There's quite a few changes afoot at T-Mobile Team, who are currently in Mallorca for a pre-season training camp. Bereft of some of its big names, they've been scouting for new riders, and have recently recruited brits Roger Hammond and 21 year old Mark Cavendish. The full team roster will be announced tommorrow.
Both will be hoping to break into the Team for the forthcoming ProTour events which begin with the Paris - Nice race in March, and will also be looking forward to the return of their home race - the Tour of Britain - in the UK in September. In last year's Tour of Britain, riding for Team Great Britain, Hammond secured a stage victory and a second place, while Cavendish, riding as a stagiaire for the T-Mobile Team, managed an impressive two second places, a third, and won the overall points jersey.
It's hard not to bet again T-Mobile having some success this year even if they lack a clear team leader. The Mallorca training camp marks the final opportunity before the start of the elite racing season next month for the whole men's and women's squads to gather in their entirety. The team will be re-emphasising its zero tolerance approach to drug taking and maintaining its straight talking, open approach to the sport in front of the world's media and the squads themselves on Mallorca.
When we spoke to Hammond recently he was clearly very positive about the move from Discovery to T-Mobile. “The season ahead looks like it could be the most exciting that I have known as a professional. I have settled in with the Team extremely quickly and training is going very well. The Team and support staff are extremely accessible and everyone is looking forward to the beginning of the season. Of course with the Tour de France starting in London this year and with the emergence of the Tour of Britain as a major race in the calendar, 2007 will be a massive year for British cycling and I am looking forward to playing a big part in it.”
" & _
