Second Edition News for December 5, 1996


Scott Moninger sings with Navigators

Scott Moninger, 30, of Boulder, Colorado has signed on with the New Jersey based Navigators Cycling Team for the 1997 Professional Road Cycling season. Scott boasts an impressive career as a road and stage-race specialist earning over 65 victories and 150 podium appearances since 1991. Most recently, he took the top honors in the Australian "Herald Sun Tour" stage race, held October 10 - 20. In addition, Scott has been victorious in such notable domestic stage races as the Kmart Mountain Classic (1992), Killington Stage Race (1992), Tour de `Toona (1994), and the Redlands Stage Race (1995 and 1989), as well as numerous single-day road races. He was also the 1992 USPRO Points Series champion.

"Scott brings the team tremendous experience and proven results, and will complement the skills of our other riders very well," according to Navigators' Directeur Sportiff Ed Beamon. "He will provide a good balance of all-around ability and definitely be a factor in the most difficult road and stage races." The team hopes to capitalize on it's results from 1996 which includes 27 victories and 50 podium appearances, as it heads into its fourth season as a UCI/USPRO affiliated team. "We're well on our way to our goal of becoming a true national powerhouse, while aiding our developmental amateur and club programs", said Ray Cipollini, the team's General Manager. "We've come a long way since 1989, our first year as a `bike- shop' team, and we have a proven track record of stable management, growth and results", he adds.

The team is sponsored by Navigators, an international insurance company. Committed to the principles of underwriting excellence and to the service of its clients, Navigators writes ocean and inland marine, aviation, and other specialty lines of insurance and reinsurance. Headquartered in New York City, Navigators, through its Somerset Subsidiaries, has offices in eight major insurance centers in the United States as well as a representative office in London. Navigators obtains its business from U.S. and international brokers. "We offer an American alternative for the professional insurance buyer." Navigators Common Stock is traded over-the-counter (The Nasdaq National Market) under the symbol NAVG.

Brescialat begin for 1997

Today at Casalmoro (Mantova) will be the first meetiong of team Brescialat, lead by the duo of Bordonali-Zandeg: 18 riders, with Piccoli and new to the team, Belli and Serpellini.

Press stake out Mig's House

This interest has made the press hang out around Indurain's home in the Navarran locality of Olaz and even with the bad weather they have remained there. At around 11:00 AM, his wife Marisa came out of the house and told the press that Miguel had gone hunting with Prudencio. Hours later, at around 3:15 PM Miguel and Prudencio returned and only talked about their hunting day.

Indurain, trained today in the company of his brother Prudencio, still not clarifying to the press that were gathered at the door of his home in Olaz if it was the beginning of his training for the next season. At around 11:30 AM, Prudencio went on his bike from Villava to the subdivision in Olaz where his brother Miguel lives and together thet started their training wearing the Banesto jersey, since Prudencio has renewed with them and Miguel has an active contract until December 31st.

When the press that was waiting for him to start asked him about the training session, Indurain only said that he was going to "train, like in other years", without specifying anything about his cycling future. Although it has been the costume of the Navarran rider to resume training for the coming season on December 1st, he preferred to spend a day hunting with his brother in a private area in Navarra.

More Mig Info

Miguel Indurain was born in Villava, Spain, on July 16th, 1964. Married to Marisa, father of Miguelito. Professional since 1984, with Reynolds as his first team, which later became Banesto, always under the technical guidance of Echavarri and Unzue. Indurain has dominated stage racing since since 1990. He won the Tour from 1991 to 1995; won the 1992 and 1993 Giro. World Champion in 1995 and Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996 for the individual time trial. Indurain attempted to win his sixth Tour in a row, but was beaten by Riis: but last season, not including his Olympic success he has 11 wins: Vuelta a Alentejo (with two stages), Vuelta a Asturias (with one stage), Bicicleta Vasca (with one stage), Dauphine Libere (with two stages) and O)lympic ITT. He retired from La Vuelta.

Indurain's cycling future continues to be unknown after the rider received today the Gold Medal of Navarra. In front of the big gathering from the press, Indurain said: "Today we need to speak of other things. Today there is a party and there is nothing to say about work". "The awarding of the Gold Medal of Navarra is a recognition from all of Navarra, something that doesn't happen everyday. I have been excited and it is a moment to be lived, not to be talking", he said. The distinction received today means that "the Navarran people have lived everything that I have done and the efforts made in my career", which makes Indurain proud. "But it doesn't have to influence my decision. It is an ward for what I have done until now, not for what I will do in the future".

Jose Miguel Echavarri assured about it that "if somebody needs Miguel Indurain it is society, the government, the press and the fans. Me.", commented, "I'm also a fan and want him to continue". About the possibility of him signing for another team, Echavarri said: "We have enjoyed him at Banesto. Others have yet to enjoy him and I wouldn't be surprised if they need him more than we do". (Yeah right, Echavarri!!! FRG) In any case he asked for "maximum respect" about the decision that the rider takes and declared that he doesn't speak to Indurain about this matter. "I don't want him to feel that I'm trying to pressure or direct".

Banesto's general director, Luis Abril, denied that his attendance at the ceremony had anything to do with a meeting with Indurain to determine his cycling future. "My presence here is due to the fact that today is a very important day in the life of Miguel and Navarra. Indurain has been with us many years and I felt it necessary for the bank to be present in such a special day". Abril insisted on "leave everything up to his own decision and that everybody "respects the complex process that he's in". "We need to stop making hypothesis. Abril admitted that time is passing quickly, but insisted that Miguel himself doesn't know if he will continue or not and that is the first thing to take care of. The bank has absolute respect of the process to reach a personal decision".

Banesto plan for no Mig!

In another interview with Echavarri, Miguel Indurain's Banesto sports director, he admitted that he has had to make all his plans without Miguel. I haven't made my plans counting on Miguel because Miguel hasn't made his plans counting on Banesto. On the 15th I need to present our lineup to the UCI and what we can't do is improvise the budget. If Miguel comes with us after the 15th, it will be up to Banesto to accept it. I have been pressured from the bank, but I can't do more that what I have done. Asked if he thought that Indurain's doubt is more because of his morale or his physical condition. He responded that body and should always have to go together. I already predicted two or three years ago that he would leave cycling more because of his mind that his physical state. I thought that he would leave after the sixth Tour win, but the sixth Tour never came".

Echavarri is convinced that Miguel already knows what he wants. "Another thing is if we all will allow him to do what he wants. We don't know what he wants, if I did I could say that he's closer or farther from Banesto".

Eusebio Unzue has a different opinion that Echavarri when he says that Miguel is not convinced yet, he's still doubting. If he knew, he would have said it already. I don't imagine that he already knows what he's going to do and he hasn't said it. What I'm surprised with is that he hasn't made a decision yet. Personally I can say that some time ago I thought that he would retire. Now I feel that he will continue. I just don't know where.

But I don't think that his doubts come from the race between Banesto and ONCE for his services". He confirmed that the team bikes haven't arrived and that none have been ordered for Indurain for now, although they had planned to provide him with a bike identical to the one used by Riis at the Worlds ITT. With the possibility of not having Miguel, we have reinforced the team. And if he continues in Banesto is he agreeable to having two leaders. Upset? That is not the word, we would have liked for things to have been different".