News for February 6, 1997

Marco Pantani

Pantari's trainer Beppe Martinelli said the 27-year-old Italian's recovery from serious injury had been ''like starting again from zero''.

''Physically he's better than before, a bit stronger, but the competition has also changed and improved,'' he said.

''I see him as more responsible, more mature. It's a very important time in his career.''

Now it is all down to Pantani.

''I still have the fear of not being as good as before, but maybe it's that that pushes you to give it your all,'' he said in an interview after a 250-km training ride south of Rome.

``Until you put yourself to the test, there's always that fear. My test is whether I can still leave the others behind on a climb like I used to before.''

Pantani, affectionally nicknamed ''l'elefantino'' (little elephant) because of his big ears and shaven head, turned professional five years ago.

He shot into the limelight with consecutive mountain stage wins in the 1994 Giro d'Italia, placing second overall and third in the Tour de France that year.

The Italian confirmed his exceptional promise with a solo attack up the Alpe d'Huez in the 1995 Tour to clinch his first stage victory in the race's toughest and most prestigious climb.

Following the bitter disappointment of missing the 1995 Giro d'Italia after badly injuring his knee in a crash in training, Pantani, from Cesena in northern Italy, had seemed on a roll.

He won another mountain stage four days after his first and bronze in the world championships that October.

But 10 days later he was in hospital after smashing into a four-wheel drive vehicle at 80 kph on a fast downhill.

Pantani said it was a miracle he had survived.

``Let's say I think I've taken it in the right way,'' he said, after seven months off a bike and five months on crutches with an exposed break of his left tibia and fibula.

``I've had to come to terms with bad luck...My aim is to be stronger than before but if I get up one day at the end of 1997 and haven't managed to achieve what I have in mind, I really wouldn't feel that bad. You can't do better than your best.''

Pantani's return coincides with allegations that the peloton is rife with dope-taking.

``The problem is there, it exists in all sports and it exists above all in sports where there are no tests whatsoever,'' said Pantani, adding that universal rules and testing across all sports were the only way to beat the cheats.

``The thing that makes me maddest is...that we are the athletes who undergo more tests throughout the year, even out of season, than any other,'' he added.

Pantani admitted there had been some ``strange'' cases, including that of several cyclists in one team who had medical certificates purporting to show extraordinarily high testosterone levels existing naturally.

``There are loads of athletes who had these certificates, I know loads,'' he said.

But it is an alleged explosion of the use of the performance-booster erythropoietin (EPO) that has cast doubt on the cycling world's reputation.

Italian cyclists have agreed to undergo blood tests to try to stamp out EPO abuse.

``We're trying to show people that we're seeking as much transparency as possible and have the greatest goodwill,'' Pantani said, blaming the media in part for cranking up the attention and singling out cycling as the worst offender.

When Pantani lines up for the Tour Laigueglia as captain of the Mercatone Uno team he will not have to worry about keeping the peace with former Carrera team mate Claudio Chiappucci -- a relationship he once likened to two roosters in a henhouse.

The withdrawal of jeans-maker Carrera and the split of the old squad into Mercatone Uno and a group sponsored by sportswear firm Asics has left the two former team mates in rival camps.

Pantani is relieved. ``The group is pretty calm. There aren't too many hotheads,'' he said, noting that nine ex-Carrera riders had joined him while only four stayed on with Chiappucci.

The Marco Pantani who used to be ruled by cycling and his favourite soccer club Juventus has also changed.

He now has a Danish girlfriend, dabbles in painting and likes composing music and singing pop songs in his spare time.

But his determination is as strong as ever.

``Indurain began winning Tours when he was 27 and I'm 27,'' he said, referring to five times Tour de France champion Miguel Indurain of Spain who announced his retirement last month.

Meanwhile, his attention is focused on the Giro which begins in May and includes six tough mountain stages.

``I think I've got the chance of winning a great Giro if I ride again like I used to,'' he said. ``If I'm not as good as before, my career will probably be over.''

Ronde van Vlaanderen

The idea of Belgian, Clement Schietecatte they will be trialled at the Tour of Flanders, the second round in the World Cup on April 6.

"The principal is very simple. An inflatable security pillow will be tied to the fence" said the inventor on Tuesday. The 20 metre long cushions can be separated to allow entry for the police and other help services.

There will be advertising on the pillows. The main sponsor Kredeitbank, which is a very important source of cash for the Tour of Flanders, has naturally, according to Schietecatte, not lost the eye for a commercial opportunity.

Fred Rompelberg

The 51 year old Rompelberg will go try to break his own speed record on the Bonneville Speedway in the American state of Utah in the second half of September. Under the leadership of Teirlinck and through competition racing, he thinks he will be in condition to set a new record.

Although standing firm for the new season on the road, he had a back injury that needs the intensive care of a Doctor Husken. Rompelberg has been active in the sport for 33 years, 27 as a professional

Riis comes third this time

Swimmer Popov, who retained his Olympic 50 and 100 metres freestyle titles in Atlanta, received 53 points, well clear of second placed British motor racing world champion Damon Hill on 27.

Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis, winner of the Tour de France, was another point back in third place.

Middle-distance runner Masterkova, the 800 and 1,500 metres Olympic champion, won the women's category with 54 points.

She was closely pressed by French 200 and 400 metres double gold medalist Jose-Marie Perec on 49 points with Germany's world number one tennis player Steffie Graf, last year's winner, third with 32 points.