News for December 24

Jalabert Injury Update

The operation undertaken on Laurent Jalabert's fractured scaphoid (bone in the wrist) on Wednesday (20 December) showed that the injury was a bit more serious than previously believed -- there are two fractures to the bone in his left wrist rather than the one thought to be there. "That means," Jalabert said, "that my wrist must stay in plaster for a month, rather than the two weeks initially expected."

During his visit to the clinic in Toulouse Jalabert also took the opportunity to have a plate removed from his clavicle, which was put there after an injury in the 1992 Amstel Gold. There is now no question of Jalabert getting on a bike for a month.

"The surgeon has put in two screws to consolidate the bone." said Jalabert, "and he has warned me tha if there is a new break it will be necessary to look around for lots of little pieces, and the whole season could be put in jeopardy. I have to stay tranquil although I'll no doubt find time dragging."

When he does get back on a bike and into training towards the end of January, says Jalabert, "it will be still too early to pull on the handlebars; I'll have to ride on triathlon bars ... At the very best I won't be back in competition in less than three months." So he's looking towards the end of March, missing Milan-San Remo and Paris--Nice, his two first big victories in 1995.

Spanish Olympic Committee wants Olano to ride the track pursuit in Atlanta

The Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) wants Abraham Olano to reinforce the Spanish track team, besides riding the road races. He would then compete with specialists like Boardman and Obree in the individual pursuit. It is also seen as a way to take pressure off Indurain.

Olano has a lot of track experience, he started his career on the velodrome in Anoeta (San Sebastian) before choosing road racing.

He is at the moment in South Africa with team mate Tony Rominger preparing for next season. The Tour de France is the only definite big tour in his schedule, first plans were that he would pass on the Giro and ride the Vuelta, but now when Rominger has declared that he will not ride the Giro, the Italian sponsors of the Mapei-team wants world champion Olano in the Giro.

Brescialat for 1996 - Piccoli leader

Brescialat has presented their line-up for 1996. The team has split in two when Flavio Giupponi and Bruno Leali (direttore sportivo in 1995) went with new sponsor Banco di Roma taking along nine riders.

Mariano Piccoli, best climber overall and stage winner in the Giro '95, is new team leader.

Zenon Jaskula will reinforce the team together with promising 24-year old Alessandro Bertolini.

Staying: Mariano Piccoli, Luca Gelfi, Fabrizio Bontempi, Marco Milesi, Mauro Radaelli, Fausto Dotti.

New: Alessandro Bertolini (ex-Carrera), Zenon Jaskula (Pol, ex Aki), Marco Villa (ex-Amore), Massimo Strazzer (ex-Navigare), De Beni (neo), Marco Della Vedova (neo), Cristiano Frattini (neo), Massimo Velo (neo), Contrini (neo).

Direttori sportivi: Fabio Bordonali and Dino Zandegu

UCI-ranking, Nations

(Professionals - based on the individual ranking.)

     1. Italy (1)
     2. Switzerland (2)
     3. Spain (4)
     4. Belgium (7)
     5. France (5)
     6. Russia (3)
     7. Denmark (9)
     8. Great Britain (10)
     9. United States (-)
    10. Germany (6)
() = previous position

Giro d'Italia femminile '96 - from Citta del Vaticano to Florence

Giro d'Italia for women 1996 starts June 24 in Vatican City, Rome, with a prologue (ITT) and finishes in Florence July 7 after 12 stages.

Sixteen foreign squads and the best Italians, including Tour de France-winner Fabiana Luperini, will participate.