News for August 8
More on Mapei
Further to my recent report on Mapei-GB, there is now confirmation
that the "Spanish" section of the team is to break away, under the
leadership of current Mapei-GB joint directeur sportif Juan Fernandez.
Earlier rumours that Tony Rominger would go to the new team -- it was
said that he wanted to stay with Abraham Olano -- are, however,
apparently incorrect.
It is said that the Spanish team's sponsor will be a life assurance
company and it will be led by world road champion Abraham Olano. Seven
other Spanish members of the Mapei-GB team will accompany him --
Arsenio Gonzalez, Spanish champion Fernandes Gines, Jon Unzaga, Manuel
Beltran, Federico Echave and Miguel Angel Pena. "I've still got time
to look for the others," says Fernandez.
Mapei-GB, meanwhile will retain among others Tony Rominger, Johan
Museeuw, Frank Vandenbroucke and Tom Steels and will be joined by
Gianni Bugno, Stefano Zanini, Gianluca Pianegonda and Paolo
Lanfranchi. My earlier report that Pavel Tonkov would also join
Mapei-GB have not been confirmed by the latest news, but neither is
there any statement that he will not join.
Armstrong's Festina Fax Brush-0ff
When Lance Armstrong returned home to Texas after abandoning the Tour
de France he had a nasty shock in the form of a Dear John fax from
Festina. "I was 99.9% in agreement with Festina to join them next
season," he told L'Equipe during the Olympic Games, "when I learnt
from a fax received at home that [Festina directeur sportif] Bruno
Roussel was no longer interested in my coming! Not only is it
difficult to understand, but it's frankly indecent to get this news by
fax."
Armstrong says he is being considered by "several other teams and
notably one French one." Tapping the side of his nose, as David
Duffield might say, Roger Thomas reckons that might not be unadjacent
to Cyrille Guimard's new Cofidis team, but don't quote me on that...
Course Francaise a l'Italienne
The important Category 1.1 Grand Prix "Ouest France" at Plouay in
Morbihan, Brittany, on 1 September has attracted a strong complement
of Italian teams. The race, on a long-circuit course, attracts
thousands of spectators and last year the French federation
requested, without success so far, that it be given alternate World
Cup status.
Italian teams taking part include Mapei-GB, Carrera, Gewiss-Playbus,
MG-Technogym, Roslotto-ZG Mobili, Brescialat, Saeco, Team Polti and
Aki-Gipiemme. Also present will be Telekom, Lotto, TVM, Collstrop and
all the French teams with the possible exception of GAN. Video-maniacs
should note that the race is being broadcast live on the France 3 TV
channel.
Pantani's Progress
Marco Pantani returned to top-level competition in Sunday's (August 4)
Trofeo Matteoti. He was unable to finish the 203km race but completed
115km. He still hopes to ride the Vuelta a Espana, which begins
September 7.