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The Festina organisation will announce whether it will continue its sponsorship of cycling before the 2001 Tour finishes. Director Juan Fernandez said that it was likely that the announcement will be made this coming Monday, on the second rest day of the Tour.
There has been considerable speculation that Festina will stop its sponsorship of cycling, or drastically reduce it. However another possibility is that they will stay in cycling at the same level of investment, but sign with another co-sponsor.
"The decision of the company has still not been made, but it hopes to make it public before the end of the Tour," said Fernandez to European Press. "Festina has been in cycling 11 years, and is deciding whether to continue sponsorship or stop its investment."
Fernandez was certain that the team would continue until the end of the year, and it will contest the Vuelta a España.
During the first rest day, Miguel Rodriguez made contact with other teams, to look for a partner to merge with in order to ensure the continuation of the team, but this has proved to be difficult. Festina cyclists Angel Casero and Felix Garcia Casas have already had offers from other teams, likewise Christophe Moreau, who abandoned yesterday.
Rabobank wants to strengthen its team with a climber and a good sprinter next season. They are interested in Ag2r's big gun, Jaan Kirsipuu, who won a stage in the Tour de France this year. In addition, Kirsipuu's lead out man, Ludovic Capelle, has attracted the interest of Rabobank.
Sven Montgomery (FdJ) is of interest due to his talent in the hills and in stage races. Tyler Hamilton (USPS), the faithful lieutenant of Lance Armstrong, is another rider that Theo de Rooij has his eye on.
Swiss rider Beat Zberg has extended his contract with Rabobank for another two seasons.
Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov has prolonged his contract with Telekom for two more years. Manager Walter Godefroot is also waiting for Giuseppe Guerini's signature for the magenta T.
Rik Verbrugghe hasn't signed on the dotted line with Lotto-Adecco for next season, despite strong rumours that he would. He has been approached by Mapei, but reports in the Belgian press say that he rejected that offer in favour of Lotto.
He wrote in his Tour de France diary on Sport24.be that "Today Christophe Sercu, the manager for Lotto, was in the Tour. We talked about my contract, but we did not reach a conclusion. I want to revise my contract, otherwise I will leave Lotto."
Major Races and Events
September 7-29, 2002: Vuelta
a España (GT) - Preview, stage list
May 11-June 2, 2002: Giro
d'Italia (GT) - Preview, stage list, photos
July 6-28, 2002: Tour
de France (GT) - Full preview & official route details
December 8: Superprestige
Rd 5 (Cat. 1) - Erwin Vervecken
November 29-December 4: Six
Days of Noumea (6D) - Sassone/Neuville victorious
November 26-December 1: Six
Days of Zurich (6D) - Day
6 - McGrory/Gilmore/Schnider win
December 1: Melbourne
Cup on Wheels (IM) - Scott Moller, Keirin,
Sprint, Support
races
December 2: Cyclo-cross
World Cup #2 (CDM) - Sven Nijs again
November 24-December 3: Juegos
Deportivos Centroamericanos (JR) - Final results
December 8-9: Frankfurter
Rad-Cross (Cat. 2) - Alex Mudroch, UK
National Trophy Series #4 (Cat. 3) - Roger Hammond, Grote
Prijs Industrie Bosduin - Kalmthout (Cat. 1) - Bart Wellens, Int.
Radquer Obergösgen (Cat. 2) - Björn Rondelez, Trofeo
Mamma e Papa Guerciotti (Cat. 3) - Enrico Franzoi, Premio
Egondo (Cat 3) - David Seco, Irish
cyclo-cross championships - Robin Seymour
Results: local racing
Australia - CycleWest
Promotions Omnium Series #2, Eastern
Suburbs Summer Criterium Series, Carnegie
Caulfield Tuesday criterium, Southern
Cross Junior Track Open & Madison Cup, Manly
Warringah CC, George
Town Track Carnival, Carnegie
Caulfield CC, Randwick
Botany CC, Gold
Coast CATS CC, Caesar's
Illawarra CC, Caesar's
Illawarra (track)
Denmark - Danish
cyclo-cross Post Cup #3
Italy - Gran
Premio Città di Bassano
Luxembourg - GP
De Kopstal
New Zealand - Cyco
Criterium series
Spain - Elorrio
cyclo-cross
USA - Georgia
Cross Series Championship, Chimborazo
Grand Prix cyclo-cross, Boulder
Cross Rd 6, New
Mexico State Cyclo-x Champs, Sorrento
Cyclo-x & California State Champ's, Boulder
Cross Rd 5, Verge
New England series, Northampton
CC Cyclo-cross Championships, Chris
Cross International CycloCross
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Marco Polo
Diary - Tour du Faso - Part II - Nathan Dahlberg's report (December 3)
Tech
maintenance - Wheels - how to keep them true and tight
Tech letters
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Tech news - Navigators
power-tap, Headsets, Carbon cages (December 7)
Tech- Recycling
- How to protect your chainstay for free
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Tool belt; Shimano shoes;
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