Seems like I now have a Mig News Service now....From David Garza - thanks.According to El Periodico, ONCE expects to announce in early January that Indurain will ride with the team; in order to make the announcement, Indurain needs to finalize his departure from Banesto, which is a sure thing one way or the other. Indurain is said to have made two definite decisions: to try to win the Tour in '97, and not to ride for Banesto while doing so. Echavarri and Unzue of Banesto are certain that Indu has signed with ONCE, and that he's only waiting for his contract with Banesto to expire on Dec. 31st to make an announcement. Sabino Padilla, Indu's trainer, was instrumental in convincing Indu that if he was going to ride to win the Tour, he needed to sign with a strong team, even if it meant a pay cut, which it will if he rides for ONCE. ONCE will finance part of Indu's contract through outside sources, such as Spanish Television, in exchange for Indu participating in races broadcast by the network. Details of the negotiotiations await finalization of Indu accepting a contract. The Vuelta has again figured into the negotiations, as Indu is still loathe to commit to riding it in '97. Banesto has already decided that Olano will be team leader, and has signed Armand de las Cuevas, whom Indu reportedly dislikes as a teammate (keep him on a short leash, Abraham). |