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Wednesday's EuroFile: Ullrich to Tinkoff? Rujano, Quick Step split; Vogondy to Agritubel
It seems the upstart Tinkoff team isn’t shy about courting tainted big names and the baggage that might come with them.
The Russian-Italian continental team – already having signed German sprinter Danilo Hondo and courting Tyler Hamilton – has reportedly offered 1997 Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich a multi-million-dollar contract to ride for the 2007 season.
The German daily Bild is reporting that a 3.8 million euro offer is on the table for Ullrich, who was among nine riders from four teams kicked out ahead of July’s Tour for links to an alleged blood-doping ring based in Spain, a charge Ullrich vehemently denies.
The new team – which announced its 16-man roster earlier this week – isn’t afraid about going after stars that other teams might be wary of signing. Hondo, cleared to race by a Swiss civil court despite testing positive during the 2005 Vuelta a Murcia, which netted him a two-year racing ban, is already officially on the team.
Hamilton, as reported last month on VeloNews.com, has an offer from Tinkoff despite possible links to the Operación Puerto investigation. Hamilton served a two-year racing ban for blood doping, but is facing a lifetime ban if the Puerto links are confirmed by U.S. anti-doping officials.
Ullrich, 32, has been cleared by Spanish courts of any possible legal charges despite alleged links to the Puerto doping investigation. The German was fired by T-Mobile after links to alleged mastermind Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes were disclosed in police documents.
Ullrich’s manager, Wolfgang Strohband, refused to comment on the possible deal. Ullrich recently cut ties with the Swiss cycling federation and is vowing to return to racing in 2007.
The Tinkoff team – which is taking over from the LPR sponsor – has already signed deals with Italians Salvatore Commesso and Ruggero Marzoli as well as Russians Mikhail Ignatyev and Evgeni Petrov.
Tinkoff for 2007: Elia Aggiano (Ita); Pavel Brutt (Rus); Ilya Chernetsky (Rus); Salvatore Commesso (Ita); Daniele Contrini (Ita); Danilo Hondo (Ger); Sergey Klimov (Rus); Mikhail Ignatyev (Rus); Ruggero Marzoli (Ita); Anton Mindlin (Rus); Ivan Rovny (Rus); Alexander Serov (Rus); Ricardo Serrano Gonzalez (Spa); Nikolay Trusov (Rus); Steffen Weigold (Ger); Evgeny Petrov (Rus)
Rujano gone, Vasseur stays
José Rujano and Quick Step-Innergetic have decided to part ways following a lackluster 2006 season that saw the Venezuelan climber fall short of expectations after joining the Belgian ProTour team ahead of the Tour de France.
Rujano, 24, was the center of an ugly contract battle between Colombia-Selle Italia and Quick Step following his breakthrough 2005 Giro d’Italia performance, which saw him win a stage, claim the best climber’s jersey and finish third overall.
Rujano reluctantly rode for Selle Italia in the first half of 2006, but pulled out without much fanfare during the first climbing stage in the Alps. After a much-hyped Tour debut, Rujano abandoned without making any impact. "I want to say thanks to the riders and the staff of the Quick Step team for these months of working together," said Rujano in a press release. "Unfortunately, I haven’t succeeded in reaching the objectives that I was set with the team because of some personal problems that have conditioned my season. I wish the team all the best for the next season."In other team news, Quick Step announced that French veteran Cedric Vasseur will stay on for his final season. Vasseur was reportedly on the way out to make room for Spanish classics specialist Carlos Barredo of Astana. When it became clear that Barredo wasn’t going to be able to break out of his Astana contract, Quick Step decided to keep Vasseur on for one more season.Vasseur, 36, wore the yellow jersey for five days in the 1997 Tour de France, but later raised the ire of Lance Armstrong ahead of the 2001 Tour and he was left off the U.S. Postal squad despite the Tour’s start in his hometown of Dunkirk that year.
Vogondy to Agritubel
French rider Nicolas Vogondy is the last rider to join Agritubel for the 2007 season. Vogondy, 29, turned pro in 1997 with FDJeux and switched to Crédit Agricole in 2005. The team chose not to extend his contract, but he picked up a ride with the French continental team.
Agritubel is rounding out its roster after a successful 2006 campaign that saw Spanish climber Juan Miguel Mercado win a stage at the Tour de France.
The continental team will include 21 riders for next season, with 12 French riders, six Spaniards, two Lithuanians and one New Zealander. Among the other notable riders is Romain Feillu, winner of the U23 silver medal at the recent Salzburg road world championships.
New riders: Emilien-Benoit Berges (ex-Auber 93), Freddy Bichot (ex-FDJeux), Romain Feillu (ex-Nogent-sur-Oise), Mikel Gaztanaga (ex-Atom), Cedric Herve (ex-Bretagne Jean Floc'h), Nicolas Jalabert (ex-Phonak), Freddy Ravaleu (ex-Bigot 79), Anthony Ravard (ex-Bouygues Telecom)
Riders leaving: Christophe Agnolutto (F), Stephane Berges (F), Mickael Buffaz (F), Gilles Canouet (F), Nicolas Crosbie (F), Benjamin Johnson (Aus), Christophe Laurent (F), Lenaic Olivier (F), Saulius Ruskys (Lit).
Euskaltel signs Bru
Euskaltel-Euskadi has signed Jon Bru to a deal to join the Basque team for the 2007 season. A pro since 2002, Bru joined Kaiku in 2005 after two seasons with LA-Pecol. "I am very motivated to join my 'home team' and one of the best in the world. I am going to race at the international level, including the Belgian classics," Bru told the Spanish wire services.
"To race at Liège or Fleche would be a dream come true for a rider of my characteristics. I just love those races. That will give me extra motivation for train and prepare for the coming season."
