T-Mobile wants Voigt, but CSC says no

In its current re-organisation, T-Mobile is interested in signing the best German rider this season: Jens Voigt. Incoming team manager Rolf Aldag confirmed this to the Frankfurter Rundschau on Friday, saying, "When we speak of a new beginning of a team, of character and team building, then Voigt has to be the very first one that we speak to. We negotiated with him quite concretely a while ago and came to an agreement."

Unfortunately for T-Mobile, Voigt's contract with CSC runs through the 2007 season. "He doesn't want to go to court to break his contract. That is a loyalty that we respect. I have spoken with his team boss, Bjarne Riis, who understands our interest in Jens," Aldag told sid press agency. The dpa press agency quotes Aldag as saying, "We spoke several times with his team boss Bjarne Riis about an early transfer. But we can forget that."

Brian Nygaard, CSC spokesman, said, "I can imagine that right now there's no team that's not interested in Jens. But he is contractually obligated to us through 2007 and there is no chance that he will transfer early."

Voigt, 34, is having the best season of his career. He won a stage at the Tour de France and won the overall title at the Deutschland Tour.

Aldag also confirmed that sprinter Gerald Ciolek has signed to ride with the team next year, and that negotiations with other riders are currently underway. "There are still some places free. But not all discussions are ended nor have all the signed contracts been returned to us." Aldag called the 2007 season a "transitional" year and noted that "We are planning for long-term success."