By Susan Westemeyer
Team Gerolsteiner was angry, sad, worried -- and trying desperately to be hopeful for the future.
"It's terrible, what impudence some people obviously show -- and at the same time, it is good to know that the new controls are making things harder for the cheaters," team manager Hans-Michael Holczer told Cyclingnews.
"My first thought, when I heard that Vinokourov had tested positive, was that the system with its strengthened doping controls worked. At the same time, it is a major blow for our sport, because those who feel that cycling is totally rotten will feel that their point has been confirmed," said Fabian Wegmann on his website, fabianwegmann.de.
"We are really in the middle of a dung heap, but if we want to get out, then we have to fight those who dope. Am I worried about my career? No, we at Team Gerolsteiner are a clean team, and I hope that our sponsor will stay. But sure, you have to think about such things. It used to be that someone who doped really only hurt themselves. Now it is different. When someone tests positive, then that affects the others, as could be seen with Patrik Sinkewitz. That makes me angry, especially since at the moment I just happen to be riding the Tour de France in my spare time. "
And, as usual, sprinter Robert Förster didn't mince his words. "We are all so angry, angry at this idiot who couldn't say no. Always the same people. And of course Vino isn't the only one. We sat outside to eat this evening, our cooks made a barbecue. It should have been a really nice evening, but the mood was rotten. This theme was the only one, there was nothing else. This affects our jobs, which are being destroyed. All of cycling is deep in the shit now. How will it go on?" the German sprinter asked in is diary on radsport-news.com.
