Contracts and Transfers
- Massimo Gimondi (neo-pro), nephew of the great Felice, will ride for
Amore & Vita-Forzarcore in 1998.
- Alberto Volpi (ex-Batik) will ride for Riso Scotti in 1998.
Nelissen injured
Danny Nelissen has broken a cheek bone in four places after
he hit a tree during a training session last week. He was ruled
out of the Gent Track Pairs Race where he was contracted to partner
Peter Pieters on November 11. Pieters rode with
the Belgian amateur Patrick van Hoolandt and came 5th.
Some Speculative Analysis
Wim van Rossum offers this analysis:
Based on the "facts and rumours" of the teams for 1998, you all have
supplied, and based on the UCI-points per 31-10-1997, I did some
calculations for a "preliminary Team-ranking". In the next table you
will find: calculated ranking - (ranking UCI per 31-10-1997) - team -
total points of the best 10 riders - total points of all riders - number
of riders per team:
1. ( 1) Mapei-Bricobi: 7097 - 8740 - 22
2. ( 4) Festina-Lotus: 6674 - 8194 - 22
3. ( 3) Team Telekom: 5893 - 6536 - 18
4. ( 2) O.N.C.E.: 4957 - 5462 - 21
5. ( 6) Rabobank: 4660 - 5258 - 20
6. ( 9) Banesto: 3657 - 4393 - 21
7. (12) Casino: 3598 - 4455 - 22
8. ( 7) T.V.M. 3591 - 4536 - 21
9. (10) Gan (Credit Agricole): 3375 - 3596 - 18
10. ( 5) Saeco: 3250 - 3679 - 20
11. (21) Asics-CGA: 3212 - 3402 - 21
12. (20) Team Polti: 3121 - 3461 - 23
13. (15) Lotto-Mobistar: 3115 - 3741 - 21
14. ( 8) La Française des Yeux: 3097 - 3409 - 17
15. (22) Cofidis: 3065 - 3605 - 23
16. (new) Seguros Vitalico: 2732 - 2939 - 21
17. (11) Mercatone Uno: 2639 - 3048 - 18
18. (16) US Postal Service: 2491 - 2856 - 18
19. (13) Kelme: 2404 - 2476 - 19
20. (29) Cantina Tollo: 2023 - 2143 - 18
21. (new) Ballan: 1631 - 1631 - 12
22. (new) Riso Scotti: 1439 - 1485 - 17
23. (18) Brescialat-Oyster: 1422 - 1437 - 15
24. (23) Mobilvetta: 1359 - 1359 - 13
25. (34) Big Mat-Auber: 1325 - 1446 - 18
26. (new) Jack & Jones: 1191 - 1196 - 12
The points of some other teams:
- Amore & Vita: 874 - 874 - 10
- Palmans-Lystex: 632 - 632 - 13
- Euskaltel: 599 - 674 - 19
- Post Swiss Team: 557 - 561 - 12
- PSV-Köln: 541 - 542 - 12
- Mutuelle Seine et Marne: 521 - 531 - 12
- Vini Caldirola: 452 - 452 - 11
- Tönissteiner-Colnago: 396 - 396 - 12
- Vlaanderen 2002: 343 - 362 - 16
- Acceptcard: 167 - 167 - 10
Niel, Belgium, International Cyclo Cross, November 11
1. Adri Van der Poel (Ned) Rabobank
2. Danny De Bie (Bel) 0.15
3. Erwin Vervecken (Bel) 0.44
4. Marc Janssens 1.00
5. Peter Willemsens 1.05
6. David Willemsens 1.10
...
18. Wim De Vos 5.10
Brouily, France, International Cyclo Cross November 11
1. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank
2. Pagnier (Fra)
3. Morelle (Fra)
4. Arnoux (Fra)
5. Camrda (Czech Rep)
Memorial Noel Fore, Gent, Belgium, 60 kms Team Race, November 11
1. Jakob Piil-Tayeb Braikia (Den)
at 1 lap:
2. Frank Corvers-Lorenzo Lapage (Bel)
3. Rik Van Slijcke-Paul Van Hyfte (Bel)
Championship of Flanders Points Race
Patrick Van Hoolandt (Bel) - Elite without Contract
Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) - Junior
Iljo Keisse (Bel) - Juveniles
Emma Davies (GB) - Women
More about the Cross Kicking
Cycle racing is usually a peaceful sport. In cyclo cross,
there is usually a lot of camaraderie, and not a lot of
excesses. Robert Regeling (21) from Veldhoven (NL) went
to the Belgian town of Herentals to ride in a cyclo cross
event last Sunday. During the race, Regeling was kicked
by a Belgian competitor Bert Vervecken.
After being treated by the Red Cross, Robert Regeling was
taken to the hospital in Herentals. Doctors established that
there was nothing broken, but there was a large wound with was
spurting blood. Family members of the injured rider went
to the Police. Clearly, the race-favourite Vervecken reacted to
his frustrations to the Brabander who had brought him down during
the race kicked Regeling hard on the bum! Regeling collapsed in
pain onto the ground with his bike falling too.
Robert Regeling was at home yesterday. He must rest for two days and
will go to the hospital today for an examination.
"Some of the doctors are saying I will not be riding again for
three months. I do not think it will be back that long.
Vervecken was immediately suspended from the race.
Belgian spectators said that it was clear that their countryman had been
hindered by Regeling. Presiden Louis de Laat of the Antwerp Cycling Union
was adamant that their would be a sanction against Vervecken.