Wiesenhof's future uncertain

By Susan Westemeyer

Team Wiesenhof-Felt has responded to comments from team manager Jens Heppner that the team will close its doors, saying that discussions regarding the squad's future were ongoing. Heppner had told press agency sid that the team hadn't found a replacement sponsor for the outgoing Wiesenhof and it would cease operations. "There's no point," he said. "I have done everything I can, but without success. The riders who dope and the television reporting with its total concentration on doping have destroyed cycling in Germany."

The 42 year-old indicated that he would leave cycling completely when the organisation closes. "I'm not worried about my future," he said. "I have taken care of that. But I am sorry for the riders and other personnel. They are left out in the cold and don't know how things will go."

The team has vigorously denied those statements, however, releasing a statement saying that it was still working hard to find a new sponsor and that future plans were yet to be confirmed. "We're still in the middle of discussions," Raphael Schweda, the team's business director said. The team's press release noted that it hoped recent decisions by T-Mobile and Milram to continue sponsorships within the sport would send a positive signal to potential sponsors. The press released also said that Heppner would stay with the team if a new sponsor is found.