Mapei-rider Carlo Bomans will join the Palmans-team.
Mapei will protest by the UCI about the decision to contract a maximum of 22 riders per team in the next season. This season Mapei had to bring back his team from 31 to 25 contracts. Manager Beppe Saronni: "It's not possible to ride on all fronts during the whole year with only 22 riders" It's still unknown or GB will be co-sponsor in 1998. At this moment Mapei has 7 Belgian riders under contract.
The Tony Adams story got in all the papers here including the front page of the Guardian (with a pic) and on local TV. The point, which your initial story missed, was that he was prosecuted and convicted not for speeding (he was doing less than 30mph -- 50k) but for "furious riding" under obscure 19th century legislation that used to be invoked against penny farthing riders scaring horses. He has refused to pay the fine. Personally, I'd have him arrested for severe deficiency of good taste -- he was pictured wearing a Banesto jersey and Mapei shorts. The real cycling story is perhaps what makes him think he has any chance of breaking the world hour record -- particularly on a regime of riding five miles a night round Cambridge. I'd stick my neck out and wager he's a fantasist who's got about as much chance of doing it as I have of winning Liege--Bastogne--Liege -- and you know how unlikely that is....
From a mate of mine, whose name I will keep to myself. Just in case you meet him going up a Dutch hill like Dode Man be warned that he walked up the best part of the climb (when you feel like dying) and refused to go around the corner and sprint up De Keutenberg!! Eh Mate!
Amateur wins: Olympic gold medal team time trial 1992 (Barcelona); world military champion individual time trial 1996; German individual time trial champion, 1991, 1993, 1996 (2nd in 1992 and 1995); German team time trial champion 1994; winner Ronde de l'Isard 1993; winner two-up GP Telekom time trial at Karlsruhe 1996 (with Chris Boardman);
Amateur placings: 2nd World team trial championships 1990, 1991, 1993 (3rd in 1994); 3rd World Elite individual time trial 1995
Professional in 1997, first for the Italian/Slovenian team Cantina Tollo -- "They often forgot to pay us, and this was a little bit of a problem," said Peschel -- and then for the German team Schauff Oschelbronn
Pro wins: Grand Prix des Nations 1997; Stage 1 (time trial) of Tour of Denmark 1997; Time trial stage of Regio Tour 1997
Pro places: 2nd Coupe des Nations 1997; 12th Regio Tour
UCI placing: 172nd
1. A. Kowaleski 2.34.23 2. C. Upton 2.34.26 3. R. Heald 2.34.57 4. A. Meo (Vet) 2.38.05 5. J. McCarty 2.38.42 6. D. Henderson 2.39.56 7. T. Rice (Vet) 2.41.19 8. M. Ritchie 2.41.26 9. D. Robertson (Vet) 2.41.31 10. M. Smith 2.43.57 11. A. Hunter 2.44.31 12. A. Old 2.47.27 13. B. Backhouse 2.47.31 14. K. Dunn (Woman) 2.47.32 15. A. Mahoney (Women) 2.47.57 16. D. Humpherson 2.48.06 17. M. Gertenberger 2.50.24 18. T. Chan 2.50.25 19. D. Meo 2.50.37 20. H. Chlebowicz 2.51.50 21. D. Rothsay 2.53.39 22. G. Evans 2.54.20 23. J. Gambitsis 2.54.48 24. I. Kirkman (Vet) 2.54.49 25. D. Jack 2.58.29 26. G. Hawkins (Vet) 2.58.30 27. E. Kurmann (Vet) 2.58.31 28. P. Waite 3.05.16 29. S. MacLachlan 3.05.50 30. K. Hopfler (Vet) 3.05.57 31. S. Harris (Woman) 3.07.09 32. R. Smith (Women) 3.08.02 33. J. Holden (Women) 3.08.24 34. J. Dale (Women) 3.09.50 37 starters, 3 riders DNF Thanks to Ted Kurman