News for June 16

New French Team for 1997

Madiot has obtained the official approval, this can be explained by the fact that the french minister in charge of "la francaise des jeux" (which is a governmental company) has changed since 1995 ... Insofar as any proposed French team actually getting on the road can be assured, this development looks very hopeful. Marc Madiot has been promised a budget of 25 million to 30 million French francs (approx US$4.8 million to US$5.8 million) for an initial three years and the objective is a team that will be in the First Division and will take part in the 1997 Tour de France. The team will have no other sponsors and will have the simple title "La Francaise des jeux" (France's national lottery). With luck, then, France will have at least two Division 1 teams next season -- La Francaise des jeux and Festina (now French-registered). A third, GAN, should also survive in some form, though French insurance company GAN has yet to announce that it is staying in cycling sponsorship. A fourth likely Division 1 runner is the recently announced Cofidis team with Cyrille Guimard as directeur sportif.

Pantani's Progress

Lest anyone still be in doubt about this Marco Panatani has publicly stated that he won't be fit to ride the Tour de France. He is, however, building up his preparation, with a ride in the Vuelta a Espana in September in mind. He is now taking daily training rides of more than 120km with Carrera team-mate Marcello Siboni.

Chiappucci's Declining Years

With Claudio Chiappucci said to be likely to retire at the end of the 1997 season, rumour has it that may leave Carrera for his last season -- he has been with the team since turning pro in 1985 -- and join Aki-Gipiemme.

Tour Swallows Its Little Brothers?

Is the Tour swallowing its little brothers -- the races that immediately lead up to it?

The relatively weak field in the Tour de Suisse and complaints from the Tour of Catalonia organizers already alluded to seem to suggest that many of the stars of the peloton are preferring to make their final preparation in private. Some examples spring to mind. Why was Festina told to put in a proper team for Catalonia or not bother? -- because most of the Tour hopefuls in the team have been with Richard Virenque in the Pyrenees reconnoitring the stages there, at the end of the week moving on to the route of the Bordeaux--Saint-Emilion time trial.

Mapei's Abraham Olano and Tony Rominger have gone even further afield, their pre-Tour preparation is taking place in the Canary Islands. Banesto's riders have also been fully committed to avoiding races. Miguel Indurain (whose only race before the Tour will be the Spanish national championships on June 23) was last heard of checking out the route of the hill time trial at Val d'Isere and most of the rest of the team likely to accompany him in the Tour have been riding the routes of the stages taking place in the Massif Central.

Emonds Plans New Record Attempt

Belgian rider Nico Emonds, 35, who made a world hour record attempt last December, managing to clock up 52.486km, the fifth furthest ever distance, will make a new attempt in August. Emonds' ride, when he will attempt to beat Tony Rominger's distance of 55.291km, will take place before the world pursuit championships on the Manchester (UK) velodrome.

Emonds has acquired a more aerodynamic bike than used in his previous attempt and is said to be likely to use a higher gear -- 60x14. Just at the moment, though, Emonds is suffering from a discal hernia and is resting for two weeks.