News for December 18, 1997

Contracts and Transfers

Danny de Bie has to wait

De Bie is claiming mitigating circumstances "He said that he did not understand the President of the Jury. The President on the day Buchette is a Luxemburger, who speaks French. De Bie lives in bi-lingual Belgium. But the list of back numbers which had to go to the drug control were displayed at the finish and naturally they are easy for the rider to read. A young rider might make a mistake and be unclear. But a professional of 37?" The facts seem clear. Was it not possible to make an immediate decision to go to the test? on of not possible? Bollen: "It is a delicate business and we can not be careful enough. Now we have to consider the dossier. We have to determine precisely whether this is a major or minor drug offence. There are drug rules of the UCI and the rules of the Flemish Government to consider. We don't want an innocent rider trapped because our own procedures were faulty. We will make a decision within 10 days. By the end of this year."

Rebellin Interview

"Team manager, Gianluigi Stanga has made me an offer that has satisfied me and I have preferred to return to Italy: it is not that la Francaise des Jeux treated me wrong, rather I had a program which was mostly French and I was missing Italy". Davide Rebellin is an easy going guy. "I have a positive memory of this year: I have made new roads and I have learned from the French. From the mental point of view the whole squad had assimilated: there were some organizational problems at the beginning, the sport group was a new one, but the team turned out to be good".

In virtue of the good Giro disputed in '96 (six days in the Pink Jersey) Rebellin and la Francaise des Jeux this year had aimed for the Tour, where he failed. "I will say that my 1997 has been positive, with the exception of the Tour: I made it up in the second part on the season. I conquered San Sebastian and the G.P. of Switzerland of the World Cup, two big victories and the Trofeo dei Grimpeurs. Also I took the fourth place in the individual World Cup competition, while we took the team competition".

What about 1998: "Next year my aim is for the World Cup: I will look to ride well the first races, also looking for the classification. I want to do be at my best in April, while at San Remo I want to show up in good shape, although not at my maximum". What about the stage races? "I will dispute the Giro or Tour. Lets see how I'm going in May, then I would ride the Giro. Otherwise I would go for the Tour. Repeating, it will be a Rebellin much oriented towards the Classics. But I could also figure in a Major Stage Race".

Since Team Polti has also signed Fabrizio Guidi, what will happen with the races that are in your arena, won't this create a dangerous duel? "No, there won't be any problems: he will aim for San Remo, Flanders and Roubaix, I will give my best for the Ardennes, I won't ride Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. There won't be a rivalry, that way we will be able to help each other to win".

Rebellin, who continues to be trained (and counselled) by Giosué Zenoni, has started his training. He plans to start his season at Laigueglia (February 17), plus following the Classics and mostly Italian calendar. "If I could pick a victory, I would say Liege-Bastogne-Liege: it is the race that I like the most", reveals Rebellin, fixing his great objectives for Spring.

Team Polti also wants to be a player at the Major Stage Races with Luc Leblanc, unlucky at the Giro last year, who is staying for the third year and is looking for revenge. But it was Giuseppe Guerini who at the last Giro finished in a promising third place: "To do good at the Giro is a dream of mine and the podium is a great result, but what's missing is the cherry on the cake, a victory. I would like to improve that results, to aim at the classification. I think that I have shown my good quality and I intend to show that the third place was not due to somebody else's bad luck, but my own merit. At the Giro I'll be a team captain along with Leblanc & Rebellin if both ride it: whomever is riding best will earn the leadership and the other will help. I will follow the same program as last season: to increase my form during the Trentino and Romandy, that way I'll be 100% for the Giro".

This is the organization of Team Polti for next season, composed of 19 riders. Striking additions of Fabrizio Guidi, Silvio Martinello & Davide Rebellin, three elements that will contribute to the competitiveness of the team guided by team manager Stanga and sport directors Vittorio Algeri & Bevilacqua. Also the ex-World Champion Luc Leblanc, who will ride his third season with Polti:

CONFIRMED: Daniel Atienza (Swi), Rossano Brasi, Mirko Celestino, Enrico Cassani, Cristiano Colleoni, Mirco Crepaldi, Mirco Gualdi, Giuseppe Guerini, Jorg Jaksche (Ger), Luc Leblanc (Fra), Axel Merckx (Bel), Fabio Sacchi, Gianluca Valoti.

NEW: Fabrizio Guidi, Leonardo Guidi, Silvio Martinello, Davide Rebellin, Cristian Salvato, Mauro Zinetti (neopro).

TEAM MANAGER: Gianluigi Stanga.

SPORT DIRECTORS: Vittorio Algeri, Antonio Bevilacqua.

BICYCLES: Fausto Coppi.

Storms trap Banesto