News for October 20


Miguel wins successive criteriums

Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain, the five time winner of the Tour de France, will line-up in the Criterium L'Hospitalet de Llobregat here on Sunday.

It was thought that Indurain's season was over when he retired from the Tour of Spain last month but after recovering from the bronchitis that had forced him out he decided to race again.

Indurain, 32, had also declined to go to this weekend's World cycling championships in Lugano, Switzerland, where he was to defend his time-trial title.

Despite his appearance on Sunday there are doubts whether the Spaniard will race again next year.

He has had a disappointing season, despite winning the Olympic time-trial, and his failure to capture a unique sixth successive Tour de France had prompted talk of his retirement.

Indurain's Banesto team are believed to have approached compatriot Abraham Olano, the reigning World road race champion, to lead the team in the event of Indurain retiring.

Wilfried Nelissen OK

Belgian sprinter Wilfried Nelissen who suffered a grave leg injury in this year's Gent-Wevelgem has been passed fit by his doctors to begin competitive cycling and it is reckoned he has a 90% chance of regaining full fitness. Nelissen has been signed by the small Belgian Palmans team for 1997.

Fondriest for Cofidis?

Maurizio Fondriest is in discussions with Cofidis directeur sportif Cyrille Guimard about the possibility of Fondriest joining the French team. Fondriest is still under contract for another year with Roslotto but it is possible he could transfer to Cofidis and would like Cofidis to ride on Fondriest bikes as does Roslotto at the moment. An incentive for Fondriest to move is the fact that Roslotto directeur sportif Moreno Argentin has offered him a 1997 salary almost half lower than his current one. With Guimard bereft of a team leader until Lance Armstrong recovers his health, Fondriest would be a useful temporary leader for the new French team.