Jaksche gives up the fight
Jörg Jaksche has given up his fight to return to the professional peloton. The German rider has been...
Jörg Jaksche has given up his fight to return to the professional peloton. The German rider has been searching in vain for a team, and has now decided to hang up his racing wheels. "My career is finally over," he told German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. "If I don't find something in Germany, then I won't find something anywhere."
After discussions with Milram in January, Jaksche thought that he had a chance to sign with the team when his doping-related suspension ends on June 30. However, the newspaper said Milram told him on Friday that there was nothing for him there. He had continued to train, "sometimes like a fool," in the hope of returning to racing.
"If there is nothing for me at Milram, then that was it – that's it, it's all over. I won't wait any longer, because they won't want me next year either," he added.
Meanwhile, the 31 year-old had seen the news that Ivan Basso, also suspended for his involvement in Operación Puerto, had signed a two-year contract with ProTour team Liquigas, effective when his suspension ends. "They welcome a Basso with open arms," said Jaksche. "But you yourself have to run from pillar to post and in the end you're like a leper. Basso did it more intelligently."

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