Second Edition News for February 6, 1997

Rominger wants hour record

Swiss cyclist Toni Rominger announced here on Wednesday he might attempt to reclaim the hour world record of England's Chris Boardman this year depending on his fitness.

Boardman set the new record of 56.375km in Manchester last year, annihilating Rominger's previous mark of 55.291 kilometres, set in Bordeaux in 1994,

Rominger said he would test his condition in April before deciding whether to attempt to break it.

The 35-year-old Rominger, who signed for the new professional French team Cofidis from Mapei this season, won the 1994 Tour of Spain, the 1995 Tour of Italy and was winner of the Paris-Nice classic in both 1991 and 1994.

Virenque

Frenchman Richard Virenque, winner of the King of the Mountain award and classified third at tyhe 1996 Tour de France, aspires to win the 1997 Tour or other editions after that, informed today L'Equipe. Known as a climber, Virenque has learned to be a roleur and the best example is yesterday's victory at the Grand Prix de Marseilla, after a 129 kilometer escape, essentially over flat terrain, getting to the finish line 7:03 ahead of second pace, his teammate from Team Festina Gilles Bouvard. It is known that many riders at the beginning of the season just roll, but it doesn't take any merit from Virenque, who voluntarily -he said in L'Equipe- escaped to test himself at the start of the season. "This year I have started my training three weeks before other seasons", said Virenque.

His escape wasn't a casual one, because he is a very tenacious and constant rider throughout the seaon, who at the end of 1996 was fifth at the Olympic Road Race, fifth at Worlds, won the Tour of Piedmont and was seventh at the Giro di Lombardia. At kilometer 52, a chase group was formed, when Virenque had 6:35 over the seven chasers, amongst them Svorada, who was a great instigator of the chase and not only was he not caught but he gained another minute on the chase group.

Bruno Roussel, trainer for Festina, has announced that this season his going to split his riders in three groups with very clear goals: one for the Classics, another one for the Giro and another one for the Tour. Richard Virenque will be the leader of the group that will race the Tour, with the aspiration to once again become the King of the Mountain and if it is possible to win the overall classification. He was third in 1996 at 4:37 from the winner Bjarne Riis, at 2:06 from the Tour revelation, German J. Ullrich and ahead of Swiss teammate Dufaux (5:53.), Russian Ugromov (10:40) and Abraham Olano (at 11:00).

Cycling Law Reform in Spain

The president of the Spanish Cycling Federation (FEC), Juan Serra, spoke today in front of the Senate, which is studying the approval of a new law on safety for cyclists on the roads, which are the courts of the cyclists, we want safety for cyclists. Serra spoke about how to improve the safety of cyclists. "The gutters should be cleaned and the new roads should be provided with a lane for bicycles", emphasized. "This law also wants to raise attention about the distance between cyclists and automobiles, two meters between the two would be convenient. We want to ask for more protection signals and obligatory helmet for cyclotourists", affirmed Serra. Juan Serra appealed to driver education. "To honk the horn is dangerous, it can scare the cyclist and make him fall". He also emphasized about making a license for cyclists a requisite. "With this license - he said - we could prevent many bad moments, the cyclists would have the right to insurance and a medical clinic". And last he spoke of education at the school level and said the statistics speak for themselves. Since 1990 there have been 20,000 accidents involving cyclists on roads".

Museeuw

Belgian Johan Museeuw, World Champion at Lugano, affirmed today in an interview with the Polish newspaper, "Przeglad Sportowy", that his doctor, Yvan Vanmole, "is not a murderer". When he made reference to the information that showed up in the Polish press about "EPO" and the relation that the substance and Dr. Vanmole could have had with the death of Polish cyclist Joachim Halupczok. Musseuw said that it should be forbidden to spread news of that kind before verifying them first". "I don't use drugs and that has been proven on thousands of dopage controls that I've had to go through. I feel that the lies that have been said will be damaging to Polish cycling", said Museeuw. There were cyclists, trainers and doctors who accused directly or indirectly Dr. Yvan Vanmole to have contributed to the dopage of Halypczok and his death.

Milan 6 Day Race ends season

The Six Days of Milano which will start this Friday and will conclude on Wednesday the 12th will have to do without Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke (Mapei-GB) who hjas had to forfeit due to amuscular problem. In his place Etienne De Wilde will race with Belgian Lorenzo Lapage. These are the 14 pairs that will participate at the Forum di Assago: Martinello-Villa; Risi-Betschart; Bugno-Baffi; Veggerby-Madsen; De Wilde-Lapage; Collinelli-Freuler; Kappes-Wolf; Llaneras-Magne; Minali-Cerioli; Ludwig-Clark; Capelli-Trentini; Bincoletto-Citton; Cannone-Sandstod; Citterio-Gilmore.