Talks between AG2R and Mancebo about contract termination

AG2R team Manager Vincent Lavenu  still wants to drop Franciso Mancebo from the team, in accordance with the UCI Pro Tour's Code of Conduct, but Mancebo's manager David Plaza  want AG2R to respect the contract of Mancebo with the team after the Spanish cycling federation ruled out any proceedings against those named in the Operación Puerto doping case. But the parties are talking with each other and it is very well possible that AG2R and Mancebo will agree on a contract termination with some kind of pay-off for the Spanish rider.

Lavenu told French daily sports L'Equipe on Wednesday: "It is not simple. But I hope that we can reach a friendly agreement. There have been some developments recently so we should arrive at a conclusion."

Mancebo's manager, David Plaza is taking a tough stand: "Paco Mancebo has a contract which runs until the end of the year 2007 and we want that respected." Plaza continued by saying: "AG2R is held by the teams' charter which in my opinion was reached too quickly. Paco is not the subject of any type of procedure, neither legal nor sporting. We were always well treated by the people of AG2R but Paco should not undergo financial losses and we want to find the right solution."

Last week it was reported that Francisco Mancebo was offered a two year contract worth 1.2 million euros, but Plaza told L'Equipe: "It is not a question of a concrete offer but of an abstract approach. There were no were financial proposals. In any case, we are always bound by contract to AG2R."

Party Bennati fanclub

Nine seasonal victories with three of them in the UCI Pro Tour, a second place in a Tour de France stage, the knowledge of being one of the most important Italian cyclists. A lot of reason to celebrate during the party of the Daniele Bennati fanclub, scheduled for Saturday evening at Planet Hotel in Rigutino (Arezzo, Italy). There will be many Bennati fans, led by fanclub president Mr. Giovacchini: they all gave support to Daniele and the Lampre-Fondital squad on the streets of Europe during the whole season. For sure, Bennati will be there, and will host Lampre-Fondital’s general manager Giuseppe Saronni, the sport director of the team and the sponsors. A good way for ending a positive year and to look forward to the next season, that could be very outstanding for Daniele.

Milram in Italy

From 4 to 7 December 2006 Team Milram will meet for a first training camp. In these four days in Montegrotto Terme (Padova, Italy) the ProTour squad will undergo a medical check. Furthermore, the team members will be able to make themselves familiar with the new material for the season 2007.

Nardello to new team of Boifava  - will Paolo Savoldelli join him?

According to Italian daily sports Gazzetta dello Sport Daniele Nardello has found a new team for 2007. The Gazzetta reports that the Italian rider has reached an agreement with Davide Boifava, current team manager of Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi. Nardello will ride Boifava's new team, which is a fusion of Androni Giocattoli-3C Casalinghi and Swiss Team LPR.

Nardello will meet his future teammates of the new pro-continental team, including Raffaele Ferrara, starting today at the first team gathering. The new teammates will meet in Calcinato (Brescia, Italy), where bicycle manufacturer Carrera is located, for training rides and distribution of technical materials.  Nardello was one of many riders that had to leave the German T-Mobile squad.

The winner of the 2005 edition of the Giro d'Italia, Paolo Savoldelli is one of the riders of the part of the Astana squad that signed a deal with Marc Biver. Due to the problems with the Pro-Tour license of the Biver team, Paolo Savoldelli might leave the team before he even joined them. Because the UCI granted Manolo Saiz a Pro-Tour license, Biver might stay empty handed. Other riders who have a contract with Biver are Andreas Klöden, Eddy Mazzoleni and Matthias kessler.  Italian based website tuttobiciweb.com reported that Savoldelli is negotiating with Davide Boifava and might join the new team of Boifava. Savoldelli could start at important races anyway because the UCI and the grand tours still did not solve the problems about the UCI Pro-Tour. On the eve of the Giro presentation, on December 2, the Grand Tour organizers and the UCI will meet again in order to try to find a solution.