T-Mobile confirms new look team for 2006

In the wake of yesterday's announcement that Judith Arndt would ride for T-Mobile in 2006, the company has confirmed details of its new-look women's team for 2006.

T-Mobile US has sponsored a women's team since 2002, but the new outfit will be based in Bonn, Germany - home of the T-Mobile men's team - and is seen by T-Mobile as a complement to the men's team. The women's team sponsorship will run until 2008.

Andrzej Bek, currently directeur sportif of the US-based T-Mobile team, will continue in that role and plans to take the team above and beyond its recent US arena. "Our goal is to nail down a top position in the UCI-World ranking list", said Bek. "For that, we will target both one day classics and international stage races."

Bek added that he was looking forward to "sending rosters of world class riders into action at major races."

The team will be formally launched in Mallorca on January 14. Cyclingnews understands that as well as Judith Arndt, the team will include current T-Mobile riders Kimberly Bruckner and Ina Teutenberg. Team sources would neither confirm nor deny the rumoured involvement of top British rider Nicole Cooke, for whom this deal would carry her to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.