Race News and Reports for September 14 1995

Riis for Raas? Or with Rue for Telekom?

Bjarne Riis spent Monday evening under observation in hospital in Cordova.
The pain in his back and neck had become insupportable. After five hours of
minute examination, it was found that this third cervical vertebra was
fractured, but without being displaced.

None of the specialists who examined Riis could believe that he had just
ridden three days with this injury. He had ridden at 40kph into the
barriers less than 2km from the finish of the Vuelta's Salamanca time trial
on Saturday. The next day, he had participated, as best he could, in the
chase after Laurent Jalabert. And if he had cracked on Monday in the cols
of the Sierra de Madrid, he was still able to finish in the leading group.

But after all this, the pain became more and more intense. "I couldn't
sleep," Riis said. "I was in the Vuelta to prepare for the Worlds, my form
as good, now all that's finished."

His season is effectively over. Riis must wear an immobilizing support on
his back for three weeks. He hasn't even had time to negotiate with Jan
Raas, the directeur sportif of Novell and of the future Rabobank team. "I'm
going to phone Riis at home in Luxembourg," Raas said. "He greatly
interests me, even if he is 32 years old. I'd very much like to make him my
team leader but it's above all a matter of price."

Riis, who says he 's very disappointed not to be riding with Marc Madiot's
team [the failed La Francaise des Jeux venture] is open about the offers
that are still on the table. "To ride with Raas, why not? But there's also
Telekom [which is losing Poulnikov and gaining Ekimov], which has made me a
good offer. And Spanish [Castellblanch] and Italian [Mercatone Uno, ZG
Mobili] teams also want me."

Nothing's signed. But it seems that Telekom directeur sportif Walter
Godefroot has an inside track. The contract offered by Raas is for only one
year whereas the Germans would be prepared to sign Riis for three. Telekom
seems keen to build a strong team for 1996, which will include another
Dane, TVM's Peter Meinert. Godefroot has also had his eye on Banesto's
Gerard Rue for a long time.

______________________________________________________________


Up, Up and Away with Big Mig

Miguel Indurain and Co., having begun their Colorado altitude training at
1,600m, have now moved up to the little town of Breckenridge at 2,900m.
Banesto medico Dr Padilla says he has found a circuit of 20km in the
neighbourhood that resembles the World's circuit at Duitama.

_____________________________________________________________


Luc Leblanc -- A Rainbow 50km Long

Luc Leblanc, who has been back on his bike for the past six days will
probably resume racing in the Tour of Emilia on 23 September. Polti trainer
Zenoni "has agreed that I can rdie Emilia," Leblanc said, "but on condition
that I do only 50km. I hope that people will understand this -- it's
emotionally very important for me that I ride again in the rainbow jersey."

Luc Leblanc is also expected to ride Paris-Tours on 15 October 95. The
other good news -- he has persuaded Polti to take on the Breton neo-pro
Frederic Guesdon, who rode with Leblanc at Le Groupement.