News for November 22, 1999

Rabobank to start Giro

Rabobank's team manager Adri van Houwelingen was in Italy for the presentation of the Giro 2000. He decided that his Raboteam would start in the Giro for the first time.

"The parcours is full of variation, and there are three mountain stages. We will start with a mix of young and experienced riders. We want to build a team around Beat Zberg and Niki Aebersold," he said.

Merckx seventh in all-time list

Although Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx would top most lists of the all time best cyclists, what about out of all sports? In a ranking compiled by 54 Reuters journalists, modestly entitled the "Reuters Sports Personality of the Century", Merckx scored 21 points, putting him 7th on the 100-plus list.

Top of the table was soccer legend, Pele (Brazil) who scored 146 out of a maximum 270, closely followed by Muhammad Ali (USA) with 140. Australian cricketing legend Don Bradman was also on the list, in sixth spot just above Merckx.

1. Pele (Bra) - soccer 			  146 points
2. Muhammad Ali (USA) - boxing  	  140
3. Carl Lewis (USA) - athletics 	   94
4. Michael Jordan (USA) - basketball       80
5. Jesse Owens (USA) - athletics	   49
6. Don Bradman (Aus) - cricket		   22
7. Eddy Merckx (Bel) - cycling		   21
8. Pierre de Coubertin (Fra) - Olympics	   18
9. Jack Nicklaus (USA) - golf		   16
9. Mark Spitz (USA) - swimming		   16
9. Paavo Nurmi (Finland) - athletics	   16
12. Nadia Comaneci (Romania) - gymnastics  12
13. Pete Sampras (USA) - tennis		   11
14. Emil Zatopek (Cze) - athletics	    9
14. Ayrton Senna (Bra) - motor racing       9

Fakta further?

By Tomas Nilsson, cyclingnews.com correspondent

The second major Danish team, well at least second division, Team Fakta might sign Sweden's Marcus Ljungqvist, who has been riding for the financially unstable Cantina Tollo the last two seasons, according to newspaper "Aarhus Stiftstidende".

Also, cyclingnews' Danish source, Lars Mikkelsen reports that Team Fakta is also negotiating with yet another sponsor, not big enough to get its name on the team, but enough to secure Ljungqvist's pay for the coming year.