News for October 18


Private Email - This might interest you all

Spelling and some grammar corrections made to original.
Dear bill,

How is it going?

I just write you to let you know that Indurain is meeting today, Thursday in
Spain, with ONCE to disscuss a contract for next year. It is just a meeting,
but I believe something interesting would come out of that. 

Miguel is not very happy with Banesto right now. They made him do Tour of Spain
against his wishes (I talked to him after the olympics and he didn't wanna do
Vuelta, no way). Also, Banesto didn't resign Prudencio Indurain for next year
after being his best season ever, and knowing miguel, that made him pretty mad,
i bet.

Also Miguel is continuing in cycling just to win the Tour. Obviously ONCE is
the best team.

Take care,

(name not published here)

The Worlds Road Race - Some Swiss Information

The km by km report forgets Camenzind of the Swiss Team. There is no doubt, the most important player in the successful escape of the twelve riders was Oskar Camenzind.

During three laps he was the rider who made the pace most of the time, especially on the hills of Comano and Crespera. In an admirable way he worked for his leader Gianetti. Most of the other riders were too passive, mainly for tactical reasons. No other nation than Switzerland had a favorite leader in this group. Johan Museeuw, who is a rider of a great class and who has an exceptional racing instinct, was not considered as a favorite.

Museeuw himself believed, that the race would be too hard for him.

The Italian newspaper "La Gazetta dello Sport" (Monday, Octobre 14th) shows what they call "Le Pagelle" some kind of schoolmarks. What I stated about Camenzind is also reflected in these marks.

The World's Report Card

10 of 10 : Museeuw
      9.5: Gianetti
      9  : Camenzind
      8  : Fincato
      7.5: Axel Merckx
      7  : Bartoli, Rebellin, Tafi
      6.5: Bugno, Chiappucci, Ferigato
      6  : Casagrande, Elli, Pistore
      5  : Guidi, Jalabert, Leblanc
      4  : Riis

Obree to continue

Scottish cycling star Graeme Obree said Thursday he has had a change of heart about retiring after deciding he can still compete at the highest level.

He had originally decided to call it a day in order to concentrate on developing his cycle equipment business.

But he declared it would be premature to quit and put back his retirement until after the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Obree has gradually been getting back to full fitness following his disappointing Olympics in Atlanta where he was far from his world record-breaking best due to a virus.

"It would be premature to retire and even though my business commitments may give me less time to train I could still compete effectively in track events on a scaled-down training schedule," he said.

Obree is still furious at the world governing body's decision to impose a second ban on him, this time because they find his straight-arm riding position unacceptable on "aesthetic grounds".