Contracts and Transfers- In Le Soir it is reported that two other sponsors of the Belgian team of Gaspard van Peteghem are: Sjaak Moens and Born- Also from Le Soir: Philippe Ermenault (France) is negotiating with Cedico-Charleroi, and Abraham Olano (Banesto) will be operated for his tonsils next Monday. 1998 Giro to start in NiceThe 1998 Giro d'Italia will begin in Nice on the French Riviera and will then travel for 4000 kms through Italy before finishing in Milan. A presentation in Milan unveiled the route yesterday. This is the 81st Giro and will begin on May 16 with the prologue in Nice. Nice will also host the start of the next day's stage.The route will follow an anti-clockwise direction down the west coast of Italy, across to Lecce down in the south of Italy, then up the Adriatic (east) coast. The real tough stages occur in the Dolomites in the north. There are two time trials (38 kms and 34 kms), no rest days, and the Tour will end in Milan's Sempione Park on June 7. Around 20 teams will contest the Tour over 22 stages. The highest point on the tour is the Sella pass at 2,214 metres, part of the 17th and toughest stage - 220 km from Asagio to Selva Gardena in the Dolomites. The longest stage is the 19th -- 239 km from Cavalese to Plan Montecampione on the run down from the mountains to Milan. Italy's Marco Pantani, is reported as saying that he was happy about the route. It's a difficult tour." He indicated that he would like to race both the Giro and the Tour de France. But it would depend on his physical fitness. The trend in recent years is that the top riders have not ridden both the Tour and the Giro. They tend to ignore the Giro.
P. Saturday, May 16: Nice Prologue 6 km
1. Sunday, May 17: Nice to Cuneo 158 km
2. Monday, May 18: Alba to Imperia 162 km
3. Tuesday, May 19: Rapallo to Forte dei Marmi 192 km
4. Wednesday, May 20: Viareggio to Monte Argentario 229 km
5. Thursday, May 21: Orbetello to Frascati 218 km
6. Friday, May 22: Maddaloni to Lago Laceno 159 km
7. Saturday, May 23: Lago Laceno to Matera 230 km
8. Sunday, May 24: Matera to Lecce 189 km
9. Monday, May 25: Foggia to Vasto 157 km
10. Tuesday, May 26: Vasto to Macerata 210 km
11. Wednesday, May 27: Macerata to San Marino 220 km
12. Thursday, May 28: San Marino to Carpi 190 km
13. Friday, May 29: Carpi to Schio 164 km
14. Saturday, May 30: Schio to Piancavallo 162 km
15. Sunday, May 31: Trieste - Individual time trial 38 km
16. Monday, June 1: Udine to Asiago 230 km
17. Tuesday, June 2: Asiago to Selva Gardena 220 km
18. Wednesday, June 3: Selva Gardena to Alpe Pampeago 115 km
19. Thursday, June 4: Cavalese to Plan Montecampione 239 km
20. Friday, June 5: Boario Terme to Mendrisio 140 km
21. Saturday, June 6: Mendrisio to Lugano - ITT 34 km
22. Sunday, June 7: Lugano to Milan 168 km
Prague, Czech Rep, World Cup Cyclo Cross Round 2, November 221 Dieter Runkel (Swi) 2 Adri van der Poel (Ned) 14" 3 Richard Groenendaal (Ned) 18" 4 Erwin Vervecken (Ned) 43" 5 Mario de Clercq (Bel) Standings in World Cup after Round 2 =1. Adri van der Poel (Ned) Rabobank 80 points =1. Richard Groenendaal (Ned) Rabobank 80 points 3. Dieter Runkel (Swi) 68 pointsAll the riders left Prague soon after the finish for the trip to the Netherlands. Today, Sunday, the second Super Prestige Race is planned in St Michielsgestel (the hometown of Richard Groenendaal). |