News for October 4, 1997

Contracts and Transfers

- Swedish rider Magnus Backstedt (22), the recent winner of the GP d'Isbergues for the Palmans team, has been signed by Roger Legeay for the GAN (later to be Credit Agricole) team for next season.

- I can also say that Scott Sunderland has yet to sign for Legeay for 1998.

- Marteen Den Bakker (TVM) and Marc Wauters (Lotto) have been signed by Rabobank for 1998.

Boardman Scratches from Worlds Road Race

Originally down to ride both the Worlds elite time trial on October 9 and the road race on October 12 for the Great Britain team, Chris Boardman has announced that he will only ride the time trial. "The plan was to ride to assist Max Sciandri," the GAN rider said in an interview with Cycling Weekly, "but I won't be able to do justice to myself. I don't want to climb off in another race. I just can't face the volume of work necessary to get round the road." Boardman's replacement will be Julian Winn, who rode a creditable Tour de l'Avenir last month showing well in the mountains but retiring from the race on the penultimate stage.

[Bill notes: Is Boardman serious? Or maybe GAN doesn't want to help the other French team, Francaise des Jeux.]