Volksbank releases Trampusch

By Susan Westemeyer

The Austrian Professional Continental Team Volksbank announced today that it has terminated its contract with Gerhard Trampusch, effective immediately. The team management said that it based its decision on the Austrian rider's behavior contrary to provisions in his contract. "After careful consideration, this behavior was deemed to be no longer tolerable," the team said in its press release.

The team emphasized that the dismissal was in no way doping related and that it dealt solely with behavior contrary to his contract.

"Like any other rider, Gerhard had contractual obligations to his employer, especially information and notification obligations," team spokesman Michael Fruhmann told Cyclingnews. "Unfortunately Gerhard repeatedly failed to meet those obligations, and the team felt obliged to act. Otherwise, the team structure would be seriously damaged."

The 28 year-old turned professional in 2000 with Team Telekom. He rode for Mapei in 2002, Gerolsteiner in 2003, and Acqua e Sapone in 2004, before joining Team Akud (later Team Wiesenhof) for two years before moving to Volksbank this season. He rode the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia one time each, and finished 30th in the 2004 Olympics road race.