Second Edition News for August 14, 2000

Update on Museeuw

Johan Museeuw
Photo: © Mario Stiehl

Reports from Gent Hospital this morning are reasonably good as far as Johan Museeuw is concerned. The Belgian rider was taken there yesterday after an accident late Sunday afternoon in his hometown of Gistel. He was riding his Harley Davidson with his wife and son when he was knocked off from behind by a car as he was turning left. He was unconscious for some time before the local ambulance arrived to take him to the AZ Damiaan, campus Sint-Jozef in Oostende, where he was examined by doctor Marc Backaert. However, Museeuw preferred to go afterward to the University hospital in Gent, 100 km away.

There, he had to undergo an operation last night on his calf muscle to reduce swelling after there was internal bleeding. Doctor Toon Cruyt told Belgian Radio 1 about the fracture of the base of his skull. "It might have been worse. On Monday they take a new scan of his skull. And there will be some measurements taken on his leg. The consequences will not be known for about a week."

His wife, Veronique Souvagie, said the rest of the season is over for him but the outlook is positive for his recovery and career.

An indignant Tom Steels was questioned about his captain's Olympic hopes. He told De Standaard, "What about Sydney? This is not the moment for talking or thinking about the consequences in Sydney. First of all this is another personal drama for Johan and his family. A sad case for them, but for the cycling world too. It doesn't matter what the Olympics will be at the moment. I think about Johan. He just came back after his terrible fall in Paris-Roubaix, 1998. You are so helpless. I send him all my personal wishes."

National coach Jose De Cauwer said "Of course this accident has consequences for my plans in Sydney. I will talk on Monday with the Belgian Olympic Committee about his replacement in the road race. Of course not a real replacement, because that is impossible. It's a disaster he can't start in Sydney. A rider with so many World Cup victories, national titles, a world champion. When you take him with you he is the flagship of your team, the figurehead, the name, one piece of confidence, he brings rest. A rider like Museeuw leads the team and puts pressure on the other teams."

Doctor Toon Cruyt (a Mapei doctor and Museeuw's personal family doctor in Gistel): "His season is over, but his career? No, I don't think so. Okay, it's too early to give a good answer. I hope there aren't complications in the next few days. If he recuperates fast he can be at the start of next season. His wife is in a little bit of shock, and little Stefano has a lump on his forehead but already played on Sunday night with his bike."

Patrick Lefevere was called at his home address in Italy on Sunday night, and was not too happy " Excuse me, I'm upset. It's too late to take the plane now, but I will go to Gent tomorrow morning. Will Museeuw come back as rider? That's totally unimportant. The most important thing is Johan the human being. I hope he will get through this well. And the rest? We will see."

Wilfried Peeters, Museeuw's teammate, "I hope everything will be coming okay with my friend. Please don't ask questions about the rider Museeuw. I hope he will have a good night and that we can celebrate New Year together. I had dinner plans with my wife on Sunday night, but we didn't have any appetite. I have to leave for the Tour du Limousin early on Monday morning. I have to go, but I prefer to go to Johan. Such a stupid accident. Why do such things always happen with Johan?"

Domo-Farm Frites, the solution is fusion

Domo director, Patrick Lefevere is hoping to finalise the negotiations between himself and Farm Frites shortly, so he can determine his financial budget for the Domo team. All 16 Farm Frites riders with a contract for next year can go to Domo. However, nothing is clear about the positions of Peter van Petegem, Geert van Bondt, Servais Knaven, Sergei Ivanov and Andreas Klier, as these five riders have an offer from Mapei.

Should he be fit to race, Johan Museeuw will be the team leader along with Latvian sprinter, Romans Vainsteins. The latter is presently third in the World Cup, and he confirmed in San Sebastian that he had an offer from Domo. "Vini Caldirola will be smaller in 2001. Francesco Casagrande said he will leave the team - he may go to Fassa Bortolo. And team manager Giouse Zenoni said he will leave too. I don't have anything to do in a small team, as perhaps I'm not assured a start in the World Cups. Therefore, I'll investigate the possibility to leave Vini Caldirola. Domo is very serious for me."