All of Your Bicycle Racing News: August 12, 2010

In today’s cycling news, Cadel Evans changes pre-Worlds calendar, new title sponsor for Caisse d’Epargne, Efimkin leaves AG2R, Riis signs Contador lieutenants and more….

• After a deadlock in the Tour de France, Vincenzo Nibali is still hoping for a big end to his season. His third place in the Giro increased his confidence tenfold and his ambition now includes the Vuelta a Espana.
• Three of the best German riders scheduled to appear at the Night of Hanover have had to cancel their commitment. André Greipel (HTC-Columbia), his team-mate Tony Martin and Grischa Niermann (Rabobank) have dropped out of the August 20th race. For his part. Niermann is fighting a series of long term injuries.
• Austrian sports agent Stefan Matschiner has plead guilty to providing illegal drugs to eight athletes, but says he is innocent of other charges. Matschiner acknowledged giving his athletes substances like EPO, testosterone and growth hormones between 2005 and 2008. But he denies that he continued his activities in Austria beyond August 2008, when a law was passed making doping illegal.
• The Caisse d’Epargne team will become Team Movista in 2011. The new sponsor is communications giant Telefonica. Caisse d’Epargne, a French bank, had made it known earlier this year that they would end their four years of sponsorship at the end of 2010. The terms of the contract with Telefonica are not yet known.
• Recovery from an elbow broken in a crash during the Tour de France is forcing Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing Team to alter his schedule leading up to defense of his world road title in Geelong, Australia. Evans said his rehabilitation in Europe will force him to forgo competing in a pair of one day ProTour races in Canada next month – the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. “I am sorry not to be a part of the races in Canada,” Evans said. “I am guessing they will be good lead-up races to the world championships, and grow to be important events in the future. I will have to wait for another year.” The BMC Racing Team will still field squads for both races Sept 10 and Sept. 12.

Transfers and Renewals:

• Russian Vladimir Efimkin has terminated his contract with Ag2r-Equipe by mutual agreement. Family was given as a reason for the decision. The 28-year-old, who had ridden for AG2R since 2008 has already flown to the United States, where he lives with his wife. The 26-year-old Estonian hopes to announce his new employer in the coming days.
• Benjamin Noval, as well as climbing specialists Jesus Hernandez and As a step of constructing a powerful team for years to come, the future Saxo Bank-SunGard signed two year contracts with the strong all-rounder, Benjamin Noval and the two climbers, Jesus Hernandez and Daniel Navarro. The strong Spaniards have been a loyal and highly competent support for Alberto Contador and Team Saxo Bank owner, Bjarne Riis is looking forward to working with the Spanish trio: “Having met the three strong and loyal riders, it was a natural and almost obvious move to sign with them. They have shown great stamina and loyalty during this year’s Tour de France along with a great will to corporate and sense of team spirit,” commented Riis.
• Frenchman Steve Houanard has made a transfer from Skil-Shimano to the AG2R Pro Tour team. There is only a verbal agreement so far.
• Daniel Moreno has signed a two year contract with the Katusha Team. Andrei Tchmil reached an agreement with the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider in Spain.
• Team manager Roberto Marrone has reached an agreement with Riccardo Riccò to terminate his contract with the Ceramica Flaminia team for the remainder of 2011. “We are delighted and proud of the revival of Riccardo at high levels. We thank him for successes achieved while wearing our jersey,” said Marrone.
• Euskaltel Euskadi has reached an agreement with Ruben Perez to continue through the next two seasons (2011 and 2012). Perez came up in the ranks of the Orbea Continental team, then jumped to Euskaltel Euskadi in August 2005.