Second Edition News for January 7, 1997

Manuel Beltran

Banesto has signed Spanish rider Manuel Beltran Martinez, 25, a member of the Mapei-GB team for the last two seasons.

Olaf Ludwig

Telekom rider Olaf Ludwig finished his pro cycling career with a victory, with Belgian rider Etienne De Wilde, in the Cologne six-day. Ludwig will continue with Telekom in a new capacity, as head of public relations.

Festina 1997

 Directeur-general: Bruno Roussel
 Directeur sportif: Michel Gros
 Deputy directeur sportif: Miguel Moreno

 Christophe BASSONS (France, 22)
 Gianluca BORTOLAMI (Italy, 28, ex-Mapei-GB)
 Bruno BOSCARDIN (Italy, 27)
 Gilles BOUVARD (France, 28, ex-Lotto)
 Laurent BROCHARD (France, 28)
 Jerome CHIOTTI (France, 26)
 Laurent DUFAUX (Switzerland, 27)
 Felix GARCIA (Spain, 28)
 Patrice HALGAND (France, 22)
 Jaime HERNANDEZ (Spain, 25, neo-pro)
 Pascal HERVE (France, 32)
 Fabian JEKER (Switzerland, 28)
 Joona LAUKKA (Finland, 24)
 Lylian LEBRETON (France, 25}
 Laurent LEFEVRE (France, 20, neo-pro)
 Emmanuel MAGNIEN (France, 25)
 Sebastian MEDAN (France, ex-Collstrop)
 Christophe MOREAU (France, 25)
 Didier ROUS (France, 26, ex-GAN)
 Neil STEPHENS (Australia, 33, ex-ONCE)
 Valerio TEBALDI (Italy, 31)
 Richard VIRENQUE (France, 27)
 Marcel WUST (Germany, 29, ex-MX-Onda)

Departures: 

 Stephane Goubert
 Yvan Martin
 David Plaza (all to Cofidis)
 Lars Michaelsen (to TVM)
 Jean-Cyrille Robin (to US Postal System)
 Stephen Hodge (retired)
 Juan Arenas (to ?)

Equipment: 

 Bikes - Peugeot
 Accessories - Shimano
 Wheels - Spinergy
 Saddles - Selle Italia
 Tyres - Continental
 Pedals - Look
 Helmets - Lazer
 Spokes - DT 
 Heart-rate monitors - Polar
 Clothing - Sibille and Nike