News for November 16, 1996

Super Prestige Cyclocross Calendar

NOVEMBER 1996

17 Asper-Gavere (Bel)

DECEMBER 1996

 1 Gieten (Hol)
15 Overijse (Bel)
29 Diegem (Bel)

JANUARY 1997

 5 St. M.gestel (Hol)
26 Wetzikon (Swi)

FEBRUARY 1997

 9 Harnes (Fra)

UCI Grand Prix Cyclo Cross, 1996-97

NOVEMBER 1996

24 Praag (Csz)

DECEMBER 1996

 8 Nommay (Fra)
22 Koksijde (Bel)

JANUARY 1997

19 Heerlen (Hol)

The Six Day Calendar

November 19-24 		Gent (Belgium)
December 2-8		Zurich (Switzerland)
December 27-Jan 2   	Cologne (Germany)
January 9-14		Bremen (Germany)
January 17-22		Stoccarda
January 23-28		Berlin
Janauary 31-Feb 5	Copenhagen (Denmark)
February 7-12		Milan (Italy)

Zulle speaks

Zulle, who was at the capital of Vizcaya, invited by Omega, to present a watch that carries his name, said that ONCE "has a strong lineup" and that if Indurain is signed the team will be "even stronger".

"I don't anymore that what people are talking. It is not a problem for me if he comes. There have always been big (important) riders at ONCE", said Zulle, who added that "it is important for Spanish cycling for Indurain to ride one more year, regardless of what team he rides in."

The Swiss cyclist indicated that the 1996 season has been the most important of his career and he expectes to repeat the successes in 1997, in which without any definite plans, he expects to ride to major stage races. "1996 has been Zulle's year and I would like for 1997 to also be like that, but every year is more difficult and harder," added the Swiss rider.

Banesto makes plans

For now, the Guipozcoan rider will confront the season, just like Indurain has done it in the last few years. He will start to perform late in May to mid June and reach the Tour with 45 or 50 competition days in his legs. After that active rest (in other words, training without competing or competing without pressure) to confront the second part of the season with la Vuelta a Espana and the Worlds, which next year will be disputed in San Sebastian.

Everything under the supervision of Michele Ferrari, Olano's personal doctor.

What is not known is, if Indurain continues, if the plans will vary. On the other side of the fence, ONCE still counts on Laurent Jalabert and Alex Zulle as team leaders. Not forgetting Manolo Saiz' philosophy of giving opportunities in shorter races to the progressing riders. That's the case of Zarrabeitia, Cuesta, Etxebarria and Morras.

It is clear that the ones responsible for ONCE are not going to get obsessed with Indurain and are not going to pay him more that what he gets at Banesto. ONCE is a team in which, as Manolo Saiz said, "the money is watched, like in any other sponsor". If Indurain is reachable, he could go to ONCE. But never at any price. "We don't have the need to sign him", has said the team manager, Pablo Anton.

'Pruden' also waits - Prudencio Indurain already said at the criterium de Xativa that his sporting future doesn't have to be linked to his brother's. The younger Indurain has received an offer from Banesto, but also has offers from other teams. Curiously, he already has in his hands a training plan prepared by Banesto to confront the start of next season. But has yet to sign a contract. Prudencio assures that he's not waiting for his brother to decide, but he wants to looks at all the offers that he and his manager has received, to see what is more convenient in terms of his sports career and economically.

Lance Armstrong Update

Lance Armstrong is doing well and feeling great, and he proved it to some 200 cycling enthusiasts who turned out to watch him go through his paces Sunday morning in Gruene. The Tour de Gruene Two-man Team Time Trial riveted its focus on one two-man team for this year's running. Armstrong, 25, an Austin cyclist battling advanced testicular cancer, teamed with Eddy Merckx, a five-time winner of the Tour de France. Merckx, who last raced in 1978, came to town to visit and support Armstrong.

For about an hour Sunday, a time warp turned Gruene into the European countryside. Throngs of people lined the roadside, chanting the names of their favorite cyclists, elbowing each other out of the way to get pictures, and marveling alternately at the presence of an old-time legend and signs of illness in a newer one. (Armstrong is bald and cuts from surgery mark his scalp.) Mobs encircled their heroes as they completed the ride through narrow winding paths alongside steep cliffs, parallel to rivers and up wide hills. "Go Lance! Go Eddy!" fans shouted. At the end of the 26-mile ride, Armstrong grinned at his supporters and answered, "It was great!" to a shouted question. The 1996 and 1992 Olympian and winner of stages in the Tour de France, said he now rides about an hour a day inside. Sunday's ride, however, "was really special." "Hard on the legs, but good for the soul," he said.

Armstrong most recently had surgery to remove two small malignant tumors on his brain on Oct. 24. He shuttles between Austin and Indianapolis - "two weeks here and one week there" - for chemotherapy treatment. Bart Knaggs, a longtime friend of Armstrong's, said Armstrong had received many letters and an outpouring of support from fans in the Austin community. "Lance just wanted to let people know that he's OK," Knaggs said, "I think now he's just trying to show his appreciation." Hundreds of fans kept Armstrong signing autographs long after they released Merckx from the same duties.

More support came from Armstrong's team coach, Jim Ochowicz, and teammate Kevin Livingston. "I've been with Lance since the start of this thing, so I want to see it through," Ochowicz said. He came to town "as a friend giving him the kind of support he needs at this time." Ochowicz, who has been with Armstrong in Austin and at the University Hospital in Indianapolis remains optimistic about the cyclist's prospects for recovery.

"He's definitely over the hill. He's gone through two surgeries and several sessions of chemotherapy." Armstrong, slightly more cautious, says his doctors seem to think he's doing well. "I think they're pleased."