Second Edition News for November 23
FABIO CASARTELLI MEMORIAL SERVICE
On November 14, 1995, the Motorola Cycling Team and the Socie'te' du Tour
de France gathered with Fabio Casartelli's family and friends on the slopes
of the Col de Portet d'Aspet, France, for a Memorial Service in his honor.
The Service was held at the site of his roadside crash in July's Tour de
France. The ceremony which was jointly led by an Italian and a French
priest, also served as the unveiling of a marble monument to Fabio's
memory.
While the chill wind of the November day hinted at the approaching winter,
the grey and white marble statue stood almost majestically, as the autumn
sunshine fell upon it, as a testament to the memory of the fallen Motorola
Cycling team rider. Cut from the Garfagnana marble quarries of Fabio's
Italian homeland, the monument was designed and carved by local Como
sculptor, Bruno Luzzani. The white marble, a montage of a spoked wheel and
an Olympic flag, evokes the memories of the life of the Italian cyclist.
Thanks to the contribution of Como astronomer Danilo Fioretti, a sundial
was carved into the grey stone to forever mark the twelfth hour, the time
of Fabio's death. Alongside the sundial, a hole is carved through the
marble through which a ray of sunlight will pass every 18th of July, the
day of Fabio's death, illuminating a small dedication. Carved into the grey
base of the monument, Fabio's name will act as a remembrance for future
passing pelotons.
The Memorial Service was attended by Fabio's widow and son, Annalisa and
Marco, and his parents, Sergio and Rosa Casartelli. The Motorola Cycling
Team was represented by Jim Ochowicz and Lance Armstrong and on behalf of
Motorola, Inc., Jean Lavigne, Managing Director for Motorola, France.
Numerous members of the Socie'te' du Tour de France were at the service
including Jean-Marie Leblanc and Bernard Hinault. Additionally, the Service
was also attended by friends from Como, Fabio's fellow cyclists in the
peloton, and the European press.
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MOTOROLA CYCLING TEAM ANNOUNCES NEW ASSISTANT TEAM MANAGER
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Nov. 21, 1995 -- The Motorola Cycling Team today
announced that it has added former team member Johnny Weltz as an assistant
team director. Weltz retired from cycling at the end of the 1995 season,
after nine years as a professional cyclist. A Danish national, Weltz
specialized in stage races such as the Tour de France and the Tour of
Spain, and has won stages in both races. Weltz also is a former Danish
National Road Race champion.
"After a very full career, Johnny has a great deal of experience to
offer, which is why he has been brought in as assistant team manager,"
stated Jim Ochowicz, team general manager. "With his knowledge of French
and Spanish races, Johnny will be a valuable asset to our team, working
alongside [assistant team director] Hennie Kuiper," Ochowicz continued.
Motorola, which has sponsored the Motorola Cycling Team since 1991, is
one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications,
semiconductors, and advanced electronic systems and services. Major
equipment businesses include cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging and
data communications, personal communications, automotive, defense and space
electronics and computers. Communications devices, computers and millions
of consumer products are powered by Motorola semiconductors. Sales in 1994
were $22 billion.
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1996 Worlds
The agreement to hold the 1996 Worlds at WIL (Swi) has been voided,
and they will almost certainly be held in Lugano where the
Campionissimo prevailed so magnificently in 1953.....
Olano's Jersey goes up for grabs on 13 October 1996. Over the last ten
days the choice between Lugano and the Canton of Berne, finally
decided in Lugano's favour, is very satisfactory to Pantani.
Next years Worlds has changed date and location. The UCI (unione del
ciclismo internazionale) has changed the date from the sixth to the
thirteenth of October and reneged on the agreement to hold the race in
the city of Wil (Canton San Gallo).
The decision will be announced Monday, 27 November and ratified
between the third and fifth of December at a UCI meeting, but it is a
virtual certainty that the event will go to Lugano.
This decision will be applauded by all Italians who forsee an
"Italian" Worlds on the course where Fausto won his one and only
"Maillot arc en ciel" in 1953.
There will be a preliminary meeting Friday in Lugano to agree the
financial and technical details. Letters of intent have been received
by the UCI from both Giorgio Giudici, mayor of Lugano, and the
Consiglio di Stato of the Canton Ticino. The decision comes in the
wake of ten days of meetings where a proposal from the Canton of
Berne was also discussed. However, the temperature should be more
amenable to racing in Lugano on 13 October, Furthermore, the Italian
speaking Swiss Canton of Ticino has signified that all of the
financial guarantees required by the UCI under the new rules will be
honoured.
At the UCI congress in Colombia, there were lengthy discussions about
the positioning in the calendar of the Worlds, and its proximity to
the end of the Vuelta d'Espagna. (7 - 29 September - Bill Henderson)
The UCI had promised the Spaniards that there would be two weeks
between the Vuelta and the Mondiale, But in Colombia, Verbruggen (UCI
capo) announced the agreement with Wil for 6 October, noting that 13
October was reserved for the Paris-Tours classic. This apparently was
not to the liking of the president of the Swiss Cycling Federation,
Hubert Nottner, from the Germanic Cantons.
The Canton of Ticino had originally proposed a course featuring Monte
Ceneri with an uphill finish at Rivera. However, this course included
a 1.5 kilometer tunnel on a freeway (autostrada/autoroute) which was
not acceptable to the UCI technical people, so the Lugano course was
substituted.
This circuit of about 16 kilometers has two climbs; the Comano (2.5
km, average gradient 13 per cent) and secondly the legendary Crespera
where Coppi made his mark in 1953. The circuit ends in Bregazzana with
a 2 km incline. From the peak to the actual finish line in Lugano is 4
km. This promises a formidable Worlds and is reported to have brought
a smile to the faces if Italian climbers Pantani and signorina Fabiana=7F
Luperini who should be a serious contender for the Womens Jersey.
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COMING AND GOING
Roberto Pistore, the Lombard neoprofessional of Team Polti, much in
evidence in this year's Giro will ride next season for Feretti's
MG-Technogym squad. The transfer is apparently a result of a
disagreement between Gianluigi Stanga, the director sportif, and
Danilo Furlan.
Almost a certainty is a move by Giovanni Fidanza and Oscar Pellicoli
of Polti to Carrera. These two pros are slated to sign contracts
next Tuesday with Boifava when Chiappucci's squad gets together in
Calcinato.
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PANTANI TO HAVE CHECKUP
Marco Pantani returns tomorrow to the san Rocco clinic at Ome (Bs)
for a checkup by Doctor Terragnoli, Carrera's orthopoedic surgeon.
The Roman, Pantani will be fitted with a silicone protective device
(un tutore al silicone), newly arrived from the United States for
the purpose of protecting his fractured right leg when he goes into
the swimming pool.
His treatment will start next week in a gymnasium where he will
exercise his arms and abdomen.
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AKI-GIPIEMME HIT THE ROAD
Squad members of the new Aki-Gipiemme team, accompany Gianni Motta,
Public Relations man on a trip to Piadene di Montebelluna.
Friday and Saturday they will be in Montecarlo.
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SUSPENDED COACH LAUNCHES LAWSUIT
OTTAWA (Canada) - Desmond Dickie, a national cycling coach, has
filed a $CAN1.2 million defamation and wrongful diamissal suit
against the Canadian Cycling Association, its entire board and six
former cyclists.
Dickie, 49, confirmed the suit from his Brampton (Ontario) home
yesterday but referred all questions to his Ottawa-based lawyer,
Pat Santini.
"Defamation is part of it, but there's much more," said Santini.
"There's negligence in terms of how they (the CCA) conducted
themselves and misconducted the reprimand process and suspension
process."
Dickie was suspended without pay last November 22 at an emergency
meeting of the CCA. His contract was subsequently not renewed.
The suspension came after Dickie was charged by police with two
counts of sexually assaulting would-be female cycling team members
in September 1993.
Those charges dovetailed with public condemnations last fall by a
number of former national team cyclists - all men - over alleged
misconduct by Dickie. Their allegations did not relate to the
criminal charges.
Named in the suit are Patrick healy, the executive director of the
CCA, asociation president Brian Jolly, all board members and six
male cyclists.
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ROMINGER TO ATTEMPT THE HOUR AGAIN
CANDELU DI MASERADA (Italy)
Rominger the Mappei-GB champion, in town for the 19th grand prix
Mosole presentations had this to say, "Next year, somewhere around the
end of October, I will make an attempt to beat my World Hour Record.
The attempt will probably be in Mexico City and if I have the same
form as this year in the autumn (fall) I should be able to beat my
record and take it to 56 and something..."
On the Giro, he said, "I didn't decide yet. One thing is certain; I
will ride only one of the major tours in 1996."
WHO'S THE BEST
Miguel Indurain
b. 16 July 1964, Spain
1995: Team: Banesto
Wins: Stage win, Tour of Aragon
Stage win, Tour of the Mining Valleys
Vuelta a Rioja
Stage win, Vuelta a Rioja
2 stage wins, Tour of the Asturias
Midi Libre
Dauphine Libere
Stage win, Dauphine Libere
Tour de France (For Record 5th Consecutvie Time)
2 stage wins, Tour de France
Major placings:
3rd, Tour of the Asturias
1994: Team: Banesto
Wins: Stage win, Tour of Valencia
Tour de L'Oise
Stage win, Tour de L'Oise
Tour de France
Stage win, Tour de France
World Hour Record (53.040 km - lasted 7 weeks)
Major placings:
2nd, Tour of Valencia
3rd, Giro d'Italia
1993: Team: Banesto
Wins: Stage win, Tour of Murcia
2 stage wins, Tour of the Mining Valleys
Giro d'Italia
2 stage wins, Giro d'Italia
Tour de France
2 stage wins, Tour de France
Castille-Leon Trophy
Stage win, Castille-Leon Trophy
Vuelta Los Puertos
Major Placings:
3rd, Tour of Valencia
2nd, Spanish National Championship RR
2nd, World Championship RR
4th, Tour of Catalonia
1992: Team: Banesto
Wins: Stage win, Tour of Romandie
Giro d'Italia
2 stage wins, Giro d'Italia
Intergiro competition, Giro d'Italia
Spanish National Championship RR
Tour de France
3 Stage wins, Tour de France
Tour of Catalonia (Volta a Catalunya)
Major placings:
3rd, Paris-Nice=7F
2nd, Tour of Romandie
3rd, Tour de L'Oise
6th, World Championship RR
3rd, Subida a Arrate
1991: Team: Banesto
Wins: Tour du Vaucluse
Stage win, Tour du Vaucluse
Stage win, Subida a Arrate
Tour de France=7F
2 stage wins, Tour de France
Tour of Catalonia (Volta a Catalunya)
Stage win, Tour of Catalonia
Other placings:
4th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
3rd, Subida a Arrate
2nd, Vuelta Espana
3rd, World Championship RR
1990: Team: Banesto
Wins: Paris-Nice
Stage win, Paris-Nice
Stage win, Tour de France
Classico San Sebastian
Major placings:
4th, Fleche Wallone
7th, Vuelta Espana
10th, Tour de France
1989: Team: Reynolds
Wins: Paris-Nice
Criterium International
Stage win, Criterium International
Stage win, Tour de France
Major placings:
7th, Fleche Wallone
10th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
10th, Tour of Switzerland
1988: Team: Reynolds
Wins: Tour of Catalonia (Volta a Catalunya)
Major placings:
3rd, Tour of Galicia
1987: Team: Reynolds
Wins: Tour of the Mining Valleys (Valles Mineros)
Other placings:
3rd, Semana Catalana
1986: Team: unknown
Wins: Tour of Murcia (Vuelta a la Communidad Murciana)
Tour de L'Avenir
1985: Team: unknown
Major placings:
2nd, Ruta del Sol
Tony Rominger
b. Mar 27, 1961, Switzerland
1995: Team: Mapei-GB
Wins: Stage win, Tour of the Basque Country
Stage win, Tour of Trentino
Tour of Romandie
3 stage wins, Tour of Romandie
Giro d'Italia
4 stage wins, Giro d'Italia
Intergiro competition, Giro d'Italia
Other placings:
2nd, Blue Riband Pursuit, Superdrome Week
3rd, Tour of the Basque Country
8th, Tour de France
1994: Team: Mapei-CLAS
Wins: Paris-Nice
2 stage wins, Paris-Nice
Tour of the Basque Country
2 stage wins, Tour of the Basque Country
Vuelta Espana (for record third consecutive time)
Led Vuelta start-to-finish
6 stage wins, Vuelta Espana
G.P. Eddy Merckx
G.P. des Nations
Baden-Baden TT w. Jens Lehmann (G.P. Telekom)
Joseph Voegeli Memorial TT
Montjuich Hill Climb
2 stage wins, Montjuich Hill Climb
World Hour Record (current - 55.291 kph)
Other placings:
3rd, Tour of Valencia
6th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
6th, Milan-Turin
1993: Team: CLAS-Cajastur
Wins: Stage win, Criterium International
Tour of the Basque Country
3 stage wins, Tour of the Basque Country
Vuelta Espana
3 stage wins, Vuelta Espana
Mountain and Points jerseys, Vuelta Espana
3 stage wins, Tour de France
Mountain jersey, Tour de France
Subida a Urkiola
Other placings:
8th, Paris-Nice
2nd, Criterium International
2nd, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
2nd, Tour de France
1992: Team: CLAS-Cajastur
Wins: 2 stage wins, Paris-Nice
Tour of the Basque Country
2 stage wins, Tour of the Basque Country
Vuelta Espana
Stage win, Vuelta Espana
Stage win, Tour of Catalonia (Volta a Catalunya)
Luis Ocana Trophy
Baden-Baden TTT w. Dominik Krieger
Tour of Lombardy
Other placings:
2nd, Paris-Nice
5th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
4th, World Championship RR
2nd, Tour of Catalonia
2nd, G.P. des Nations
3rd, Milan-Turin
2nd, World Cup Competition
1991: Team: Toshiba
Wins: Paris-Nice
2 stage wins, Paris-Nice
Tour of Romandie
2 stage wins, Tour of Romandie
Stage win, Dauphine Libere
G.P. des Nations
Other Placings:
2nd, Tour of the Mediterranean
3rd, Dauphine Libere
2nd, Milan-Turin
5th, Giro del Lazio
1990: Team: Chateau d'Ax
Wins: Tirreno-Adriatico=7F
Stage win, Tirreno-Adriatico
Stage win, Dauphine Libere
Other Placings:
4th, Dauphine Libere
4th, Classico San Sebastian
6th, Montreal G.P.
3rd, G.P. des Nations
2nd, World Cup Final TT
1989: Team: Chateau d'Ax
Wins: Tour of the Mediterranean
Stage win, Tour of the Mediterranean
Tirreno-Adriatico (no stage wins)
Stage win, Giro di Calabria
Firenze-Pistoia TT
Tour of Lombardy
1988: Team: Cilo - Aufina
Wins: Firenze-Pistoia TT
Other Placings:
2nd, Tirreno-Adriatico
2nd, Tour of Romandie
3rd, Championship of Zurich
2nd, Giro del Trentino
2nd, Giro del Lazio
1987: Team: Cilo - Aufina
Major Placings:
3rd, Tirreno-Adriatico
3rd, Milan-Turin
The squad's latest acquisition is Michelangelo Cauz, victor of the
third stage of the Ruta Mexico