Trampusch looks to settle at Elk Haus

By Susan Westemeyer

Gerhard Trampusch has a history of being dissatisfied and not fitting in with his teams, but he hopes to have a found a new home at the Austrian Professional Continental Team Elk Haus-Simplon. After being released from Team Volksbank in the middle of last season, he said that he was on the verge of leaving cycling because of the "lack of perspectives," according to nachrichten.at.

The Austrian was to be one of the leaders at Volksbank in 2007, but the team released him in July, citing behaviour contrary to his contractual obligations. He had missed much of the season due to illness. He claimed that "the chemistry was wrong. There were differences of opinion in all areas."

The 29 year-old has moved around a lot in his career. He turned professional in 2000 with Team Telekom, rode for Mapei in 2002, Gerolsteiner in 2003, and Acqua e Sapone in 2004, before joining Team Akud (later Team Wiesenhof) for two years and ultimately moving to Volksbank. Of those, he said, he only felt really well at Mapei and Akud/Wiesenhof.

At some of his teams, he said other riders conspired against him behind his back, or the teams didn't repay him for travel expenses.

Why did he have these problems? "Everyone has their own individual character," said the free-spirited Trampusch, and I think everyone should be as they are. Walter Godefroot, my team manger at Team Telekom, said to me then, 'there is a black sheep in every herd.' That's me. Because I swim against the current and was very young. The others simply couldn't accept it. But shall I change myself, just to please others?"