Cofidis reconsiders sponsorship intentions

Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) (Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)

After previously contemplating terminating its sponsorship at the end of 2008, Cofidis announced Wednesday that it has in fact extended its sponsorship through the end of 2009.

The news draws the involvement of Cofidis as a major cycling sponsor out to twelve years and comes in spite of the positive doping test (for testosterone) of Italian rider Cristian Moreni during this summer's Tour de France and the subsequent withdrawal of the entire squad from the Grand Tour. Moreni eventually received a two-year ban.

According to L'Equipe, the company will remain "dedicated to ethics within its team and while collaborating with national and international authorities in the fight against doping." The team, under the direction of Eric Boyer, is committed to the ProTour for 2008 and will benefit from the efforts of Florent Brard, Sylvain Chavanel, David Moncoutié, Maxime Monfort, Nick Nuyens and Rik Verbrugghe among others

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Laura Weislo is a Cyclingnews veteran of 20 years. Having joined in 2006, Laura extensively covered the Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the years-long conflict between the UCI and the Tour de France organisers ASO over the creation of the WorldTour, and the downfall of Lance Armstrong and his lifetime ban for doping. As Managing Editor, Laura coordinates coverage for North American events and global news.