Olano's contract is said to be for three seasons on a monthly salary equivalent to 1.1 million French francs (approx US$22,000) compared with Miguel Indurain's estimated 1.5 million French francs.
Olano is said to be arriving at Banesto in company with Mapei team-mates Manuel Fernandez Gines, Miguel Angel Pena, Arsenio Gonzalez and Javier Mauleon.
Miguel Indurain is said to have expressed himself willing "to study all propositions that will be put to him at the end of the season if he decides to continue his career." ONCE Manolo Saiz, for his part, is convinced that his team "is the only one that offers Indurain the best team in the world to enable him to win a sixth Tour de France." (And probably one of the few that could meet Indurain's salary.)
"Even I can't say today if I'm going to carry on riding or retire. At the end of the season, with a rested head, I'll make the decision. If I feel I have the strength to win another Tour I'll carry on. If I don't have the strength I'll cede my place.