News for September 28, 1997

Transfers and Contracts

- Danish rider Bo Hamburger has - according to the Danish TV2 - signed for French team Casino. Kelme and GAN also showed interest in signing the Dane, who was not fired by Cees Priem (as mentioned in our news-section the other day). Bo never intended to stay with TVM after this season, he knows that he has to join a bigger team if he wants to develop in the future.

So the earlier report was from Dutch sources (they claim Bo was sacked), and this one from Danish sources (who claim he left).

The Dutch are now saying that Bo Hamburger has two offers: from Kelme and Casino. Biggest chance for Casino.

- Yvon Ledanois is expected to be with a Dutch team next season.

- Claudio Chiappucci can start as a PR Manager with Asics (see below) but now he has offered his services as rider to the Dutch team TVM.

Olano out of Worlds

After a test on Friday Abraham Olano decided not to start in the World Championships on the road on October 12. Olano is still hoping to start in the individual time trial in San Sebastion.

Previewing the coming Cycle Cross season

Belgian National cycle cross coach, Eric De Vlaeminck, expects that there will be new leaders in the new season's competition. This weekend the first international cross will be in Wingene.

De Vlaeminck: "I expect a change of power. Sven Nijs and Bart Wellens can be the new leaders. They can make it very difficult for Groenendaal, Van der Poel, Pontoni."

De Vlaeminck still believes that it isn't a good combination: cycle-cross in the winter and mountainbike in the summer. "The basis for a good cycle-cross season is on the road; not with mountain-biking. And what was the reason that the mountainbikers Pontoni, Frischknecht and Bramati were good in the world championships in Munchen earlier this year? Because the cycle cross rides were tired after a tough season."

Will De Vlaeminck change his mind next season? "Once in the four years i will change my plans. I will try to send my cycle-crossers to the mountainbike-scene for six months; because cycle-cross isn't on the list for the Olympic Games and mountainbike is. My schedule: qualification for the Olympics; peak in Sydney and afterwards cycle-cross. For another four years. I believe cycle-cross has the future."

Lance Armstrong needs health-test

Before Lance Armstrong can sign for US Postal the two co-sponsors Montgomery and Trek want to see a testimony of good health. Further, Frankie Andreu will follow Armstrong to US Postal from Cofidis.

Good Luck Lance.

Last season for Gianni Bugno and Claudio Chiappucci

There is a big chance Bugno will except an offer of the Italian national TV Station RAI. This station asked Bugno to follow the races next year by helicopter.

In another move, Franco Arese of Asics, sponsor of Chiappucci, offered Claudio a job as the PR Manager.