New Team Giant Alpecin: The professional cycling returns to Germany – Daily Mirror

12:15 clock Claus Vetter

television, sponsors, stage destinations and a new team: The professional cycling urges after years of crisis back in the important German market. The issue of doping seems to be forgotten.

A Renaissance it should be. And what place in Berlin is better off than the French Embassy? Renaissance. Sounds ever get much more romantic than rebirth or reboot. In the large hall of the building at Pariser Platz is the people on the stage on Wednesday morning before the tragedy in Paris to festive atmosphere. The first of the hosts must take the microphone and Philippe Etienne makes with the verve of the French voice. Très charming. The French ambassador told some 300 listeners in the audience: “The bike is a passion.” And it was to him a special honor to be the host at the baptism of an “international teams with a German heart”

Team Giant. -Alpecin it is, and Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb are its biggest stars.

All the team is not so new. It was created by a merger of the Shimano team with the Dutch team BankGiro Lottery of 2005. Finally, it was called Giant Shimano – the second sponsor has now been replaced with the name of the German hair care product Alpecin, headquarters of the producer, the Dr. Wolff Group, founded in 1905, is Bielefeld. For four years the contract expires, supposedly invest the Bielefeld total of 16 million euros. The team travels from now on under German license – five years ago sic had passed with the Team Milram, the last German team of professional cycling

That is a product of Alpecin series for years with the slogan “doping for. hair “is advertised, the manufacturing companies of course does not qualify for entry into professional cycling. In addition, the Bielefeld were for decades, before the silly doping advertising, engaged in cycling. The issue of doping, which clings to cycling for years at the rear wheel is then also too unpleasant, as it is mentioned in detail on Wednesday. Team manager Iwan Spekenbrink it touches but times short and crisp. The cycling was a “front-line fighters” against doping, claiming the Dutchman. “We have the best in the world anti-doping system.” Sure, any positive test is bad. “But in another way, he is also very good.” So can you sort out the black sheep. But other topic please. The joy of cycling will be no break on the day of baptism team.

There is then much rather talk about hair. Marcel Kittel, an eight-time stage winner at the Tour de France, is particularly good in this respect – yes, positioned. Because of its brisk Great he gets a by moderator “You have beautiful hair” thrown at his head. How in heaven’s name does he do it only with the styling morning? Kittel: “This is super good with Alpecin Hair Care. In no time the hair is done. “Help, a hair doper? Fortunately, good for John Degenkolb hair less as a template for oblique thoughts. So is the specialist for classic, just become a father and also have birthday boy, quickly geblödelt from the stage – in English. “John Degenkolb announced his fathership and his birthday today”, says the moderator.

It is easy to amuse that day at the show sponsors. For indeed, could now be interesting move in the perception of professional cycling in Germany. It is more difficult to come to the crux of the matter is ARD broadcasts after their retreat in 2012, the next Tour de France again. The market is in spite of doping scandals just not gone away: The desire of the German audience, mitzufiebern with a German team is certainly not entirely extinguished. The feeling that was gone with this sport harder to judgment as with others, is where doping is just, secure a majority. And for pity it takes a German team, as once the team Telekom. It was perceived as a kind of bicycling team, even if there sometimes drivers of other nations went ahead.

But it’s not just about feelings, but also about money. The cycling needs attention from the largest market in Central Europe. To give the event in Berlin with the highest Harriers, they appeared on Wednesday all in Berlin. Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme and World Association president Brian Cookson also. Prudhomme explains pleased to have again applied four German cities to tour stages after years of low demand.

The Briton Cookson sees the return of German financiers in the first league confirmation of his policy for more credibility. Even Justice Minister Heiko Maas and Scharping sit in the embassy hall in the first row, the President of the Federal German cyclists followed the show interesting.

Presented on Wednesday also the women’s team Liv-Plantur, here is the Dr. -Wolff group entered. But not with Alpecin, but a brand for women’s hair. The team led by the well-coiffed ancestor coat starts Meanwhile, on January 18, during a criterion in Adelaide in the Mission Renaissance on the road. The hair will unfortunately not be seen, they disappear under the new helmets of the team sponsor Giant.