T-Mobile extends its cycling sponsorship to 2010.

27.09.2006/ The mobile communications company T-Mobile is further extending its cycling sponsorship to 2010. That was confirmed on Wednesday by T-Mobile International’s Chief Finance Officer Thomas G. Winkler at the T-Mobile Team’s press conference in Bonn. The early extension underscores the company’s confidence in the rapid progress made by the cycling team’s new management, led by general manager Bob Stapleton, and head of sport management, Rolf Aldag. This way, according to Winkler, the company also lives up to its “leadership role and commitment to a clean sport”.

Only eight weeks after the appointment of the new team management, the foundation for the new team is taking excellent shape. “We packed eight months worth of work into just two months“, stressed the American Stapleton, who not surprisingly called the task “somewhat of a challenge”. Stapleton and Aldag are supported a largely new international team of Sport Directors, including Brian Holm (Denmark), Allan Peiper (Australia), Tristan Hoffman (Netherlands), and Valerio Piva (Italy). Completing the management team are Luuc Eisenga (Netherlands), who will be the technical director and team liaison and Bruce Carmedelle (USA), business manager. The University Clinic in Freiburg will supervise the team’s medical and training program.

“Our first step is to bring in good people that have fresh ideas and are motivated to create positive change”, said Stapleton. “Rolf and I are pleased to work with such a motivated and capable group”, he added.

This fresh view and commitment to change is also demonstrated by the new comprehensive medical and training program introduced on Wednesday. Supported by a newly created expert advisory board, this program combines the best of available science and practical application to the sport of cycling. “The program brings innovative methods and new procedures from training and athletic development, anti-doping testing and monitoring, and sports psychology”, explains team doctor Dr. Lothar Heinrich. “With the dynamic interaction of our board and team management we can continue to build and improve our program”, adds Stapleton.

The riders’ medical supervision will rest exclusively in the hands of Professor Andreas Schmid’s medical team at the University of Freiburg, and new stricter internal controls will include a state-of-the-art blood volume test. Furthermore the medical program will be monitored by external, independent experts, to guarantee its long-term effectiveness. „All riders know our concept and our rules“, said sporting director Aldag, who insists on a clear commitment to the team's principles and strict code of conduct. (cf. Press release „Medical and Training Program“).

In building the foundation of a ”team for the future“, Aldag stresses the importance of the riders’ strength of character as well as their athletic potential. “We need riders with a good heart, a good head and good legs who will work well together as a team“, says Aldag, who on Wednesday announced the addition of eleven new riders to the team.

Joining the squad for 2007 are Michael Barry (30/Canada), Mark Cavendish (21/Great Britain), Gerald Ciolek (20/Germany), Bernhard Eisel (25/Austria), Bert Grabsch (30/Germany), Roger Hammond (31/Great Britain), Servais Knaven (35/Netherlands), Axel Merckx (34/Belgium), Aaron Olsen (28/USA), Jacob Piil (33/Denmark) and Marco Pinotti (30/Italy).

The goal is to be highly competitive throughout the whole year and to broaden the scope of interest in the team, says Aldag. Along the way, young riders like sprinter Gerald Ciolek will be mentored by older team mates, who will pass on their experience and prepare these fresh talents to grow quickly.

A lynchpin of the team’s new structure is the Australian Michael Rogers. The team management is putting its faith in the three-time ITT World champion as a future captain and GC rider. The 26-year old Rogers has the “character and mentality“ to lead a team, says Rolf Aldag, who refers to 2007 as a building year for the T-Mobile Team.

Alongside Rogers, the team management is retaining the following riders: Eric Baumann (26/Germany), Lorenzo Bernucci (27/Italy), Scott Davis (27/Australia), Linus Gerdemann (24/Germany), André Greipel (24/Germany), Giuseppe Guerini (36/Italy), Serhiy Honchar (36/Ukraine), Kim Kirchen (28/Luxembourg), Andreas Klier (30), André Korff (33/Germany), Frantisek Rabon, (23/Czech Republic) Stephan Schreck (28/Germany), Patrik Sinkewitz (25/Germany) and Thomas Ziegler (25/Germany).