Shakespeare's cautionary words in Hamlet have been heeded by Bernhard Kohl. Rather than staying at T-Mobile for another season, he is following his instincts and heading to German rival team Gerolsteiner. Susan Westemeyer finds out the reasons behind Kohl's career change and reflects on the young Austrian's early career successes.
Berni Kohl is a young rider on the way up. After a modest debut year in 2005, he has proved himself this year with such accomplishments as third place overall in the Dauphine Libéré and winning the Austrian championship. He is not one to let such success turn his head, though, saying, "I must now stay true to myself and then I am sure that I will achieve even more."
However, he will be looking to make those achievements at a new team, as he has already announced that he is leaving T-Mobile team for Team Gerolsteiner.
Why the move? "At T-Mobile there are many riders with similar qualities to mine. I think that I will be able to use my abilities better at Gerolsteiner," he said. For example, "In Rogers, Sinkewitz and Gerdemann, there are three young riders with similar abilities and goals to mine on the team, as well as such established riders as Klöden and others. It is difficult to satisfy all these riders' wishes."
He has nothing negative to say about T-Mobile, however, "I have always felt well there," he said. "I had my chances at T-Mobile, for example at the Dauphine. Everyone was very helpful whenever I had questions."
