Euro Trash – Monday
Here is some of the latest news from Europe: Laurent Dufaux to sign for Quick Step: Zubeldia stays with Euskaltel: Steels out of Danish Tour: Adidas could be back with Ullrich: Sevilla Returns:
Dufaux Signs With Quick Step
Laurent Dufaux (Alessio) will ride for the Belgian Quick Step-Davitamon team next year and joins up with his old friend and team mate Richard Virenque and training partner Aurelien Clerc. 34 year old Dufaux concluded negotiations with Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevre at the San Sebastian world cup race on Saturday saying, “The offer from Quick Step is very good we will sign the contract in the next few days”. Dufaux will be riding his 14th season next year and has previously been a member of the Helvetia-La Suisse, ONCE, Festina, Saeco and Alessio squads. He has highlighted the Tour de France and the Athens Olympics as events he wants to do well in next year with his new team.
Zubeldia Signs Three Year Deal With Euskaltel
Haimar Zubeldia, 5th overall in the Tour de France has decided to stay with Euskaltel-Euskadi until the end of the 2006 season. It was always fairly certain that Zubeldia would remain with the Basque team, however the fate of team mate Iban Mayo is still unsure and it is expected that he will announce his plans for 2004 sometime this week. Contract negotiations with another Euskaltel star, Samuel Sanchez are ongoing, with Sanchez and agent Tony Rominger very disappointed by the deal offered by the team for next season. Sanchez has reportedly received an offer from Cofidis for next year, the rider has no wins this season but has a string of high quality top ten results including 3rd Overall at the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and 6th at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Steels Out of Denmark As Child Is Due
Tom Steels (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) has pulled out of the Tour of Denmark which starts tomorrow (Tuesday) because of the impending birth of his second child. Gerard Bulens, Landbouwkrediet team manager said in a somewhat unfeeling manner, “We are hoping that the child is born this week so that Tom can participate in next weeks Tour of Holland”.
Adidas Want To Renew Deal With Ullrich
German sports equipment manufacturer Adidas are interested in renewing the sponsorship of Jan Ullrich which was was ended after the rider was tested positive for recreational drugs in 2002. Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer said, “If Ullrich continues to develop personally and professionally then there is no reason why the agreement cannot be renewed”. Hainer also said that it is possible that Adidas may be interested in becoming the co sponsor of Ullrich’s Bianchi team who are looking for additional financial backing for the 2004 season. “Naturally we have spoken with Bianchi and we are interested but it is a little bit early for us to get involved at present”, concluded Hainer.
Sevilla Makes Good Return To Racing
Oscar Sevilla made a satisfactory return to racing this past weekend after a long period off the bike due to injury problems. Sevilla finished 67th at the Clasica San Sebastien on Saturday and was one of the main protagonists in Sunday’s Subida al Urkiola where he was in a break with Euskaltel’s Gorka Arrizabalaga for part of the race before being caught. Speaking after Urkiola, Sevilla said, “I was surprised how well I did I have only been back in serious training for two weeks and only done 1500 kms so I am very satisfied”.
Mondory Gets Stagiere Place At AG2R
Lloyd Mondory will be riding as a stagiere for the AG2R squad from September 1st. This will be Mondory’s second spell as a trainee for the French team (he was a stagiere for them in 2002). This year he has been riding for French elite 2 squad Jean Floc’h – Morйac 56 and had a stage win in the Tour du Loir-et-Cher, he performed well in last weeks Mi-Aout Breton and this seems to have clinched the place at AG2R.
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