Tinkoff Credit Systems still interested in Tyler Hamilton

Chanches are growing that Tyler Hamilton will make a comeback in the 2007 season. Omar Piscina, manager of  the Tinkoff Credit Systems squad told Associated Press: "We spoke with (Hamilton's) agent and we've made a proposal." Picina continued by saying: "His agent said he's been training these two years and is in form. He is 35, so he still got another couple of good years."

Last month the UCI asked the USA cycling federation to open disciplinary procedures because of Hamilton's alleged involvement with "Operacion Puerto", but UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told Associated Press on Wednesday: "Operation Puerto is currently blocked by Spanish authorities, so for us the only ban is the expired one of two years."

Hamilton cannot join a Pro-Tour team for another two years as part of his ban.

Contact between Ullrich manager and Rudolf Massak

President of the Austrian cycling federation, Rudolf Massak confirmed to Austrain newsagency APA that he had talked with Jan Ullrich's manager, Wolfgang Strohband.  According to Massak, Stohband told him that Ullrich considers to move away from Switzerland partly out of private reasons, but there is nothing concrete yet.

ASO counters UCI attack

ASO president Patric Clerc told reporters yesterday evening that doping is item number one for the Tour de France and ASO. Clerc reacted on the attack of the UCI (Cyclingheroes reported). Patric Clerc told reporters that he spoke about doping quite long during last years Tour de France presentation and that he was accused of exaggerating and insulting the sport of cycling. Clerc also said that it was ASO and the teams who acted in the Puerto case before this years Tour de France and that the UCI didn't take any action.

Christian Müller to Skil-Shimano

Christian Müller is the final rider to be added to the Skil-Shimano cycling team ahead of next season. The German penned a two-year deal. The 24-year-old time-trial rider made his bow in the pro peloton for Denmark’s CSC in 2005, after raising his profile a year earlier with German and European under-23 time-trial titles.

Müller took the German under-23 road title as early as 2003. In his first season as a pro Müller won a stage of both the Sachsen Tour and the Tour de l’Avenir. This season he finished second in stages of the Bayern Rundfahrt and the Drie Länder Rundfahrt, as well as finishing fourth in the German time-trial championship. 2006 also saw him win the Pro Tour team time-trial in Eindhoven with his team CSC. ‘I felt at home at CSC, but I think I can develop better at Skil-Shimano and ride more for my own success,’ says Müller.

Team CSC Extends with Fränk and Andy Schleck

Team CSC has just extended the contracts with the two talented brothers from Luxembourg. 26-year-old Fränk Schleck had his major break through this season with a victory in the classic Amstel Gold Race as well as a legendary triumph on L'Alpe d'Huez in Tour de France. Andy Schleck is considered one of the greatest talents of his generation. 2006 was Andy's second season as a neo-pro and the 21-year-old rider had two victories.

”We're extending with two huge talents here. Fränk has joined the ranks of the big profiles this season and all he really has to do is to continue the way he's doing right now and I predict him to be among the top-5 in Tour de France within the next two years. His third place in the ProTour rankings is a testimony to the fact that he's an all-round rider and he should continue to do different types of races. His two victories this season show that he has the ability to win the great classics as well as the toughest mountain stages. He has developed into a key rider on our team. Andy is a man of the future and has impressed everyone during his first two years as a pro. There were several other teams, who had their eye on him, but fortunately for us he chose to extend his contract for another two years, which I believe is perfect for both him and us in the future. He still has a lot to learn, but there's no doubt at all that he has what it takes,” explains sports director Kim Andersen, who has worked closely with the Schleck brothers during the last couple of seasons.

”I've been with Team CSC for four years now, and it's one of the reasons why I've achieved the results that I have. I think I can make full use of my potential on this team, so extending my contract was the obvious thing for me to do. It's important for me that I'm able to do different types of races, because I'm not ready to take on the part of a captain in the big stage races yet, which is why I would like to continue to assist Carlos Sastre in the Tour for now. This does not mean I won't get the opportunity to make some results of my own and I still have a lot of ambitions as far as the classics and the ProTour go,” says Fränk Schleck.

”To me Team CSC is the best team in the world and I'm very happy to stay here. I've come far during my first two years as a pro and I've still got a way to go before I reach the highest level. But I hope to be up front in the big races within a couple of years. I don't have any specific ambitions in certain races, but primarily I just want to continue to develop as a rider, and then hopefully the results will follow,” is the comment from Andy Schleck.

Fränk Schleck's contract has been extended until the end of 2009 and Andy Schleck's until the end of 2008. 

Source: CSC

Zabel CARE-Auction starts anew

The CARE-auction at ebay, which already began on 15 October, starts anew again. Since 24 October (8 pm), Erik Zabel’s fan package can be bought in the auction again. The auction proceeds go to the aid organisation CARE, which found prominent support for ist 60th anniversary.

The reason for the re-start of the auction is the accidental erasure of the sites by ebay. Until then, Erik Zabel’s package had reached a price of 667 Euro. However, after the re-start, all the bids have become invalid. Now the auctions start anew. Since Tuesday evening (24 October) 8 pm, bidding is possible again. On Wednesday morning, the current bid for Zabel's package was 390 Euros already, so that it is the most sought-after so far.

In the context of the Germany-wide campaign „60 Jahre CARE Pakete. Schicken Sie Zukunft!“, VIPs prepare surprise-packages which are auctioned off via ebay. Erik Zabel’s package contains a signed jersey as well as many fan items.

Link to the Zabel CARE auction: