Dekker and Rabobank negotiate to part ways

Thomas Dekker and team Rabobank may terminate the contract binding the rider to the team soon. The managements of both parties are currently in negotiations over Dekker's involvement with the Dutch squad, Rabobank team spokesman Luuc Eisenga confirmed to Cyclingnews.

But neither Eisenga not Dekker's spokesman Martijn Berkhout wanted to comment on the ongoing press reports according to which the winner of the 2006 Tirenno-Adriatico had showed irregular blood values and therefore had an 'inactive' status within the team.

The UCI, meanwhile, confirmed to the rider that he had the right to race, even though it appears that Dekker did show unusual results in his testing profile. Just after the Tour de France, team manager Harold Knebel commented on this, saying on Dutch radio, "We received a signal before the Tour de Suisse, but couldn't draw any conclusions from it."

On Thursday, Knebel is quoted on Rabobank's website as saying, "Both parties strive for a quick solution of the current situation, but it is not known yet when we can release the outcome of the talks."