Rohregger: staying or going?

Thomas Rohregger is still debating where he will ride in the coming season, with apparently the best chances being either his current Professional Continental Team Elk Haus or the German ProTour Team Milram. The Austrian rider expects to make up his mind this week.

The most important thing, the 25 year-old told LaOla1.at, is the chance to ride in the Grand Tours. He wants to be able to start "in either the Giro or the Tour. I want to further develop myself and for that I need the Grand Tours."

There was a chance that Elk Haus could ride the Giro next year. Elk Haus manager Bernhard Rassinger confirmed that he was talking to the Giro organisers about a possible start there next year. The Giro runs through Austria in 2009, afact that which could help the team.

Money is also a factor. "Elk Haus is a possibility, of course," Rohregger said, " but they would need another sponsor. Then there is Milram. But there are also two other teams who have a lot of interest."

However, it looked as if Rohregger was leaning towards staying where he is. "I must really say that Elk Haus is not just a team to me. My team colleagues have become my friends. And Bernhard [Rassinger] is also a friend. We all get along super, and for me that is more important than money. So it is very possible that I will stay."

Rohregger has been with Elk Haus since 2006. This year he won the Tour of Austria, in which he finished second in 2007.(SW)