News for December 3

Agrigel-La Creuse

The full team of the new French-based Agrigel-La Creuse team (officially known as Agrigel departement de la Creuse) has now been announced. Contrary to my previous report, it will consist of 12, not 10 riders. These are Jacky Durand, Thierry Marie, Thierry Laurent (all ex-Castorama); Jean Francois Bernard, Jean-Pierre Bourgeot (both ex-Chazal); Herve Garel, Michel Vermote (both ex-Le Groupement); Jean-Claude Colotti (ex-GAN); Jean-Luc Masdupuy (ex-Aki); Stephane Conan (neo-pro, ex Bernard Sports); Denis Marie (neo-pro, ex-ASPTT Paris -- the younger brother of Thierry Marie); and Italian track rider Pierangelo Bincoletto. The team, whose main sponsors are Clermont-Ferrand-based frozen food manufacturer Agrigel and the regional authority of La Creuse, has a budget of about 8.5 million French francs (approx US$1.7 million). The riders will wear a predominantly yellow jersey with the name Agrigel in red lettering and the colours of La Creuse (green and blue). The team manager is Jean-Claude Cluis, the directeur sportif Marc Durant and the assistant directeur-sportif Gilles Mas.

Pantani Turns the Pedals

Cycling Weekly reports that Marco Pantani, who suffered severe leg injuries in Milan--Turin in October, began cycling on an exercise bicycle over the weekend of 25 November. He is continuing to receive physiotherapy.

More transfer news

Andorre

LOTUS-FESTINA - Takes on Emmanuel Magnien (ex-Casto), Felix Garcia Casas (ex-Artiach) and Lylian Lebreton (ex-Aubervillers).

Belgium

LOTTO - Serge Baguet, Rudy Verdonck and brothers Mario & Peter De Clercq leaves and are replaced by four new pros Sebastian DemarBaix (Criquelion's nephew), Christophe Detilloux, Verbrugge and Bracke. Peter Verbeken and Tomas Fleischer (ex-Collstrop), Marc Wauters (ex-Novell) and Oleg Koziltin (ex-Le Groupement) also joins the team.

COLLSTROP - Jo Planckaert goes to Ceramiche Refin. Johan Capiot (ex-Refin), Rob Mulders (ex-Novell), Sebastien Medan and Benoit Salmon (ex-Casto), Peter De Clerq (ex-Lotto) are new signing together with Paul Konings, Daniel Sjoberg and Magnus Backstedt (neo-pros).

France

GAN - Gerard Rue and Stephane Heulot (ex-Banesto), Frederic Moncassin (ex-Novell), Ronan Pensec and Emmanuel Hubert (ex-Le Groupment), Laurent Desbiens, Philippe Gaumont and Francois Simon (ex-Casto) are new riders for '96. Leaving are Pascal Lance, Thierry Gouvenou, Jean-Christophe Currit, Jean-Philippe Dojwa, Nicolas Aubier and Jean-Claude Colotti. Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle has taken late retirement.

AUBERVILLIERS - Thierry Gouvenou (ex-Gan), Francisque Teyssier (ex-Festina) reinforces the promotional team while Christophe Leroscouet and Emmanuel Mallet gets no new contract and Lylian Lebreton goes to Festina.

LA MUTUELLE DE SEINE-ET-MARNE - Laurent Davion (ex-Le Groupment) joins the team.

FORCESUD - A new team with Pascal Lance, Christophe Capelle (ex-Gan), Thierry Bourguignon, Dominique Arnould (ex-Le Grupement), Michel Zanoli (ex-Asfra) Jean-Jacques Henry (ex-Festina) and Roberto Pagnin (ex-Navigare).

AGRIGEL-LA CREUSE - A mixed French-German team with Thierry Marie, Jacky Durand and Thierry Laurent (ex-Casto), Jean-Luc Masdupuy (ex-Aki), Herve Garel (ex-Le Groupement), Jean-Pierre Bourgeot (ex-Chazal) and amateur Stephane Conan.

Germany

TELEKOM - Bjarne Riis (ex-Gewiss), Peter Meinert (ex-TVM), Michel Lafis (ex-Amore e Vita) and Michael Andersson (ex-Sicasal) are new signings for 1996.

Holland

RABOBANK - Previously known as Novell, with new signings Johan Bruyneel and Erik Breukink (ex-Once), Rolf Sorensen (ex-MG), Australian Robbie McEwen and 'cross stars as Adrie van der Poel (ex-Collstrop) and Richard Groenendaal. World amateur champion Danny Nelissen turns pro again. Frans Maassen retires but will be working with the team.

TVM - Vladimir Poulnikov comes from Telekom and Stephane Petilleau and Laurent Roux from Castorama. Peter Meinert leaves for Telekom.

FORELDORADO - A new team in Holland with some neo-pros and Eddy Bouwmans, (ex-Novell), Wiebren Veenstra, (ex-Motorola, John Talen (ex-Mercatone Uno) and Raymond Meijs (ex-Asfra)

Italy

ROSLOTTO-ZG MOBILI - A major new team for 1996: Maurizio Fondriest (ex-Lampre), Piotr Ugrumov (ex-Gewiss), Stefano Cattai and Andrea Ferrigato (ex-ZG Mobili-Selle Italia), Manzoni, Andrea Chiurato (ex-Mapei), Savoldelli, Daniele Sgnaolin, Fincato,(neo-pros), Pascal Lino (ex-Le Groupement), Alexandre Gontchenkov (ex-Lampre), Vassilij Davidenko (ex-Navigare) and Russians Surkov and Djavanian and Moldavian Bonciukov.

CARRERA - Giovanni Fidanza and Oscar Pellicioli (ex-Polti) joins.

POLTI - Davide and Simone Rebellin (ex-MG), Gerrit de Vries (ex-Novell) and Frederic Guesdon (ex-Le Groupement) joins while Fidanza, Pellicioli and Pistore leaves.

GLACIAL-SELLE ITALIA - Nelson "Cacaito" Rodriguez, Walter Bonca, Roberto Caruso (ex-ZG Mobili Selle Italia), Nicola Miceli (ex-Carrera), Antonio Fanelli (ex-Amore e Vita), Angel-Yesid Camargo (ex-Kelme), Fulvio Frigo, Moretti, Profeti and Victor Bicerra (neo-pros).

SAECO - Takes over from Mercatone Uno as main sponsor for Cipollini's team. New signings Alessio di Basco (ex-Amore e Vita), Manuel Pascual and Antonio Sanchez (ex-Artiach), Davide Cassani (ex-MG), Giorgio Furlan (ex-Gewiss) and amateurs Ignacio Rodriguez and Gines Salmeron from Spain. Leaving is Rosario Fina to Gewiss.

MG-TECHNOGYM - Davide and Simone Rebellin, Max Sciandri, Flavio Vanzella, Davide Cassani and Rolf Sorensen will leave. Michele Bartoli (ex-Mercatone Uno), Michele Coppolillo (ex-Navigare), Carlo Finco and Fabiano Fontanelli (ex-ZG Mobili), Angelo Lecchi (ex-Brescialat), Molinari and Roberto Pistore (ex-Polti) will join.

CERAMICHE REFIN - New signings Jo Planckaert (ex-Collstrop), Djamolidine Abdujaparov (ex-Novell) Asiat Saitov (ex-Artiach) and Ouslamine.

PANARIA - Used to be called Lampre. Only confirmed signing is Swiss amateur Camenzind.

AKI - Erwan Mentheour (ex-Cedico), Armand de las Cuevas (ex-Casto), Jean-Philippe Dojwa (ex-Gan) and amateurs Stefano Faustini and sprinter Michelangelo Cauz are rumoured to be the new riders.

GEWISS - Rosario Fina (ex-Mercatone) and Davide Perona (ex-Lampre will join the team and the departure of Bjarne Riis and Piotr Ugumov will leave the field open as team leader to Jevgenij Berzin.

AMORE E VITA - Alessio di Basco goes to Saeco and Michel Lafis goes to Telekom and will be replaced by Swedish champion Glenn Magnusson. and Danish rider Nikolaj Bo Larsen .

ITALIAN RUMOURS - BRESCIALAT SPLIT UP IN TWO

One team will be staying as BRESCIALAT with Bontempi, Dotti Gelgi, and Piccoli. Jaskula, Strazzer and Bertolini will be new. the other team will be BANCO DI ROMA with neo-pros and a lot staying, like Vanderaerden, Lanfranchi and Podenzana.

Another italian team is in the works with Giuseppe Petito and Pavel Tsjerkasov (ex AKI) and some neo's like Gonciar from Ukraine, Mariani, Palumbo and others.

Spain

MXO - New group based on the old Castellblanch-MXO team. Daniel Clavero, Ramon Garcia Espana, Jose Manuel Garcia and Jose Luis Santamaria (ex-Artiach) and Victor Gamito (ex-Sicasal).

CASTELLBLANCH - Adolfo Alperi (ex-Espace), Jose-Luis de Santos (ex- Banesto), Jernandez Calvo, Juan Llaneras (ex-Once) and Roberto Torres Toledano (ex-Festina).

EUSKADI - David Garcia, 7th in the Vuelta, and Oscar Lopez-Uriarte (ex-Banesto) will reinforce the Basque team who will lose climber Inigo Cuesta to Once.

BANESTO - Orlando Rodrigues (ex-Artiach), Damien Nazon (ex-Casto) and Jeremy Hunt (neo pro) will join while Andy Hampsten, Oscar Lopez Uriarte, David Garcia, Gerard Rue, Stephane Heulot, Mikel Zarrabetia and Jesus Montoya leaves.

ONCE - Aitor Garmendia, Mikkel Zarrabetia (ex-Banesto), Inigo Cuesta (ex-Euskadi) and new pros Richardo Ochoa, Davide Canada and Miguel Morras are new members of the team. Morras was the cause of a major row between Banesto and Once, with Banesto accusing Once of poaching on their territory. Miguel Morras was the best Spanish amateur 1995 and a member of Banesto's amateur team. Johan Bruyneel and Erik Breukink departs.

KELME - Fernando Escartin (ex-Mapei) will be the new team leader. Quintino Rodrigues (ex-Sicasal) also joins. Angel-Yesid Camargo goes to Glacial-Selle Italia while Martin Farfan retires.

USA

MOTOROLA - Alvaro Mejia is on his way out but Laurent Madouas and Bruno Thibout (ex-Casto), Max Sciandri and Flavio Canzella (ex-MG) will join the team. Ex-pro Johnny Weltz will be new assistant team manager.

(Sources Cycle Sport Dec 1995, TVE-TXT, TV5-TXT, Gazetta dello Sport and Frans)

Please update this if you have new information to: Bertil Odling

Indurain on the way to 6th Tour-victory

Today, December 1, as usual, Miguel Indurain started training for the next season. A short ride of 60 kilometres on the streets of Pamplona was on the menu for the first day.

Next year the objectives will be a historical 6th Tour de France victory. 1996 also has another attraction for the Spanish champion; the Olympic Games in Atlanta.