Seconmd Editon News for June 17
Mercatone Uno To Return
Mercatone Uno is to return to team sponsorship next season, taking
over the Carrera team, with Davide Boifava retained as directeur
sportif. The team leader will be Marco Pantani who is expected to
return to competition in Carrera colours in the Trofeo Matteoti on
August 4, assuming all goes well in a cyclosportif event he is riding
on July 30. There is still a possibility that Claudio Chiappucci may
leave Carrera at the end of this season to join another team. Rumours
of his joining Aki-Gipiemme seem now to have been superseded by those
associating his name with Amore e Vita.
Remembering Fabio Casartelli
On Thursday (July 18), on the occasion of the first anniversary of the
death of Fabio Casartelli, the leader of the Souvenir Fabio Casartelli
(best young rider) competition on that day -- it's currently Telekom's
Jan Ullrich -- will present his leader's bouquet to the Motorola team
riders at the stage start in Pamplona. On the same day, at 18.00, a
Mass will be held for Casartelli in the crypt of the sanctuary of
Lourdes.
Bortolami To Sign For Festina
Mapei-GB rider Gianluca Bortolami, winner of the 1994 World Cup and
second in this year's Paris--Roubaix, is to sign a two-year contract
with Festina in the next few days.
French Drugs Suspensions
GAN riders Philippe Gaumont and Laurent Desbiens and Cedico rider
David Derique have been fined Swiss francs 2,000 each (approximately
US$1,600) and put on suspension for six months by the Ligue du
cyclisme professionel francais after testing positive for banned
drugs. Gaumont tested positive at the Cote Picarde and Desbiens and
Derique at the Vendee International Classic. The riders were also
disqualified from these races.
Prime Beef Boosts Brochard's Bank Balance
Laurent Brochard (Festina) was the beneficiary of a French franc
30,000 (approx US$6,000) prime at Lanobre on Sunday's Besse to Tulle
stage of the Tour de France when he beat breakaway companions Pascal
Richard (MG) and Laurent Roux (TVM) across the line. The prize was
donated by Elevages et Viandes de France (literally "Stock Farming and
Meats of France").