Cycling: After the Danish partner CULT Energy surprisingly announced its exit last week and the future of the Pro Continental racing team was hanging in the balance for a few days, the all-clear was given today: From January 1st, the Team Stölting Service Group give next to Bora-Argon 18 a second German second division.
The announcement last week that the Danish company CULT Energy would withdraw from the partnership with Stölting Cycling GmbH – allegedly because of a breach of trust – came as a surprise not only to the cycling fans, but also to those responsible for the team. In any case, the Stölting Service Group rejected the allegations and is considering legal steps, as shareholder and managing director Hans Mosbacher explains: "We will legally clarify the illegal termination of our previous contractual partner, who does not want to meet his obligations in 2016 and has put forward incomprehensible and incorrect reasons."
For a short time, this actually stood on a solid foundation new team for 2016 back on shaky legs. But this morning there was good news: the future of the second division is secured and the team will start on January 1st as 'Team Stölting Service Group'. Managing Director Mosbacher: "We had spent a lot of time and work in the last few days to secure the future of the Stölting team in 2016." Riders, those in charge and the German cycling fans should be equally pleased that those responsible managed to set up the budget in such a short time without the actual partner.
There will be no changes within the team due to the loss of the Danish partner. In addition to the German core around Linus Gerdemann, Fabian Wegmann, Gerald Ciolek and Lennard Kämna, the contracts with Danish professionals such as Rasmus Guldhammer, Alexander Kamp and Mads Pedersen will remain in place. Captain Linis Gerdemann tries to draw positive things from the emotionally demanding last week: "I am convinced of the quality of the team "Stölting Service Group" 2016. The solidarity of the entire team, operators and sponsors in 2016 in dealing with the current extraordinary situation shows me that we as a team have already successfully completed a team-building measure that no survival camp can offer the world.”