jones next year.

In terms of data, the best 8 riders already known for the team had 4473 UCI points between them which makes them the 7th or 8th ranked team. (at September 6 according to Wim van Rossum)

* Confirmation of the transfer of Marcel Strauss, currently riding as a stagiaire with the Ericsson-Villiger Team. The 22 year old Swiss rider will change to the Post Swiss Team. Strauss will also be member of Swiss U-23 team at the Worlds in Valkenburg.

World Championships

Italian Team:

Road: Bartoli, Bettini, Scinto and Simeoni (Asics), Bugno, Faresin, Nardello, Tafi and Zanini (Mapei-Bricobi), Celestino and Rebellin (Team Polti) and Donati (Saeco).

Reserve: Velo (Mercatone Uno) and Mazzanti (Cantina Tollo)

ITT: Malberti (Asics) and Velo (Mercatone Uno)

Denmark

Elite TT (October 8): Peter Meinert (US Postal), Michael Sandstød (Team Chicky World).

U 23 road race (October 9): Bjarke Nielsen (Team Chicky World), Michael Reihs (Silkeborg CR), Thomas Busch (Cycling Århus), Jimmy Hansen (Ordrup CC).

Elite road race (October 11): Rolf Sørensen (Rabobank), Bo Hamburger (Casino), Lars Michaelsen (TVM), Brian Holm (Acceptcard Pro Cycling), Peter Meinert (US Postal) Nicolai Bo Larsen (TVM), Frank Høj (Palmans-Ideal), Claus Michael Møller (TVM), Michael Kyneb (Team home Jack and Jones), Jesper Skibby (Team home Jack and Jones), Danny Jonasson (Rabobank), and Allan Johansen (Team Chicky World).

Wim Schepers dead

Former professional rider Wim Schepers (55) died at the weekend after a cardiac arrest. In the sixties and the early seventies he won 11 races although he never won a Tour stage or a classic. He was considered the best Dutch climber in his day. However, the career of the rider from Limburg was overshadowed by a number of doping incidents. In the 1971 Vuelta he lost 2nd place overall after he was found to be positive in a urine test.

Lance at Vuelta

In his first full comeback year, the American rider Lance Armstrong is now proven his grit and is back among the top of the professional peloton. He finished his first 3-week tour since his comeback with a great 4th place. at 2.18 to Olano.

27-year old Lance, who spent 18 months battling cancer, was dumped from the French Cofidis team, presumably because they had no faith in his ability to successfully comeback to the top.

There was no fanfare, just a solid performance which augurs well for the Worlds next week. I will have some special Lance reports from Valkenburg next week. Stay tuned.

His Vuelta performance raised some comments from key people in the peloton. Banesto manager, Jose Miguel Echavarri told the press: "Armstrong is the best symbol of the struggle against the impossible." And Abraham Olano, who won the GC, told the press: "He's gone somewhat unnoticed, but his case must be given the praise it deserves." El Mundo, the Spanish newspaper, called Lance the other winner in this year's Vuelta.

He rode well in the mountains and his final TT was sensational - he was only 8 seconds behind Zulle in 3rd place.

So forza Lance.

Abraham Olano

He was born in San Sebastian on January 22, 1970. He made his debut with the professsionals in 1992. His record since is as follows: 

1994: Tour of Asturias, Spanish Road and ITT Champion.
1995: 2nd Vuelta (3 stage wins), World Road Champion (Colombia).
1996: Tour of Romandy, Tour of Galacia, 3rd Giro d'Italia.
1997: Subida Arrate, 2nd Dauphiné Libéré, 2nd Tour of Asturias, 2nd Tour of
      Burgos, 3rd Tour of Aragon, 4th Tour de France (winning the ITT).
1998: Tour of Rioja, Subida Arrate, Tour of Burgos, Spanish ITT Champio,
      Vuelta a Espana.

Total: 46 race victories