We present new optical data on the cluster AX J2019+1127 identified by the X-ray satellite ASCA at zsim 1 (Hattori et al. 1997). The data suggest the presence of a high-redshift cluster of galaxies responsible for the large separation triple quasar MG2016+112. Our deep photometry reveals an excess of zsim 1 galaxy candidates, as already suspected by Benitez et al. (1999). Our spectroscopic survey of 44 objects in the field shows an excess of 6 red galaxies securely identified at z sim 1, with a mean redshift of z =1.005 +/- 0.002. We estimate a velocity dispersion of sigma = 771 (+430/-160) km s(-1) based on these 6 galaxies and a V-band mass-to-light ratio of 215 (+308/-77) h_50 M/L_sol. Our observations thus confirm the existence of a massive structure acting as the lens, which explains the unusual configuration of the triple quasar. Hence, there is no more need to invoke the existence of a ``dark cluster to understand this lens system.
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