News for September 29


Spanish Selection for Worlds

Spanish national team selector Pepe Grande has announced a short list of 18 riders from which a final selection of 12 will be made. They are:
Olano, Mauleon (MAPEI))
Mauri, Etxebarria, Cuesta, Zarrabeitia, Garcia (I don't know whether
it's Kiko or Marcelino) (ONCE)
Casero (Banesto)
Escartin, Serrano, Dominguez (Kelme)
Clavero (MX Onda)
Aiarzaguena (Euskadi)
Arenas (Festina)

Mauri and Olano are the two selected to ride the time trial.

Commenting on Miguel Indurain's withdrawal from both the time trial and road race in the worlds Pepe Grande noted: "The most important thing for Mifuel at the moment is that he recuperates [from the dose of bronchitis that forced his withdrawal from the Vuelta on Stage 13]. His being on a course of antibiotics has prevented him from training normally and it would be impossible for him to get into sufficiently good shape to take part in a worthy manner in the worlds."

And Miguel gets a job offer...

Five-times Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain is to be offered a life-long post at Banesto, the Spanish bank that sponsors his team.

Indurain retired from the Tour of Spain last week and is currently considering his future in cycling after announcing that he would not compete in next month's world championships.

His name has also been linked with the rival ONCE team.

``Having Indurain with us is a privilege,'' said Luis Abril, Banesto Director General in an article published in the El Pais daily on Saturday.

Abril refused to say what post Indurain would be offered.

The news comes after criticism levelled at Banesto for having forced Indurain to race the Vuelta against his wishes. The race was accompanied by a major corporate hospitality offensive on the part of the bank.

What's Indurain Worth?

I [I = Roger!] don't wish to be vulgar, but it's an interesting question. Last Saturday's L'Equipe reckoned he's saved up about 35 million French francs in his 12-year pro career -- that's about US$7 million.