News for November 29

Three Swedes turns pro

  In just two days Sweden has more than doubled their total number of
professional cyclists. On Monday (11/27) 26-year old Glenn Magnusson signed
for the Italian Amore e Vita-team where he replaces compatriot Michel
Lafis.
  The day after the Belgian team Collstrop signed 22-year old Daniel
Sjoberg and 20-year old Magnus Backstedt.
   Michel Lafis and Michael Andersson, both Telekom, are the two other
Swedish professionals.


Van Den Bossche retires

  After six seasons as a professional (5 with TVM and 1 with Novell)
Belgian Alain Van Den Bossche has decided to retire. He has recently been
offered a contract for 1996 by the Belgian team Cedico. He has had one
major victory during his career; the Belgian championship 1993.

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TOUR OF SARDINIA

   The Tour of Sardinia takes place from 27 March to 31 March, 1996.
   It was formerly called Sardinian International Week ( Settimana
   Internazionale di Sardegna) This will be the 25th edition of the
   race, last held in 1983.

   A problem has been finding a spot on the Calendar for this event,
   but it fits in nicely next year, four days after the Primavera, and
   a week before the Ronde.

   There is some problem of conflict with the Tour of Calabria, unless
   dates are shuffled some more, but the return of this event, last
   won in '83 by Beppe Saronni in his maillot arc en ciel, is a
   welcomed addition to the Calendar.

   From Quartu S. Elena to Cagliari will be a prologue and four
   stages.

 27 March - Prologue Time Trial 3.5 km
            Quartu Sant'Elena from Poetto (The beach of Cagliari)
            along the front to Bussola

 28 March - Stage 1, Quartu - Arbatax ( up the east coast )
            finish at the Cartiera

 29 March - Stage 2, Arbatax-Tempio Pausania
            via Nuoro and the centre of the island

 30 March - Tempio - Oristano, via Sassari and Alghero

 31 March - Oristano - Cagliari

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   NEW BOOK

   CARO COPPI

   A new book, "Caro Coppi", will be launched officially today in the
   corso Vittorio Emanuele, Milan at 12:30.

   The book is a new treatment of the Campionissimo's lfe and times,
   his trials and tribulations, victories and defeats.

   By Orio and Guido Vergani, 258 pp. and costing 28,000 lire.

   Present will be Gino Bartali, Fiorenzo Magni and Felice Gimondi.



   HERE COMES MAGNUSSON

   Glenn Magnusson, Swedish champion, will ride next year with Amore &
   Vita-Galatron. He is the 31st Swedish cyclist to turn professional.

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GIETEN Cyclo Cross

   In the third round of the Superprestige 'Cross, at GIETEN,
   Nederlands, Luca Bramati was beaten by a Belgian once again.

   Luca, the boy from Bergamo, got off to a poor start and was 15
   seconds down on his main rivals after the first lap.

   Groenendaal was in the lead until the last lap when Vervecken came
   by and held the lead across the line. A weary Groenendaal had
   difficulty hanging on for fifth.

Results:
  1. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) in 1.00'25"
  2. De Vos          (Ola)        a 5"
  3. Simunek         (R. Ceca)
  4. Herijgers       (Bel)
  5. Groenendaal     (Ola)
  6. Janssens        (Bel)       a 12"
  7. Van Santvliet   (Bel)       a 18"
  8. Van der Poel    (Ola)       a 31"
  9. De Bie          (Bel)=7F
 10. Bramati         (Ita)       a 40"

Superprestige Classification after 3 legs:
 1. Wim DE VOS    (Ola)   p. 44
 2. Groenendaal   (Ola)      38
 3. Bramati       (Ita)      38
 4. Janssens      (Bel)      31
 5. Pospisil      (R. Ceca)  28

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LAUSANNE

    Everyone is gathering in Lausanne, official home of the UCI
    tomorrow (Tuesday) for a "round table."

    Heine Verbruggen - head honcho of the UCI - must explain to the
    World why he WAS STUPID ENOUGH to have a VUELTA IN SEPTEMBER, a
    WORLDS IN MID-OCTOBER and a FINAL ROUND OF THE WORLD CUP AT THE
    END OF OCTOBER IN A PART OF THE WORLD WHERE NOBODY WANTS TO GO.

    There will be no absentees and included in the Lynch-Mob will be:
    representatives of the various riders' associations, various
    delegates from numerous National Governing Bodies, Sponsors,
    sporting groups, Organizers, Commissaires, Technical Commissaires.

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Museeuw con Mapei-GB fino a tutto l'anno 1998


  After the G.P. Mapei (Cyclo-Cross), Johan  Museeuw  signed a new
  contract with the team of "patron" Giorgio Squinzi.

  The Belgian has extended his contract by another three years after
  which time he will probably retire.

  "I am well satisfied," said Museeuw, "I have many friends on the
  Squad."

  Also well satisfied was patron Squinzi, "Johan is  for
  the Classics and single day races. He is a serious and trustworthy
  rider. I am very happy to have signed him."