Second Edition News for January 11

Van Poppel Retires

Dutch sprinter Jean-Paul Van Poppel, one of the victims of last seasons Le Groupement debacle, has announced his retirement. Van Poppel, 33, began his pro career in 1985 riding successively for Skala, Superconfex, Panasonic, PDM, Festina and Le Groupement.

His tally of 94 pro victories includes nine stages of the Tour de France (four in 1988) the Tour green jersey in 1987, nine Giro dItalia stages and four in the Vuelta a Espana. Van Poppel hopes to stay in the pro cycling business as a trainer.

A Taste Of Hell

Any bike fans in northern France this coming Saturday (13 January) might consider going on Gilbert Duclos-Lassalles farewell ride over the last 20km of cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix route. The public are invited to assemble for the start at the Roubaix velodrome at 13.00. After completing the cobbles they will then be able to ride a lap of the track and even enjoy the dubious pleasure of washing down in the velodromes famous showers.

French Teams (Part 2) -- GAN

In the second of a series on French teams for the upcoming season, LEquipe discusses the GAN team. New signings to the team, says directeur sportif Roger Legeay, have been designed to give a better balance. Frederic Moncassin provides sprinting talents and the "rouleurs" at the centre of the team -- Chris Boardman, Francis Moreau and Eddy Seigneur -- have been reinforced on the climbing front by the arrival of Ronan Pensec and Gerard Rue -- Rue having come with a strong desire to win some races.

GAN is the only French team to qualify for the Premier division of 22 teams that have automatic entry to World Cup races and the Tour de France. It will also ride all the French stage races and Coupe de France events, its complement of 18 riders making it possible to double up on the calendar in some cases. As well as the Tour de France, Legeay intends that GAN should take part in the Vuelta a Espana. The early season programme will lead up to Paris-Nice with a showing in the Etoile de Besseges, the Tour Mediterraneen, the Tour du Haut-Var, the Ruta del Sol; and the Tour of Valencia.

HQ details: Velo Club de Paris, 59 avenue Simone, 91800 Brunoy, France

The officials: manager general and directeur-sportif, Roger Legeay; sponsoring officer, Agnes Gougeat; manager, Michel Laurent; deputy directeur sportif, Serge Beucherie; trainer, Francis Van Londersele; doctor, Patrick Nedelec, osteopath, Sidney Hayoun; mechanics, Jean-Claude Ballardin, Pascal Ridel, Pierre Casado, Bernard Croquison, Yvan Kittler; masseurs, Francis Bur, Michel Decock, Jean-Louis Gauthier, Roger Page; attache a lequipe, Laurent Plu; public relations Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle

The budget: 23 million French francs (US$4.8 million)

The equipment: bikes, Eddy Merckx; accessories, Mavic; spokes, DT; pedals, Time; handlebars and stems, Cinelli; tubulars, Vittoria; saddles, San Marco; water bottles, TA; helmets and computers, Vetta; clothing, Nalini; cars, FIAT

The riders: Chris Boardman (GB, 27), Eddy Seigneur (Fr, 27), Pascal Derame (Fr, 25), Laurent Desbiens (Fr, 27, ex-Castorama), Philippe Gaumont (Fr, 23, ex-Castorama), Stephane Heulot (Fr, 24, ex-Banesto), Emmanuel Hubert (Fr, 25, ex-Le Groupement), Yvon Ledanois (Fr, 26), Francois Lemarchand (Fr, 35), Francis Moreau (Fr, 30), Frederic Moncassin (Fr, 28, ex-Novell), Stuart OGrady (Aus, 22), Ronan Pensec (Fr, 32, ex-Le Groupement), Arnaud Pretot (Fr, 24), Didier Rous (Fr, 25), Gerard Rue (Fr, 30, ex-Banesto), Francois Simon (Fr, 28), Cedric Vasseur (Fr, 25)