News for September 14


Lombardi from Polti to Telekom

The Italian rider Giovanni Lombardi will ride next season for the Telekom team. The leading German team signed the 27 year-old sprinter on Thursday in Malaga, the finish location of the 6th stage of the Tour of Spain. Lombardi is riding this year for the Polti team. At Telekom he will be with Tour de France winner Riis, the number two in the Tour Ullrich, and the Ge German sprinter Erik Zabel.

Cycling-Mystery woman takes Tour organisers for a ride

The all-male riders in the Tour of Spain were joined on Thursday by a mystery woman who joined the pack for 10 kilometres of the race's sixth stage.

The interloper, identified only as Maria del Mar and dressed in cycling gear, attached herself to the field soon after the beginning of the stage. She was good-humouredly sheltered by several riders who foiled race judges' efforts to remove her.

Johan Capiot to TVM

The Belgian rider Johan Capiot has been signed by the Dutch team TVM> The 32 year old Capiot is contracted for 2 yeras. He is to help the younger riders and also Jeroen Blijlevens in the sprints.

Capiot was previously with TVM. The last two racing seasons he has ridden for another team. The Belgian is a good sprinter, but with Blijlevens, Cees Priem as a first class sprinter already. Capiot has won important races like Het Volk, Paris-TOur and the Brabantse Pijl.

Manager Priem: said "Johan is a good road captain, but he is also important in the spring classics. Above all he can sprint and help Blijlevens."