Second Edition News for October 8


Belgian team for the Worlds


ROAD: Museeuw (Mapei-GB), Peeters (Mapei-GB) and Vandenbroucke (Mapei-GB),
Aerts (Vlaanderen 2002), D'Hollander (Vlaanderen 2002), Thijs (Vlaanderen
2002), Van Bondt (Vlaanderen 2002), Merckx (Motorola), Bruyneel (Rabobank),
Van Petegem (TVM), Farazijn (Lotto), Streel (Tonissteiner-Saxon)

Reserves: Van de Wouwer (Lotto) and Verbeken

ITT: Roesems and Streel (Lotto).

Danish Team for the Worlds

ROAD: Bjarne Riis, Peter Meinert and Brian Holm (Telekom), Jesper Skibby
and Bo Hamburger (TVM), Michael Blauzun (Rabobank), Nikolaj Bo Larsen
(Amore & Vita), Frank Hoj (Collstrop), Klaus Michael Moller (MX Onda),
Morten Sonne, Michael Kyneb and Michael Shelde (amateurs).

Reserves , Dennis Rasmussen and Marc Strange Jacobsen (amateurs).

ITT: Michael Blauzun (Rabobank).

Dutch Team for the Worlds

ROAD: Breukink, Boogerd, Dekker, Vierhouten, Moerenhout (all Rabobank), Den
Bakker, Voskamp, Hoffman, Van der Steen (all TVM), Bouwmans, De Louw (all
Foreldorado/Golff) and Van der Meer (Palmans).

ITT: Dekker (Rabobank).

French Team for the Worlds

ROAD: Jalabert (Once), Leblanc (Polti), Virenque, Brochard, Herve, Lebreton
and Robin (Festina), Heulot and Vasseur (Gan), Roux (TVM), Chanteur (Petit
Casino), Salmon (Collstrop).

ITT: Chr. Moreau and Bassons (Festina).

Italian team for the Worlds

ROAD: Bartoli, Bugno, Elli, Pistore (all MG), Fr.Casagrande (Saeco),
Chiappucci (Carrera), Faresin (Panaria), Ferrigato, Fincato (Roslotto),
Guidi (Scrigno-Blue Storm), Rebellin (Polti) and Tafi (Mapei-GB). 

Reserves: Donati (Saeco) and Faustini (AKI).

Swiss Team for the Worlds

ROAD: Bourquenoud (PMU Romand), Camenzind (Panaria), Dufaux (Festina),
Gianetti (Polti), Jeker (Festina), A.Meier (PMURomand), R.Meier (PMU
Romand), Puttini (Refin), Richard (MG-Technogym), Rominger (Mapei-GB),
B.Zberg (Carrera), Zulle (Once). Also one of the following to be selected:
Huser (PMU Romand) or Hotz (PMU Romand)

Reserves: Froidevaux, Paradis, Mueller and M.Zberg (Carrera).

ITT: Rominger and Zulle.

Spanish Team for the Worlds

ROAD: Javier Mauleon and Abraham Olano (Mapei), Mikel Zarrabeitia,
Marcelino Garcia, Inigo Cuesta and David Etxebarria (Once), Fernando
Escartin and Marcos Serrano (Kelme-Artiach), Jose Maria Jimenez, Blanco and
Ramon Gonzalez Arrieta (Banesto), Inaki Ayarzaguena (Euskadi).

ITT: Abraham Olano (Mapei) and Juan-Carlos Dominguez (Kelme-Artiach).

Andy Hampsten Retires

Andy Hampsten, has announced his retirement from professional cycling. A member of the first-year United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team this year, Hampsten, 34, recently completed his 12th professional season in the sport. After 10 full seasons of competing in the European peloton, either side-by-side with Greg LeMond as the only two American riders on the world's top team, or leading the only American-based cycling team against the traditionalists of the sport, Hampsten shaped pro cycling for the next generation of American cyclists.

"After 12 very rewarding years as a pro, it's now time to concentrate full-time on a lifetime contract with my family," Hampsten said. "Throughout my career, I've realized how fortunate my timing has been; my junior and the next four years as an amateur followed the explosion of cycling's success in America, and my first pro contract was due to the interest ignited by Greg LeMond.

"If my racing has inspired, motivated or just given a grin to any fellow cyclists, I'll be very content. I feel comfortable (retiring) after a great year of racing with the U.S. Postal Team, headed by Eddie B. (Borysewicz), the man most influential with the debut of my international racing."

Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and currently residing in Italy with his wife, Linda, and daughter, Emma, Hampsten made his European debut with the American 7-Eleven team in 1985. The next year, following an impressive stage win in the Tour of Italy, Hampsten was offered a contract with one of cycling’s legendary teams, La Vie Claire, joining other greats such as LeMond and Frenchman Bernard Hinault. Hampsten, a key player in the ensuing LeMond-Hinault battles that intrigued the sport for years, immediately became a key player on La Vie Claire, winning the first of two Tour of Switzerland titles, the only American to do so, before placing fourth in the Tour de France.

Hampsten returned to the 7-Eleven team in 1987, one year prior to perhaps his greatest year in cycling.

Hampsten won the 1988 Tour of Italy, joining LeMond (winner of the 1986 Tour de France) as the only Americans to win one of cycling's three Grand Tours. En route to the victory, Hampsten won a stage, was a key protagonist in the now legendary climb up the Gavia Pass in a massive snow storm, and won the King of the Mountains jersey as well.

"The '88 Tour of Italy is a great memory because I will always remember the enormous wanting I had from the start to really tear it up," Hampsten said. That carried me a long way, including through a ridiculous snow storm and the pressures of eight days in the lead.

After a number of third place finishes (1989 Tour of Italy, 1990 & 1991 Tour of Switzerland), Hampsten came through with the ultimate coronation for any climbing specialist in 1992 as he won the stage to L'Alpe d'Huez at the Tour de France.

The Alpe d'Huez stage of the Tour was always a day to dig to my limits, Hampsten said. In 1992, I concentrated on rebounding from the epic day before and hitting the nail on the head. Every pedal stroke felt like a hammer pounding.

In 1995, Hampsten spent one year with the Spanish Banesto team, home of five-time Tour de France champion Miguel Indurain, before joining the U.S. Postal Service team in 1996. With the USPS team planning a full-scale European program in 1997, one that hopes to include the Tour de France and World Cup events, Hampsten decided to step away from the sport. “It has been very difficult deciding not to continue with the very talented U.S. Postal team, especially now that they are riding towards the Tour (de France)," Hampsten said.

"For most of my career, I've realized how much I'll miss the sport, even more so with such an amiable group, but I'm no longer capable of pushing myself to the grade where I want and need to be. The team is well on its way towards great accomplishments; I'm sure I'll get my grins following their races."