Second Edition News for February 7

Everything for the Tour

The Tour de France is the big objective for the Banesto team this year. For Indurain it is almost a carbon copy of his preparation and racing last year up to the Tour, about 50 days of competition with periods of rest in-between.

The Olympic games, the World championships, the Hour record and the Vuelta a Espana are at most secondary targets. Banesto 1996 will have 17 riders and 12 of them are on the shortlist for the Tour-team (see below).

Sabino Padilla has left as team doctor but will still follow Indurain closely. Hilario Canzoni, a pupil of professor Conconi, will handle the preparation and Inaki Arratibel, Abraham Olano's ex-doctor, will be present during the races.

The managing director of the Banesto bank, Luis Abril, promised at the team presentation in Madrid, Tuesday, sponsorship at least until the year 2000.

There will be six professional teams in Spain this year; Banesto, Once, Kelme, MX Onda, Euskadi and Santa Clara. MX Onda is the successor to Castellblanch and Artiach that sponsored a team of its own last year will be co-sponsor of the Kelme team. Santa Clara was registred in Russia 1995 but will be Spanish this year.

Miguel Indurain's road to the Tour de France 1996 (* = uncertain)

 1. Vuelta a Mallorca 11-15 Feb.
 2. Clasica de Almeria 17 Feb.
 3. Ruta del Sol 19-23 Feb.
 4. Trofeo Luis Puig 25 Feb.
 5. Vuelta a Murcia 6-10 March
 6. Milan-San Remo 23 March
 7. Catalan Week 25-29 March
 8. GP Estella 6 April*
 9. Vuelta al Pais Vasco 8-12 April*
    GP Amorebieta 14 April*
10. Liege-Bastogne-Liege 21 April*
    Vuelta Aragon 17-21 April*
11. Amstel Gold Race 27 April*
12. Valles Mineros 2-5 May
13. Vuelta a Asturias 14-19 May
14. Bicicleta Vasca 22-26 May
15. Dauphine Libere 2-9 June
16. Spanish championships 23 June
17. TOUR DE FRANCE 29 June-21 July

The Banesto 12 for the Tour:

    Miguel Indurain
    Marino Alonso
    Vicente Aparicio
    Jose-Luis Arrieta
    Thomas Davy
    Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta
    Prudencio Indurain
    Jose Maria Jimenez
    Carmelo Miranda
    Erwin Nijboer
    Orlando Rodrigues
    Jose Ramon Uriarte

From Denmark - Rolf and Bjarne

The only news about cycling i have at the moment is that both Riis and Sorensen are very pleased at the moment.

Riis is aiming directly at winning the tour de france. Rolf is aiming at the big ones during the spring especially Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the greatest goal of the season is the olympics.