News for December 4, 1996


Miguel Indurain commences training - it is looking good

Miguel Indurain resumed training on Monday, leading to speculation that the five-times Tour de France winner has decided against retiring.

Indurain, who returned from holiday recently after pulling out of the Tour of Spain at the end of September, declined to comment on his future. He was accompanied in the session by his brother and Banesto teammate Prudencio.

But an earlier story had the Indurains going shooting

Miguel Indurain broke the habit of 12 years by not resuming training on December 1 -- perhaps because of the foul weather, seven degrees centigrade and driving rain, though this has not deterred him and Prudencio from this ritual in the past. Instead Miguel and Prudencio set off at 7am with guns on their shoulders. They returned home with seven pheasants.

Although Prudencio Indurain has already re-signed for Banesto, Miguel Indurain is still keeping his counsel on his future, commenting that he is contracted to Banesto until December 31.

Francisco-Javier Mauleon

Mapei rider Francisco-Javier Mauleon, 31, has signed a two-year contract with ONCE. A good climber, Mauleon had been in negotiations with Cofidis (for which his friend Tony Rominger will ride in 1997) and Banesto earlier in the year.