GAN RENEWS FOR 1997
France’s top professional team, GAN, received a timely boost prior to the Tour when its French sponsor announced that they would continue to support the team at least until the end of next year. GAN, led by British Tour hope Chris Boardman, has recently been in the news for the wrong reasons after two of its brightest young riders, Laurent Desbiens and Philippe Gaumont, failed a dope test. Both had tested positive for steroid-related product nandrolone.
ONCE MOURNS ROJAS
Laurent Jalabert’s ONCE team is still coming to terms with the loss of one of its brightest young talents, 23-year-old Spaniard Mariano Rojas, who was killed in a car crash last weekend. Rojas was traveling to the Alicante airport to join his teammates for the Tour when the accident happened. Fourth in last year’s Tour de L’Avenir and Midi Libre races, Rojas had been tipped for future stardom. His replacement in the ONCE ranks has yet to be confirmed.
HINAULT DISCOUNTS ROMINGER
France’s last Tour winner, Bernard Hinault, has firmly dismissed the challenge of Switzerland’s Tony Rominger for this year’s Paris podium. "When you’re 35, as Rominger is, you have to discount dreams and look at reality," warned the retired five-time Tour champion. "Cycling’s evolved at too high a level these days for a guy like Rominger to maintain the necessary high level for three weeks. Personally, I’ve never believed in his chances."
RICHARD TO START TOUR
Pascal Richard of MG/Technogym, winner of the Briancon stage of last month’s Tour of Italy, is expected to start the Tour de France in spite of missing last weekend’s Swiss road championships due to tendinitis. The Swiss climber will be one of MG’s co-leaders along with Italian sprinter Fabio Baldato and April’s Tour of Flanders winner Michele Bartoli.
BELLI LEADS PANARIA
The Italian team Panaria, recently led to memorable success at the Tour of Italy by Pavel Tonkov, will be headed by Wladimir Belli at the Tour de France. Belli had been thought unlikely to start the Tour, following a tactical conflict with Panaria directeur sportif Pietro Algeri during the Giro d’Italia. Tonkov, still recuperating from his efforts in the Italian race, is now expected to focus on October’s world road championships in Lugano.
FESTINA’S FINAL TESTS
The French team Festina, led by climbing ace Richard Virenque, spent much of last week putting the final touches to its Tour preparations. The team rode the routes of the Tour’s big three Alpine stages and then crossed to western France to ride the penultimate day’s 63.5-km time trial route, from Bordeaux to St. Emilion. Whom did they meet on their travels? None other than a certain Miguel Indurain ....