The End of the T-Mobile Cycling Team

As of the end of the year 2007, the T-Mobile cycling team is no more. Although the cyclist will still be biking in the near future, the mobile phone division of the German telecommunications company, Deutsch Telekom, has pulled out its sponsorship of the popular cycling team. T-Mobile will not be sponsoring any cycling teams as of the moment. In spite of the earlier announcements of T-Mobile that it will support the T-Mobile cycling team for as long as the year 2010, recent drug use allegations could have prompted the telecommunications giant into cutting off ties with the cyclists.

T-Mobile cycling team was very popular in the Tour de France for the exceptional performance of some of their top cyclists. These cyclists, who have made a name for themselves and their team, are Erik Zabel, Jan Ullrich and Bjarne Riis. Jan Ullrich won the Tour de France in the year 1997 but was not able to repeat his win in the following years, more so when Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France and consistently did so for seven consecutive years.

T-Mobile Cycling Team Doping Scandals

The main reason why the T-mobile cycling team was abandoned by the telecommunications company is due mainly to doping scandals that have plagued the team and its cyclists. The T-Mobile cycling team has come under scrutiny ever since the organizers of the Tour de France have installed higher standards for cyclists. These standards have focused more on restricting cyclists from entering the Tour de France if they have certain drugs in their systems.

The T-Mobile cycling team came under close scrutiny after one of their former therapists claim to have given Jan Ullrich a dose of the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO). This blood booster is said to enhance the performance of the athletes. Zabel and Riis have since confessed to using banned substances but only earlier in their careers. Jan Ullrich has since retired when the issues regarding doping surfaced.

The former T-Mobile cycling team and some of the trainers hope to continue biking under another name in the future. The team might use the name Team High Road but some changes to their roster of cyclists are to be expected.

Deutsch Telekom admits to having a difficult time letting go of their sponsorship of the T-Mobile cycling team but the circumstances have forced them to do so. The doping scandals have played a major role in the company's decision to let go of their T-Mobile cycling team sponsorship and support.