Cycling Shorts: August 3, 2011

In the cycling news shorts for August 3, 2011, more signings and transfers, Ridley supports Lotto and more….

More signings and transfers:

• Young German time trial specialist Patrick Gretsch will leave HTC-Highroad at the end of this season to join Skil-Shimano for two seasons. Gretsch, 24, is a two-time medalist at the U23 time trial world championships, and this year won the prologue at the Ster ZLM Toer.
• Italian Maurizio Gorato and Spaniard Albert Torres join Germany’s Tino Thömel as trainees for the Geox-TMC team. The young trio will make their debut with the team of Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov in early August in the U.S. at the Tour of Elk Grove and the Tour of Utah.
• Koen de Kort will continue with the Skil-Shimano team for at least two more years. The Dutch cyclist has ridden for the team for three seasons.
• Sébastien Rosseler is leaving RadioShack at the end of 2011 to bring his time trial and classics skills to Garmin-Cervélo in 2012.
• Iljo Keisse will be able to start racing with QuickStep outside of Belgium on Saturday after serving out the two year suspension forced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His ban inside of Belgium continues until January 27, 2012.
• Mikel Astarloza has also completed a two year suspension and will returned to competition today with Euskaltel-Euskadi at the Tour of Burgos. The Spaniard has signed a one year contract with the Basque team.

Other Racing News:

• The Lotto squad has signed a cooperation agreement with Belgian bike manufacturer Ridley. The “We Are Belgium” bike builder will provide equipment and monetary support to the team for the next four years.
• BMC Racing General Manager Jim Ochowicz has been following the bickering about Philippe Gilbert on the Internet. ”I do not know more than you,” he said last night.”Furthermore, I do not comment on negotiations that we’re doing.” Ochowicz seemed reluctant to express if he would be willing to pay a half million euros to get the rider. ”It depends on the circumstances. In general I can say it’s not my way of working…”
• After three stage wins at the Tour of Poland, Marcel Kittel (Skil-Shimano) has his eye on the Vuelta a Espana. ”If everything goes according to plan, and I stay healthy, then I should participate in the Tour of Spain. The decision will be made after the race in Poland,” the 23-year-old told Cycling News.