Barloworld remains for 2008

By Gregor Brown

Claudio Corti's team will continue to race under the Barloworld name for the remainder of 2008 despite previous reports that the South African sponsor would remove its visibility at the end of the Tour de France.

"We will change the jersey a little, but Barloworld will remain," said Team Manager Corti to Cyclingnews Wednesday morning, three days after the Tour de France.

Barloworld announced it was leaving the team following the doping case of Moisés Dueñas. French Gendarmerie escorted Dueñas out of the Tour the morning after the rest day in Pau, July 16, when informed of his positive test for Erythropoietin (EPO) stemming from stage four's time trial in Cholet. A search of Dueñas' room revealed banned substances.

"Remember, it is a problem with the rider, not the team. Look at the recent Marta Bastianelli case – she did it on her own, not with a team."

Despite just returning from France, Corti is in talks with new sponsors and Barloworld for 2009 support.