Language: English | Nederlands | Français | Italiano | Español



   Gree-Tour of Guangxi    
 

 Server time: 29 Mar 2024 14:00:24 CET
Homepage   |   Games  |   Calendar   |   Teams  |   Login / Subscribe  
Competition Profile: T-MOBILE TEAM 2007




Description
Written by Wicky (2007-02-03 11:26)
Translated by (2007-02-03 11:26)

Let’s talk about a huge clean-up. T-Mobile has spent the last years building a team around Ullrich and now, due to the Fuentes-scandal, the German was dismissed, leaving a team without their main figure. In the following winter most experienced riders, including many friends of Der Jan, were let go and the managers started to buy a new team with money from the financially strong telecom company.


Since these purchases included a bunch of mediocre riders as well, the team in total seems to hold the same quality as it used to during the Ullrich-decade. Ivanov, Klöden, Kessler and Mazzoleni joined Vino in Astana and the young talented climber Kohl went to Gerolsteiner. At the same time Wesemaan, Ludewig and Pollack chose to finish their career at ProContinental Team Wiesenhof, followed by Dutchman Giling.


The team used to focus on the stage races, however in this new era this focus has shifted towards the classics. By signing Hammond (Discovery Channel), Eisel (Française des Jeux), Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval) and Servais Knaven (Quickstep) and Klier already in their midst, the team has a strong bunch for the cobblestone races.


Besides that manager Bob Stapleton will have to rely on his sprinters Greipel, Eisel, Cavendish (neo) and Ciolek (new from Wiesenhof) to reel in victories on the flat stages. Klier and Burghardt for the Flemish classics, Kirchen, Merckx, Sinkewitz and Bernucci for the hilly classics and team leader Michael Rogers who would love to finally achieve his general classifcation’s aims. The Australian rider has boy wonder Linus Gerdemann behind him as his follow-up.


Overall the level of quality of T-Mobile hasn’t suffered much from the many transfers, however the main objectives of the team have shifted. The dopeless combination of routine and talents could very well be the basis of a successful year as long as the talents keep improving. Probably not in the Grand Tours, but possibly in the shorter stage- or one day races.


New:
Michael Barry, Roger Hammond (Discovery Channel), Gerald Ciolek (Wiesenhof), Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux), Bert Grabsch, Axel Merckx (Phonak), Adam Hansen (Apo), Gregory Henderson (Health Net), Servais Knaven (Quickstep), Piil (CSC), Aaron Olsen, Marco Pinotti (Saunier Duval), Mark Cavendish (neo)


Departed:
Sergei Ivanov, Andreas Klöden, Matthias Kessler, Eddy Mazzoleni (Astana), Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner), Steffen Wesemann, Olaf Pollack, Bas Giling, Jörg Ludewig (Team Wiesenhof), Daniele Nardello (Team Boifava), Bram Schmitz (Van Vliet-EBH advocaten)

Comments
No comments posted






--- advertisement ---