The amateur club Hammel and the supermarket company "Fakta" will establish a trade team III under the name of "Team Fakta". The team will not be officially presented to the media until the middle of February but according to the press it will focus on Danish races and some minor UCI races.
With respect to drugs, the sponsor has inserted a clause in the contract that the whole team will lose their support if any af the riders is tested positive. So there is a strong disincentive among the riders to indulge.
The team will have 10 riders and they are: Lennie Kristensen (former MTB World Champion), René Lohse, Jimmi Hansen, Allan Bo Andresen, Peter Sejer Nielsen, Marc Stegger Sřrensen, Christian Foghmar, Mikkel Holm, Jacob Gram Nielsen.
The team captain will be Claus Holm, brother of the more well known Brian Holm - director of Team Acceptcard and former pro rider.
Amore e Vita - The team will be divided into two parts in 1999. The No. 1 Team will be comprised of its signed Italian riders plus the Pole Artur Krzekowiek, Brits Harry Lodge and Rob Lyne (both GBR) and Tim Jones.
The other part of the team will ride principally in England and will reinforce the Amore e Vita No. 1 Team from time to time. Its riders will be: Grant Bayton, Lee Davis, Ian Hamble, Chris King, Dan Moore, Andy Parsons, Stuart Pearse, Matt Rogers, Jason Streather, Nicholas Killing, Matt Watch and Dylan Williams.
The Brite-Cellnet team continues with 8 riders (not known and will certainly be in Division III) including three Australians riders (already pros) who bring the team 300 UCI points.
The name of the Linda McCartney team will be Linda McCartney foods-Zenith watches- Dunlop-Hotta (the cycles) which I think we will abbreviate during the year to Linda McCartney. There are 3 Australian riders allegedly riding for the team in 1999. One of them is David McKenzie, the sprinter from Victoria.
Matt Stephens who was previewed in the McCartney team will remain in the Harrod's team. Manager Tony Foot told that he want to affiliate Harrods with the UCI and it will be called Harrod's-Principia Cycles-Finish Power Pedals 6 men are already known: Matt Stephens, Kevin Dawson, Julian Ramsbottom, Joe Bayfield, Mark McKay and Gordon McCauley.
Thanks to Daniel Schamps for the English team news.
Rodolfo Massi has signed for Fabio Bordonali's Liquigas Team for 1999 (the remnants of Brescialat-Liquigas last year).
The Italian possibilities depend now on the whim of the two Italian magnates - Franco Polti and Pietro Algeri. It was reported that this represents a "A touchy position for Gianluigi Stanga, Polti's sport director, who didn't hide the fact that Virenque's possible arrival was dictated by the main sponsor and has nothing to do with a personal decision". Stanga has been quoted as saying: "the very wealthy Franco Polti, has a passion for Virenque that borders in obssesion". Something similar is happening with the president of Lampre-Daikin, who awaits an answer from Virenque, even though he is not one of the names that the team manager, Beppe Saronni has wanted.
Meanwhile, the Dutch press are reporting that there is also a strong interest in Virenque from Kelme and ONCE. The offer from Kelme is understood to be the most concrete of the lot. Virenque has travelled to Spain to discuss these arrangements over the weekend.
On the drugs issue, Daniel Baal, the President of the French Cycling Federation, told another French newspaper, France Soir that: "all riders will be submitted to tests, before the start of the season. All except those riding in foreign countries, amongst them Laurent Jalabert and Richard Virenque, if he signs with an Italian team."
Manolo Saiz, Olano's new director at ONCE doesn't have any doubts that Abraham will continue to be the best. Alvaro Pino, sport director for Kelme-Costa Blanca and Escartin's mentor, believes that he can surpass Olano. Echávarri, mánager for Banesto, is more cautious and predicts that Olano will continue to be the best Spaniard, but that his pupil Jiménez will increase the charisma that he has in Spanish cycling. In any case, the competition is welcomed. In addition, both, Saiz and Echávarri have pointed out the possibility of the ascention of a fourth man: Roberto Heras, the young climber from Kelme (24), who showed great things in the last Vuelta.
Banesto's Jose Miguel Echávarri has almost always had the best Spanish rider in his team (Arroyo, Delgado, Indurain, and now Olano). He is betting on Jiménez, but he remains cautious: "In terms of results, age and experience, Olano should continue to be the number one Spaniard. I'm speaking in general: big and small tours, classics, worlds ... I think that he can repeat his performace of last season, Olano will gain in UCI points and Jiménez in popularity".
Echávarri points out that el Chaba "has changed his role and the time has come to assume responsibility. But he still needs to improve in some fronts, especially against the clock".
It is known that Jiménez will race the Vuelta, but it has not yet been decided if he will ride the Tour or Giro. "We want to know how whether the judicial case in France is resolved so we can decide. In any case, our man for the Tour is Zülle. 'Chaba' will be the one at the Vuelta, which is his race, where he has made himself known. If he races the Giro or Tour, Jiménez won't have maximum responsibility. In Italy he would share leadership with Piepoli".
ONCE's Manolo Saiz said: "Nobody can argue with Olano's first place in Spanish cycling". The sport director doesn't even think that the very mountainous Vuelta will affect Olano (Abraham will not race the Giro). "Last year the routes of the Tour and Giro were not suited for climbers and Pantani won. The best riders will surface again at the Vuelta this year. Olano almost didn't lose any time in the mountain top finishes in the last edition and next time, he may have some difficulty in the mountains, the climbers will have a hard time in the time trials". Saiz believes that above the route profiles of these races "there is the habit of winning and that has been shown until now by Olano, Zülle and Jalabert. The rest aspire to that, but have always been missing something".
Saiz says that Jimenez "is a great climber and has progressed a lot. But it is still to be seen how he withstands the pressure when he rides as team leader. And about Escartin, he is the most reliable rider in Spanish cycling. I wish that there were many like him. I have great admiration for him, but because of his characteristics, he's not a winner".
Kelme's Alvaro Pino is very hopeful about the coming season, which will be the last one for him as sport director. "After finding out about the routes for the Vuelta, Giro and Tour, I spoke to Escartín and told him that this could be the opportunity of his life. Fernando can be the best Spanish rider this season. This year the scale will be more favorable for the climbers. Olano had an excellent opportunity to win the Vuelta last season and was able to take advantage of it. I think that Escartin has that chance now, both at the Vuelta and the Giro and he shouldn't waste it".
It hasn't been decided if he will ride the Spanish or Italian tours. "The route of the Giro is phenomenal for Fernando, but so is the route for the Vuelta. I have to talk to him by the end of the month to decide. Personally, I'm leaning towards the Vuelta. Publicity-wise it is better for the team". Pino agrees that it will also be a good opportunity for Jiménez. "But Escartín surpasses him in experience. We will also have to count on the foreign riders, Pantani, Zülle and Ullrich, if he comes".
He was disgnosed as having suffered a small stroke, from which he has been recuperating slowly but steadily. He has already come out of intensive care and is considered out of danger. According to is family: "the stroke didn't affect his brain and his mobility is perfect". His family was worried because a cousin of Benitez died as a consequence of a stroke. Javier Mínguez, director for Vitalicio, has calmed them down: "He has a one year contract and he is going to collect on it. Let him take a vacation and then we'll talk".
Claudio Corti and Angelo Salutini, manager and director of Saeco are going to divide the preparation in to three groups. Another part of the team, headed by Roberto Petito and Laurent Dufaux will meet in Marina di Bibonna (Italy), from January 14-22, while a third group headed by Traversoni will race in Australia in January.
Why are all these team suddenly training at altitude this season? To replace EPO or to hide it or neither?