Second Edition News
for August 14, 2000
Update on Museeuw
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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."
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