Tag: Radioshack Nissan Trek

Categories
News

Jens Voigt Signs at Trek

Jens Voigt

Jens VoigtDespite rumored offers from the likes of Team Sky and Saxo Bank, one of the most popular riders in the pro peloton, Jens Voigt, has announced that he is to stay put for one final (!?) season at RadioShack – or more correctly the reformed, rebranded Trek. The 41-year-old – the oldest rider still competing professionally – had initially indicated that 2013 would be his swansong year, but has now reached an agreement with Trek to ride for them through the 2014 season, much to the delight of fans who continue to enjoy the sheer style of one of the most interesting and flamboyant cyclists of the modern age.

 

‘I’m glad Trek and I got to an agreement for 2014,’ commented Voigt, ‘It’s been three crazy years for me on Trek, with a lot of highlights, and I’m happy that we can go on for another year… Looking at the young kids: I see the future. They are ready to spread their wings. But maybe I can close one more gap for them, or teach them something from my years of experience. I feel I still have some gas left in the tank, so I can’t wait for what’s coming!’

 

Commenting on the highly anticipated agreement Trek Vice-President Joe Vadeboncoeur said,  ‘There has seldom been a foot soldier like Jens Voigt; he is the ultimate hardman. He attacks, he works like a dog, he crashes – and he gets up and does it all again the next day… Trek is honored to have Jens finish his career here.’

 

It is still undecided as to which races Jens Voigt will compete in next year and Trek is still in the process of building its 2014 team roster, but further announcements are expected soon.

 

Categories
News

Johan Bruyneel and RadioShack Part Company

RadioShack Nissan Trek have announced that they are formally ending their collaboration with General Manager Johan Bruyneel as a result of the United States Anti-doping Agency (USADA) report into the Lance Armstrong and the USPS Team drugs investigation. Thanking Bruyneel for ‘…his dedication and devotion since his arrival in the Team,’ the RadioShack statement made clear that the decision was a ‘mutual agreement’ and were at pains to point out that the allegations against him were of a historical nature and in no way related to his time with the team. The statement continued:  ‘The Reasoned Decision published by the USADA included a number of testimonies as a result of their investigation. In light of these testimonies, both parties feel it is necessary to make this decision since Johan Bruyneel can no longer direct the Team in an efficient and comfortable way.  His departure is desirable to ensure the serenity and cohesiveness within the Team.’

 

Bruyneel was Armstrong’s Team Manager during his seven Tour de France wins, but was contacted, along with Armstrong, Dr. Pedro Celaya, Dr. Luis Garcia del Moral, Dr. Michele Ferrari and Mr. Jose Marti by the USADA on June 12 informing them that they were, ‘…opening a formal action against each of you based on evidence that… you engaged in anti-doping rule violations… from 1998 to [the] present.’

 

The 1000-page USADA report (known as ‘The Reasoned Decision’) stated, amongst many other things, ‘As a consequence of a number of courageous riders willingness to break the Code of Silence – the “omerta” – after being approached by USADA, by late May 2012 USADA concluded it had more than enough evidence to proceed with charges against former USPS and Discovery Channel Team Director Johan Bruyneel.’

 

For his part Bruyneel has made it clear that he contests both the validity of the USADA procedure as well as the charges against him.

 

Categories
News

No Return for Andy Schleck

Signs are not looking good for a return any time soon for RadioShack star Andy Schleck. Crashing heavily in poor conditions during the Time Trial stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné back in June, Schleck suffered a fracture to the vertebra that was clearly going to end this year’s Tour de France ambitions. It had, however, been hoped that the injury was healing well following MRI tests during July and that a return to the road was imminent; that now appears not to be the case with the team announcing that he would not be taking part (as was expected) in the Grand Prix de Fourmies this Sunday.

 

Speaking of his decision to further delay competitive participation, Schleck said, ‘The shooting pain when I go on longer rides can still not be denied. It starts from the hip and it moves down to the leg. It makes no sense to appear at races where I might not be able to even reach the finish line… I’m very disappointed that I couldn’t show anything so far this year. This has been a dreadful season for me and I desperately want to put it behind me. I still hope to return to racing before the season ends.’

 

It’s possible that his next target will be the GP de Wallonie (September 12), although the official line from RadioShack is that: ‘At this point it is not clear when Andy Schleck will resume racing…’

 

Categories
News

Kiserlovski Heads for Radioshack

Radioshack Nissan Trek are looking to strengthen an already impressive (and international) line-up with the news that Croatian rider Robert Kiserlovski has signed to the team on a two year contract. Born in Rijeka, the 26-year-old has already enjoyed a productive 2012 season with a fifth place in the Flèche Wallonne and top-ten overall positions in both Paris-Nice and the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. He was less successful (downright unlucky in fact) at this year’s Tour de France when he came of by far the worst in the notorious nail and tack sabotage on Stage 14, which left 30 riders with punctures but Kiserlovski with a fractured collarbone and no choice but to retire.

 

Radioshack Nissan Trek’s general manager Johan Bruyneel commented on the signing, ‘Robert is a rider with an attacking mind. We’ve been following him for some time now. He rode a nice Ardennes week, even though he was a novice in that kind of work… (he) is a strong addition to our roster and he will have a free role in certain races. He’s a rider that is capable of a lot on a good day, even though he didn’t get full recognition of that yet. His results and development are promising and he has the right attitude.’

 

Kiserlovski, who admits a love of the Ardennes Classics but a true passion for the Giro d’Italia, added, ‘I hope I will be able to race the Giro. Most riders prefer the Tour, but the Giro is my dream race… I’m very proud to be joining this team. I really like the international look and feel of it and it will be good to race with so many people from different nationalities. This is a good opportunity for me – really the next step in my career.’