After previously contemplating terminating its sponsorship at the end of 2008, Cofidis announced Wednesday that it has in fact extended its sponsorship through the end of 2009.
The news draws the involvement of Cofidis as a major cycling sponsor out to twelve years and comes in spite of the positive doping test (for testosterone) of Italian rider Cristian Moreni during this summer's Tour de France and the subsequent withdrawal of the entire squad from the Grand Tour. Moreni eventually received a two-year ban.
According to L'Equipe, the company will remain "dedicated to ethics within its team and while collaborating with national and international authorities in the fight against doping." The team, under the direction of Eric Boyer, is committed to the ProTour for 2008 and will benefit from the efforts of Florent Brard, Sylvain Chavanel, David Moncoutié, Maxime Monfort, Nick Nuyens and Rik Verbrugghe among others
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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.
